Creative writers continue to flock to the Traverse City area for inspiration, helping create an emerging community of creative writing publications, classes and residency programs. The Ticker takes a look…

Events and presentation opportunities

Open Read at the InsideOut Gallery: Open Read debuted in November 2013 to give writers and poets of all skill levels the chance to showcase their work in front of a supportive audience. “Being that a lot of writers and poets are introverts, this atmosphere helps them to come out of their shell, practice their reading and social skills, and hear their work in a different light,” says co-founder Jeff Swensky. Open Read occurs monthly at the InsideOut Gallery.

Here:Say Traverse City Storytelling: Here:Say celebrates the idea that everyone has a story to tell, but few actually tell them. “With our busy lives and our technologies, people aren't quite talking to each other like they used to,” says Karen Stein, Here:Say founder. “Stories are pretty much what connects us to others, and I wanted to offer a space to encourage people to do just that.” Stein works within her network to choose a monthly topic that participants “tell to.”

Poet’s Night Out: Poet’s Night Out (PNO) is a response to community and patron interest in reading and writing poetry. “PNO offers a platform for poets in our community, professional and amateur, young and old, to have an affordable opportunity to become published, to read to a receptive audience and to network with other writers,” says Kristen Talaga, marketing and communications manager at the Traverse Area District Library. PNO recently changed their submission deadline from fall to winter.

Publications

Dunes Review: 2013 is the Dunes Review’s seventeenth year in print. The Review prides itself on showcasing the best local, regional, and national poetry, fiction and essays. Submissions are accepted solely via the Michigan Writers website; any and all are welcome to submit short fiction and essays up to 7,500 words and 3-5 poems.

Michigan Cooperative Press Chapbook contest: Another program of Michigan Writers, the Michigan Cooperative Press exists to support emerging writers and provide an opportunity for a first publication. According to Michigan Writers board member Jen Kirkpatrick Johnson, the Chapbook contest is an opportunity for members of Michigan Writers to submit a fiction, nonfiction or poetry collection to be judged by established writers. Winners then work with an editor and come away with their first published work, including a launch event.

Residency programs

ISLAND Hill House Artist Residency: The Hill House Artist Residency gives artists two-to-four-week periods of isolation and inspiration in Antrim County. “Often, artists have day jobs or other responsibilities that do not allow them to focus solely on their creative work for an uninterrupted stretch of time,” says Yvonne Stevens, director of residency at ISLAND. “The Hill House residency began as a way for ISLAND to support artists by providing them with the time and space to create new work.”

Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakeshore Artist in Residence Program: The Lakeshore itself operates an Artist in Residence Program that allows professional American writers, composers, and visual artists to utilize time and space within the Lakeshore to be inspired by it. The program provides rent-free use of a campground or park house for a three-week stretch of time.

Classes and workshops

Northwestern Michigan College Extended Education: For those interested in learning more about the craft of creative writing, NMC offers year-round noncredit courses in poetry, short fiction, blogging, essay-writing, and more. The upcoming semester will provide courses such as “Writing Your Life Stories,” “Advanced Creative Writing,” “Writing the Narrative,” and more.

Interlochen Adult Arts Creative Writing Program: Interlochen offers a myriad of creative writing courses every summer. In 2014, classes will include “Introduction to Blogging,” “Mystery Writing,” “Memoir Writing,” and more.