Call to Authors – Beat the Doldrums

Published on January 22, 2019January 22, 2019 by Pearl S. Buck Writing CenterLeave a comment

By Linda Donaldson

New beginnings bring new opportunities for our Writers Guild members and our Writing Center. Soon we will be rolling out our 2019 Calendar of Events detailing two upcoming Memoir class series and our 2019 meeting schedule for the Writers Guild.

Mark Sunday, March 17^th (St. Patrick’s Day) on your calendar for our first meeting at 1pm in the Cultural Center (red Barn) at Green Hills Farm, 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA 18944.

Expect a blog later this week with Dr. Anne Kaler’s essay on the theme (it’s a secret) for the next issue of our Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal – the Spring/Summer 2019 issue. Stay tuned.

Today I’d like to share a link, provided by Sandra Carey Cody, one of our Writing Center presenters and a published author, to a writing contest. The theme of the Bethlehem Writers Roundtable short story contest is Animal Stories.

Entry fee is $10 for stories of 2,000 words or less about wild animals, pets or imaginary beasts (so long as an animal is an important character or element of the story.) Deadline is March 31^st.

Put on your thinking caps! And keep an eye out for new blogs by Sue Wagner, author of the new poetry book Unmuted: Voices from the Edge.

Fall 2018 ♦ Volume 3, Number 2

Published on November 16, 2018November 16, 2018 by Pearl S. Buck Writing Center4 Comments

Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal

There are 20 contributions to this Fall issue of the 2018 Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal. The theme of this issue is Transformation. Submissions include essays, memoirs, poems, short stories, and an excerpt from a novel.

Our thanks to authors Dr. Anne K. Kaler, Sandra Carey Cody, David H. Werrett, Jane Bleam, Paul Teese, Joseph A. Vitella, John McCabe, Susan E. Wagner, Joel Mendez, Kat Cerruti, Meredith Betz, Linda Wisniewski, Archana Kokroo, and Bob McCrillis.

Anne K. Kaler, PhD
Professor of English Emerita
Gwynedd Mercy University

(Click title to read selection. Author’s biography at end of contribution)

Transformation

An Essay by Anne K. Kaler, PSBVA

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Shadows

A Short Story by Sandra Carey Cody

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Sunflowers

A Poem by David H. Werrett

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The Baby Squirrels

A Memoir by Jane Bleam

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The Naming Project

A Short Story by Paul Teese

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Jake Meets Nick Rossi

An Excerpt from a Novel
by Joseph A. Vitella

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Sidewalk Sanctification

A Short Story by John McCabe

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The Woman Who Bound Pain to Her Bones

A Poem by Susan E. Wagner

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An Hour and Forty Minutes

A Short Story by Joel Mendez

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From Walking Under Trees

A Poem by John McCabe

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Father and Daughter

A Short Story by Susan E. Wagner

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Mary Gertrude and the Alligator

A Short Story by Anne K. Kaler

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Daddy’s Little Princess

A Memoir by Jane Bleam

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A Lesson Learned

A Memoir by Kat CerRuti

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White Gloves

A Memoir by Meredith Betz

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Lake in the Woods

A Short Story by Linda Wisniewski

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Transformations

A Short Story by Archana Kokroo

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# Me Too?

A Short Story by Bob McCrillis

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Swimming Lessons

A Short Story by David H. Werrett

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Other People’s Shoes

A Short Story by Meredith Betz

Writing Rules – Part II

Published on August 30, 2018August 30, 2018 by Pearl S. Buck Writing CenterLeave a comment

(Yes, I’m thinking of making this a series)

By Bob McCrillis

Who knew?

While poking around on the internet to find some of Ray Bradbury’s earliest short stories, I discovered his twelve rules for writing. Elmore Leonard wasn’t the only one – imagine. A celebrated author, presumably with a busy schedule, took the time to codify his rules and tips. His willingness to share them with the world was, to me, even more shocking – why encourage competitors?

My much-boasted-about short story per week for a year effort came from the first of Mr. Bradbury’s twelve rules:

Don’t start out writing novels. They take too long. Begin your writing life instead by cranking out “a hell of a lot of short stories,” as many as one per week. Take a year to do it; he claims that it simply isn’t possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row. He waited until the age of 30 to write his first novel, Fahrenheit 451. “Worth waiting for, huh?”

Continue reading “Writing Rules – Part II” →

June Writers Guild Meeting Summary

Published on July 11, 2018July 11, 2018 by Pearl S. Buck Writing CenterLeave a comment

By Anne K. Kaler

The June 17^th meeting started at 1 pm in the upper area of the red barn. Cindy Louden (chair) and Anne Kaler (instructor) led the meeting where all seven attendees presented their writings which are summarized below.

Notice was given on several new sources for short stories and poems under the BookBaby ads. One of their downloads includes a list from Authors Publish Magazine of 180 journals who accept submissions of poetry and prose. Visit www.authorspublish.com. Continue reading “June Writers Guild Meeting Summary” →

Summer 2018 ♦ Volume 3, Number 1

Published on June 16, 2018 by Pearl S. Buck Writing CenterLeave a comment

Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal

There are 12 contributions to this Summer 2018 Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal. The theme of this issue is Justice and Mercy. Submissions include essays, memoirs, poems, short stories, and an excerpt from a novel.

