The expert search: How to find sources for your manuscript

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expert sources, research, Writing

By Sara Karnish

The old saying “write what you know” is solid advice, but it only takes you so far. As Michael Ventrella stressed in his Write Stuff 2023 breakout session, it’s far better to “write what you want to know about.” To do this, writers need to call on the experts.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Research and interviewing expert sources add important elements of authenticity and believability to your novel or short story. If your historical fiction novel is set in an ancient Egyptian household, for instance, you would probably need to know quite a bit of detail about daily customs from the period. Where did families live? How did they dress? How did they earn a living? These are important questions that must be answered—correctly—to be true to the time period and make sense for your story.

Expert sources are the heart and soul of my primary niche of feature writing, as well. I regularly contact professionals about a wide variety of subjects. If you like learning, I can’t think of a better gig than mine!

So how do you find experts? Everywhere! That answer might not be helpful, but it’s true. People love to talk about what they do for a living, their interests, and their hobbies. Here are a few ideas to get started.

• Your network. You likely know what your closest family and friends do for a living, or hobbies they enjoy. If your manuscript is about an RN and your niece has been a nurse for several years, ask her to review your manuscript, or interview her about her job before you get started. She can immediately identify any “gaps” or incorrect information in your story. Not sure who does what in your network? Ask for a referral. I recently asked a friend who works in the nonprofit world if she knows any meeting planners. She immediately connected me with two co-workers who fit the bill and provided me with some great information for the article I was working on.
• Social media. I’ve put out a call for X professionals on Facebook to use as sources several times. Likewise, if you think your manuscript would benefit from expert content from a neurosurgeon but you don’t know one personally, put a call out on social media. You never know who in your network might know someone.
• Colleges and universities. Higher education institutions are wonderful outlets for expert sources. Many colleges and universities have speakers’ bureaus filled with school faculty or staff who can speak on a wide variety of topics. Likewise, if you’re looking for a certain expert in a super-niche subject, a college professor is a great source. Most interviews are arranged through a college’s Marketing and Communications or University Relations office, so find the right person on the school’s website, tell them what kind of expert you’re looking for, and they’ll take it from there. Sometimes they’ll sit in on the interview to ensure accuracy and compliance; sometimes not.
• Historical societies. Historical societies and organizations are a treasure trove of information about life “in the old days.” Their artifacts, documents, and other items of historical significance—not to mention the knowledge members have acquired through their own interests—can be invaluable.
• Special interest/hobby groups. Civil War reenactors, Renaissance Faire participants, cosplayers, old car enthusiasts, and others with a burning passion for their hobby are great expert sources. The Internet is your best bet for finding these organizations. Try a broad Google search, or Meetup and the type of group you’re looking for to find hobbyists in your area.
• HERO (Help Every Reporter Out). For feature writers and journalists, you’ve been missing out if you haven’t used HERO. I recently rediscovered the site (which started life as Help A Reporter Out, or HARO) after many years, and boy, has it been a tremendous time-saver. HERO connects journalists with sources. Period. Simply describe what kind of source you’re looking for, a one-sentence summary of the story you’re writing, and the name of the publication, and Peter Shankman (the site’s founder) will take care of the rest. I recently submitted a query looking for job and career coaches and easily received 20 to 25 responses in one day. Of course, the more specific the topic, the fewer responses you may get. Another query I submitted brought me fewer responses, but since I only needed two expert sources, it was still worth posting the query. HERO is a huge time saver, and as a bonus, it’s connected me with some very nice people!

Do you use expert sources to add authenticity to your writing? Where do you find them? 

A recap of the Pocono Writers Conference

Tags

Angel Ackerman, Writing, Writing Advice, Writing Conferences

By Angel Ackerman

The Pocono Writers Conference was hosted by the Pocono Liars Club at the Hughes Library in Stroudsburg, PA, on April 20.

WHY ATTEND: Structure of the event makes it convenient to select what you’d like to attend and stay within a budget. Talks all happen in the same room, with small workshops split into a conference room around the corner. Food not included but plentiful options nearby, even within walking distance. The library is gorgeous and has a small cafe.

The Pocono Liars Club does not charge dues, nor does the one-day event have an admission cost. Donations are encouraged. Presenters hold small sessions throughout the day for $20/per person, and the speaker receives all of those fees. That facilitates the one-on-one contact without big budget prices or production costs.

