Free journalism workshop for teachers

The New River Writers Project, along with journalism professionals from the Roanoke Times, will be offering a summer workshop for middle and high school teachers responsible for teaching journalism. This workshop would be appropriate for teachers whose subject areas (English, Social Studies, History, Science, etc.) find a voice through journalism.

This five day course will run from 9am-noon. Each day will feature local journalism professionals who will give model presentations on their areas of expertise. Presentations outline a basic 10 week course in journalism that can be taken directly back into the classroom as is, or expanded upon as needed to be semester-long. (Upon completion of the workshop, participants will have the option to invite these speakers to their classes in the upcoming school year.)

Note: this workshop is free of charge!

* Day 1: Overview (Why curiosity is what really matters); Interviewing

* Day 2: Ethics; News Reporting & Public Records; Changing Role of Technology

* Day 3: Feature Writing; Opinion Writing

* Day 4: Sports Writing; Photography

* Day 5: Editing; Careers in Journalism (It’s more than you think!)

Details: August 2-6, 2010, 9am-Noon; Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center; RB XVI, Room 3090

Earn Professional development points: 25 (15 contact hours, 10 portfolio project hours); Certificates will be awarded upon completion of all five days.

Deadline for registration: July 1, 2010 (or when first 40 spots are filled – additional registrants may be placed on a waiting list. Register here.

NRWP taking entries for first exhibit

Goal: To exhibit in early 2010 a selection of photographs and essays inspired by life in the New River Valley.

Step 1: By Dec. 1, the New River Writers Project (a non-profit Virginia corporation with headquarters in Christiansburg) will collect essays (maximum of 500 words) and digital images that were inspired by life in the New River Valley.

Step 2: Between Dec. 1 and Jan. 12, those who submitted essays or photographs will be given the opportunity to submit again. Writers will have an opportunity to produce essays about the photographs submitted, and vice versa. The second essay or photograph should be inspired by the first, with the goal in mind of all art being inspired by the New River Valley.

Step 3: The essays and photographs that received the most response will be exhibited in downtown Blacksburg in the spring. The exhibit will include photographs surrounded by essays and vice versa. The public will also be encouraged to leave behind their essays and photographs inspired by the art they experience. All submissions and questions about the project can be sent to info@newriverwriters.org.

NRWG now accepting memberships

What? The New River Writers Group is committed to building a community of New River Valley writers who are interested in bettering their craft, learning about new opportunities and meeting others who share their passion for writing.

When? The group will meet on the second Tuesday of each month, with a social starting at 7 p.m. and the meeting running from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The meeting will start with an opportunity for growth (either through a special guest or guests or public reading by an established local author). It will continue with any business that the group needs to conduct. It will then wrap up with monthly critiquing sessions. Other meetings and events will be announced at later dates.

Where? Meetings will be held at the Easy Chair Coffee Shop at University Mall in Blacksburg (space-permitting)

Who? The social and opportunity for growth will be open to the general public. The conducting of business and critiquing will only be open to NRWG members ($30 annually for regular membership, and $20 for students or seniors over 60. Memberships are for Oct. 1-Sept. 30 of each year).

Why? Members receive the following benefits:

• Notifications for each month’s meeting, with topics and guest speakers
• Growth opportunities through guest speakers who will discuss both the craft and the business of writing
• Opportunities to socialize and network with other local writers both in person and virtually (through our Web site and a members-only section on Facebook that you will access following membership)
• Opportunities to learn about freelancing and publishing opportunities in the region and beyond
• Writing critiques delivered at least quarterly from your writing peers in a small group session
• Opportunities to promote and showcase your writing through the Web
• Online directory that allows you to securely post your writing and guard who views it and critiques it
• Reduced admission to other NRWP events (workshops, conferences, etc.)
• First notifications of writing contests and publishing opportunities through NRWP

How? If you’re interested, just let us know in person, through email (info@newriverwriters.org) or through our Facebook page (New River Writers Project). We will provide you an enrollment form or answer any questions that you might have.

Thanks,

New River Writers Project

NRWP holds first writers session

More than a dozen local writers and organizers gathered Monday evening at the Easy Chair Coffee Shop in Blacksburg for the inaugural writers meeting of the New River Writers Project.

The event – led by three members of NRWP’s writers community committee (Donna Alvis-Banks, Jeanine Maddox and Chris Winston) – included an introduction to NRWP, writer introductions and discussion of what benefit a new writers group could have.

The writers in attendance have a broad span of interests and experience, ranging from “I have an idea” to “I have published several books.” But they all shared an interest in growing personally and professionally and building a network of local writers.

At the end of the 90-minute meeting, the writers were asked to rank options of what they were looking for in such a group. A non-scientific poll suggests the highest interest in writing critiques, publishing opportunities, networking with other writers, monthly meetings and hosted readings.

There was also interest voiced in freelance opportunities, help with publicity, writing contests, school speaking engagements and training opportunities.

If you were unable to attend the meeting, but are interested in voicing your interests, please drop an email to info@newriverwriters.org and we will get you a form.

Seeking NRV writers

Our first order of business will be to connect with other local writers (fiction or nonfiction, poetry or prose) in the New River Valley.

Our hope is to find writers who might be interested in networking and growing professionally by getting together with others. We’ve already had a local businessman (Russell Chisholm at the Easy Chair Coffee Shop) offer to host meetings, so we’re off to a great start.

But we’re looking for input into how often we should meet, what networking opportunities we should provide and everything else.

If you’re interested in helping us plot our course, send us an email.

Welcome

On July 27, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the Federal Writers Project as part of his New Deal program to stimulate the economy in a time of depression and to recognize the tremendous value held by quality writing and an understanding of our shared culture and history.

As we prepare to observe the 75th anniversary of that historic decision, a group of residents in the New River Valley of Southwest Virginia decided to support the same goals on a local level.

So we have decided to form a nonprofit organization whose missions is to produce and promote literature and other works of art that preserve local history and culture, support educational and arts initiatives, and celebrate a sense of place in Southwest Virginia.

We have formed a board, passed our bylaws and set our mission and value statements. We also formed a Facebook page to begin building a community of those whose share our interests and goals.

If you’d like to learn more, or are interested in playing a role in this organization, feel free to post a comment or email us.