Writers' World
Unitarian Universalist Church, 28 Mugford Street
Photo by Chuck Scheffreen
Writers' World includes an Exhibit, open during Festival Exhibit hours; a series of Workshops, at scheduled times; a Reading of winning entries; and the associated Literary Arts Café.
Writers' World Chairperson: Chuck Scheffreen & Carol Thompson
Writers' World Committee: Sandra Winter, Betsy Morris, Jack Butterworth,Richard Harrison, Jean Callahan, Clem Schoenebeck
Dramatic Reading Chairpersons: Jim Robinson, Bill Smalley, and Jim Butterfield (Emeritae)
Dramatic Reading Committee: The Mugford Street Players
Literary Arts Café Chairpersons: Chuck Scheffreen & Carol Thompson
A juried exhibit of
original, previously unpublished adult and student short fiction,
essays, and poetry. All accepted entries are available for public
reading. Award-winning entries are published in the Writers' World
booklet, A Collection of Winning Entries,
available for purchase at Writers' World and at the Logo
Store. Marcia Littlehales
Doehner was an accomplished poet and an English teacher at Marblehead
High School. Her poem, Arachne, won the 1988 Best of Show
award in the Writers’ World poetry category. In 1989 and 1990,
she served as Co-Chairperson of Writers’ World. The following
year, the Marcia Doehner Writing Center at Marblehead High School
was dedicated in her honor.
Her poems, many of which were published in Marblehead Magazine,
are filled with vivid imagery and revolve around themes of childhood
and family, nature, and travel. They reveal a keen understanding
of human connections and an ever-present sense of humor. She died
in June of 1991 at the age of 53 from cancer. A collection of her
poems, A Season for Flying, was published posthumously.
The Marcia Doehner Award was founded by her parents, sister, and
friends as a lasting tribute to the beloved teacher and poet. It
was given first during the 1992 Festival of Arts and is now awarded
annually to a poet as part of the Writers’ World Exhibit.
The Georgette Beck Award may be awarded annually to an artist entered in the Writer’s World Exhibit. Initiated in 2012, this award recognizes the author of a Writer’s World play or prose submission that exhibits the “wit, insight and humanity” personified by the work of writer, playwright, actress and director Georgette Beck of Marblehead. The award is made in conjunction with the Mugford Street Players.
Writers' World will feature the folllowing workshops:
Thursday, July 3, 10:00 AM
JoeAnn Hart: Writing About the Coast
Looking past the breaking waves and the golden sand between your toes. Gloucester writer, JoeAnn Hart, will talk about how to escape cliché when writing about the marine environment, and will lead a workshop on reaching deeper for descriptions of the shore. Hart is the author of Float, a darkly comic novel about plastics in the ocean, and Addled, where golf and animal rights intersect.
Thursday, July 3, 2:00 PM
Pat Silvia: Memoir as Story
Each of us has stories to tell from fragments of memory. During this workshop we will write, read what we’ve written, and listen to each distinctive voice. The emphasis of this workshop is on the process of creating stories while we are together, and to develop our unique and personal expressions of thoughts and feelings. Please bring writing materials. We will not be reviewing previously written pieces.
Pat Sylvia, M.Ed. has taught her Memoir as Story class for Explorers, the Lifelong Learning Institute at Salem State. She also conducted memoir workshops for eight years in Rockport and in Westborough, Massachusetts, where she now resides.
Friday, July 4, 10:00 AM
Phyllis Karas: The Crazy, Changing World of Publication
Phyllis will discuss The Crazy, Changing World of Publication. She will review the options available for writers today and will explain the need for a Proposal, even if the writer is not searching for a "traditional" publisher. Whether one’s work is fiction or non-fiction, it is important to have a map of where the story is going—guidance for plot and characters. Phyllis will also talk about literary agents. If you have participated in past workshops offered by Phyllis, you already know about her energetic generosity in sharing with those who want to write. If you have not been in such a gathering, come and join us. Share what this thoughtful teacher has to offer. Your writing will be the better for it, and so will you.
Phyllis Karas is an adjunct professor at The School of Journalism, Boston University. Early in her career, she wrote young adult novels for Avon Books, as well as an adult novel, A Life Worth Fiction. Along the way, she won numerous awards, including the New England Press Award for Best Feature Story on teenage pregnancy. A trip to Greece unexpectedly resulted in publication of The Onassis Women, which led to interviews on Dateline NBC, and with The New York Times and other noteworthy publications. Since then she has chronicled much of the history of Whitey Bulger’s underground world of crime, having co-written Street Soldier, with Eddie McKenzie, and Brutal, with Kevin Weeks—both men part of Bulger’s mob. Brutal made The New York Times Best Seller List. It was followed by Where's Whitey, a fictionalized account of the reality of Whitey’s sixteen years on the run while on the most wanted list. Phyllis has written for People Magazine. She has also written An Actor and a Gentleman, a memoir of Academy Award winner, Louis Gossett Jr..
Friday, July 4, 2:00 PM
Debbie Hagan: Flash Prose
Explore the beauty of very short prose. Learn how to magnify and mine a moment to find deeper meaning. We’ll look at a few powerful examples, then engage in fun, thought-provoking exercises to help you create your own original work. By the end of this workshop, you’ll have the start of at least one short narrative.
Saturday, July 5, 10:00 AM
Keynote Speaker: Brunonia Barry: Making It Work For You: The Process of Writing and Self-Publishing
Saturday, July 5, 2:00 PM
Julie Dougherty and T Max: Songwriting Workshop: Try It, You'll Like It
Julie Dougherty and T Max (two long-time New England-based songwriters) plan an entertaining and educational look at the secrets behind their ideas and styles of songwriting. The two approach song writing quite differently, so there will be something for everyone in this workshop. Come with your songs or songs-in-progress for pointers on how to flesh them out musically or lyrically. Or try playing T's game of MASU (Make A Song Up)—it's fun and challenges anyone from beginner to pro. Both artists will have CDs available for sale.
Julie Dougherty has been performing 12 to 18 dates per month for over 40 years; these days mostly on the North Shore but previously in Southern California, Austin, San Antonio and Nashville. Recently nominated for a Limelight Magazine Solo Album of the Year award, she is one of the hardest-working musicians around and doesn't feel inclined to slow down. "I feel blessed that I've been able to make my living doing the only thing I've ever wanted to do: sing and play my guitar. I guess I have created my own reality in that regard, following the only path that makes sense to me."
T Max is the singer/ songwriter/ storyteller who runs The Noise, New England's longest running music magazine and the founder of Boston Rock Opera. He has written two folk-rock operas, released seven solo albums, produced Boston Rock 'n' Roll Trading Cards, and was the music director for Project Eno, a tribute to Brian Eno. He runs a record label (Dove Records), is an art photographer, graphic artist, and to show that he's not only interested in fields of art, he placed 4th in the US Chess Open in 1988!
Jim Robinson and Pauline Wright read the Writers' World
winning entries. | Photo by Bill Smalley
Sunday, July 6, 2:00 PM
The Mugford Street Players will again read, as they have done since Writers’ World started, selections from the winning entries. They will read the entries awarded Best of Show and Outstanding Works in each category, the Marcia Doehner Award, and the Georgette Beck Award. Please join the Players, along with the authors, to enjoy their contributions to the Festival of the Arts and the art world.
The Café offers a comfortable place where readers and writers may discuss works while
enjoying coffee, tea, and light fare. For details, visit the Café. If you would like to receive notification by e-mail of Writers' World programs, including upcoming workshops, send your name and e-mail address to Writers' World:
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