News

Glimmer Train Accepting Submissions for Fall

Glimmer Train Press is accepting original short stories through the rest of the year by August 31, 2016:

  • Very Short Fiction Contest (300-3,000 words)
  • Fiction Open Contest (3,000 – 6,000+ words)
  • Family Matters (stories about families from 1,000 – 5,000+ words)
  • Standard Category (open to all – Maximum word count 12,000)

The two sisters, Susan and Linda, have been producing Glimmer Train Press since 1991 are open to just about anything fiction. They pay out our $50,000 a year to writers through their various contests and publishing fees. The copyright is retained by the author, and they will accept previously published work, as long as fewer than 75 copies have been sold.

This year, they’ve announced that they’ve expanded the number of months submissions are open to only emerging writers, allowing more new writers to get an opportunity. They’ve also increased the first place prizes in every category.

Literary short fiction works are to be original, and comply with their content guidelines with accompanying reading and submission fees. Prizes range from $300 – $3,000.

Check their submission calendar for more information and deadlines.

Lend an Ear, Come and Hear 2016

Lend an Ear 2015 - Susan Schmidlin distributes goodies after her reading to the audience.Writers in the Grove invites you to attend our 7th Annual Juried Reading Event, Lend an Ear, Come and Hear 2016, at Plum Hill Winery in Gaston, Oregon, on Saturday, July 9, 2016, from 10:30am until the last reader (typically ends about 1pm).

The event is free and open to all ages. A pizza wagon will be on hand for those wishing to stay for lunch, and the winery will be open with wine, soft drinks, and snacks.

If you would like to submit an entry for reading at the event, the deadline is June 13, 2016. You may download and print out the form and send them by mail to:

2016 Lend an Ear, Come and Hear
47777 S.W. Ihrig Road
Forest Grove, OR 97116-7327

Submissions must be family-friendly and are limited to 4 minutes out-loud reading time. Applicants are limited to one or more pieces of prose or poetry, must be original and written by the applicant, and not infringe upon any copyrights.

Submissions will be reviewed for acceptance by a Selection Committee and authors of accepted pieces will be notified no later than June 30 for the July 9th event.

Again, we invite everyone to come join us in the beautiful Plum Hill Winery for this special event featuring local writers sharing their brilliant work for free.

Plum Hill Winery is located at 6505 SW Old Hwy. 47, Gaston, Oregon, just off Old Highway 47 south of Forest Grove.

Download and print Lend an Ear Application 2016 (PDF) to submit your entry by June 13, 2016.

Writer’s in the Grove Monday Workshop Venue Change

It’s Memorial Day Weekend and the Forest Grove Senior and Community Center will be closed. We will be heading to the farm on Monday!

Susan Schmidlin has invited us out to Schmidlin Farm, a black Angus ranch near Vernonia. Bring pens and paper, laptops, whatever, and join us for this fun morning, and possibly the day.

There will be carpool available at the Center, leaving by 8:20AM on Monday. The rest of us will meet at Schmidlin Farm by 9AM.

Please bring a potluck meal to share with everyone as we will have lunch following the morning workshop. Please label the food as to vegetarian, meat, dairy, or gluten.

The Schmidlin’s have invited us to tour the ranch and get some close up time with the cattle. Those willing to pull weeds, bring appropriate attire and kneeling pads and join us in her huge garden. She brings in fruits and vegetables all summer long to our writing group, and this is one of the ways we can pay back.

See you, Monday, at the farm!

New Prompt-a-Month Series Announced

Writers in the Grove Prompt-a-Month badge.Starting in June, Writers in the Grove members will be challenge to submit a piece for our new prompt-a-month series on this website.

Like our workshop prompts, we love the creativity of our writers. We are eager to show off their talents each month with their own unique take on the prompt-of-the-month for the website.

Here is how it works:

  • Before the first of each month we will announce a prompt for that month.
  • Writers in the Grove members only may submit one submission each per month.
  • Submissions are accepted by our submission form or email to Lorelle, Susan, or Ann Farley, or delivered in person, printed on white paper in a clean font suitable for scanning.
  • The deadline is the first of the next month.
  • Submissions accepted will be published throughout that month.
  • The copyright of the submitted work is retained by the author, and a submission gives us permission to publish it on our website here.
  • Edit your work well, and consider having other members review it before submission. Submit your best work. We have the right to refuse to publish a submission. The rules of our workshops hold for these submissions as well.

Members are welcome to share their work in our workshops before submission.

We’re excited about this new opportunity for our members to strut their stuff and to help build some publishing credits. Be ready for some brilliant work. We’re love showing off our members’ talents.

Willamette Writers Conference Early Bird Prices End May 31

If you are a writer in the Portland area, or anywhere close to the Pacific Northwest, put the Willamette Writers Conference in Portland, Oregon, August 12-14, 2016, on your schedule and register now for the early bird ticket prices.

