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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260712T143000
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SUMMARY:The Writer and the Machine: Collaborating with AI
DESCRIPTION:  \nAI won’t take your job. But someone who knows how to prompt it will. \n\n\n\n\nIn her book\, The Writer and the Machine\, Jaime Engle shows novelists\, screenwriters\, and entrepreneurs how to stay relevant and in demand by collaborating with AI—without losing their voice. Instead of fearing the future\, she teaches how to prompt AI with a story-first strategy to build intellectual property (IP) that sells. \nWith her proven creative framework\, you’ll learn to write faster\, pitch smarter\, and build IP that lasts—just like thousands of other creatives she has helped. \n\n\n\n\n\nJaimie Engle created the Engleverse stories in books\, film\, and TV. She wrote\, sold\, and produced Just Jake (2023)\, sold and developed a story with DreamWorks Animation Studios (2025)\, and was hired to write an audiobook for Fresh Produce Media (2025). \nShe founded Chapter Drops™ to help people with stories write and publish books\, offering a Pitch Drop service that connects authors with producers. She has written and published 25+ books\, earning awards such as Kirkus Choice Book of the Year (2020)\, Publisher’s Book Life Prize (Fiction and Non-Fiction 2020)\, and the Writers of the Future Award (2016). \n\n\nFor a deep dive into AI\, check out her book\, The Writer and the Machine\, which will be available for purchase following her talk. \nThis program is free and open to the public. \n\n\n2:30-4:00 PM\nJuly 12 \nMillhopper Branch\, Alachua County Library\n3145 NW 43rd St.\nGainesville\, FL 32606\n352-334-1272 (venue phone)\nMillhopper Branch | Alachua County Library District
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/the-writer-and-the-machine-collaborating-with-ai/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260614T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260614T163000
DTSTAMP:20260510T194631Z
CREATED:20260510T194631Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260510T194631Z
UID:10000202-1781447400-1781454600@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:Trauma\, Part II: Trauma as a Character in Writing
DESCRIPTION:Join the Writers Alliance of Gainesville to learn how to use traumatic events as a resource in your writing. Kathy Connor Dobronyi will share her own stories of trauma and those of her characters to help you write about trauma. \nFew people reach adulthood without experiencing some painful\, emotional\, and traumatic events. Yet for us authors\, those trying events can become a treasure of knowledge and understanding that we can use in our writing. \n\n\n\n\nCome join us at the Millhopper Library at 2:30 p.m. on the second Sunday in June for a second look this year at using trauma as a resource in your writing. \nWAG member Kathy Connor Dobronyi will share her personal stories of trauma and the stories of her characters to help you write about trauma. \n\n\n\n\n\nTrauma is a word we often hear\, yet its true nature is frequently misunderstood and underestimated. There are three levels of trauma: acute\, chronic\, and complex\, a combination of the aforementioned. There is no single definition of trauma; it can be different things to different people. \nKathy has lived with complex trauma from a childhood of abuse and war. In her writing\, she uses the memory of her time in Saigon\, where she experienced terrorist bombings at an American theater and other facilities where Americans congregated. She also witnessed human immolation and heard the bombs and gunfire during the overthrow of the South Vietnamese President on November 1\, 1963. \n\n\nKathy is not a therapist or a clinician. She is a retired high school teacher\, a storyteller\, and a writer. Using stories from her life and the lives of her characters\, she shares the different facets of trauma and healing. \nAlthough she wrote articles for trade journals and developed lesson plans used by the Folgers Institute\, she never considered herself an author until she was asked by a local newspaper editor to write her story: Under the Wings of a Good Luck Phoenix: Memoir of an American Girl in Saigon\, 1963. \n\n\n2:30-4:30 PM\nJune 14 \nMillhopper Branch\, Alachua County Library\n3145 NW 43rd St.
