NEWSLETTERS
August-September 2008
The Write Stuff
Online Newsletter of Word Journeys
bobyehling.wordpress.com • 366writing.wordpress.com
Special Offer! To mark the release of The River-Fed Stone, we’re offering signed copies of the entire series of poetry and essay titles written and/or edited by Robert Yehling at a discounted price! Buy signed copies of The River-Fed Stone, Coyotes in Broad Daylight, Shades of Green and Freedom of Vision today and receive a special bonus—the spoken-word CD, Writes of Nature, featuring 25 poems with accompanying music.
Package Price: $42.00 (regularly $54.80), plus $5.00 S&H. Express Shipping: $15.00.
Make checks payable to: Word Journeys, Inc. and mail to: 854 Long Branch Rd., Sturgis, KY 42459
For gift orders, please give us the name of the recipient, so we can personalize the signing.
Please allow 2 weeks for delivery.
Upcoming Events
• Aug. 5: Reading, The River-Fed Stone, Borders Books & Music, Hammond, IN
• Sept. 18: Writing That Transforms Lives, Presentation, An Inspiration Station, Tucson, AZ
• Sept. 20: Writing That Transforms Lives, Workshop, An Inspiration Station, Tucson, AZ
• Sept. 27-28: Wrangling With Writing Conference, Tucson, AZ
• Oct. 7 & 14: Writing That Transforms Lives, Workshop, Community Center, Carrsville, KY
• Oct. 21: Featured Reader, The River-Fed Stone, Third Tuesday, Owensboro, KY
• Oct. 23: Featured Reader, The River-Fed Stone, Barnes & Noble, Evansville, IN
Writing That Transforms Lives: What can be a greater reason for writing than to compose a book or story that changes or transforms the lives of others? We all have read such works. They helped to define us. Truth is, All of us have experience and knowledge that can prompt change in another’s life. It’s a matter of finding the right format or genre, and writing about it. “Writing That Transforms Lives” explores the ways of converting our experiences into writing that prompts change in others—and to learn a language of writing that moves directly into the reader’s heart, soul and senses, as well as the mind. A 90-minute free presentation on September 18 will lead to the main workshop on September 20. At An Inspiration Station in Tucson, AZ. $89 pre-registration (through Sept. 10), $99 late/on-site registration. For more information: www.beaninspirationstation.com.
Wrangling With Writing Conference: Registration is now underway for the 36th annual gathering of writers in the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Southeastern Arizona. Produced and hosted by the Society of Southwestern Authors, the 2008 edition of Wrangling With Writing will feature performance poet Taylor Mali, writer and developmental producer Corey Blake, and award-winning author Deborah LeBlanc. More than 30 authors, editors, publishers, agents and writing consultants will be on hand for workshops on all creative and business aspects of writing, one-on-one sessions for authors trying to sell their works, and the many behind-the-scenes moments that make writers’ conferences so vital for authors to attend. This is not only one of the best conferences for the money in America, but it’s one of the best conferences—period. Sept. 27-28 at the Holiday Inn Palo Verde in Tucson, AZ.
For registration information: www.ssa-az.org/conference.htm.
For a press release on the conference
For a free PDF copy of the article, “Meet Me In The Bar: Notes On Working A Writer’s Conference,” which details ways to make the most of your writer’s conference experience, email us at: bob@wordjourneys.com.
New Blogs Launch!
We’ve launched two new blogs for your reading, writing and learning enjoyment:
Bobyehling.wordpress.com: Regular stories on aspects of the art, craft and business of writing, with occasional features on authors, artists, musicians and poets, reviews of books, coverages of major literary events and more. A potpourri of anecdotes, insights and tidbits from the world of writing.
366writing.wordpress.com: A new daily blog of dynamic exercises for writers of all abilities and genres, as well as artists, musicians, healing arts professionals, educators and others who use writing in their professions. The exercises are informed by our upcoming book, The Write Time.
