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Richmond Young Writers’ Summer Workshop

Spend a week exploring the craft and fun of writing with a sampler of group and individual writing exercises, artful brainstorming, creative journaling and three special workshops a week by local authors, culminating in a reading of original works at Chop Suey Books.

Featuring local writers: Slash Coleman, Denise Bennett, Darren Morris, Brandon Reynolds, Anne Thomas Soffee and Hannah Huber

Session 1- June 8-12: ages 11-13
Session 2- June 15-19: ages 11-13
Session 3- June 29- July 3: ages 14-17
Session 4- July 6-10: ages 14-17

$120 per session or $230 for 2 sessions

Monday- Friday from 2pm- 5pm
At Chop Suey Books in the art gallery upstairs
2913 West Cary Street in Carytown

Valley Haggard, Director
Style Weekly journalist and producer of the monthly James River Writers’ Writing Show, Valley Haggard has taught creative writing through Art 180, the VMFA, the Visual Arts Center of Richmond and at the UVA Young Writer’s Workshop. Valley holds a BA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College.

For more information and to register, visit www.richmondyoungwriters.com, email valleyhaggard@gmail.com or call 804-282-1789.

Valley Haggard
Director of Richmond Young Writers
www.richmondyoungwriters.com

Freelance Writer
www.styleweekly.com
Producer of the JRW Writing Show
www.jamesriverwriters.com
valleyhaggard.blogspot.com

Playing For Change

Peace Through Music

My friend Erkia sent the music video below to me via Facebook and I was so impressed and pleased that I found it on YouTube, listened to it again  and still got chills.  Some awesome stuff...Check it out. Erika's right- music can shrink the distance between us.

A Room of One's Own

Okay, so it's been a few weeks. I've had a bunch to do in preparation for getting the equipment for my new workspace.

I had to transform this:

To this (with some help of course):

Doing that meant moving the furkids into the kitchen and finding a place for everything else, which is no easy feat nor for the faint of heart.

We live in a small house that is positively CRAMMED with stuff and so when you move one thing, you have to move at least three other things. It's a bit like living in a jigsaw puzzle. So when you move substantial things around like storage space or furniture or furkids kennels, it takes awhile. Then add me and my spine to the mix, it probably takes 3 times as long for me to get anything done even with help.

But it is done now and once I got to work in here, I realized how much I missed having a space of my own in which to write. I had been working and writing at a station in the living room which is perfect for web surfing, light e-mail reading and photo editing but it lacks the flat space and the environment conducive to productivity and writing. And it's nice to have a desk again with a good comfortable chair in which to lean back in and think deep thoughts about social media and writing and and art- whatever pops into my head to feed my insatiable curiosity and active imagination.

Though I share this space with the washer and dryer and an art making nook, I have really been enjoying  have a space where I can be alone, that is mine to write in again. In her book, "A Room of One's Own", Virginia Woolf wrote, "'a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction". I don;t have a lot of money so I don't write a lot of fiction but I have to say it has been lovely to write and work with no other person in the room; no TV droning on and on with programs I detest. I have caught myself wondering if this isn't more important than having having a studio. Perhaps not.  Perhaps they are equally important and I am just a space hog.

What do you think?  How important is having a space in which to create where you can be alone ? Do you have a space of your own at home where you can be alone to blog or do art or write or mix music or whatever it is you do? If so, how important is it to you? If not, how do you manage?

Pssssssst...I've Become An Evangelist

I've been keeping a secret from most of you. I've only mentioned it in passing only a few times and discussed it only with Manthing, my mother and a few other people who needed to know.

Just for the record, there isn't a sex tape or a baby on the way and I haven't decided to move away, get married, or  close my blog. I have not auditioned for "Moment of Truth" and I won't be appearing on "Dr. Phil" or "Jerry Springer" anytime in the future.

But.

After two years of wending my way through governmental bureaucratic red tape with the help of some unusual and extraordinary DRS staff people; sitting through stiff and pointless interviews with companies looking for clones and perky college graduates; a few unsuccessful attempts to hammer my round self into square, 9 to 5 holes against my better judgment;  and two years bouncing between hope and discouragement, I was introduced to someone bright, smart and savvy enough to hire me to do what I do best: write, be creative and help others connect with each other.

So it is with great pride and excitement that I announce beginning June 9th, I'll have a nice, round, shiny, never-before-used new evangelical position to look forward to.  Don't rub your eyes. You read it right. Ee-van-gel-ick-cal.

My title proper is Community Evangelist and in a nutshell I'll be responsible for content development, editorial supervision, and reaching out to new people for a new online community called Active Gray Matter. Puts a new spin on evangelical pursuits! Yay! Go me!

I'll be able to be creative, meet new people and do what I love while maintaining my vaguely mysterious and reclusive lifestyle.

I'll be able to work most days from home, in my pajamas (if I want to)- just like Hef but without the girlfriends, the mansion and the staff.

I'll be able to continue writing and creating art.

And I'll be able to continue on at the Gallery.

Active Gray Matter is a community designed by and for people with disabling or chronic conditions. More than just another online social networking site, community members will be able to connect with people who share a passion for economic independence through self-employment or career development. Community members have access to Active Gray Matter's network of professionals and mentors. Though still in its trial period, Active Gray Matter will officially launch next month. If you want to check things out ahead of time, just click on the link and have a look around.

I am so excited about the opportunity to join and be a part of this new and innovative community and looking forward to the new challenges and growth ahead.