June 20th ~ 

Hook Your Readers with Effective World-Building

Speaker: Bria Burton

All genres (fantasy, science fiction, literary, thriller, mystery, etc.) have an element of world-building. Come learn how to build a world (real or imagined) to suit your readers while immersing them in a place that keeps them reading. For those who are interested, bring pen and paper (laptops/iPads, etc.) for a writing exercise at the end.

Author Bria Burton has over twenty short fiction publications in magazines and anthologies. Her imagination often gets carried away, which is why world-building is one of her favorite aspects of writing. She lives in St. Pete with her wonderful husband, darling son, and two wild pets. 

Visit her website: http://www.briaburton.com

May 16 ~  How to Submit Prose and Poetry to the Literary Journal Marketplace

Speaker: Julieanna Blackwell

Come with your short story, poem, novella, novel, or memoir that is ready for publication! We will explore the benefits to publishing in literary journals, reviews, and magazines to strengthen your author’s platform. Learn how to research, shop, and understand the ins-and-outs of publishing a piece in a literary journal or magazine. After this evening’s presentation, you will have the tools to submit your work for publication. 

Julieanna Blackwell is an editor for 805 Literary and Arts Journal, the first literary journal published by a library in the country. She is also the instructor of the Elements & Arcs series of writing classes and workshops. Her short stories and essays have appeared in several publications including Lunch Ticket, Slippery Elm Literary Journal, Ragazine, and featured in SCENE Magazine’s yearly beach read issues. She was a finalist for the Florida Writers Association Royal Palm Literary Award. The Naples Daily News published her humorous column of personal essays. A native Chicagoan, she lives in Florida. You can visit her at www.julieannablackwell.com.