HIGHLIGHTS: 

• Presenters this year: Michael Ventrella, lawyer and author; Randee Dawn, entertainment journalist and author; Leslye Penelope, fantasy author; Lori Perkins, agent, author, publisher, and Josh Palmatier, anthology publisher (and math professor—talk about making the numbers work).
• “Lectures” were all in the same room, 45-60 minutes with a 15-minute break between. 
• Topics included beginning your online, in-person and in-the-press marketing; world-building; submitting to an anthology, and an insider’s view of the last 30 years in publishing. 

MAIN TAKE-AWAYS:

• Create a public persona for yourself. It will make appearances less exhausting. (Randee Dawn)
• Brainstorm 20 ideas for every project. The first 10 everyone will have. Throw those out. The last five are crazy. Throw those out. Work with the remaining five. (Josh Palmatier)
• Have multiple streams of revenue to survive as a writer. (Lori Perkins)
• The Internet is forever. So edit yourself and plan what you publicize.
• If someone has given you the time of day, go back [to them]. (Lori Perkins)
• Invest in Publisher’s Marketplace if you are serious about learning the traditional publishing agency. (This one came from Jonathan Maberry at the Write Stuff AND Lori Perkins.)
• Presenters at this conference recommended beta and sensitivity readers. Jonathan Maberry at the Write Stuff warned that sensitivity readers can often have an axe to grind and recommended being extremely diligent in your research instead.

In Conversation with Angel Ackerman

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Angel Ackerman, GLVWG president, Publisher, Writing

By Sara Karnish

Angel Ackerman is the founder and editor of Parisian Phoenix Publishing and the author of the Fashion and Fiends horror series. Her career has included 15 years as a print journalist and a decade in nonprofit communications. She volunteers with Mary Meuser Memorial Library and Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group when not rehabilitating abandoned cats. Her academic interests and travel experiences focus on post-colonial Francophone Africa and stereotypes/prejudice.

Angel Ackerman

She accepted the role of GLVWG president in 2023 after some time away. I talked with Angel about her writing projects, publishing company, and goals for GLVWG as the group’s current president.

Q: How long have you been a GLVWG member?

ANGEL: I want to say Darrell Parry and I joined GLVWG before our daughter was born, and then rejoined when she was about 18 months old. I served on the board for eight consecutive years, I believe, including two terms as president (circa 2005-2013, because the toddler mentioned here is 19 and started college this fall). I started attending meetings again last year, and officially rejoined recently.

Q: What roles have you held during your time in GLVWG?

ANGEL: Member, president, PR chair.

Q: You are currently serving as GLVWG’s president after some time away. Why did you want to serve again?

ANGEL: Honestly, I didn’t. But after watching several meetings where no one was nominated and no one volunteered, I accepted the nomination because I know what the position entails and that it’s not a stressful position. My hope is that newer members might see me step into the role and consider becoming more involved themselves. 

Q: What are some of your goals as GLVWG’s current president?

ANGEL: A group like GLVWG is a membership-driven group, versus a mission-oriented one. I know that people are busy, and that volunteering and community involvement is in decline in American society. I’m busy—I’ve worked full-time in the Stitch Fix warehouse for the last three years (and I was laid off Sept. 15), built my craft book-publishing press, have a 19-year-old in college, serve on my local library board, and foster cats for Feline Urban Rescue and Rehab, having hosted 35 or so cats in my home in the last three years. And I have a disability—diplegia spastic cerebral palsy—which has required a lot more medical attention and troubleshooting as I age (but it’s going to make a great medical advocacy memoir when I get some time). 

My point with all that is—being busy is an excuse. A membership group like GLVWG can only do as much as its members support. If people don’t express their desires and get involved, we’re not going to do anything new. And maybe we don’t need to. But if members have needs or wants they want GLVWG to address, they need to speak up. As president, my job is to lead and provide structure to the many voices. I am one voice and one vote. But my responsibility is to make sure that the group’s needs are met, and that every voice is heard.

Q: Tell us about your publishing company, Parisian Phoenix.

ANGEL: Parisian Phoenix traces its origins to an art project for the Northampton Community College faculty art show in the late aughts? My now art director asked if she could use my novel series to design a box set of covers and promotional materials. I said sure, and at the end of the event she let me keep the display. She invented the logo, the notable pink, and somehow we named each other—I was Parisian, by her choosing, and she was phoenix, because she reinvented her graphic design career with new technology. I decided to put my novels into print so my daughter could read them, and then other people asked if I would help them. Two years later, we have 18 books in print.

