Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group Meets July 21

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

Time for brainstorming, free writing, and learning about flash fiction will be offered at the next Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meeting on Monday, July 21, from 6:30-8 pm at Life Fellowship in Fort Morgan.

Those attending should bring writing material for the writing exercises.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meets on the third Monday of each month and is open to the public. For further information, contact Kathy Brasby at spunknspirit@gmail.com or at 970-520-5454.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group Meeting March 17

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group will sponsor its first write-in at its regular meeting on Monday, March 17, from 6:30-8 pm at Life Fellowship in Fort Morgan. Those attending can brainstorm with others about their work in progress and also use the meeting time to write. Those attending should bring their favorite writing device plus any snacks or music that helps them in their writing effort. Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meets on the third Monday of each month and is open to the public. For further information, contact Kathy Brasby at spunknspirit@gmail.com or at 970-520-5454.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group Meets Feb 17

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group will critique writing projects at its regular meeting on Monday, February 17, from 6:30-8pm at Life Fellowship in Fort Morgan. Those interested in having their work critiqued at the meeting should submit the project (under 2000 words) to the email address below before the meeting. Readers are welcome to help give writers feedback on their work. Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meets on the third Monday of each month and is open to the public. For further information, contact Kathy Brasby at spunknspirit@gmail.com or at 970-520-5454.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group Meets Jan 20 in Fort Morgan

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group will hold its regular meeting on Monday, January 20 from 6:30-8pm at Life Fellowship in Fort Morgan. The group gives writers an opportunity to learn new aspects of the writing craft as well as critiquing works in progress and providing writing opportunities. Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meets on the third Monday of each month and is open to the public. For further information, contact Kathy Brasby at spunknspirit@gmail.com or at 970-520-5454.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group Meets Dec 16 in Ft. Morgan

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

Christmas writing prompts will spark the holiday celebration at the next Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group on Monday, December 16, from 6:30-8 pm at Life Fellowship in Fort Morgan.

Part of the celebration will include Christmas goodies as well. Those attending are encouraged to bring plates of goodies plus writing materials.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meets on the third Monday of each month and is open to the public. For further information, contact Kathy Brasby at spunknspirit@gmail.com or at 970-520-5454.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group Meets November 18 in Fort Morgan

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

Authors Kathleen Kovach and Paula Moldenhauer will discuss the writing techniques behind their book, “Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal” at the next Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group on Monday, November 18, from 6:30-8 pm at Life Fellowship in Fort Morgan.

The two authors co-wrote the novel following research into the Titanic event. Those attending the meeting are encouraged to read the book, which is available at the Fort Morgan Library.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meets on the third Monday of each month and is open to the public. For further information, contact Kathy Brasby at spunknspirit@gmail.com or at 970-520-5454.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meets October 21 in Ft. Morgan

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

Author Kathleen Kovach will be on hand at the next Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meeting to discuss how to plot your character’s journey.

Spunk and Spirit will meet at 6:30-8 pm on October 21 at Life Fellowship in Fort Morgan.

Kovach’s session is entitled, “Innie or Outie? Plotting your Character’s Journey.” She will discuss three different ways of creating a well-rounded character that not only moves on the page but also comes alive.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meets on the third Monday of each month and is open to the public. For further information, contact Kathy Brasby at spunknspirit@gmail.com or at 970-520-5454.

MCC hosting Open Poetry Night October 18, Writing Workshop October 19

The Center for Arts and Community Enrichment (CACE) and the Creative Writing Club at Morgan Community College (MCC) present Julie Cummings for the fall semester’s Open Mic Poetry Night on Friday, October 18 beginning at 7 p.m., and a writing workshop on Saturday, October 19 at noon.

Those interested in reading for Open Mic should arrive 15 minutes early to sign up. The evening will begin with community poetry readings from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., followed by Cummings’ reading until 8 p.m. in Bloedorn Lecture Hall at the Fort Morgan campus. Refreshments will be provided by MCC’s Creative Writing Club.

Cummings also will conduct a brown bag workshop titled "Writing Together” on Saturday, October 19 from 12-1:30 p.m. in Spruce Hall, Room 317 at MCC. She will take you through her writing process, read several poems and work through exercises together. This workshop will offer an array of effective techniques to help poets achieve their goals.

Both events are free and open to the public.

