NEWS UPDATE!
Members of Write by the Rails participated in the annual Prince William County Arts Council Arts Alive! festival on April 13 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. The group had a great location for the authors table where members met visitors and discussed their books and also gave out lots of information about Write by the Rails. The event provided a great opportunity to encourage the community to READ LOCAL. Members also provided a poetry writing program for children that yielded three brave young writers who read their works aloud at the authors reading area.
Also in April, the chapter applied for an emerging arts group grant from the Prince William Arts Council. Proposed programs included working with young authors in Prince William County and the City of Manassas.
On May 4, Write by the Rails authors participated in the second annual Local Author Fair at Bull Run Regional Library in Manassas.
Members of the chapter have also been reading poetry and excerpts from their books at local open mic nights.
About Write by the Rails
Write by the Rails is the newest chapter of the Virginia Writers Club. The group formed in August 2011 and since then has grown to 150 members through a Facebook group and our website. We have accomplished a great deal in a short time. We are a member of the Prince William County Arts Council and have become an active organization within the community.
Write by the Rails aims to raise the profile of the local literary community and explore ways we can nurture, cultivate and help that community grow. Here are a few of our 2012 accomplishments:
- Became the Prince William Chapter of the Virginia Writers Club;
- Published an anthology, New Departures, by Write by the Rails members;
- Created and distributed an information brochure;
- Created a website and blog;
- Conducted readings, discussions and book signings at the Arts Alive! festival sponsored by the Prince William Arts Council;
- Hosted a "How to Market Your Book" panel discussion with local, experienced authors;
Group members gather twice a month at "meet and greets" in various locations in the county. Monthly meetings are held on the third Thursday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 9325 West Street in Old Town Manassas.
News, plans, members' writings and more will be posted on the homepage, www.writebytherails.org and look for us on Facebook.