Q: How has GLVWG helped you get established as a publisher? 

ANGEL: I drew my inspiration from Jonathan Maberry in his first visits to the Write Stuff conference and owe debts to Katherine Ramsland and Kathryn Craft. Katherine was a member of GLVWG when she first moved to the Lehigh Valley, and I was one of several writers (with Darrell) in a horror fiction critique group with her. Kathryn Craft always encouraged my writing and always knew what to say, to teach others or as a matter of diplomacy. My involvement directly goes back to her.

Q: What is something you wish more folks (members and potential members) knew about GLVWG?

ANGEL: It is a membership-driven group, but as members we need to support each other and work together. I feel like too much of the group has relied on the status quo, and I hope I can encourage more people to speak up with new ideas. I came back to the group specifically as part of my corporate mission to embrace community among ALL fine artists, but I don’t see many members actually taking the time to read each other’s work.

Q: Any general final thoughts? 

ANGEL: I challenge every member to buy a book by another member—and review it on Goodreads, Amazon, Google books, on your web site, wherever. If you hear of members having a book signing or attending a special event, go. Sharing these experiences, and using the technology at your fingertips to spread them via social media, will build community. And you might learn something you didn’t know about one of your peers.

Q: How can GLVWG members get in touch with you?

ANGEL: I’m not hard to find. I’m on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and even the social media X formerly known as Twitter as both myself and Parisian Phoenix. Parisian Phoenix has a website, ParisianPhoenix.com, as do I, angelackerman.com. Email me at angel@parisianphoenix.com. Or, come say hi at a GLVWG meeting or at any public event.

Thoughts on the Writer’s Journey

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GLVWG "Write Stuff", Jonathan Maberry, keynote speaker, writing career, Writing Craft

By Sara Karnish

I could be biased, but for me, the keynote is the best part of every Write Stuff Conference. This year was no exception, with the multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author Jonathan Maberry generously sharing several highlights of his journey as a working writer. As a full-time feature writer who dabbles in fiction, I appreciated so much of what Maberry shared with the attendees—namely, that he was a working feature writer long before he became a novelist. He simply loves to write and can’t wait to get back to his keyboard every day. He just likes writing fiction best of all.

Jonathan Maberry

Here are my top 5 takeaways (paraphrased a bit)—which I think are helpful lessons for all writers, regardless of genre—from his keynote:

• Be open. Maberry writes in many different genres, and he said he chose his agent largely because she was open to repping him across those many genres. He said he rarely turns down an opportunity because many projects challenge him, and he likes a challenge. He stressed it’s important not to say you can’t do a project, even if it’s a type of writing you’ve never tried. He’s written sarcastic greeting cards, package copy, scripts for comic books—all because they stretched his writing muscles. He cautioned against limiting ourselves to one type or one genre of writing. He loves having fun with writing and encouraged us to do the same. 
• Be nice. Lift up other writers. Be supportive. Don’t develop an arrogant or jaded attitude about this amazing career. How many people can truly say they love what they do? 
• Be easy to work with. Maberry said part of the reason why he’s offered so many different kinds of projects is because he’s easygoing, easy to get along with, delivers on time, and isn’t too demanding. No “diva” attitudes here. Editors and project managers like writers who are easy to work with and deliver high-quality work, so those writers are the ones who get repeat business.
• Be humble. Maberry admitted he broke into fiction late—he published his first novel at age 48—and said he still experiences impostor syndrome. He’s become friends with many of the writers he grew up reading—a fact that continues to blow him away. He counts Stephen King and Neil Gaiman among his friends. He remembers being that writer just starting out and never wants to lose that feeling. Lesson here: Be humble. Remember your roots and where you came from.
• Be grateful. He closed with the message life is weird. Life is wonderful. Opportunities often fall into our laps; take advantage of every one. He’s grateful for the career he’s built, the relationships it’s provided him, and the opportunities he’s been given. Truly, great lessons for all of us!

What were some of your biggest takeaways from the 2024 Write Stuff Conference?