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/trauma-part-ii-trauma-as-a-character-in-writing/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260503T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260503T163000
DTSTAMP:20260428T212506Z
CREATED:20260428T212506Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260428T212506Z
UID:10000200-1777818600-1777825800@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:Strategies for Writing and Developing Environmental Scenes
DESCRIPTION:  \nThis program is being held on the FIRST Sunday in May since Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday.\n\nCome join us on May 3 at the Millhopper Library\, where author Benjamin Coward will share strategies for drafting\, writing\, and fully developing environmental scenes.\n\nDrawing on his background in environmental science\, he has interwoven environmental issues throughout his published books. And he has much to share about the importance of environmental scenes\, whether in fiction\, memoir\, or other nonfiction.\n\nHe will reveal how we writers can use environmental scenes to enhance the storyline\, plot\, and character movement. He will share his scene-writing tips that will help engage readers and draw them deeper into the story\, thereby helping them better understand the world around them.\n\nCoward earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from Southern New Hampshire University. He is originally from the Saint Louis area in Missouri. He moved to Florida in the spring of 2013 to further his education. He still lives in Gainesville with his wife\, Julia\, and two-year-old daughter.\n\nLike all of WAG’s Sunday programs\, this one is free and open to the public.\n\n2:30-4:30 PM\nMay 3
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/strategies-for-writing-and-developing-environmental-scenes/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260412T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260412T163000
DTSTAMP:20260226T182317Z
CREATED:20260226T182317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T182317Z
UID:10000193-1776004200-1776011400@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:Poetry Play: The Journey of Finding Surprise by Aliesa Zoecklein
DESCRIPTION:Come join the Writers Alliance of Gainesville on Sunday\, April 12\, at 2:30 p.m.\, when local poet and former Santa Fe College writing instructor Aliesa Zoecklein will share her secrets about discovery in writing poetry. \nZoecklein’s poems have been published in New Feathers Anthology\, Bacopa Literary Review\, Thimble Literary Magazine\, River Heron Review\, and other journals. Her chapbook At Each Moment\, Air won the Peter Meinke Poetry Prize and was published by YellowJacket Press. \n\n\n\n\n“The thrill of writing poems is in the discovery\,” Zoecklein says\, “so I love to talk about how we can journey ourselves toward that surprise. I’ll share some practices I use when first searching for my poems and then drafting.” \nShe will offer ideas for keeping our initial attempts playful and wide-ranging. And how\, if we’re lucky\, these practices can dispel resistance or boredom. She’ll also discuss how shaping the poem—deciding on line breaks\, for example—can help open the poem in a generative way. \n\n\n\n\n\n“I am always learning anew how to trust language to lift me toward what I don’t already know. I look forward to exchanging ideas and taking the group through one or two fun exercises. \nZoecklein taught writing for 25 years at Santa Fe College. Happily retired\, she lives with her wife in Gainesville\, Florida\, where she writes\, gardens\, and studies Spanish. \n\n\nThe program is free and open to the public. \n2:30-4:30 PM\nApril 12 \n\n\nMillhopper Branch\, Alachua County Library
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/poetry-play-the-journey-of-finding-surprise-by-aliesa-zoecklein/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260308T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260308T163000
DTSTAMP:20260211T220506Z
CREATED:20260211T220506Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T220506Z
UID:10000192-1772980200-1772987400@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:"Passion Dey Couldn’t Steal" by Pamela Marshall-Koons
