Author: gccazcrw

Still Some Classes Open for Spring!

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As you finalize your schedules for the Spring, know that there are still seats available in some creative writing offerings at GCC in 2017. You can find out more information about the courses below by heading to GCC’s Find-a-Class or looking at our extended course descriptions here on the CRW blog. Register quickly or we might come to your house, pull up the shrubs, empty all the condiments from your refrigerator. Stuff like that, yeah.

  • CRW120: Introduction to Writing Children’s Literature. #13368. Renee Barstack.
  • CRW220: Intermediate Writing Children’s Literature. #13453. Renee Barstack.
  • CRW150 (at GCC North): Introduction to Creative Writing. #28938. Mark Broeske.
  • CRW160: Introduction to Writing Poetry. #13276. Kimberly Mathes.
  • CRW260: Intermediate Poetry Writing. #13327. Kimberly Mathes.
  • CRW251: Topics in Creative Writing (Prose, Poetry & Flash Fiction). #28975. Kimberly Mathes.
  • CRW272 (Online): Planning and Structuring the Novel. #13314. Jeff Baker.

 

 

Last Call(s) for Submissions!

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Quick reminders with no funny business:

Later this week (Friday, December 2nd) is the final opportunity to submit your work to GCC’s Traveler Writing Competition. Submit right here on the GCCAZCRW blog: https://gccazcrw.com/traveler/submissions/

(This deadline has passed.) Monday, November 28th is the final day to submit your work to Maricopa’s District Writing Competition. Head here for guidelines and submission forms: http://bit.ly/2g4v7rL

 

District Writing Competition Extended to Nov. 28th

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In an effort to give writers more time to revise and submit their work, the District Writing Competition has extended its submission deadline to November 28th. This is a ten-day extension. For more information about submission guidelines, and to submit your work directly, please follow this link: https://mcli.maricopa.edu/district-programming/district-fine-arts-program/creative-writing

Now, those of us at The Traveler don’t want to act all superior here, claiming that the District is a bunch of copycats and pointing out how we extended our deadline first, but, well, we did. The power of The Traveler is far greater, it seems, than anyone ever knew.

So, for those keeping score:

  • The deadline for the District Writing Competition is now November 28th.
  • The deadline for GCC’s Traveler contest is now December 2nd.

Email Jeff Baker at jeffrey.baker@gccaz.edu if you have any questions or fashion tips.

Traveler Deadline Extended to December 2nd

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dirty-horror-duck

Because we want more of your submissions, and because you want more time to submit your work, and because the all-seeing and all-powerful entity known as The Traveler wishes it so, we have decided to extend the deadline for Traveler submissions from November 18th to December 2nd. This is a two-week extension.

All hail The Traveler.

Additionally, we have added a newer, simpler method for submission that can be found directly on this blog. From the Traveler menu in the header of our blog, there is a new link from the drop down menu called Submissions. By following this link, you can fill out a quick form, upload your file, and receive confirmation. For a direct link to the form, rather than trying to navigate the menu, you can head here: https://gccazcrw.com/traveler/submissions/

It’s important to mention that you can still use http://www.gccaz.edu/traveler-entry to submit your work, and if you have already submitted in that fashion, you work is safe and sound in the loving, caring arms of our overlord, The Traveler (all hail). This new method is simply a way to integrate the submission process more directly with the blog and allow for one-stop shopping.

So, you now have absolutely no excuse for failing to submit. Ignore The Traveler (all hail) at your peril, for It is a just but merciless entity.

The Slam!

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stage-microphone

Join GCC students, faculty, and staff, along with numerous talented writers and performers from across the valley, for 2016’s Poetry & Prose Slam. Whether you want to participate, or if you simply wish to listen, the slam always proves to be a great time.

  • What: GCC’s Annual Poetry & Prose Slam
  • Where: GCC Main, SU104
  • When: Wednesday, November 16th from 7PM to 10PM, but arrive early to register if you want to participate (Hint: You want to participate!)
  • Why: Cash Prizes!

Obligatory disclaimer: We accept all performers’ rights to express their creative works and art freely, so we do not censor subject matter or content

Saturday Workshop – Characterization: Populating Your Fictional World with Realistic People

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Missed the workshop and want to see some of what Mark had to offer? Attended the workshop, but want to refresh your memory on some of Mark’s book selections and concepts? Head over to Workshop Materials and peruse the content covered in the workshop.

Have you ever read a book, watched a show, or sat through a movie and thought any of the following?

  • “Who does that? Real people don’t act like this!”
  • “I can’t keep track of these people. What’s his name is with what’s her face? Who’s that guy?”
  • “All of these characters could die in a fiery plane crash and I wouldn’t care.”

The fictional world may be fascinating, the conflicts may be intense, and the writing may be beautiful, but without fully realized characters to follow and root for, the story is ultimately doomed. Don’t fret, however. You can build unique and complex characters! Moreover, you can create characters with their own drive and will so that they surprise even you, the writer. Come join us or a free workshop to help breathe life into characters you will want to save from a plane crash.

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  • What & Who: “Characterization: Populating Your Fictional World with Realistic People” will be conducted by Mark Broeske, GCC Creative Writing faculty.
  • When: Saturday, November 5 from 9:30 to 11:30AM.
  • Where: GCC Main Campus, LA-141.
  • Why: Did we mention it’s free?

Open Mic: Featuring Traveler Winners

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Wednesday. The middle child of the weekday family. The forgotten one. Pessimistic and cynical. Overlooked, but for good reason. Wednesday is to blame for everything, after all. No new bike for you, Wednesday. No new clothes either. Monday’s will fit you. Monday, who came first. Monday, who blazed the trail, set the tone, went boldly into a world filled with fresh experiences and innumerable possibilities. And then there’s Friday–the baby, the one Aunt Saturday and Uncle Sunday give the extra toys and attention to, the one everyone still thinks is cute and fun and worth their time.

Well, we here at GCC think you’re adorable, Wednesdays. So adorable, in fact, we’ve chosen to hold all of our open mics right there, atop your wee forehead. And our next open mic is special: We’re featuring writers published in our most recent issue of the Traveler magazine. 

So, come out to GCC,  share your work, and then listen to the fantastic pieces published in the Traveler.

  • When: Wednesday, October 19th from 7:00PM to 9:30PM.
  • Where: GCC Main Campus, SU104.
  • Why: Because Wednesday’s feelings will be hurt if you don’t come.

District Writing Competition is Live!

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Science Fact: 2 > 1

What’s better than one writing competition? Two writing competitions!

What’s better than two writing competitions? Three writing competitions! OK, you’re technically right. Three is better than two, but now you’re just being greedy. You’re going to live with two, and you’re going to like it. Or, you’re going to pretend you like it. When we walk past each other in the halls, share a table an an Open Mic, sit next to one another at a Saturday Morning Workshop, you’re going to smile and remark, “Yes, GCCAZCRW Blog, I do like two writing competitions. Also, that is a very long acronym, and it doesn’t particularly roll off the tongue. I sure hope there are snow cones here.”

And so it goes in civilized society.

Meanwhile, you’re going to submit your brilliant, creative, original work not only to The Traveler, but also to MCCCD’s District Writing Competition. Submission guidelines, eligibility rules, and instructions for the submission process can be found here: https://mcli.maricopa.edu/district-programming/district-fine-arts-program/creative-writing

The deadline for the district’s competition is eerily similar to the deadline for the Traveler, as if, perhaps, the two entities are colluding in some fashion. A joining, you might say. A convergence. That deadline is November 18th, 2016.

Any additional questions should be directed to Jeff Baker at jeffrey.baker@gccaz.edu.