Writers Studio Founder and Former Director Scott Foran

Photo by Willa Smith

Writers Studio Members Celebrate Sweetbay Review 2007
"All for One & One for All"

Writers Studio Year in Review

The Writers Studio celebrates its second successful year. The 2007 theme was "Getting Published" and many WS members achieved that auspicious goal. Genres included poetry, fiction, non-fiction, magazine and newspaper articles as well as Internet publications. WS hosted five local, renowned authors and speakers within the 2007 venue, Stacey Cochran, (Colorado Sequence), Emyl Jenkins (Stealing with Style), Larry G. Aaron (Keppy's War and The Race to the Dan), Tammy Tillotson (How to Make Money with Online Writing), and Kelly Cherry (Hazard and Prospect). They all contributed vital information for the "Getting Published" theme. 

The WS members have contributed to three publications: 2007 Sweetbay Review, Anthology of Virginia, Writers Studio: The Journal Vol. 1 and 2006 Sweetbay Review, Anthology of Southern Virginia under Director Scott Foran and Assistant Director Gene Curtis. Each of the three publications was compiled and edited by Director Scott Foran. The 2007 Sweetbay Review, Anthology of Virginia is the second anthology and the most recent publication. WS was extremely proud to have Emyl Jenkins, Larry Aaron and Kelly Cherry to judge the 2007 anthology entries. Twenty-five Virginia authors represented poetry, fiction and non-fiction in this collection of works. Local Artist Wyatt Ramsey furnished the cover art entitled "In the Mood for Jazz."

Earlier this year the WS newsletters were compiled in book form: Writers Studio: The Journal Vol. 1 and was made available online at Lulu.com. Numerous Writers Studio authors contributed to this. It includes informative articles, opportunities for writers on local and national levels, book reviews, poetry, inspirational pieces and quotes.

Two WS members were recipients of second and third places in the College/Adult Division of Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History and Danville Public Library’s Fourth Annual Writing Contest. Congratulations to Barbara Hatcher Shaver and Martha H. Lester.  

The South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History graciously became home for the Writers Studio in August 2007; its central location in downtown South Boston is ideal. The WS will continue to strive to serve as a platform to educate, inform and encourage local authors and to increase their knowledge in all aspects of the art of writing. It is a free, not-for-profit organization open to anyone with the desire to improve his or her writing skills. Each writer keeps all rights to his or her own works. WS has no age or attendance requirements and there are no membership fees. Meetings are scheduled for 3 pm the second Sunday of every month in the museum at 1540 Wilborn Avenue. Click here to see a bibliography of Writers Studio member's 2007 works.

In a look ahead, the theme for 2008 is "The Editor Within," focusing on the process of editing and improving one's own writing through craft and revision. The Writers Studio Newsletter has become the first to reap the rewards of the 2008 theme by its newly revised design and name "Ink Quarterly." Other future events for the WS include a Poetry Workshop with Andy Coe, a "Meet the Authors" event in the spring and plans are already underway for the 2008 Anthology with the submission deadline set for September 1, 2008.

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