Abel Meeropol Social Justice Writing Award 2017 Patricia Smith was awarded the first Abel Meeropol Social Justice Writing Award on Nov. 12, 2017, in a ceremony at Gateway City Arts. A video of her acceptance speech along with opening remarks from Ellen Meeropol and Robert Meeropol and musical performances by Pamela Means was created with Read More
December blog for SDWG newsletter Every few years, we change up the leadership of Straw Dog Writers Guild. It’s healthy for the organization, bringing new ideas and approaches. It also offers an opportunity to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, and where we want to go next. We’re at such a crossroads now, with two new Read More
I’ve always been involved in the arts in some way but never would I have ever thought I’d become a writer. I picked up my first musical instrument at 8 years old, started off as a music education major in undergrad but left with a degree in theatre. I’ve been on stage as an actor, Read More
The Poetry Critique Meet-Up began rather inauspiciously. It was a brainstorm of mine, one day when I was out hiking with my wife: “Wouldn’t it be cool to lead a low-commitment, low-cost poetry mini-seminar?” Poetry seminars often require a long commitment, travel, a steep price, or all of the above. I thought it would be Read More
Hello Straw Dog Writers Guild Members, We are so grateful to all of you for your loyalty and continued support as Straw Dog Writers grows and develops as an organization. Without you, we would not have Straw Dog Writers, and all the offerings and opportunities we provide to the literary community of Western MA. Thank Read More
On my first day of service at the Haven House, a transitional housing program for homeless women and children, the social worker put her hand on my shoulder and said, “They’re tough girls, but I think you can handle yourself. Don’t let them scare you away. They might actually like this.” And by “this,” she Read More
Originally published in Fired Up! Green Fire Writers When the picketing started at Glen Echo Amusement Park, I was 14 and my mother wouldn’t let me go. “It’s too dangerous,” she said. “Besides, you have a job.” My family had moved to the suburban Maryland neighborhood called Bannockburn two years earlier. I had my first Read More
May 1 was the last Valley Gives Day — at least in this incarnation of the regional online nonprofit extravaganza — and Straw Dog Writers Guild participated, for the third year. Our fundraising goal was $5000. We asked for your support on our website, in our newsletter, at events, and on social media. You really Read More
I enjoyed participating in all four of the Straw Dog Writers Guild’s 2018 March Medley Workshops. The collaboration between SDWG and the Northampton Center for the Arts allowed me to affordably experience four excellent local workshop leaders’ offerings—voice-finding, collaging, playwriting, and songwriting. I jumped at the chance to participate in Dori Ostermiller’s workshop on March Read More
When I was an undergrad in Athens, GA, the 40-Watt Club was the magnet that drew musicians and poets together. It was our shared space, our common ground, named after the bare bulb that lit the stage. It was where we came to listen and be listened to — where REM, Guadalcanal Diary, Love Tractor, Read More
