President's Message

KELLY Q. ANDERSON  

Climb the mountain and see the world  

I began this year on top of a mountain. Literally. I visited Joshua Tree National Park in California last January, and it felt as though I were visiting another planet. With its namesake bristled trees, rugged rock forms, and stark dessert landscape, it was the most unusual California terrain I had ever encountered. The sand and stone seemed soft and beige, other times red and pink, changing frequently with the sun’s instruction.

My day at Joshua Tree began before sunrise. With a guide’s help, our family hiked to legendary spots like Skull Rock and Arch Rock. I learned 'scrambling;’ the act of rock climbing with hands and feet, often up steep terrain. 
I stayed true to the path, I climbed up and down, and I left no trace. I even took time to pause and absorb all of the wonders.

Writing is akin to mountain climbing - ask any member of OCWW and I bet they will agree. Just getting started feels daunting. Telling people of your plan feels vulnerable. Staying on the path proves tiring and stressful. 

But eventually, we reach the peak and we take in the view.

Nearly a decade ago, my husband made a speech at a wedding urging  the newlyweds to ‘Climb the mountain and see the world.’ It’s a phrase that I’ve always loved - the idea of changing course, changing perspective, and of course, changing ourselves in the process. This is a fitting message for how I see OCWW and how I am planning for the new year ahead: new writing + new mountains.

OCWW is not only my mountain guide, it is my life guide. It is a plan I return to over and over. It’s an adventure I chose, and I hope you will stay on this adventure with me. 
Keep writing + keep going,
Kelly Q. Anderson

'Off campus' boundaries continue to expand

As 2023 closes OCWW's membership is on the upswing on all fronts: globally, nationally and locally.   Five international members joined us, from  Austria, Canada, Hong Kong, India and the UK.   The Southwest has discovered us: we welcomed new members from New Mexico, Arizona and our first Oklahoman, along with lots of newbies from the West Coast. In fact,  California has pulled into a tie with Wisconsin for highest headcount outside metro Chicago, with 16 members each!  But exciting as it is to work remotely with writers from around the world, we're equally heartened by the long-term committment our long-time locals make to keep OCWW thriving: 30% of us have been coming around for more than five years, and 60 stalwarts joined prior to 2015 - in a time before we kept records online.  

 'Finest First 5 Pages' Contest Winners

Gold: Emmett Hirsch, M.D

Winning entry: from the first chapter of "The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb." 

More at EmmettHirsch.com

Silver: Mary Hutchings Reed  

Winning entry: The first five pages of "Markers." 


Visit: MaryHutchingsReed

Bronze: Kathy Mirkin  

Winning entry: The opener to "The Secret Letter Writer"
 
 

Follow  Kathy Mirkin

Member News

  - published in order received

Lynn Sloan story and interview published

• Read the story
• Read the interview

Lynn Sloan’s tragi-comedy short story “The Old Women and Miss Fitt,” which features a writing

critique group as protagonists, appears in The Rappahannock Review, issue 11.1.

The editors interviewed Lynn about the challenge of writing a comedic story that deals with real world problems.

Kelly Q. Anderson library talk

Join OCWW President  Kelly at a FREE class from the Glencoe Public Library on Feb. 7th at 7PM via Zoom. The literary world is opening up to more of this kind of micro-storytelling from The New York Times’ Tiny Love Stories to Brevity Literary Magazine, to even the craze of BookTok (which is, itself, a form of flash writing). Expect writing prompts, resources for submitting flash stories, and a Q&A.   

Jennifer Worrell story published - narrated through book receipts

Jennifer Worrell was recently published in 
The /tƐmz/ Review with her hermit crab story,
“The Cigarette Ash Column Between Her Fingers Is About to Crumble”. It describes the
evolution of a woman’s romantic journey entirely through book receipts. 

Read Jennifer's story  

Follow  @JenniferWorrell

Diana Goetsch on Imposter Syndrome - and its antidote

Thoughts from the renowned instructor of Actually Writing: click here to download

From the Community

Registration is now open for Let's Just Write   

Word Salad - monthly open mics from Evanston Parks & Rec!

CHECK ALL CURRENT  CLASSES HERE  

 Keep those cards and letters coming

If you have publication news to share, please send your promo copy with captioned images and links by the 20th of the preceding month.  
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