All Dressed Up …

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costume party, favorite author, favorite character, GLVWG "Write Stuff"

By Dianna Sinovic

Friday night at this year’s Write Stuff conference includes an evening reception, a chance to meet and mingle with other conference attendees. But the reception also encourages people to come in costume—as your favorite fictional character (or favorite author). 

It’s rumored that Mark Twain will put in an appearance! Join the fun with your own take on a character you love (or despise—villains, anyone?). 

Ask yourself, if you could be any character in any book, who would you be? For me, if securing an authentic costume was as easy as waving a wand, I would arrive as either Professor McGonagall from the Harry Potter series or SecUnit from Marth Wells’ Murderbot series. Showing up in either of those costumes—a Hogwarts robe and hat or full android armor—would make it fairly obvious I was from the realm of fiction.

But there are many, more subtle characters to choose from. Here are a few ideas if you need a prompt:

• Jack Reacher from the Lee Child cop thriller series, which also was featured recently on Amazon Prime
• Stephanie Plum from Janet Evanovich’s Plum series about a bail bond skip tracer
• Jason Bourne from Robert Ludlum’s action-thriller Bourne series, also made into several films
• Lisbeth Salander from Stieg Larsson’s Dragon Tattoo series, also made into several films
• Detective Robicheaux from the James Lee Burke mystery novels
• Meg, Jo, Beth, or Amy March from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, also made into several films
• Claire Randall or another character from Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books, also made into a TV series

You get the idea.

So, will you be the villain? The hero/heroine? A sick-kick character? Or someone whimsical like Arthur the aardvark?

And let’s be honest. You don’t need to be in full regalia to qualify as being in costume. Wear a hat, carry a prop, or even bring along the book that features your character. That’ll do. Another idea: Wear a name tag that includes a photo of your character on it.

See you there!

Recap of 2024 Lehigh Valley Book Festival

Tags

Angel Ackerman, book festival, Book Marketing

By Angel Ackerman

Let’s Play Books and The End Bookstore held their 5th Annual Lehigh Valley Book Festival at Cedar Crest College, Nowhere Coffee Company, Emmaus Public Library, both bookstores, and the Bethlehem Area Public Library on March 20 to 24.

The main event for the public was Saturday’s Family Day and Author Expo at the Bethlehem Area Public Library. Local and regional children’s book authors presented stories and activities for the kids.

On Sunday, the festival closed with a Sip, Swap, & Swoon event at The End, featuring wine, romance authors, and a romance book swap. Authors included Xio Axelrod, Timothy Janovsky, Victoria Schade, and Nisha Sharma. Nisha has a history with the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group and the former Pocono Lehigh Romance Writers.

The kickoff occurred Wednesday night at Cedar Crest College with a keynote by Greg Pizzoli, author of The Baloney and Friends graphic novel series, followed by a panel moderated by the college’s Assistant Professor of Education Melissa Kamyab of Pizzoli, middle-grade author Kat Yeh, and Molly Magro, a librarian in the East Penn School district.

On Thursday, the festival hosted its “Literary Latte” Open Mic at Nowhere Coffee Company.

On Friday evening, interactive author-readers events continued at Emmaus Public Library with speedy five-minute presentations from Bob Boehmer, Stacy Gabel, Katarah Jordan, and  Deborah C. Mortimer. Next, Cedar Crest hosted a conversation with author Kate Zernike about the role of women in science. The final event of the evening was a whiskey-tasting reception at The End with author Kurt Maitland and also Jahmal Mayfield and Lesa Cline-Ransome. A collaborative art installation by Lorna Flowers was also part of the evening.

A Conversation with Amy Deardon

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Amy Deardon, author, GLVWG "Write Stuff", Writing Conference, Writing Conferences

GLVWG Board member Donna Brennan caught up with author Amy Deardon recently to talk about Amy’s writing and publishing career. Amy is leading a half-day workshop on Thursday, April 11, to kick off this year’s Write Stuff conference, as well as presenting several other conference workshops on Saturday, April 13.

Confessions of a Conference Groupie: The Write Stuff Experience, Part II

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GLVWG "Write Stuff", Suzanne Mattaboni, Writing Conferences

By Suzanne Mattaboni

The first part of this essay, in which Suzanne looks back on her attendance at past Write Stuff conferences, ran last week.