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Writers Alliance of Gainesville will feature Pamela Marshall-Koons’ Passion Dey Couldn’t Steal\, a powerful one-woman theatrical work inspired by the life\, voice\, and legacy of author Zora Neale Hurston.\n\nHurston was an American writer who portrayed the racial struggles in the early 20th-century American South. Her most popular novel\, Their Eyes Were Watching God\, published in 1937\, is regarded as influential in both African American and women’s literature.\n\nThrough story\, movement\, music\, and embodied narration\, the play explores Hurston’s unwavering devotion to truth\, creativity\, and self-definition in the face of racism\, sexism\, and erasure.\n\nMarshall-Koons’ intimate performance invites audiences into Zora’s world—from Eatonville to Harlem—while reflecting on the enduring power of voice\, cultural memory\, and spiritual resilience. It is both a tribute and a testimony\, reminding us that passion\, once claimed\, cannot be taken.\n\nMarshall-Koons is a writer\, performer\, and cultural storyteller whose work centers on healing\, forgiveness\, and remembrance. Her artistic practice blends history\, spirituality\, and lived experience\, bringing forward voices that have shaped American culture while inviting audiences into reflection and restoration.\n\nThrough literature\, theater\, and community engagement\, she creates spaces where truth can be spoken\, stories reclaimed\, and the human spirit honored with grace and courage.\n\nShe is the creator of this acclaimed one-woman performance and the author of When Zora Spoke – I Remembered My Name. She wrote the book while writing the play.\n\n“The book encourages us to Remember Who We Are\,” Marshall-Koons said. “That is what Zora inspires in me. I am donating the proceeds from the sale of the book and my performances to help restore Ms. Zora’s last home in Fort Pierce.”\n\nThose who saw this performance at the Sunshine State Book Festival raved about it. Many said they would love to see it again. And if you missed it\, here is your chance.\n\nThe Writers Alliance is grateful to Pamela Marshall-Koons for her willingness to perform again on March 8\, 2026\, at 2:30 p.m.\, at the Millhopper Branch of the Alachua County Library.\n\nThe book can be purchased at www.pameladmarshall.com or at the event on March 8. A book signing will follow the program\, which is free and open to the public.\n \nParking: If the library lot is full\, you may park in the Florida Credit Union lot at 2831 NW 43rd Street\, Gainesville\, FL 32606.
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/passion-dey-couldnt-steal-by-pamela-marshall-koons/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260208T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260208T163000
DTSTAMP:20251229T194058Z
CREATED:20251229T194058Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251229T194058Z
UID:10000188-1770561000-1770568200@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:Ins & Outs of Getting Your Book in Audio
DESCRIPTION:  \nThe Writers Alliance of Gainesville will feature a dynamic presentation by Scott Ellis of Ellis-Audiobooks exploring what writers need to know before creating an audiobook.\n\nEllis will address the ins and outs of audiobook production—everything from understanding the different platforms and payment lingo to the responsibilities and expectations of narrators and authors. He will provide details to help authors think through all the options of putting their stories in audio.\n\nEllis is a two-time Audiobook of the Year award-winning narrator with over 100 audiobooks recorded and 250 audiobooks produced. He holds degrees in theatre and education. He spent nearly 30 years teaching middle school literature and serving as an elementary school librarian—perfect training for character voices\, managing chaos\, and surviving on caffeine and patience. This classroom experience honed his storytelling skills\, pacing\, and sense of dramatic timing.\n\nScott owns Ellis-Audiobooks with his wife\, Josie. They live in Western Massachusetts\, and when not behind the mic and managing the business\, they enjoy all things outdoors\, especially escaping to Sanibel Island during the winter months.\n\nAs co-narrator and producer of Skull’s Vengeance\, Scott was awarded the 2024 Audiobook of the Year for Fantasy. As the producer of Magda\, Standing\, he was awarded the 2024 IBPA Gold Medal Winner for Young Adult Fiction Audiobook of the Year. And in 2021\, he received the Young Adult Fiction Audiobook of the Year for his narration of Puck and Minnie: All That Is.\n\nThis program is free and open to the public. Join us!\n2:30-4:30 PM\nFebruary 8 \n\n\n\n\n\nMillhopper Branch\, Alachua County Library
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/ins-outs-of-getting-your-book-in-audio/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260111T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260111T163000
DTSTAMP:20251229T215407Z
CREATED:20251229T215407Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251229T215407Z
UID:10000189-1768141800-1768149000@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:Trauma as a Character in Writing
