Author: Ramona DeFelice Long

Literary Mama

by Ramona DeFelice Long

literary mamaA new piece of my creative nonfiction work appeared today in the online magazine Literary Mama.

Literary Mama’s mission statement declares its goal to publish work by writers who are mothers. The fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and reviews at Literary Mama explore the complexities, difficulties, and rewards of motherhood. Literary Mama is also one of Writers Digest’s 101 Best Websites for Writers.

My contribution is called  “Sunday Visit.” It is about judging other mothers and creating new definitions of normal for a family.

~

Poetry Month and Open Mic

by Ramona DeFelice Long

My micro-fiction piece, COUNTDOWN, was included in an article celebrating April as National Poetry Month and highlighting a new open mic series offered by the Newark Arts Alliance. Delaware’s Poet Laureate JoAnn Balingit devoted her column in the News Journal to Newark Open Mic.

I was pleased to be  included and quoted in the article, and to offer my work alongside poems by Beth Evans and Maria Masington.

 

Mastering the Art of Self-Editing Workshop

by Ramona DeFelice Long

Pennwriters Area 2 Workshop

Saturday, April 6, 2013 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
911 Market Street, Bloomsburg, PA Fire Hall

Registration for this workshop is open here.

Mastering the Art of Self-Editing, taught by freelance editor Ramona DeFelice Long, is a hands-on workshop designed to help writers view their work with a sharp and critical eye. Writers will learn strategies and revision skills to sharpen craft, style, and technique, as well as how to recognize and change bad habits. The workshop will also include larger topics such as structure; characters and consistency; and central ideas and story arcs.

Materials to bring:

  • Paper, pen/pencil

  • Yellow highlighter

  • Pink highlighter

  • First 5 pages of your current work in progress

Save the (Literary Reading) Date!

by Ramona DeFelice Long

John DickinsonWho: Ramona DeFelice Long and Russell Reece

What: Literary Reading and Colonial crafts

When: Saturday, August 24, 2013

Where: John Dickinson Plantation, Dover, Delaware

Why: This reading is offered via my 2013 Individual Artist Fellowship (in Creative Nonfiction) from the Delaware Division of the Arts. Russell is an 2013 IAF Honorable Mention in Fiction. Russell and I will be reading about working, writing, and living in Delaware.

After the reading, we plan to offer a colonial craft project (quill pen making or crafting a hand sewn book) as well as a tour of the plantation. John Dickinson was coined the “Penman of the Revolution” for his writings about independence and liberty. The John Dickinson Plantation is a working 18th century plantation complete with a period farm complex and the beautifully restored home of one of America’s leading patriots.

Throughout Delaware in 2013, the seventeen artists recognized with IAF grants from the Delaware Division of the Arts will presented their work to the public. This year’s fellows include painters, poets, choreographers, jazz musicians, playwrights, photographers, folk musicians, writers, and sculptors.

An exhibition of the artists’ works and styles will be on display at the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, Delaware. The exhibition will open on August  2 and run through October 13, 2013, with an Opening Reception & Awards Presentation on Saturday, September 14.

~John Dickinson plantaiton

 

All The Write Stuff blog interview

by Ramona DeFelice Long

writestuffIn March, I’ll be an instructor at the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group’s annual conference, The Write Stuff.

Conference dates are Thursday-Friday, March 21-22 for pre-conference intensives and events and Friday-Saturday, March 22 and 23 for The Write Stuff conference.

My presentations are Mastering the Art of Self-Editing (pre-conference); a dual workshop on memoir and creative non-fiction called Hard Truths; and a hour-long presentation devoted to Short Stories.

To promote the conference, the GLVWG is presenting a series of interviews on their blog. My interview with Jerry Waxler appears here.

TRAITEURS

by Ramona DeFelice Long

 

10kobi

My short story TRAITEURS was published in the online literary journal 10kt0bi (Ten Thousand Tons of Black Ink) as the featured story in  February, 2013.

“Traiteurs” is the Cajun French word for healers. In this very short piece (<1,000 words), I wanted to create a small, quiet world with just a touch of woo-woo.

Individual Artist Fellowship announcement

by Ramona DeFelice Long

I am thrilled to be the recipient of an  Individual Artist Fellowship from the Delaware Division of the Arts for 2013. Seventeen artist grants were awarded throughout the state this year. The State of Delaware’s news release is below.

One part of the fellowship year requirements is a public performance of work. My grant project in Literature-Creative Nonfiction will focus on the places I have lived and how each place influenced me as a writer. I look forward to working and sharing this project in 2013.

Seventeen Delaware Artists Receive Fellowship Grants

The Delaware Division of the Arts has announced the Fiscal Year 2013 winners of its Individual Artist Fellowship (IAF) grants. Seventeen individual Delaware artists are being recognized for the high quality of their artwork in the visual arts, literature, music, jazz performance, choreography, and folk arts. Artists were selected from towns throughout the state including Bear, Dover, Harbeson, Lewes, Lincoln, Milford, Milton, Newark, and Wilmington. Their work ranged from photography and sculpture to playwriting and choreography.

