Henri Bensussen
MCWC board member,
Mendocino Quill's editor, a.k.a. The Maven
MCWC board member,
Mendocino Quill's editor, a.k.a. The Maven
 Henri serves on the board of the Mendocino Coast Writers Conference. She worries endlessly, fruitlessly, and in between writes tragic poetry and comical short stories. Email Henri as The Maven Conference Dates for 2016, August 4 - August 6 |
The Maven is wondering what 2016 will bring: will the dead presidents we celebrate in February come to life like the new Broadway show “Hamilton,” and offer her a book contract? Will the Easter bunny have a basket of publication acceptances? After all, 2015 brought a surprise acceptance, and publication of a chapbook of poems. What keeps good luck coming—well, there’s the matter of creating something new and bright, which requires work, of course, a constant listening to catch the phrase or word that leads to a stanza, a paragraph, and to setting it down through sheer application. Finding good teachers, a supportive writing group that offers informed critiquing, and a writing conference where you can network and make contacts with writers and presenters outside your usual circle, and be exposed to what’s happening in the writer’s world—all are important. Time and determination and hours of revision, as we know, are needed to fashion a good poem or story. Then there’s sending out work, to find the right publisher for what you create, and to catch their attention. Oh, and if you get a contract, it’s on to marketing: participating in readings, open mic events, reaching out to bookstores, to friends, to your writing club network.
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 Chloe Sariego  Maureen Eppstein |   Norma Watkins |  Jessica Kotnour  Karen Lewis |
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