DESCRIPTION:The Writers Alliance of Gainesville will feature teacher\, storyteller\, and author Kathy Connor Dobronyi as she shares her insights on incorporating trauma as a character in your writing.\n\nCome join us at the Millhopper Library at 2:30 p.m. on the second Sunday in January\, when WAG member Kathy Connor Dobronyi will share her personal stories of trauma and the stories of her characters to help you write about trauma.\n\nTrauma is a word we often hear\, yet its true nature is frequently misunderstood and underestimated. Trauma has three levels: acute\, chronic\, and complex\, a combination of the aforementioned. No single definition of trauma suffices; it can be different things to different people.\n\nKathy has lived with complex trauma from a childhood of abuse and war. She used the memory of her time in Saigon\, where she experienced terrorist bombings at an American theater and other facilities where Americans congregated. She also witnessed human immolation and heard the bombs and gunfire during the overthrow of the South Vietnamese president on November 1\, 1963.\n\nKathy is not a therapist or a clinician. She is a retired high school teacher\, a storyteller\, and a writer. Drawing on stories from her own life and the lives of her characters\, she explores the various facets of trauma and healing.\n\nAlthough she wrote articles for trade journals and developed lesson plans used by the Folgers Institute\, she never considered herself an author until she was asked by a local newspaper editor to write her story: Under the Wings of a Good Luck Phoenix: Memoir of an American Girl in Saigon\, June 1963 to March 1964.\n\nThis program is free and open to the public. Join us!\n2:30-4:30 PM\nJanuary 11 \n\nMillhopper Branch\, Alachua County Library
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/trauma-as-a-character-in-writing/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251214T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251214T163000
DTSTAMP:20251105T210839Z
CREATED:20251105T210816Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251105T210839Z
UID:10000176-1765722600-1765729800@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:2025 Bacopa Literary Review – Debut
DESCRIPTION:The Writers Alliance of Gainesville will feature debut readings from the 2025 Bacopa Literary Review.\n\nMany of the prize-winning pieces will be read aloud. WAG members with works published in this journal will also be invited to read.\n\nThe Bacopa editorial board expects to have physical copies of the journal available (WAG members get a free copy!)\, and we will celebrate with refreshments.\n\nReserve this date on your calendar\, and closer to the date\, check here for more details about the program.\n\n2025 Prize Winners\n \nFICTION\nAward: “Downpour” by Terry Sanville\nHonorable Mention: “Knot” by Abhishek Sengupta\nBest of WAG: “God and His Dog” by Bonnie T. Ogle\n \nCREATIVE NONFICTION\nAward: “Footsteps” by Joe Marshall\nHonorable Mention: “Never Home in No Man’s Land” by Jenn Yee\nBest of WAG: “Mam Exam” by Charlotte M. Porter\n \nFORMAL POETRY\nAward: “Real Spanish” by C. J. Grandorff\nHon. Mention: “Ty-Phoo” by Dion O’Reilly\n \nFREE VERSE POETRY\nAward: “Blanca” by Ines Bellina\nHonorable Mention: “Isabelline and Beige” by Toni Holland\nBest of WAG: “At The Gallery & Everywhere\, She Talks with Her Hands” by Aliesa Zoecklein\n \nVISUAL POETRY\nAward: “The Ruckle” by S.D. Dillon\nHonorable Mention: “My Mother’s Music” by J. Nishida\nBest of WAG: “My Mother’s Music” by J. Nishida\n\nThis program is free and open to the public. Join us!\n\n2:30-4:30 PM\nDecember 14\nMillhopper Branch\, Alachua County Library
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/2025-bacopa-literary-review-debut/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251109T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251109T163000
DTSTAMP:20251104T224900Z
CREATED:20251104T224900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251104T224900Z
UID:10000175-1762698600-1762705800@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:Readings by WAG Members
DESCRIPTION:Join the Writers Alliance of Gainesville for readings\, fellowship\, and refreshments at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday\, November 9\, 2025\, at the Millhopper Library. \n\nSince this event comes just before Thanksgiving\, we are likely to hear some stories about Thanksgiving celebrations or expressions of gratitude.\n\nIn previous years\, we held the Bacopa debut in November and readings in December\, but this year these events are being switched. Both events are being held at the Millhopper Library.​\n\nThis program is free and open to the public. Join us!\n2:30-4:30 PM\nNovember 9 \n\n\n\n\n\nMillhopper Branch\, Alachua County Library
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/readings-by-wag-members/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251012T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251012T160000
DTSTAMP:20250916T233109Z
CREATED:20250916T233109Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250916T233109Z
UID:10000165-1760279400-1760284800@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:Mindfulness Techniques for Writers: A Workshop