New Releases
The River-Fed Stone
Robert Yehling’s newest collection of poetry and essays, The River-Fed Stone, is now available at bookstores nationwide. The River-Fed Stone includes 144 pages of all-new poetry and essays, wrapped around a wisdom-gathering journey through life. It features more than 20 poetic forms—several of them thousands of years old.
Order Signed Copies Now!
Table of Contents and Sample Poems
Poetry Through The Ages
Launching on June 1, Poetry Through The Ages is already captivating educators, fans of poetry and the media. This 256-page web exhibit, featuring the dynamics of poetry’s 4,500-year history, was written by Robert Yehling and produced by the Institute of Dynamic Educational Advancement. The exhibit features hundreds of classic and current poets, along with poetic forms dating back to Sumeria and forward to include SpicyNodes, the meshing of downloadable technology with 3D poetry.
Poetry Through The Ages is the subject of an upcoming piece in the forward-thinking Edutopia magazine, as well as The Voice of America, which broadcasts throughout the world.
Poetry Through The Ages is free to view. Go to: www.webexhibits.org/poetry
Freedom of Vision: Voices from Behind Prison Walls
Edited by Stephen B. Gladish and Robert Yehling
Freedom of Vision’s new and improved version was published by Aisling Press earlier in 2008. This exceptional anthology features 125 poems and essays. With shows like The Jim Lehrer NewsHour covering prison-based literature, the subject is of keen interest to readers. Contributors include American Book Award winner Jimmy Santiago Baca, Burroughs Award winner Ken Lamberton, renowned prison poet Gordon Grilz, and Stephen B. Gladish, who taught creative writing in the Arizona Department of Corrections for 20 years and masterminded the book.
From Our Clients & Friends
What I Thought I Knew, by Barbara Stahura
www.wymacpublishing.com
After writing essays and magazine articles for 15 years, Barbara Stahura breaks out with this outstanding essay collection, wrapped around her experiences before, during and following the near-fatal motorcycle accident suffered by her husband, Ken Willingham. She discusses what happens when everything we thought we knew can no longer inform or guide us … and it’s time to gather more wisdom and try another approach, no matter at what station we are in life. Now available.
In Other News…
Poetry Reading on KXCI Radio
Robert Yehling will read his poetry this fall on KXCI Community Radio in Tucson, AZ. The 15-minute reading, hosted by Ron Cipriani, will focus on The River-Fed Stone, but also include pieces from Yehling’s collections Shades of Green, Coyotes in Broad Daylight and Open Meadows, and the Freedom of Vision anthology. Airing dates will be announced on www.wordjourneys.com. The reading will also be archived on www.kxci.org.
For Regular Updates
We’re in the midst of scheduling multiple readings and workshops for the next 12 months, so please check regularly with our website, www.wordjourneys.com, for the latest schedule of appearances. Also, check our blogs, bobyehling.wordpress.com and 366writing.wordpress.com, for news, interviews, fresh writing exercises, new poetry and essays, and more.
Stretch Your Writing Muscles: Writing Exercises
LIGHTING THE ROOM
The quality or type of light in a room often changes our perception of its contents, or alters our mood, thoughts or feelings when we’re inside. Let’s set the tone of a scene of novels and non-fiction books in very few words by describing the light. For instance, a bedroom suffused with candlelight presents a different tone than a bedroom illuminated by fluorescent lights—and even the types, colors and sizes of candles offer different moods. Take a room in your home—it doesn’t matter which—and describe its contours, features, contents, moods, angles, shadows and surprises as though filled with:
a.sunlight
b.moonlight
c.candlelight — be adventurous and try different types of candles!
d.fluorescent light
e.everyday lights
f.Lamps of unusual design or style
Work with all of these variations, and others you might create—and watch how the characteristics of the room change, in your own words.
—From The Write Time: 366 Exercises for Writing and Healing, by Robert Yehling (to be published in 2009)
©2008 Word Journeys. Inc. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reprint portions of this newsletter for promotional or educational purposes, and to forward this e-newsletter to non-subscribers. If you’d like to cancel your subscription, write to us here with the subject heading, “CANCEL SUBSCRIPTION.”