By Cynthia L. Louden

The Pearl S. Buck Writing Center began in 2010 under the title of Writing at a Writer’s House.  Our purpose is to respectfully continue the successful writing partnership and networking of Pearl S. Buck and her husband, Richard Walsh. Public information about the center is available at www.pearlsbuck.org/writingcenter. Interest quickly grew into the many activities offered by the Writing Center today. The PSB Writing Center has served approximately 500 people through its workshops and published 17 books through its WCP/Writing Center Press, continuing the writing legacy of Pearl S. Buck, with writers writing at a Writer’s House.

Are you an aspiring or an already-published writer?  Do you know someone who is?  Do you have a manuscript or an idea for a novel or story?  Then sign up for the writing events at the Pearl S. Buck Writing Center!  Mark your February & March calendars to attend a Zoom Writing webinar and “write at a writer’s house” or Zoom Discuss Pearl’s novels and short stories.

Writing Webinars

The first Zoom Webinar is February 4 from 1 -2:30 pm ~ “HONING YOUR HOOK” – invites readers into your story in the opening lines. Presenter, Kathryn Craft writes stories that seek beauty and meaning at the edge of darkness. Long a leader in the southeastern Pennsylvania writing scene, find more information about Kathryn at: www.kathryncraft.com $25 Registration required.

The second writing webinar is February 17th from 11am – 1pm ~ “HOW TO WRITE A NOVEL” – offers a practical process from the mere germ of an idea all the way through the creative process, with an eye on getting a finished book into the hands of potential fans. Novelist and writing coach John DeDakis is a former editor on CNN’s “The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer” and is the author of five mystery-suspense novels. More about him at: www.johndedakis.com. $50 Registration required.

PSBVA’s Linda Wisniewski will once again offer her very popular monthly ZOOM MEMOIRS Writing Webinars starting on the 1^st Wednesdays from 1-3pm beginning March 3^rd through October 6^th. This class will guide you towards centering on one segment of your life and turning it into a compelling story, whether your goal is to share it with family and friends or to publish it for a wider audience. Each session includes time to practice writing that month’s lesson and to give and receive gentle, constructive feedback. Between class sessions, you will also have the opportunity to discuss articles on memoir writing and to share your writing with other students and the instructor for a more comprehensive response. Linda C. Wisniewski writes about life and the connections we make by giving each other the space and time to be heard. A former feature writer and columnist for the Bucks County Herald and the Bucks County Women’s Journal, Linda’s work has been published widely in literary magazines, newspapers and anthologies and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is the author of the memoir, Off Kilter, published by Pearlsong Press, and a novel, Where the Stork Flies, forthcoming from Sand Hill Review Press. More about her at http://www.lindawis.com. $200 registration required.

Writers Guild

Welcome to the Pearl S. Buck Writing Center’s Writers Guild. Our monthly Guild meetings are where we share and critique our writing work-in-progress. In a friendly atmosphere, we encourage, support and challenge writers to improve whether they are experienced writers or beginners.

In 2021, PSB Writers Guild will begin monthly Zoomed Webinars on the 3^rd Sundays from 1-3pm beginning March 21st through October 17th. All genres of literature are welcome from novels and short fiction to memoirs, essays and poetry by all levels of writers. Visit our blog at www.psbwritingcenter.org  become a follower and you’ll receive an email notification of any new blog posts. Many past issues of our Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal – containing writing in a wide variety of genres – can be accessed from our blog.

Registered Guild members must send writings for editing consideration and distribution to lindadonaldson@verizon.net  2 weeks prior to our meetings so attendees can read and be prepared to discuss. Please consultthe blog at psbwritingcenter.org for more details. 

We are eager to meet you and share in helping you craft your stories. On behalf of all the editors, we welcome your participation and look forward to meeting you this Spring at our March 21st Zoom meeting.  Keep writing! The Writers Guild Editors, $80 Registration required.

Linda Donaldson – lindadonaldson@verizon.net
Cynthia L. Louden – cllouden@verizon.net
Dr. Anne K. Kaler – akkaler@verizon.net
Susan E. Wagner – swagner001@gmail.com

Short Story Discussions

Pearl’s Short Story Discussions will begin Zooming on the 2^nd Tuesdays of March through October from 10-11:30 a.m.  Dr. Carol Breslin leads the discussion of stories from Pearl’s “Hearts Come Home” anthology. “Hearts Come Home” is the anthology discussed using specific stories TBA.  Wonderful information can be gathered from Pearl’s short stories for Docents, Gift Shop volunteers or anyone who wants to know and share more about Pearl. Complimentary registration.

Novel Discussions

Pearl’s Novel Discussions will begin Zooming on the 3^rd Mondays of March 22 through October from 1-2:30 pm. We will begin with “The Final Chapter” by Beverly Rizzon, who was Pearl’s Secretary while living in Vermont.  For more information, email facilitator Cindy Louden, clouden@pearlsbuck.org. You don’t have to have read the book to enjoy the discussions. Wonderful information can be gathered from Pearl’s novels, her non-fiction, and from her biographers for Docents, Gift Shop volunteers or anyone who wants to know and share about our Pearl.  Complimentary registration.

To register for any Writing Center Webinars or if you have any questions about any of the Pearl S. Buck Writing Center offerings, contact its Chair, Cindy Louden, at clouden@pearlsbuck.org or call 267-421-6203.