DESCRIPTION:The Writers Alliance of Gainesville welcomes mindfulness expert Pamela Cappetta for an immersive mindfulness practice to help you connect with your five senses when writing.\n\nPamela Cappetta\, Ed.D.\, a licensed professional counselor and mindfulness teacher\, is excited to lead an experiential workshop designed to enhance your creativity\, confidence\, and creative writing through mindfulness practices. This presentation will be held at the Millhopper Library at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday\, October 12\, 2025.\n\nIn this workshop\, you will be introduced to the art of paying attention on purpose by setting your intention\, attitude\, and attention. We will explore how to move toward more gentleness in your writing experiences\, potentially opening new paths when you feel blocked in your writing. Additionally\, these practices can aid in focusing on character development. Through an awareness of noticing your five senses\, it is possible to have new ideas concerning set (internal state of mind) and setting (external surroundings) in your writing.\n\nPlease bring your journal or notebook and prepare to immerse yourself in actual mindfulness practices. This workshop aims to inspire and connect writers of all levels within the writing community.\n\nKey Takeaways for Participants:\n\nHere are the essential insights and benefits you can expect to gain from our mindfulness practices:\n\n\n\nEnhanced Creativity: Learn how mindfulness practices can unlock new paths and ideas in your writing\, especially when you feel blocked.\n\n\nImproved Confidence: Gain confidence in your writing through mindfulness techniques that promote gentleness and self-awareness.\n\n\nCharacter Development: Discover how mindfulness can aid in focusing on character development and bring depth to your writing.\n\n\nExperiential Learning: Experience actual mindfulness practices that can be applied to your writing process.\n\n\nSensory Awareness: Understand how noticing your five senses can lead to new ideas concerning set and setting in your writing.\n\n\n\nFor the past 12 years\, Cappetta has taught mindfulness to children\, young adults\, teachers\, therapists\, lawyers\, parents\, social workers\, addiction therapists\, patients with chronic pain\, including folks with neurological deficits\, and private psychotherapy clients.\n\nHer book\, Mindful Moments with Maude\, published in 2022\, reflects her teachings in mindfulness for children. https://www.drpamm.com/\n​\nThis program is free and open to the public. Join us!
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/mindfulness-techniques-for-writers-a-workshop/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250914T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250914T160000
DTSTAMP:20250729T190218Z
CREATED:20250729T190218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250729T190218Z
UID:10000160-1757860200-1757865600@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:How to Fit Writing into a Vibrant Life (without going bananas)
DESCRIPTION:The Writers Alliance of Gainesville welcomes master juggler (of a vibrant life)\, author Michelle Dunlap\, who will share how she’s found ways to get writing done and help you develop your methods for consistently finding time to write.\n\nDo you have significant responsibilities? Perhaps you are raising children or grandchildren\, holding down multiple jobs\, caring for aging parents\, trying to improve the world through volunteerism\, or dealing with health issues that sap your strength.\n\nHow can we also fit productive writing into our lives? And meet deadlines? How can we do a good job of incorporating our writing without seeming rattled? How and when do we find time?\n\nOn Sunday\, September 14\, let’s come together at the Millhopper branch of the Alachua County Library and figure it out.\n\nThis interactive workshop will offer strategies that writers and other creatives can use to write while juggling multiple roles. Participants should bring a notebook\, calendar\, and pen to sketch a writing plan.\n\nThis session will be led by WAG board member\, educator Michelle Dunlap\, who has never known a time when she wasn’t juggling multiple family\, work\, and community responsibilities. Yet\, she has managed to write a dissertation and 50 other published pieces.\n\nShe has authored two books and co-edited three others. She managed all this while a single parent raising two children\, caring for a terminally ill parent\, and holding major ministerial\, board\, and other service responsibilities within her community.\n\n“It was far from easy\,” she said\, but she had to find ways to get the writing done to achieve her goals. In this workshop\, she hopes her strategies will help you develop your methods for consistently finding time to write.\n​\nThis program is free and open to the public. Join us!\n2:30-4 PM\nSeptember 14 \n\nMillhopper Branch\, Alachua County Library\n3145 NW 43rd St.\nGainesville\, FL 32606\n352-334-1272 (venue phone)\nMillhopper Branch | Alachua County Library District
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/how-to-fit-writing-into-a-vibrant-life-without-going-bananas/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250810T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250810T160000
