49 Writers membership form

49 Writers Membership Form


By joining 49 Writers, you’ll receive special rates on workshops, clinics, classes, and other special events. You’ll also get a 10% discount on rates at our Raven Place guesthouse. And though membership isn’t required to be part of our statewide writing community, we appreciate the commitment you make by joining. Annual memberships starting at $60 are valid until October 1, 2011. Join at the Jade level ($100) or higher before July 1, 2010, and you’ll be a founding member. Thanks much for partnering with us.

Note:  This temporary form is for use while our third-party server is down.  If you'd prefer a form-fill version, email 49writers@gmail.com and ask for the membership form. 

Last name:

First name:

Mailing address:

City:

State:

Zip code:

Email address:

Phone number with area code:

Level of membership:

0 Regular member ($60)

0 Founding member: Jade ($100-$499)

0 Founding member: Copper ($500-$999)

0 Founding member: Gold ($1000-$4999)

0 Founding and Lifetime member: Platinum ($5000 and up)

Which describe you? Choose all that apply:

0 Writer

0 Lover of books

0 Friend of writers

0 Teacher

0 Librarian

0 Publisher

0 Bookseller

(Optional) Your age:

0 under 25 yrs.

0 26-35 yrs.

0 36-45 yrs.

0 46-55 yrs.

0 55-64 yrs.

0 65+ yrs.

We never sell or distribute contact information, but may we publish your name as a member of 49 Writers?

0 Yes

0 No

Your membership activates upon receipt of your membership fee, payable through PayPal (access via 49writers@gmail.com) or by check mailed to 49 Writers, PO Box 221086, Anchorage, AK 99522.

FAQs about the 49 Alaska Writing Center

What’s the 49 Alaska Writing Center (“49” for short)?

“49” is a nonprofit organization that supports creative writers from throughout Alaska at all stages of their development while building an audience for Alaska literature. We do this primarily by offering creative working instruction in the form of affordable workshops taught by working, published writers. We also offer retreats, author events, and other forms of literary programming. Through our “49 Writers” blog, we offer networking, writing news and resources, and general inspiration, with help from guest-bloggers across Alaska.

Is this really a statewide writing center?

The seed of this effort was 49 Writers, a collaborative blog established on Jan. 1, 2009, merging two separate Alaska lit-blogs started by founders Deb Vanasse and Andromeda Romano-Lax. From its inception, 49 Writers was dedicated to fostering literary community statewide. When we incorporated in April 2010, and found a physical building to serve as our Anchorage “heart and home” in May 2010, we knew we’d have to keep “Alaska” in our name to make clear how committed we are to serving more than just an urban audience. Through our programming, we plan to serve both rural bush and road-system Alaska with workshops, events, mentoring, and other opportunities for collaboration and literary partnership. Nationally, few writing centers serve such a large geographical area. We plan to innovate and to draw on the energy and talents of writers, readers, librarians, booksellers, and others who share our vision -- from Barrow to Ketchikan.

So this “writing center” concept isn’t new?

No, fortunately. There are thriving creative writing centers throughout the Lower 48, and among the exciting places we studied as models – and continue to network with -- are Boston’s Grub Street, Minnesota’s The Loft, Seattle’s Richard Hugo House, the D.C. area’s Writer’s Center, and Denver’s Lighthouse Writers’ Workshop.

Tell me more about the “little house with big ideas” on L Street.

That’s “Raven Place,” our leased property at 415 L Street, just next door to Snow City, source of the best breakfasts and coffee in town. We’d been looking for a physical space for writing classes for several months when the L Street property became available. Located downtown, next to the Coastal Trail, we knew this property had tourism potential. We also knew that the hardest part of running a writing center is getting it launched on a modest budget. We came up with a uniquely Alaskan solution: turn the house into a volunteer-run, revenue-earning VRBO (vacation rental by owner) guesthouse -- primarily in the summer months – as a way to subsidize the cost of physical space for the rest of the year. Having attractive and well-located accommodations also serves as an enticing feature for the visiting writers who will spend time in Anchorage in order to take part in our programming.

Do I have to be a member to take part in “49” classes and events?

No. Most of our classes and events are open to the public. However, an annual membership of $60 ($100+ for those wishing to be Founding Donors by July 1, 2010) does confer benefits while supporting the cause of Alaska writing and reading. Members will receive special rates on workshops and a 10% discount on guesthouse reservations. A robust membership base also helps us demonstrate to the larger arts community that literary programming is needed and appreciated in Alaska.

Sounds ambitious. How can I help?