Our thanks to authors Dr. Anne K. Kaler, Rev. Edgar P. Roosa, Bob McCrillis, Susan Wagner, Harry J. Houldin, Jane Bleam, Sandra Carey Cody, and Paul Teese.

Anne K. Kaler, PhD
Professor of English Emerita
Gwynedd Mercy University

(Click title to read selection. Author’s biography at end of contribution)

Justice and Mercy

ESSAY BY ANNE K. KALER, PSBVA

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Social Justice Themes in the Life and Writings of Pearl S. Buck

ESSAY BY REV. EDGAR P. ROOSA

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The Thief of Time

POEM BY ANNE K. KALER, PSBVA

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Mrs. Hastings

SHORT STORY BY BOB McCRILLIS

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Everest

POEM BY SUSAN WAGNER

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To the Bulge

EXCERPT FROM A NOVEL BY PFC HARRY J. HOULDIN

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Lydwyna the Spinster and the Pearl Embroidery

EXCERPT FROM A NOVEL BY ANNE K. KALER, PSBVA

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Sans Poetic Punctuation

POEM BY JOHN McCABE

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The Goose Family

MEMOIR BY JANE BLEAM

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The Cherry Trees

ESSAY BY SANDRA CAREY CODY

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Respite

ESSAY BY PAUL TEESE

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Extinguished Camp Fires Burn

SHORT STORY BY JOHN McCABE

Writers Guild Meets May 20th

Published on May 11, 2018May 11, 2018 by Pearl S. Buck Writing CenterLeave a comment

By Linda Donaldson

The Writer’s Guild meets on Sunday, May 20^th at 1 pm. Don’t forget we begin a half hour earlier this year so we can wrap up by 3 pm.

Become a follower of this blog to get immediate notification of blog posts with links. We feature helpful articles to start you on your writing projects, and to polish your poetry and prose. Look for an informative and entertaining blog on writing from Bob McCrillis tomorrow.

Want to bring a story, essay, or poem to share? Supply 10 to 15 copies, and remember to include your email address on your work so others can provide further comments. We only devote about 10-15 minutes to each selection, so please limit excerpts to 3 or 4 pages.

August Guild News

Published on August 14, 2017 by Pearl S. Buck Writing CenterLeave a comment

Our next Writers Guild meeting is Sunday, August 20^th from 1:30pm to 3:30pm in the Cultural Center (the Red Barn building) on the beautiful grounds of Pearl S. Buck’s historic home at 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA 18944. We welcome all writers and would-be writers to join us at this monthly (from March to October) roundtable discussion.

Bring ten or more copies of a 3 or 4 page selection of your work if you wish to share it for comments. Be sure to include your name and email address on your work for additional feedback.

Bob McCrillis Publishes First Book Continue reading “August Guild News” →

Fall 2017 Literary Journal Theme is Justice and Mercy

Published on July 26, 2017 by Pearl S. Buck Writing Center1 Comment

By Linda Donaldson

The theme for the Fall 2017 Issue, Volume 2, Number 2, of the Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal is Justice and Mercy. We see a host of possible avenues for writing about justice and mercy — the lack of either virtue OR the presence of either virtue. We include both sides of this theme, for, in Anne Kaler’s words: “If there were perfect justice, we would not need mercy. If there were perfect mercy, we would not need justice.” Continue reading “Fall 2017 Literary Journal Theme is Justice and Mercy” →

Writers Guild News

Published on July 10, 2017 by Pearl S. Buck Writing Center2 Comments

By Linda Donaldson

Our next meeting is Sunday, July 16^th from 1:30pm to 3:30pm in the Cultural Center (the Red Barn building) on the beautiful grounds of Pearl S. Buck’s historic home at 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA 18944. We welcome all writers and would-be writers to join us at this monthly (from March to October) roundtable discussion.

Bring ten or more copies of a 3 or 4 page selection of your work if you wish to share it for comments. Be sure to include your name and email address for additional feedback.

Recap of June Guild Meeting and
Janet Benton Publishes Debut Novel

Continue reading “Writers Guild News” →

Spring 2017 ♦ Volume 2, Number 1

Published on June 19, 2017June 25, 2017 by Pearl S. Buck Writing Center2 Comments

Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal

There are 16 contributions to this Spring 2017 Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal. The theme of this issue is birth, rebirth and renewal. Submissions include essays, memoirs, poems, short stories, flash fiction and an excerpt from a novel.

Our thanks to authors, Anne K. Kaler, Bob McCrillis, Lois Guarino Hazel, Susan Wagner, Meredith Betz, Fred W. Donaldson, Linda C. Wisniewski, Jennifer Yuan, John McCabe, Carol Kretovich, and Judith Wrase Nygard.

(Click title to read selection. Author’s biography at end of contribution)

	lindawis on Make Your Pages Your Test…
	Sandra Carey Cody on Make Your Pages Your Test…
	Pearl S. Buck Writin… on Submission Guidelines PSB Lite…
	Amy Beth Gunarich on Submission Guidelines PSB Lite…
	John A. McCabe to Re… on Recap of March Writers Guild…

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