DTSTAMP:20250630T210224Z
CREATED:20250630T210224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250630T210224Z
UID:10000155-1754836200-1754841600@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:Judith T. Fisher: Your Road to Traditional Publishing
DESCRIPTION:The Writers Alliance of Gainesville welcomes author and speaker Judith T. Fisher\, who will speak on securing an agent and traditional publisher while avoiding pitfalls and scams.\n\nAuthor Judith T. Fisher will be WAG’s guest speaker on Sunday\, August 10. Her presentation\, “Your road to securing an agent and a traditional publisher while avoiding pitfalls and scams\,” will begin at 2:30 p.m. in Room A of the Millhopper branch of the Alachua County Library.\n\nThe discussion will include:\n\nAcquisition of agents\n\nquery letters\npress releases\nawards\, speaking engagements\, etc.\n\nPublisher’s Process\n\nsubmission acceptance calendar\nforms required\nsecure submission portals\n\nPitfalls and Scams\n\nthey won’t call you\nrepublishing scam\nhuge contract offers and the scams that go with them\n\n\nA journalism major\, Fisher first began writing a heartfelt blog to fill the time previously spent tending to her husband and two children. As she wrote and gained followers\, she decided to try pure fiction. She knew that women who grew up in her generation\, who struggled with fears\, questions\, and issues\, had no voice. They were silenced. She wanted to give a voice to those who still carry baggage\, coupled with shame\, embarrassment\, and skeletons that affect how they live their lives today.\n\nShe writes about experiences that affected her profoundly\, with the hope that her fictional protagonists’ successful solutions will give her readers encouragement.\n\nFour of her books include Voices from the Ledge\, which deals with social issues. A Life\, Well Lived is a fictional memoir. Okay\, So I Lied is about following your own bliss. Backfired is a study in unrequited love. Her most recent novel\, Two Lost Souls\, examines miscarriages and infertility.\nWith two grown children and six grandchildren\, Fisher currently resides in Central Florida with her husband and a four-legged “child\,” Mitzi.\n\nThis program is free and open to the public. Come join us!
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/judith-t-fisher-your-road-to-traditional-publishing/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250713T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250713T160000
DTSTAMP:20250708T195611Z
CREATED:20250708T195611Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250708T195611Z
UID:10000156-1752417000-1752422400@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:U.S. History That All Writers Should Know – by Dr. Rik Stevenson
DESCRIPTION:The Writers Alliance of Gainesville welcomes historian Dr. Rik Stevenson\, who will discuss the “Other Book” and underrepresented historical knowledge that allows writers to create more accurate storytelling.\n\nThe Writers Alliance of Gainesville’s Sunday\, July 13\, program with Dr. Rik Stevenson is the perfect follow-up to our historical Fannie Lou Hamer presentation by Pamela D. Marshall and the WAG/GFAA “Hidden Histories” exhibit at the Gainesville Fine Art Association’s gallery.\n\nStevenson’s presentation will discuss the concept of the “Other Book” and underrepresented historical knowledge that\, when surfaced\, allows writers to engage in expanded and deeper research\, creating more accurate storytelling and writing.\n\nBefore schools were integrated\, Black teachers taught from two books: the official book sanctioned by the government and the “other book\,” which taught the truth about Black experiences and other untold accurate histories. Sometimes\, one must dig deeper and go to the source material to learn the truth of our shared pasts to make our writing stronger and more accurate.\n\nWithout accurate and accessible history\, our writing may lack the depth and authenticity that attracts a broader audience. Dr. Stevenson’s presentation will provide a few of his favorite research techniques and community engagement strategies for securing greater and more accurate historical and contemporary knowledge and awareness—methods that can create deeper understandings and compassions\, and thus more story depth\, for writers who envision the building of highly believable characters and plots with whom wide audiences want to engage.\n\nStevenson’s presentation will also provide a platform for writers\, authors\, and aspiring authors to raise questions about the awareness and interconnectedness of history\, culture\, and economics\, and how such awareness can bring greater depth to our characters\, character arcs\, plots\, etc. When writers leave this experience\, they will likely see a familiar world with new eyes\, awareness\, and understanding that can help them more deeply create and bring richer stories into shared futures.