We’re glad you asked, because we wouldn’t exist without, you and we’ll only continue to grow with your support. You can help by filling out a volunteer form -- even if you don’t live in Anchorage – or by donating, at whatever level fits, from the “Jade Level” ($100), to the Copper ($500), Gold ($1000), or Platinum ($5000) levels. In-kind donations are appreciated as well. A generous donation by an Alaska lodge is helping us to host an exciting, affordable writer’s retreat this September, for example. Go to https://49writers.blogspot.com/ for more info.

I’d like to learn. What classes will you be offering?

We’ll be teaching across genres – including fiction and nonfiction, poetry and screenwriting – with classes that will appeal to emerging as well as established writers. Our classes are organized as 1-day (2-hour) clinics, 2-week (6-hour) workshops, 4-week (8-hour) workshops, and 6-week (12-hour) workshops. Each course features a different mix of in-class writing exercises, at-home writing and revision, and peer critique. We don’t grade or offer college credit. We do offer an intense immersion in considerations of craft, as well as opportunities for professional networking and camaraderie. Our fall lineup of courses will be announced this summer.

I’d like to instruct. What do I do?

This fall, we’ll be test-driving our instructional program at our Raven Place (415 L Street) location, with classes taught by at least four instructors. In 2011, we’ll have an open proposal process, by which new instructors can propose courses, to be reviewed and selected according to a scoring rubric and instructional needs for any given semester. Just as we support the growth of writers, we support the growth of writing instructors. While we plan to be selective, we won’t limit our instructional staff to those with specific academic degrees, for example.

I’ve got an idea or a concern. Who’s listening?

We are. Andromeda Romano-Lax and Deb Vanasse, founders of 49 Writers (the blog) and the 49 Alaska Writing Center, started this organization because we’re passionate about writing and we want to be part of something larger in Alaska – and that larger vision requires community input and support. We are continuing to assemble teams of volunteers to serve many functions, from Raven Place guesthouse setup to initial planning and development of larger writing center functions. If you want to get involved, fill out a form and join a team. If you just want to share a quick thought – now or at any time -- please email us at 49writers@gmail.com.

Thank you for becoming a 49 Writers member

Thank you for becoming a member of 49 Writers!  If you haven't already submitted payment by PayPal, please send a check to 49 Writers, PO Box 221086, Anchorage, AK   99522 to activate your membership.

Thanks for volunteering to help with the 49 Writing Center!

After we compile volunteer information and assemble committees, we'll be back in touch.  In the meantime, feel free to contact us at 49writers@gmail.com if you have questions or more ideas about how you can help.

49 Writers Workshop Registration - Power Writing: Description that Works

Saturday April 24 and May 1: 1 – 4 p.m.

Kaladi Community Conference Room

6921 Brayton, Anchorage, AK

Whether you’re an emerging or an established writer, you know adage “show, don’t tell.” But how do you decide when and how to describe? How do you make sure your descriptions enhance, not distract? How do you strike a balance between figurative and literal language? Working primarily with setting and character/persona, we’ll practice several ways to craft powerful and evocative descriptions. Award-winning 49 Writers instructor Deb Vanasse is the author of nine published books. This workshop is designed for writers of all levels, in all genres. Enrollment is limited to ten; advance registration with payment is required. Cost is $49.


Name:

Mailing Address:


Phone:

Email:

Complete your form, save as a Word document, and email as an attachment to debv@gci.net, making payment ($49) through PayPal to debv@gci.net (Denali Ventures, Inc). If you prefer, you may print the form, fill in, and mail with payment ($49, payable to Denali Ventures Inc.) to Denali Ventures, Inc., PO Box 222451, Anchorage, AK 99522. Questions? Email debv@gci.net or call 907-388-9303.

Pre-payments are non-refundable, but they are transferable. If you are unable to attend, we will make every attempt to replace your registration from our waiting list. Registrations are cancelled if payment is not received within five days.

49 Writers Workshop Registration: Finding Your Voice

January 30 and February 6, 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Elim Café, 561 W. Dimond Blvd, upstairs conference room


Authors Deb Vanasse and Andromeda Romano-Lax lead writers in a workshop of strategies, exercises, and critiques designed to help writers discover and enhance the key element of voice in all stages of their craft, from prewriting through revision. In two sessions separated by a week of individual practice, each participant will draft and revise a project that demonstrates the power of voice. This Denali Ventures Inc. workshop is supported by a grant from the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, with fiscal sponsorship from the Alaska Sisters in Crime.

Cost is $35. Prepayment must accompany registration. Participation is limited to the first 15 who register with payment. Pre-payments are non-refundable, but they are transferable.