Suzanne Mattaboni

I’ll always remember sitting at lunch during our first live conference after the pandemic, which took place not long after I served as chairperson for the 2021 GLVWG Writes of Passage anthology. The bulk of that collection had been assembled during lockdowns, so I had little opportunity to meet the authors in person. But because of the very personal nature of that year’s theme, more than 20 authors from the group had bared their souls in their submissions, relaying some of their most difficult moments and reassuring epiphanies. 

Typically, my eyesight doesn’t do me any favors when it comes to reading name tags from more than a foot away. But I was able, one by one, to discern the identities of the writers who sat around that table with me. Each of them had contributed to the anthology. That meant I had pored over their work, come to love each narrative gem, and carefully knitted their submissions together into a literary kaleidoscope composed of some of the most poignant moments of their lives. It dawned on me that I was privy to each of their proudest achievements and greatest fears. I felt honored to finally be in their physical presence, instead of just being uplifted by their writing. 

Again, this was so much richer an experience than I regularly had in a classroom. And I did the whole four-year writing program thing, back in the day. Not to completely knock academia, though; my daughter now has an MFA. That’s all good stuff. But it’s not The Write Stuff.

About Suzanne:

Suzanne Mattaboni writes in genres including horror and women’s fiction and is a Newsweek Expert Forum contributor. Her novel, Once in a Lifetime, is being launched in its second edition in March 2024. It has won multiple awards including a Pencraft and an IPPY independent publishers award. One of her short stories was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Suzanne has been published in Newsday, Seventeen, The Huffington Post, Mysterious Ways, Guideposts, and Child, and has appeared in anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul, the 2023 Howard Jones “fanthology” We’re in This Together, and the new Ever After mythical creatures anthology. Learn more on her website: www.suzannemattaboni.com.

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There’s still time to register for this year’s Write Stuff! Registration closes March 31.

Confessions of a Conference Groupie: The Write Stuff Experience, Part I

Tags

GLVWG "Write Stuff", Writing Conference, Writing Conferences

By Suzanne Mattaboni

Did I ever mention I wanted to be a writers conference groupie?

Some people follow religious leaders. Some caravan with the Grateful Dead or tailgate at football games. But some time over the last eight years, me and my best friend from college decided we wanted to become writers conference groupies together. 

Suzanne Mattaboni

Wouldn’t that be terrific? Just going from conference to conference all year, communing with fellow authors from all over the country, avoiding the fracas of the real world? Jumping from workshop to keynote to seminar to critique panel, on a continuing cycle?

Well, neither of us can afford to quit our jobs and travel the world from conference to conference, fabulous as that may sound. Instead, we make it a ritual to attend the GLVWG Write Stuff Conference every year. I suppose that makes us Write Stuff groupies.

When I was asked to talk about an experience with the Write Stuff Conference, my only stop-gap was that I couldn’t really pinpoint one unique incident. The conference is more of an ongoing experience. It’s a real-world community. It deepens for me each year as I meet more new writers in the group, as my own publishing journey progresses, and as I watch other writers succeed that I’ve been working with at GLVWG over the years.

I decided a long time ago that I could almost learn more at a single writing conference than I did in a whole four-year college writing program. Although ongoing college workshops are good for exercising craft, the information you get at a conference is exponentially more practical. It comes from people who boast bonafide success and experience, right now. By definition, a writers association conference is not “academic.” It isn’t dictated by a group of professors who exist within the confines of a university bubble. Conference content often comes directly from people who are making a living through publishing and know the current market. And GLVWG has always had a knack for fetching top-notch talent at their events.

It’s also 1/100^th of the price of a college semester. So you can’t beat that value.

Because of this, when my daughter started showing signs of wanting to be a writer, I right away pulled her into conferences. Starting at 16 years old. I brought her to conferences from three different writing organizations before she even graduated high school. In fact, I think one or two conference guidelines now clearly state you have to be 18 in order to attend, because of me.

Time passed and my daughter went off to college in West Chester, where she became a creative writing major and president of the Creative Writing Club. She got the bright idea to convince the university to sponsor members of the club to attend the Write Stuff Conference. Little did I know that also meant that eight students would all be bunking at my house the whole weekend, including five guys. 

So there I was, den mother to a house full of college students, in addition to my old college roommate and conference buddy. The two of us spent each morning before that Write Stuff stepping over a gaggle of twenty-somethings in sleeping bags on my office floor and scattered throughout my living room. But as I scrambled through the chaos, I was proud that my daughter was expanding the tradition of getting writers out to conferences while they were still young. Her friends enjoyed the whole event.

