Morgantown Writers Group Workshop Still Open For Participants!

Where Did You Get That Idea?& Where Did That Character Come From?

Workshop Leader Barbara Smith - novelist, short story writer; free-lance writer/editor, and medical ethicist. More on Barbara below.

Morgantown Public Library - November 15, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration: $10.00

If you plan to attend our Short Fiction Workshop on Saturday, November 15th - send email to Patricia.Patteson@mail.wvu.edu The morning workshop begins at 9:30 a.m. Barbara Smith also will critique short fiction manuscripts (1,000 to 3,000 words). If you wish to get into the advanced critique workshop, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., please send your manuscript as a Word attachment to George.Lies@mail.wvu.edu by November 10th.

Manuscript Critique: Barbara will critique short fiction manuscripts (1,000 words to 3,000 words) for the advance part of the workshop. Advance Workshop after lunch, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.. She will discuss strengths and weaknesses of the manuscripts. Nominal fee for MWG and WVW members' short fiction critique.

Barbara's Chick Flicks, A collection of 20 Short Stories -
Barbara Smith's new collection of 20 short stories, titled, Chick Flicks is available now at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, Mountain Treasures store in Philippi, and the Alderson-Broaddus bookstore, Philippi public library. Publisher is Mountain State Press, Charleston, WV). Cost is only $12.50.

Of her new collection, Barbara says: "Chick Flicks" is a term used widely to identify movies that appeal particularly to females; e.g., "Steel Magnolias." Because all of the stories in the collection feature females, "CF" seemed a logical title. All of the characters I write about are composites based on real people in real or imagined conflicts. For instance, I might see a shabbily dressed woman walking down the street in Morgantown, and I might combine her "attitude" with the demanding tasks of a woman whom I have worked with who is an aging attendant in a nursing home." The last story in the collection is her #1. "I had a lot of fun writing that. I also, however, especially like "Night Visitor" and "Walk in the Woods," both of which became trigger stories for whole novels. And I like "Raising the Roof," again fun to write. . . "

Currently, Barbara is working on 3 book-length nonfiction assignments (2 autobiographies and a local history), and has a new novel drafted and can't wait to get time to finish it. She's also writing frequent articles for WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA MAGAZINE (four this year) and for local media. In short, she says, "my computer stays hot."

And she has an impressive background: Formerly Emerita Professor of Literature and Writing and former Chair of the Division of the Humanities, Alderson-Broaddus College, Philippi, West Virginia, she has published: Demonstrative Pronouns (poetry), Judge Ira Robinson: West Virginia Statesman and Man of Letters (biography). She is a community activist and sports nut.