Name:

Mailing Address:


Phone:

Email:

Genre(s) in which you write:



Brief description of a current writing project:






Highest level of education completed:

Briefly, how you hope to improve your writing by attending this workshop:






Complete your form, save as a Word document, and email as an attachment to debv@gci.net, making payment ($35) through PayPal to Denali Ventures, Inc. If you prefer, you may print the form, fill in, and mail with payment ($35, payable to Denali Ventures Inc.) to Denali Ventures, Inc., PO Box 222451, Anchorage, AK 99522. Questions? Email debv@gci.net or call 907-388-9303.

49 Writers CCC: Consulting, Critiquing, and Coaching

The well-published 49 Writers team offers consulting, critiquing, and coaching (CCC) services for writers. After reading your manuscript, we will prepare one to three pages of detailed written feedback (single-spaced, typed) pointing out what’s working and what needs work, as well as recommending additional steps to bring the project to publication. We’ll also do careful line edits of one manuscript page to set the stage for self-editing once your revision is finished. We complete the process with a telephone consultation and coaching session based on your work.

49 Writers CCC services are available for the following genres:

• short fiction
• novels
• memoirs
• individual essays
• book-length nonfiction
• journalism
• feature writing
• young adult fiction
• children's fiction and non-fiction

Manuscripts must be submitted by email, attached as Word documents. The Word “Track Changes” feature will be used for the line-edit page and for critiquing throughout the manuscript. Manuscripts must be double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font, with standard margins. This format will yield approximately 250 words per page. You may submit either a partial or complete manuscript; there is a five-page minimum.

For initial CCC services, rates are by the word:

• 5-10 pages: 4 cents/word
• 11-25 pages: 3 cents/word
• 26-50 pages: 2 cents/word
• Over 50 pages: 1 cent/word

If you’re happy with your initial consultation, we’d love to have you return for additional CCC services, billed at $45 per hour. In addition to standard critiquing and consultation, hourly services may be tailored for your specific needs and interests, such as coaching (planning, deadlines, tasks, recommended reading, and follow-through) or line-editing (developing style with attention to tone, voice, and dialogue).

If you prefer, select one of our submission packages. In Marketing your Manuscript, we provide full consultation, critiquing and coaching on the first ten pages of your book-length manuscript plus your one-page query letter, with an emphasis on how to effectively market your project to agents and editors. Cost: $125. For Non-fiction Book Proposals, you submit a 30 to 70 page book proposal. In addition to standard critique and consultation services, we’ll offer suggestions for market positioning and analysis as well as advice on fine-tuning your submission package. Coaching includes suggestions for approaching agents. Cost: $500.

To request CCC services from 49 Writers, email Deb at debv@gci.net. Include your name, contact information, a brief summary of your writing and publishing history (if any), project description (length, genre, two-sentence synopsis), how and where you hope to publish the manuscript, the type of feedback you need, and which consultant you’d prefer (if you have a preference).

We’ll reply with instructions for prepaying through PayPal and confirmation that your author choice is available. Once we receive confirmation of payment, we’ll forward email instructions for your manuscript. Standard CCC services will typically be completed within a month; if you require a faster turnaround, let us know prior to payment, and we’ll do our best to accommodate. Follow-up services must also be paid in advance, by the hour.

The 49 Writers CCC Team:

Andromeda Romano-Lax is the author of The Spanish Bow (Harcourt), a novel about classical musicians in Spain, published in 11 languages; and Searching for Steinbeck’s Sea of Cortez (Sasquatch Books), a travel narrative. She has also written many travel and natural history books, published by Alaska Geographic/Alaska Natural History Association, Alaska Northwest Books, Travelers’ Tales, and Wilderness Press. She consults on the novel, memoir, individual essays, journalism, feature writing, and book-length nonfiction.

Deb Vanasse is the author of ten books; her publishers include Penguin (Puffin), Houghton-Mifflin (Clarion), Globe-Pequot, Sasquatch Books, and (forthcoming) the University of Alaska Press. In addition to books for children, young adults, and adults, Deb publishes articles and teacher guides. Her interests include mainstream and literary fiction, memoir, travel, history, biography, children’s books, and young adult literature. A member of SCBWI and state representative for the Assembly on Adolescent Literature, Deb taught for twenty years in secondary and post-secondary settings. She consults on short fiction, individual essays, novels, young adult fiction, children’s fiction, children’s non-fiction, and memoir.

Andromeda and Deb are the co-founders of 49 Writers (www.49writers.blogspot.com). They also offer writing workshops. 49 Writers CCC Services is a subsidiary of Denali Ventures, Inc.