They say word of mouth is the most powerful marketing tool. So we’re not going to list the reasons you should attend NCWN’s 2015 Squire Summer Writing Residency, July 23-26 at East Carolina University in Greenville. We won’t go on and on about our awesome faculty (Jan DeBlieu, Amber Flora Thomas, Luke Whisnant) or how solid the open mic readings always are.
We’re just going to let a few past attendees tell it like it is:
“I attended the Squire Summer Writing Residency in 2013. Although I’d been writing for some time by then, it was my first residency program and it was a wonderful introduction to the format. I spent two-and-a-half days with a talented group of fiction writers, and we critiqued each other’s work and wrote new pieces under the guidance of our extremely gifted teacher, Elizabeth Lutyens. The feedback I received from this group helped me restructure and refine the novel I’d been working on, and I went on to finish that novel and begin a second one. Even more important, the time in the residency offered a much needed infusion of support and encouragement.
“The group of fiction writers I met during the Squire Summer Writing Residency got along so well that eight of us have continued to meet. We are a diverse group: we range from new college graduates to retirees; we come from the United States, Canada, and England. We write short stories, novels, and memoirs; some of us write spare, direct prose, some create poetic post-apocalyptic fiction, and a few craft exquisite Southern tales. Amazingly, all of us have strong voices, and more amazingly, we all appreciate and respect the diversity of voices within the group.
“I am forever grateful that I attended the Squire Summer Writing Residency. The level of instruction was first-rate and the talent and hard work of the participants was inspiring. I highly recommend the program to anyone who would like to improve their writing, and who would like to do so in the midst of a like-minded, supportive community.”
—Allison Freeman, Durham
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“After a career teaching in North Carolina public schools, my writing practice needed a jumpstart, and I found it at the Squires Summer Writing Residency. Whereas my work left me neither the time nor the energy for a long term commitment such as a creative writing class, those three days among writers who shared a common focus provided just the alternative I needed. Thank you, Squires!”
—Janet Ford, Taylorsville
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“The first NCWN Squire Summer Writing Residency I attended eight years ago gave me encouragement that changed my life and to this day inspires me.
“The second NCWN Squire Summer Writing Residency I attended three years ago gave me friendships and support that promise to thrive for years to come.
“Both have enriched my life immeasurably. I am deeply grateful to the Network, and specifically the Squire family, for their on-going support of this remarkable program.”
—Carol Phillips, Silk Hope
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“When I attended the Squire Summer Writing Residency in 2013, when it was held on the Western Carolina University campus, I had no idea the far-reaching impact the experience would have, not only on my writing, but on my writing relationships. I participated in the poetry sessions led by Kathryn Stripling Byer, who is as skilled at teaching as she is at crafting her own poetry. In the time we spent together, she focused on every poem submitted in advance by each participant in the group. Her candid, genuine, respectful critiques were useful beyond the specific poem in question.
“We had the opportunity, through open mic readings, to hear from participants in other groups, which also proved valuable. In the months since the residency, I have maintained contact—and friendships—with several writers from my group, and I see others at state writing events, which feels like a homecoming. The NCWN personnel made sure everything ran smoothly, and we had plenty of opportunity to share in an informal setting.”
—Nancy C. Posey, Hickory
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“Imagine, if you can, a room full of thoughtful readers who have all read your manuscript with the precision of a good editor and are ready to get you on your way to publication. If you can imagine this, then you will be at home at the NC Writers’ Network Squire Summer Writing Residency. Last summer, I vetted a manuscript that eventually won me second place in The Asheville Writer’s Workshop Literary Fiction contest! Whether you are a veteran writer who wants to fine tune a manuscript or a beginner who wants to learn more about the craft, the Squire Summer Writing Residency is for you.”
—Pam Van Dyk, Raleigh
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Registration for the North Carolina Writers’ Network 2015 Squire Summer Writing Residency closes Wednesday, July 8. Register now!