For the May edition of JRW’s Writing Show, “River of Dust: The Gritty Truth about Editing,” held on May 30 at the Children’s Museum of Richmond, debut novelist Virginia Pye and her editor Nancy Zafris discussed the importance and intricacies of editing. Zafris—an award-winning author, manuscript consultant, and series editor for the Flannery O’Connor award for short fiction—visited Richmond from Ohio to share her expertise. Moderator Patty Smith, a local writer and teacher, steered the discussion towards subjects such as the role of editors, the importance of plot, and how to know what to let go and what to keep.

Pye explained that her novel, River of Dust, selected as an Indie Next Pick for May 2013, has been through at least twenty drafts. By the end of the editing process, only the first twenty and last twenty pages of her original manuscript remained. (more…)

Wouldn’t your life be complete with a custom haiki crafted by a Richmond poet? Haven’t you been dreaming of starring in your own zombie story?

Come by the JRW booth at the Arts & Culture Xpo on Saturday, June 29, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., to help us raise money and have fun with the written word.

Also be sure to visit Stage 2 at 3:15 PM. You won’t want to miss Shann Palmer and Joanna Lee performing spoken word.

The Arts and Culture Xpo is an annual event presented by CultureWorks spotlighting over 100 of the Richmond region’s nonprofit arts and culture organizations all under one roof on one day. It is a gathering for anyone who values arts and culture in our community.

Sign-up to be a Cultural Shareholder today to receive free Xpo Bucks to support the arts at the Xpo. Anyone, of voting age, who recognizes and values arts and culture to help build great communities can become a Cultural Shareholder. There are no fees but registration is required.  (more…)

The Writing Show

Thursday, June 27, 2013
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
The Camel—a new location for this month!
1621 W. Broad St., Richmond
Ample parking available in the Lowe’s parking lot across the street

Who are you as a writer? Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned author, how do you build your brand and your following? Being a writer today means more than just writing. Learning and implementing marketing strategies at every chapter of your journey is essential for success.

Join JRW for the latest in our Writing Show series, A Writer’s Platform – Marketing at Every Stage of Your Career, to hear unique perspectives from three authors—Karen Chase, Deb Dudley, and Meg Medina—each in a different phase of their literary paths. Julie Geen, a freelance writer and teacher, will moderate the discussion, including how to prioritize and budget tasks and how to shape an identity as a writer. The second half of the panel will welcome questions from the audience.

Register and pay online

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