The Writers Guild at Bloomington is an association of writers committed to mutual support and the professional development of their craft. Its mission is to foster interaction among writers as well as other artists, educators, and the Monroe County public, thereby enhancing the vibrancy of the arts and the writing community in the greater Bloomington area.
Events Calendar
The Writers Guild at Bloomington is pleased to announce:
THE RYSER SCHOLARSHIP
Annual support for a writer from South Central Indiana to pursue excellence
by attending a formal workshop or conference in the craft of writing.
The scholarship rotates yearly between a high school junior or senior, a Language Arts Teacher, and a Writer’s Guild member of any experience level. Our 2019 Ryser Scholarship recipient, Jan Tilley, is a Guild Member whose tuition to the 2019 IU Writers’ Conference was paid by the scholarship.
The 2020 Ryser Scholarship will be awarded to a High School junior or senior student in Monroe County, Brown County,
Lawrence County or Owen County.
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Joan Ryser taught American and European literature, creative writing, grammar and composition at Bloomington High School South for 44 years, where she was a beloved mentor for budding writers and avid readers.
When Joan passed away in 2017, she left instructions with her family that instead of flowers, memorial contributions be made to a local organization that promotes writing and literacy. The Writers Guild at Bloomington received the resulting donations and established the Guild’s first scholarship award. The Writers Guild has set up a continuing plan for the award, committing 5% of all membership fees and event proceeds in order to create ongoing support for writers to build their craft.
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The Ryser Scholarship provides $350 towards of a formal workshop or conference in the craft of writing. Events in Indiana include:
- IU Writers Conference — Bloomington
- Indiana Writers’ Center, A Gathering of Writers — Indianapolis
- Midwest Writers Workshop – Ball State University, Muncie
- Writing for Your Life Spiritual Writers’ Conference — Indianapolis
- Women Writing for (a) Change workshops – Bloomington
The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2020.
For further information please contact: ryseraward@writersguildbloomington.com
Mom, Dad, Aunt Aullie, and a Cat Called Wrinkle: Writing about Family
A writing workshop presented in partnership between the Writers Guild at Bloomington and the Monroe County Public Library
Free.
In Meeting room 2A
We all have relatives who fascinate us, and family stories that inspire; anger, comfort, and/or make us laugh and cry. This workshop will include exercises on writing about family. Please bring a few photos to share.
Led by Doris Lynch and assisted by Tonia Matthew.
All levels are welcome. Age 18 and up.
First Wednesday Spoken Word Series
Presented by the Writers Guild at Bloomington
Rachel Berenson Perry discusses her new book
Author and art historian Rachel Berenson Perry discusses her new biography of Felrath Hines which chronicles the life of an exceptional artist
and art conservator who overcame numerous obstacles throughout his career, refusing to be pigeonholed by his race. Perry explores Hine’s life in Indianapolis and then in New York City in the 1950s and 60s where he created a close friendship with jazz musician Billy Strayhorn and participated in the African American Spiral Group of New York and the equal rights movement.
This is a Coffee with Friends event at the Monroe County Public Library.
In program room 2B.
Free.
Age 12 and up.
The Sunday Poetry Reading & Open Mic
Please note new TIME and DATE
PDVNCH
PDVNCH [Pee-dove-inch] is a dramatic prophetic poetic storyteller, who uses rainbows, painting pictures, creating vivid images, with words, from multiple perspectives, giving voice to the unheard, with vocal tones, that are rhythmic.
As an inventor/originator, most known, globally, for his original iconic hair designs ‘Beads by PDVNCH’, fabulous frames and his phenomenal passion for fashion.
A Bloomingtonian, and Director Of Creative-Arts Productions for GHETT-HEALTHY productions @ GHp Stewdios. Through collaboration, his desire is to Inspire inspiration, and “Always be on Purpose”!
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Writers Guild Monthly Business Meeting
Join us for our monthly business meeting to discuss what we are doing and what we are doing next. Bring you ideas! Bring your voice to add to the discussion.
We meet at the Monroe County Public Library in room 214.
First Sunday Prose Reading and Open Mic
Presented by the Writers Guild at Bloomington
First Sunday Prose Reading and Open Mic
Presented by the Writers Guild
The featured readers are: Zilia Balkansky-Selles and Joan Hawkins
Come early to sign up for Open Mic!
Zilia Balkansky-Sellés is a Bloomington-based writer, and occasional dancer and actor. She earned a master’s in information science
degree from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in folkloristics from the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University. She has worked as an academic advisor for the Groups Scholars Program at Indiana University and currently works as the Extracurricular Coordinator for the Hutton Honors College at Indiana University. Her poetry has appeared in Comparative Woman, from Louisiana State University. She has written for Wild Swan Theater, which produces plays for Michigan schools and libraries.
Joan Hawkins is the Chair of the Writers Guild and an Associate Professor in Cinema and Media Studies at Indiana University.
She works mainly in creative memoir and Spoken Word; her creative work has appeared in Sand, Avalanches in Poetry, n+1,and Performing Arts Journal. Her most recent book, a critical anthology on the writer William S. Burroughs, has been nominated for an Indiana Author Award and a Modern Language Association Award.
Writers Guild Spoken Word Series