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The Pearl S. Buck Writing Center, administered by the Pearl S. Buck Volunteer Association, has announced its schedule of classes for 2021. After being forced to cancel its seminars and discussion groups last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Writing Center is thrilled to be able to welcome back new and returning participants to a fully virtual schedule—all classes, seminars, and discussion groups will be online via Zoom. The Pearl S. Buck Writing Center began in 2010 at Pearl S. Buck International under the program name Writing at a Writer’s House—its goal was to respectfully continue the successful writing partnership and networking of Pearl S. Buck and her husband, Richard Walsh. Since its inception, the Writing Center has continued the writing legacy of Pearl Buck by serving approximately 500 people through its workshops and through the publication of 17 books through its WCP/Writing Center Press. To register for any Writing Center Webinars or if you have any questions about any of the Pearl S. Buck Writing Center offerings, contact Writing Center Chair Cindy Louden, at clouden@pearlsbuck.org or call 267-421-6203. Please note that the short stories and novel discussion groups are both complimentary. Pearl S. Buck Writing Center 2021 Schedule Webinars Honing Your Hook Thursday, February 4, 1-2:30 pm Honing Your Hook invites readers into your story in the opening lines. Long a leader in the southeastern Pennsylvania writing scene, presenter Kathryn Craft writes stories that seek beauty and meaning at the edge of darkness. Find more information about Kathryn at: www.kathryncraft.com. Registration required, $25 fee. How to Write a Novel Wednesday, February 17, 11 am-1 pm How to Write a Novel offers a practical writing process from the mere germ of an idea all the way through the creative process, with an eye on getting a finished book into the hands of potential readers and fans. Novelist and writing coach John DeDakis is a former editor on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” and is the author of five mystery-suspense novels. Find out more about him at: www.johndedakis.com. Registration required, $50 fee. Memoir Writing 1st Wednesdays, March 3-October 6 (see website for full schedule) 1-3 pm Memoir Writing will guide you toward centering on one segment of your life and turning it into a compelling story, whether your goal is to share it with family and friends or to publish it for a wider audience. Each session includes time to practice writing that month’s lesson and to give and receive gentle, constructive feedback. Between class sessions, you will also have the opportunity to discuss articles on memoir writing and to share your writing with other students and the instructor for a more comprehensive response. Linda C. Wisniewski writes about life and the connections we make by giving each other the space and time to be heard. A former feature writer and columnist for the Bucks County Herald and the Bucks County Women’s Journal, Linda’s work has been published widely in literary magazines, newspapers and anthologies and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is the author of the memoir, Off Kilter, published by Pearlsong Press, and a novel, Where the Stork Flies, forthcoming from Sand Hill Review Press. Find more information on her at http://www.lindawis.com. Registration required, $200 fee. Writers Guild 3rd Sundays, March 21-October 17 (see website for full schedule) 1-3 pm Writers Guild meetings are where we share and critique our writing work-in-progress. In a friendly atmosphere, we encourage, support and challenge writers to improve whether they are experienced writers or beginners. All genres of literature are welcome, from novels and short fiction to memoirs, essays and poetry by all levels of writers. Visit our blog at www.psbwritingcenter.org and become a follower to receive email notifications of any new blog posts. Many past issues of the Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal – containing writing in a wide variety of genres – can be accessed from our blog. Registered Guild members must send writings for editing consideration and distribution to lindadonaldson@verizon.net two weeks prior to meetings so attendees can read and be prepared to discuss. Registration required, $80 fee. Discussion Groups (complimentary) Pearl’s Short Story Discussion Group 2nd Tuesdays, March 9-October 12 (see full schedule on website) 10-11:30 am The Short Story Discussion Group will discuss selections from the collection titled Hearts Come Home by Pearl S. Buck (1962 or 1970 Edition). Carol Breslin, PhD, a Pearl S. Buck scholar and Professor Emerita from Gwynedd Mercy University, leads the group in discussions of short stories from the Hearts Come Home anthology. Pearl’s Novel Discussion Group 3rd Mondays, March 22-October 18 (see full schedule on website) 1-2:30 pm The Novel Discussion Group will begin its virtual sessions with “The Final Chapter” by Beverly Rizzon, who was Pearl Buck’s secretary while living in Vermont. You don’t have to have read the book to enjoy the discussions. Find a full schedule of classes and more information at www.pearlsbuck.org/writing-center.