\n\nStevenson is a historian. He holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University in African American and African Studies. His research focus is the Middle Passage\, suicide\, and West and West Central African Cosmologies. He holds two master’s degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Divinity in African American Church History. As a speaker\, he is highly sought after for his cultural competency\, knowledge\, and skills. He teaches courses in Black Theology and African American Church History. He’s an Assistant Instructional Professor at the University of Florida. As a certified scuba diver\, he has worked with Diving With A Purpose\, seeking insight on the Slave Ship Guerrero.\n\nThis program is free and open to the public. Come join us!\n\n2:30-4 PM\nJuly 13 \n\nMillhopper Branch\, Alachua County Library
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/u-s-history-that-all-writers-should-know-by-dr-rik-stevenson/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250608T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250608T160000
DTSTAMP:20250606T000008Z
CREATED:20250502T202847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T000008Z
UID:10000148-1749393000-1749398400@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:8 Book-Writing Tips from an Award-Winning Novelist
DESCRIPTION:The Writers Alliance of Gainesville welcomes author and speaker Richard Gartee\, who will share his top eight tips for book authors.\nRichard Gartee is the author of 32 published books—eight of them fiction.\n\nOn Sunday\, June 8\, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. at the Millhopper Library\, he will offer key tips for keeping readers entertained and engaged by sharing examples of these elements:\n\nShow\, Don’t Tell: Rather than telling readers how characters feel\, he will show how to reveal their emotions through actions and dialogue.\nStrong Voice and Tone: He will demonstrate how establishing a unique voice can draw readers in and create a distinct atmosphere.\nPoint of View: Maintain a single character’s point of view per scene and avoid the dreaded head hopping. This allows readers to identify with a character.\nUse of Dialogue: Dialogue can reveal character\, advance the plot\, and create tension. He will share dialog-heavy excerpts and demonstrate how to minimize over-use of speaker attributes.\nSetting as Character: A well-developed setting can enhance the story and serve as a backdrop for character development. Gartee will share a passage that vividly describes Gainesville\, making it feel alive and integral to the narrative.\nPacing and Structure: Varying sentence length and structure can control the story’s pace and keep readers engaged. Pacing shifts during a high-energy event build suspense or excitement.\nHumor and Wit: He will share a scenario to illustrate how humor can be woven into storytelling to make the read more enjoyable and relatable.\n\nEditing and Revision: He will emphasize the need for professional editing and share examples of developmental editing\, line editing\, and copy editing.\n\n\n\n\n\nThis program is free and open to the public. Come join us!
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/angela-v-woodhulls-7-book-writing-tips/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250504T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250504T160000
DTSTAMP:20250416T224113Z
CREATED:20250416T224113Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250416T224113Z
UID:10000146-1746369000-1746374400@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:Dan Sharp: How to Write Fight Scenes
DESCRIPTION:Come join the Writers Alliance of Gainesville for “How to Write Fight Scenes” with author Dan Sharp.\n\nOn May 4\, WAG speakers bureau standout Dan Sharp will present the free program\, “How to Write Fight Scenes.” He will point out that conflict\, whether it involves fisticuffs or merely harsh words\, is a fork in the road for our characters and deserves careful attention to details. Sharp will provide insights into how a fight can develop and resources to improve our accuracy in describing them. He might even display or brandish some “weapons\,” but they will only be fake and shown for demonstration purposes.\n\nSharp is a research scientist by profession and a martial artist by avocation. He received the Outstanding Professor award at the University of Florida and has been to numerous countries worldwide as an invited speaker. He is also the author of hard-hitting action-adventure novels. His “Mae Arnold —The Fifty-Niners” is a historical thriller in which a young\, recently widowed woman seeks employment at Pinkerton’s Detective Agency in hopes of solving her husband’s grisly murder. Her first assignment pits her against a cold-hearted businessman who cancels people instead of their debts.\n\nSharp has always held an interest in brain function\, and through his studies\, it became clear to him that fear is a learned phenomenon and the ability to manage the fear reaction can be learned. The talk he gave to WAG a while back\, “12 Tips to Help You Beat the Public Speaking Jitters\,” was very well received.\n\nPlan to join us on May 4\, and in the meantime\, check out Sharp’s blog posts on his website\, https://dansharp-writer.com/fiction.\nTime/Date:\n2:30-4 PM\nMay 4