The Willamette Writers Association is a non-profit, educational organization actively involved in helping writers get published, turn scripts into movies and television shows, and improve their writing overall. They offer a wide range of educational programs, meetups, and programs for youth and adult all year long, but the annual conference is a must attend event.

Held at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel this year, the schedule is filled with fantastic writing techniques and learning opportunities. Register early and plan out which workshops you will attend, including the exceptional pre-conference workshops and classes.

If you are interested in a manuscript critique, they are offering those for a fee, and we recommend you take time to read through “On the Right Track with Advance Manuscript Critiques” to help you prepare for the critique.

Want to pitch your story? Your novel, memoir, script? Pitching events are held during the event as well as at special times, and cost $25 each. Register early for the opportunity to do multiple pitches with various publishers and editors. Read “Pitching with Confidence – Marvin Baker’s Story” for an example of how to pitch your story well, and what might happen. Many authors have sold their books and movie rights at the Willamette Writers Conference over the years.

Early bird registration tickets range from $229 for one day to $449 for the entire event, good until May 31. After that, the prices increase, so hurry.

If enough Writers in the Grove members are considering going, we’ll get a room to share for the weekend. Carpooling is also available. Let us know during our workshops or contact us if you are interested in going so we can make arrangements for transportation and possible lodging.

January 18 Writers in the Grove Meeting

The Forest Grove Senior and Community Center will be closed on January 18 for Martin Luther King Day. Paula and Parks Adams have again offered their home in downtown Forest Grove for the 9AM meeting.

While they traditionally serve snacks and have food for lunch afterwards, please bring a small potluck or snack to add to the mix.

We usually do something special on these workshop events, including multiple prompts, so expect to really sharpen up your creative writing skills in January!

If you require the address and directions, please use our contact form.

Flea Market and Book Sale at Forest Grove Senior and Community Center

Forest Grove Community and Senior Center Flea Market Poster 2015The re-opening of the Forest Grove Senior and Community Center Flea Market is Saturday, October 10, 2015, coinciding with the Writers in the Grove Annual Book Sale and Fundraiser, also for the Center.

From 9am – 4pm there will be a variety of booths in the Center featuring our book sale, handmade crafts, antique collectibles, jewelry, and a mini quilt show. The Gift Shop will be having a clearance sale and there will be drawings for prizes and food carts outside for some fun bites to eat.

The next scheduled dates are November 14 and December 12, 2015. If you live in Washington County, Oregon, or in the surrounding areas, this is a great event to catch up on your holiday shopping lists.

See you there!

October 2 Annual Book Sale at Forest Grove Senior Center

Books for Sale.It’s time for our Annual Writers in the Grove Book Sale to raise money for the Forest Grove Senior and Community Center.

Put October 2, 2015, on your calendar.

Drop off your books before hand or on the morning of at the Forest Grove Senior Center in Forest Grove, Oregon. We will be pricing them reasonably for sale to the public. The book sale tables will be self-managed. Exact change would be appreciated. All funds collected will benefit the great works of the Forest Grove Senior and Community Center.

If you wish to donate books for this special event, you may drop them off at the Center before the sale start date.

A Prompt and an Assignment

At the end of last weeks class, a stack of magazines had been offered as the prompt for the class to be held on Sept. 21. It is as simple as leafing through a magazine and finding an image that speaks to you.

Using the image, write freely for 15 minutes.

Feel free to share your writing at the Monday class, or bring images that you select to be passed around as inspiration for others in the group.

You can write by describing what you see, or what the image makes you think about. It could be the emotion you feel, or want others to feel. What the photographer was looking for or what can’t be seen in the picture. Let your imagination run wild.

A photo from The Sun Magazine, a solitary form walking in the mist.

Also, a reminder that Sept. 21 is a celebration for Patty. She has successfully completed TOPS and has graduated to the KOPS program. Congratulations Patty!

Diana Lubarsky’s Holocaust Images Presentation September 1

Diana Lubarsky Presentation of Sculpture and Poetry at Forest Grove Library - Flyer.

Diana Lubarsky, member of Writers in the Grove, will be presenting a program of story and poetry at the Forest Grove Library in Forest Grove, Oregon, on Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at 7PM in the Rogers Room.

Diana Lubarsky (D.K. Lubarsky) is world renown for her sculpture and poetry on the subject of the Holocaust. A sculpture for over 35 years, her work is on display around the world and a permanent collection at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. She will bring six of her more than 60 works from her Holocaust Images collection to the library as well as the poetry pieces that accompany each work.

The event is free, a part of the Cultural Series Events at the Forest Grove Library, 2114 Pacific Avenue, Forest Grove, Oregon 97119. For more information, contact the library at r503-992-3247.