Cummings currently presides over Colorado’s poetry society, Columbine Poets, Inc. Her work has been published in three anthologies over the past several years, and is published in a local literary magazine, newspapers, and can be found online. Her poems are also available in postcard form, on an audio cd titled "Be Heard," as well as a self-published book of poems whose proceeds are donated to several different social awareness causes.

For more information about CACE, please visitwww.MorganCC.edu/CACE. Questions about Open Mic Poetry Night or the workshop can be directed to Rachel Kellum at (970) 542-3203.

Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group Meets Sept 16 in Ft. Morgan

***Courtesy of AM 1400 KFTM and www.kftm.net***

Those attending the next Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meeting on Sept. 16 at 6:30 pm at Life Fellowship in Fort Morgan will be critiquing works submitted to the group. Writers are invited to submit works by emailing to spunknspirit@gmail.com. Spunk and Spirit Christian Writers Group meets on the third Monday of each month and is open to the public. For further information, contact Kathy Brasby at spunknspirit@gmail.com or at 970-520-5454.

Nel Propst Northeastern Colorado Historical Essay Contest Accepting Entries

***Press Release***

Area high school students have opportunity to win $2,000 scholarships

Now is the time for area high schools students, grades 9-12 to get their essay entries written for the annual Nel Propst Northeastern Colorado Historical Essay Contest. The deadline for the competition is March 1^st. Students have an opportunity to win up to $2,000 in scholarship money to the college of their choice. This contest has been expanded this year and now includes high schools in Morgan County. And, a cover design competition has been added to allow art students to also compete for scholarship dollars. In past years, the number of contestants entering has ranged from 12 to 15 so the odds of winning are quite good.

The contest is open to all high school students, regardless whether they are public or home schooled, provided they live in the contest’s designated geographical area which includes the following area. All high schools in Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma Counties plus the Briggsdale, New Raymer, Pawnee and Grover school districts in northeastern Weld County. 

The entry deadline for home-schooled student entries is February 15th as these entries are judged separately with the top two being placed in the overall competition.

Each year the contest awards a $2,000 scholarship to the top essay winner and $1,000 scholarship to the first runner-up. Added this year will be a prize to an art student from one of these designated high schools (or home school) who submits the winning cover design for the 2013 book. This winner will receive a $1,000 award.

Students entering the essay portion of the contest are asked to write an thesis of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 words on the local history about an individual, groups of individuals or events affecting or occurring within the geographical area serviced by the above listed school districts within Northeastern Colorado. Each school may accept unlimited entries but will only be allowed to submit the top two entries as determined by the school for the final judging. Cover design entries must follow some specific guidelines which are posted on the website listed below.

Each student who has an essay or cover design entered must have a sponsoring faculty, counselor of administrative member from their school. This sponsor, should his or her student win either of the contests, will also receive a $500 grant respectively. These grants may be used to fund class field trips or purchase classroom equipment and or supplies.

In the case of home schooled  students who might win the essay contest, the faculty award will be given to a library or museum, within the defined geographical area, selected by the scholarship winner.

All final entrants and their faculty sponsors will be invited to spend a day in Sterling in early May at which time they will have an opportunity to tour NJC, visit the Overland Trail Museum and attend an awards luncheon where all entries are recognized and top winners announced.

The winning writer’s school as determined by the judges will be awarded a 12 x 12 black granite trophy which will permanently reside in the school’s trophy case.

Perhaps the least mentioned benefit derived from participation in the Nell Propst Historical Essay Contest is the publication of contest entries in a bound book titled “A Short History Of Northeastern Colorado” (As seen through the eyes of our high school scholars) which is  published annually, given to all of the submitted entrants, to each of their sponsoring faculty members, all the area museums for their reference libraries, and each of the registered high schools to place in their libraries.

For more information about the contest’s rules and where your entries should be submitted, visit the website nphec.com and click on the links. You may also call contest coordinator Ken Horner at 970-522-2440 or email him at khorner@nphec.com

The funds used in this contest are managed and dispersed by the Northeastern Junior College Foundation, however, students winning scholarships may use their award at any college of their choosing.

Last year’s top essay entry was submitted by Jeremy Loutensock of Holyoke High School for his essay entitled “Unseen Glory.”  Dan Conn, a history teacher, was his sponsor. Second place entry was submitted by Katelyn Kaus of Haxtun High School who was sponsored by Amy Schadegg and Vickie Fuesz.