The article I wrote for Thread Magazine on the Burlington Writers’ Workshop 2014 Anthology Book Launch has been published.
Here’s a preview:
words & photography // Annalisa Parent
With the launch party for the second annual “Best of Burlington Workshop” anthology, the Burlington Writers Workshop served up a serious appreciation of literature — while not taking themselves too seriously.
More than 100 local writers gathered Friday night at Burlington City Arts in a light-hearted, fun-filled celebration of writing and a love of words to honor the group’s publication.
When participants walked through the door, rather than being greeted with the standard “Hello. My name is…” nametag, attendees received a label printed with either a question or an answer culled from the pages of the anthology, famous works of literature and cinema. Participants were tasked with finding a partner at the party sporting the corresponding label; only there was a trick — there were no right answers.
To further the delight in words, volunteers circulated throughout the room seeking nouns, adjectives, adverbs and other parts of speech to complete a mad lib based on Amanda Vella’s poem, “How About I Tell You What This Poem is About?” that features in the group’s collection.
Paul Hobday, the anthology’s fiction editor, described the event as “lively.” Indeed, groups were spread through the two rooms at the BCA’s Church Street digs, chatting, eating, laughing, and generally enjoying one another’s company.
Lauren Saunders, a recent transplant from Nashua, N.H. to Burlington, joined the group as soon as she got into town a month ago. She came to the book launch to hear some of her fellow workshop participants read.
“It’s always great…
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