week of 4/24/02
 
 
 

Writers Network to publish literary collection
SMN
North Carolina Writers Network West, in celebration of its 10th anniversary, will publish an anthology of the best poems, essays and short stories by writers living in the NETWEST area. This includes Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties in North Carolina. NETWEST members living in South Carolina, Georgia or Tennessee bordering on any of the NETWEST counties are also eligible to submit.

NETWEST was formed in 1992 to help alleviate the isolation felt by North Carolina Writers Network members living in the western mountain counties, far away from all the activities centered in the Raleigh area. NETWEST sponsors monthly reading and critique sessions, and workshops for members and for the public schools. Through its computer network, NETWEST provides a forum for members to post their work for review and critique, to exchange information about publishing and publications, and to keep abreast of the latest developments in the publishing world.

The anthology will be based on the theme, “Living in or inspired by the Smoky Mountains.” While we hope all works submitted will give a feeling of living in our mountains, writers should feel free to submit their best work regardless of subject matter. Our editors will bear in mind our desire for a mountain theme without requiring that every piece submitted should be totally mountain oriented.

A photo by our contest winner Mary Ricketson will grace the anthology cover. Kathryn Stripling Byer will select the poems for the anthology. Steven Harvey will select the essays, and Ruth Moore the short stories. North Carolina Poet Laureate Fred Chappell will write the introduction.


Submission guidelines

Enter one category only. The work must have been written by the submitter. Do not include your name on any page of the manuscript. Attach a cover sheet with your name, address, phone number and email address (if applicable), titles and category of your work. Include the exact word count for any prose submissions. An excerpt of a work is acceptable, as is a previously published work. On the cover sheet state when and where the work was published, and that you retain rights. Submissions not meeting the guidelines will be disqualified.

A $10 reading fee will be charged for NETWEST members; $18 for non-members. NETWEST membership is open to anyone living in the eight counties listed above. Your check must be included, payable to NCWNW. Non-members are encouraged to join when you send in your submission. Your membership is important, as it makes programs such as this anthology possible.

Poetry: Send one to three poems, 10-point type, single spaced, with no more than 40 lines per poem, including title and stanza breaks.

Essay and Creative Non-fiction: Send one to three pieces of non-fiction, 10-point type, double spaced. The combined word length must not exceed 3,000 words.

Short Story: Send one to three pieces of fiction, 10-point type, double spaced. The combined length must not exceed 3,000 words.

To receive the editor’s decision regarding your submission, include a #10 SASE. Keep your original copy. Manuscripts will not be returned.

All entries must be postmarked by July 1, 2002.

Mail to: NCWN West Anthology Project; Paul Donovan, Chairman; 73 Osbome Lane, Murphy, NC 28906; 828.644.5518.

For further information, contact your NETWEST Haywood County representatives:

Al Manning, 828.456.9248, amanning@asap-com.com; or Ila Jean Yount, 828.456.6070, ijyount@charter.net