And my heart swelled with pride that weekend when one of the GLVWG board members (it might have been Bart Palamaro) leaned over to my 19-year-old daughter and asked, “Are these your students?” as she shepherded her friends through conference activities. As if she were a young teacher. In that moment, I watched a sense of leadership wash over her and a certain authority flash in her eyes, as she answered that, no, they were her college classmates. But from the Creative Writing Club she founded. 

These are moments you don’t get in a classroom. Certainly not on an intergenerational scale. And although that wasn’t quite my unique experience with the Write Stuff Conference, it’s still one I won’t forget.

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There’s still time to register for this year’s Write Stuff conference!

February Meeting and Workshop Recap: Revisions—Your Plan of Action with Dianna Sinovic

Tags

Editing, revisions, Writing, Writing Craft

By Elizabeth Nguyen  

As some of us are madly editing our manuscripts for agent pitches to be presented at the April Write Stuff Conference, Dianna Sinovic’s workshop comes at just the right time. As a certified book coach, author, and editor of her own company, Diasin Books LLC, Sinovic understands this process.  It is a relief we are not alone and she is here to help guide us. 

First, she advised authors to assess and have a strategic plan of action. The tips include being patient and looking at the whole manuscript. It’s important to be honest about flaws, remember the reader, and trust your feelings. Sinovic illustrated how to tackle the main points by breaking them down. This will be useful in maintaining timelines, the flow of the story, and clarity of thought. It will prevent those loose plot threads from dangling in the wind like laundry left out on a clothesline. She explained that bullet point outlines of each chapter and scene are recommended. 

Things to analyze include the main point of the story, character arc, main conflict, story timeline, and overall plot. Remember to look at keeping the point of view consistent within each chapter.  Stay calm, take your time, and audit your story for flow. 

To tamp down your character’s scattered brains, check their logic. Does it make sense? Contradictions should be sharply drawn. The stakes need to be high, and the reader needs to know what the character stands to lose. Cause and effect are extremely important. Scenes have to be designed to drive the story forward, which will add tension. 

While we further assess what was wrong with our stories, she helped clarify what Red, Yellow, and Green Light issues are. These are the important Do’s and Don’ts. Major problems include plot holes and lack of character emotion, so don’t bring your story down. Do sprinkle backstory around, like you are preparing a savory meal. Stay away from the dreaded Info Dump, which is a bunch of information that bogs down the flow of the story. Lock down the point of each scene. If you are at a loss, brainstorm ideas, make revisions, polish it up, and begin to share your story. Beta readers can be useful in the final stages and don’t hesitate to seek them out through the club. Consider Beta readers your target audience and look for fresh eyes not familiar with your story. This can be challenging for those writing children’s or young adult stories, but using teachers as a resource was suggested. 

During the afternoon session, participants used hands-on writing assignments to answer big questions like, “What is the story about?” This produced laughter because really, it might not be so clear.  Sinovic gave examples from known works, and participants shared their own. 

Last but not least, she encouraged us to think about the genre of our books, how they are similar to other books out there, and their marketability. Even if someone is writing a cross-genre novel, she suggests committing to a type. She recognizes this might be hard, but encouraged this to happen. 

Whether one decides to utilize these techniques before they write to plot, or after to edit, they can be used to save time and effort on rewrites. Online editing tools were mentioned, including Autocrit, Grammarly, and others. These are accepted practices as long as the author remains the author and doesn’t let AI do the writing for them. 

Now, after all of that has been said, take a deep breath, and pause for a moment. Remember, it will save time and energy to plan and plot what you write. It can be rewarding to convey a clear and concise message. This will avoid confusion for the reader, and ego bruising for the writer. Finally, make every word count, and maybe one day you will be counting the money you make for each one. 

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GLVWG’s meetings are held on the fourth Saturday of each month (unless otherwise noted) at the Palmer Library in Easton and online via Zoom. The morning consists of a general membership meeting and free program featuring a speaker who focuses on some aspect of the art or craft of writing. The afternoon workshop is usually—but not always—a deeper dive into the morning program topic. There is a fee for the afternoon program if you are not a member. Visit glvwg.org for a list of meeting dates, speakers, and program topics.