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Home > Archive > Mar 20, 2008

Spring Workshop for St. George Writers
By Thaya Gilmore
Two well-established writers groups offer help and encouragement to both published and yet-to-be-published writers in Washington County. The Heritage Writers, which meets in St. George, is a chapter of The League of Utah Writers, a statewide organization.
Spring workshops are scheduled for both writing groups, featuring keynote speakers on topics of interest to local writers.
The League of Utah Writers is a 62-year-old nonprofit organization to encourage writers to improve their writing skills. The statewide membership includes some 1,325 writers with various interests and at all levels of skill and professionalism. Members meet in 13 local chapters around the state, where they write, read, and discuss their work. They share ideas and expertise on the art of writing. Special guests may be invited to address chapter meetings that are held once a month.
The annual Spring Workshop for The League of Utah Writers is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Community Room behind the Senior Citizens Center, 245 N. 200 West, St. George. Noted speakers will be Julie Hawk, Interviewing; Russell Estlack, Screenwriting; Bill Mickelsen, Scene Setting; and Gary Christian, Poetry. The workshop is free to League members and $25 for nonmembers. To pre-register, contact Marilyn Richardson at 674-9792 or e-mail jayrich@infowest.com
Marilyn Richardson, of Ivins, is the Utah State League of Utah Writers president for 2008-09. Richardson has been the state vice-president since September 2007. She became a full-time writer after having worked as a modern dance instructor at South Dakota State University for 30 years.
“I wrote narratives to go with my dance performances, but after a while, I found it harder to fall to the floor and then recover with grace. I decided it was time to do something different,” Richardson said.
Now she focuses on writing children’s books. She has one book published, “We’ve Got To Do Something With Mother,” which includes interviews with 11 people on caring for elderly parents.
The annual LUW Roundup in September will take place in Ogden this year. The contest is open to members as well as nonmembers. Spring workshops will be held in Layton, West Jordan, and St. George and are free to members. Workshops help prepare members’ entries for the annual contest at the Roundup.
For more information about the The League of Utah Writers, visit their Web site, www.luwrite.com

THE HERITAGE WRITERS
The local chapter of the League of Utah Writers is called the Heritage Writers, one of the largest groups in the state. The group started in 1974 with 11 members, and today, there are approximately 52 members who meet on the third Tuesday of each month at the St. George Library. They also have a weekly writer’s critique group called WIG (Writers Improvement Group), who meet Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the St. George Library. Eight years ago, the chapter published a book of the members’ writing.
Beth Moore, of Hurricane, is the local president and has been a member of the League for 35 years. She has served as local president three times throughout her membership, once in Layton, and now serving in a third term as president. She also served as state treasurer in 1975.
Before retiring in St. George 20 years ago, Moore lived in Layton, where she taught first grade for 30 years. Moore enjoys writing history and published “Mormon Reflections: The Path to Mountain Meadows” in 2002. Her book won first place in the published book division at the 2002 Roundup.
Moore also published “Bones In the Well,” a nonfiction book about Haun’s Mill. It was first published by Arthur H. Clark Publishing, of Spokane, Wash., in 2007, and then republished by the University of Oklahoma.
Moore said the League motivates her to write.
“It has definitely kept me writing and has helped me critique my own writing,” said Moore, who has given workshops on creative writing.
Chapter meetings are open to the public, and new members are always welcome to participate in the writing experience with others who share an interest in writing.
To join the League of Utah Writers, the annual membership fee is $24 and includes the annual Spring Workshop and Fall Roundup, the Lariat – a quarterly newsletter, a statewide membership directory, special pricing for statewide events and contests, and a local newsletter as well as discount entries for LUW contests.
Deadline for the Roundup contest is in June. The winners will be announced at the Roundup in September. There are cash prizes and excellent critiques from the judges.
“The Heritage Writers Chapter in St. George does well in winning prizes every year at the Roundup,” said Moore.
Heritage Writers Group, the local chapter of the League of Utah Writers, meets every third Tuesday, 6:30-7:45 p.m., in the downstairs meeting room of the Washington County library, 88 W. 100 S. in St. George. For more information, call 628-6768 or 674-9792.

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