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/dan-sharp-how-to-write-fight-scenes/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250309T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250309T160000
DTSTAMP:20250125T000645Z
CREATED:20250125T000645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250125T000645Z
UID:10000139-1741530600-1741536000@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:Fannie Lou Hamer One-Woman Show with Author Pamela D. Marshall
DESCRIPTION:Come join the Writers Alliance of Gainesville for a treat on Sunday\, March 9\, at 2:30 p.m. when author Pamela D. Marshall presents “The Speeches and Writings of Fannie Lou Hamer: A One Woman Show.”\n\n“As a writer\,” Marshall said\, “creating the Fannie Lou Hamer One-Woman Show taught me the power of weaving research and authentic voices and her songs into storytelling. By delving into Mrs. Hamer’s speeches and legacy\, I found a way to bring history to life\, evoking emotion and inspiring action.\n\n“For writers\, this process demonstrates how to transform research into compelling narratives that resonate deeply with audiences\, creating work that informs and moves people to think\, feel\, and act. I hope this performance inspires you to uncover powerful stories waiting to be told in your own work.”\n\nMarshall is also a peace ambassador and The WELLness Network/Publishing executive director. Inspired by her journey and the fresh perspectives of her grandson BJ\, Pamela crafts stories that nurture young minds\, weaving themes of forgiveness\, environmental stewardship\, and emotional well-being.\nHer works include The Art of Forgiveness: An Expression of Peace and children’s books BJ and The Majestic Forgiveness Tree and BJ’s Big Mission\, Easie Turtle’s Healing\, Heals Earth.\n\nA seasoned journalist\, public policy advisor\, and keynote speaker\, Marshall’s expertise earned her an interview at the White House during the Obama Administration. She resides in Florida with her husband\, Scott\, and delights in being “Beanie” to BJ.
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/fannie-lou-hamer-one-woman-show-with-author-pamela-d-marshall/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250209T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250209T160000
DTSTAMP:20250117T010730Z
CREATED:20250117T010730Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250117T010730Z
UID:10000138-1739111400-1739116800@alachuachronicle.com
SUMMARY:Enneagrams for Writers and Other Creatives
DESCRIPTION:Guest speaker Dina Smith\, a licensed mental health professional\, will describe how the Enneagram can benefit writers and other creatives. She believes clarity can be empowering—and the Enneagram is the GPS that gets you there. She says the Enneagram can be a powerful tool for writers in several ways\, helping them develop richer characters\, deeper themes\, and more authentic storytelling.\n\nIn this presentation\, you will learn the Core Motivations of the 9 Enneagram basic types\, as well as the process\, goal\, and obstacle for each Enneagram type as a writer. You might know where you are and where you want to go\, but that doesn’t mean you won’t encounter roadblocks\, detours\, or even a need to reroute.  We will also take a brief look at how each Enneagram type has paths for utilizing strengths and overcoming weaknesses as a writer. Just like a GPS maps out the most direct route to your destination\, the Enneagram shows you the path to becoming your highest\, truest self.\n\nIf you wish to test your Enneagram in advance of Smith’s talk\, here’s a link she supplied: https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test. It’s free.\n\nSmith is a Masters Certified Addictions Professional and an Enneagram Informed Mental Health Professional. She has worked in community mental health and hospital-based settings\, with a focus on addiction medicine for the past 18 years. Currently\, she serves as the Director of Clinical Services at the UF Health Florida Recovery Center. She is consistently recognized for promoting understanding through using the Enneagram to enhance the personal and professional growth for individuals and teams. In her free time\, Dina enjoys being part of a team that leads worship at her church and spending time with her husband and two small children.\n\nThe talk will be held in Meeting Room A at the Millhopper Library.
URL:https://alachuachronicle.com/event/enneagrams-for-writers-and-other-creatives/
LOCATION:Millhopper Library\, 3145 NW 43rd St\, Gainesville\, 32606\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lecture
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