The Pearl S. Buck Writing Center, administered by the Pearl S. Buck Volunteer Association, has announced its schedule of classes for 2021. After being forced to cancel its seminars and discussion groups last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Writing Center is thrilled to be able to welcome back new and returning participants to a fully virtual schedule—all classes, seminars, and discussion groups will be online via Zoom.
The Pearl S. Buck Writing Center began in 2010 at Pearl S. Buck International under the program name Writing at a Writer’s House—its goal was to respectfully continue the successful writing partnership and networking of Pearl S. Buck and her husband, Richard Walsh. Since its inception, the Writing Center has continued the writing legacy of Pearl Buck by serving approximately 500 people through its workshops and through the publication of 17 books through its WCP/Writing Center Press.
To register for any Writing Center Webinars or if you have any questions about any of the Pearl S. Buck Writing Center offerings, contact Writing Center Chair Cindy Louden, at clouden@pearlsbuck.org or call 267-421-6203. Please note that the short stories and novel discussion groups are both complimentary.
Pearl S. Buck Writing Center 2021 Schedule
Webinars Honing Your Hook Thursday, February 4, 1-2:30 pm
Honing Your Hook invites readers into your story in the opening lines. Long a leader in the southeastern Pennsylvania writing scene, presenter Kathryn Craft writes stories that seek beauty and meaning at the edge of darkness. Find more information about Kathryn at: www.kathryncraft.com. Registration required, $25 fee.
How to Write a Novel Wednesday, February 17, 11 am-1 pm
How to Write a Novel offers a practical writing process from the mere germ of an idea all the way through the creative process, with an eye on getting a finished book into the hands of potential readers and fans. Novelist and writing coach John DeDakis is a former editor on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” and is the author of five mystery-suspense novels. Find out more about him at: www.johndedakis.com. Registration required, $50 fee.
Memoir Writing 1st Wednesdays, March 3-October 6 (see website for full schedule) 1-3 pm
Memoir Writing will guide you toward centering on one segment of your life and turning it into a compelling story, whether your goal is to share it with family and friends or to publish it for a wider audience. Each session includes time to practice writing that month’s lesson and to give and receive gentle, constructive feedback. Between class sessions, you will also have the opportunity to discuss articles on memoir writing and to share your writing with other students and the instructor for a more comprehensive response. Linda C. Wisniewski writes about life and the connections we make by giving each other the space and time to be heard. A former feature writer and columnist for the Bucks County Herald and the Bucks County Women’s Journal, Linda’s work has been published widely in literary magazines, newspapers and anthologies and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is the author of the memoir, Off Kilter, published by Pearlsong Press, and a novel, Where the Stork Flies, forthcoming from Sand Hill Review Press. Find more information on her at http://www.lindawis.com. Registration required, $200 fee.
Writers Guild 3rd Sundays, March 21-October 17 (see website for full schedule) 1-3 pm
Writers Guild meetings are where we share and critique our writing work-in-progress. In a friendly atmosphere, we encourage, support and challenge writers to improve whether they are experienced writers or beginners. All genres of literature are welcome, from novels and short fiction to memoirs, essays and poetry by all levels of writers. Visit our blog at www.psbwritingcenter.org and become a follower to receive email notifications of any new blog posts. Many past issues of the Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal – containing writing in a wide variety of genres – can be accessed from our blog. Registered Guild members must send writings for editing consideration and distribution to lindadonaldson@verizon.net two weeks prior to meetings so attendees can read and be prepared to discuss. Registration required, $80 fee.
Discussion Groups (complimentary)
Pearl’s Short Story Discussion Group 2nd Tuesdays, March 9-October 12 (see full schedule on website) 10-11:30 am
The Short Story Discussion Group will discuss selections from the collection titled Hearts Come Home by Pearl S. Buck (1962 or 1970 Edition). Carol Breslin, PhD, a Pearl S. Buck scholar and Professor Emerita from Gwynedd Mercy University, leads the group in discussions of short stories from the Hearts Come Home anthology.
Pearl’s Novel Discussion Group 3rd Mondays, March 22-October 18 (see full schedule on website) 1-2:30 pm
The Novel Discussion Group will begin its virtual sessions with “The Final Chapter” by Beverly Rizzon, who was Pearl Buck’s secretary while living in Vermont. You don’t have to have read the book to enjoy the discussions.
Find a full schedule of classes and more information at www.pearlsbuck.org/writing-center.