The work of 85 applicants was judged by arts professionals from around the country. Through the IAF grants, the artists’ achievements are affirmed, helping provide the recognition and exposure that artists need to successfully promote their work. The artists receive a financial award—$3,000 for the Emerging category and $6,000 for the Established category—allowing them to pursue advanced training, purchase equipment and materials, or fulfill other needs that allow them to advance their careers. The public will have an opportunity to see the varied artwork by these artists as they are required to have a public exhibit or performance showcasing their work in the upcoming year.

Listed below are the Delaware Division of the Arts 2013 Individual Artist Fellows. Contact information for the artists may be obtained by calling Kristin Pleasanton, the Division’s Art and Artist Services Coordinator, at (302) 577-8284 in Wilmington or (302) 736-7436 in Dover.

2013 INDIVIDUAL ARTIST FELLOWS

Established Professional ($6,000 award)
Name Community Artistic Discipline
Linda Blaskey Lincoln Literature: Poetry
Anne Colwell Milton Literature: Fiction
Scott Davidson Wilmington Jazz: Solo Performance
Ann Jenkins Milford Folk Art: Visual
Ramona Long Newark Literature: Creative Nonfiction
George Lorio Dover Visual Arts: Sculpture
Augustine Mercante Wilmington Music: Solo Recital
Aina Nergaard-Nammack Lewes Visual Arts: Painting
Karin Snoots Harbeson Visual Arts: Painting

 

Emerging Professional ($3,000 award)
Name Community Artistic Discipline
Alex Buckner Wilmington Choreography
Teresa Clifton Milford Literature: Fiction
Knicoma Frederick Wilmington Folk Art: Visual
Jerry Gordon Wilmington Visual Arts: Painting
Andre Jones Wilmington Literature: Playwriting
Michele McCann Newark Folk Art: Music
Marjorie Weber Lewes Literature: Creative Nonfiction
William Wolff Bear Visual Arts: Photography

 

Honorable Mentions
Name Community Artistic Discipline
Thomas Del Porte Wilmington Visual Arts: Painting
Dennis Lawson Newark Literature: Fiction
Georgia Leonhart Rehoboth Beach Literature: Creative Nonfiction
Robyn Phillips-Pendleton Newark Visual Arts: Painting
Russell Reece Bethel Literature: Fiction
Vanessa Simon Magnolia Visual Arts: Photography
Michele Xiques Milford Choreography

The next deadline for Individual Artist Fellowships applications is August 1, 2013.

The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support artists and arts organizations, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware State Legislature, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

The Sacred Writing Time Pledge, 2013

by Ramona DeFelice Long

On New Year’s Day of 2012, I created and posted the Sacred Writing Time Pledge. I’d like to invite my writing friends and colleagues to take the pledge for the first time, or renew from last year.

Writers write. Writers who get published complete work and submit that work to agents and editors. It’s how it works. The way to write for publication is to commit to it. That means nothing–and no one–stands in the way of your writing goals. For 2013, consider taking – or renewing – the pledge below:

 

The Sacred Writing Time Pledge

 

I ____________ (<-your name) do solemnly swear to devote _________ amount of time each day to Sacred Writing Time. That means no one and nothing disturbs this time, including myself.

I will work at __________ (<-location). When you, the undersigned, see me at this location, you will respect my Sacred Writing Time and not disturb me unless there is blood flowing from multiple places on someone’s body.

Signatures: __________________(<-yours) _________________________(<-your family’s)

Best of luck to all of you in your writing endeavors for 2013!

Ramona

Review of the Arkansas Review

by Ramona DeFelice Long

arkansas-review-v43-n2-august-2012The August 2012 issue of The Arkansas Review, A Journal of Delta Studies was reviewed this month by NewPages.com. My contribution to the issue, a memoir piece called “Getting to Grand Isle,” gets a nice mention.

NewPages.com, a online resource for readers, writers, students, teachers, provides “news, information and guides to literary magazines, independent publishers, alternative periodicals, independent bookstores, indie record labels, alternative newsweeklies and more.”

It’s a good review, and I’m happy about the shout-out!

Fleur-de-lis-red.svg

How To Test a Character’s Character

by Ramona DeFelice Long

What is character? According to Merriam-Webster online, one definition of character is: the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, group, or nation <the character of the American people>

In fiction, as in real life, character is demonstrated by actions and choices. In my ongoing pretend novel, Bad Sale, a man’s character is put to task when he is tricked by a childhood friend into performing an almost illegal act. His instinct is to be law-abiding and honest, but just as strong is his instinct to help his troubled friend. Continue reading “How To Test a Character’s Character” →