Juddville, Wis. (April 1, 2021) – April Fools’ Day is observed throughout the Western world. Many send loved ones on a “fool’s errand,” looking for things that don’t exist. Others try to get friends to believe ridiculous stories. Newspapers are notorious for printing false stories on April 1, such as The Guardian’s “special report” in 1977 about San Serriffe, a small republic located in the Indian Ocean consisting of several semi-colon-shaped islands. The report generated a huge response, with readers calling all day to find more information about the idyllic holiday spot.
However, San Serriffe did not actually exist. The report was an elaborate joke with a typographical twist, since numerous details about the island (such as its name) alluded to printer’s terminology. Use April Fool’s Day as a writing prompt to create a fantasical story…that just might be true.
April is Poetry Month!
Join us as we welcome our renowned poets for a weekend of poetry readings, conversations, and exploration into the craft of poetry writing. We are thrilled to have Naomi Shihab Nye and Kwame Dawes as our keynote speakers. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER.
Fiction Master Class with Jane Hamilton
Applications are now being accepted for our Fiction Master Class with Jane Hamilton August 23-27, 9:00am – 12:00pm.
Jane Hamilton is the critically-acclaimed author of several novels. Her debut, The Book of Ruth, won the PEN/Hemingway Award for first fiction. The Short History of a Prince was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 1998. A Map of the World was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and named one of the top ten books of the year by Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, the Miami Herald, and People. Both The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World have been selections of Oprah’s Book Club.
This master class is by application only. There is a $10 non-refundable application fee. Applications are accepted April 1 to May 10. To be considered for the class, please submit up to 10 pages of fiction along with a goal statement for the class. LEARN MORE and APPLY.
Enter to Win the 2021 Hal Prize
The Hal Prize, the annual literature and photography prize of the Peninsula Pulse and Write On, Door County, has a new deadline, new format and some exciting new reasons to submit in 2021.
This year’s winners will be published both in the Peninsula Pulse and in the new 8142 Review, a collection of stories, photography, and poetry to be released in November. Submissions are open through September 15 in four categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry and photography. Cash prizes of $250, $100 and $50 will be awarded for the top three entries in each category, along with a Hal Prize mug from Clay Bay Pottery for first place. Learn more and meet this year’s judges at thehalprize.com.
Register Now for Kids WOW!
A week-long creativity camp for youth ages 8-12, Kids WOW will be led by John Coy, author of young adult novels. Aspiring writers will learn about character, setting, and plot. First drafts, revisions, and practice dialogue will be produced, resulting in a completed picture book.
The majority of time will be spend outdoors thinking, writing, and moving. Indoor time will be limited and masks will be required.
DEADLINE FOR EARLY BIRD RATE IS APRIL 1ST! Space is limited to 10 students. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
New Topic for the Hike and Write Series
As we begin to come out of the deep freeze in Door County, grab your notebook and boots and head out to Write On’s trails for an hour of activity and inspiration. March’s theme is A Fun Scavenger Hunt. A find-the-treasure, scrolled activity sheet that gives visitors of all ages a list of nature items to hunt for on the path can be found here: https://writeondoorcounty.org/visit-us/.
The half-mile loop starts behind the Writing Center at 4210 Juddville Road and takes about an hour to walk and write. No reservations are necessary. The Writing Center building is open by reservation Tuesday through Sunday 10 am – 4 pm. Restroom facilities for hikers are only available during open hours.
April’s Craft of Writing Series will explore playwriting. Led by playwrights Jenny Magnus and Dana Stringer, this three-week virtual class puts the skills of dialog, monologue, and producibility center stage. Educators will receive a 50% discount; email Jerod for the coupon code. LEARN MORE and REGISTER.
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