Springtime summit for the literary crowd

My favorite New Yorker cartoon, by Lee Lorenz, depicts a haggard man leaning against a wall during a party while a chipper, cocktail-wielding gentleman chimes, “A writer? Terrific. I wish I had time to write.”

That image, for all its sardonic mirth, is an all-too accurate if not painful summation of a mindset most writers encounter at one time or another. Writing is an oft-misunderstood, sometimes stigmatized vocation and, because it is a solitary endeavor as well, it can sometimes seem as if we’re each on our own deserted, computer-equipped island launching painstakingly crafted verbiage out into the ether, hoping someone’s going to read it and take it seriously.

Even in a place like Vermont, which is purported to have the highest population of writers per capita than any other state, writing can be a mighty lonely business. When a deadline looms and the kids are at school and calls are being screened, the only sound rattling through this big house is my fingers tapping the keyboard, an occasional “meow” from Dudley the cat and the kettle boiling every couple of hours.

Author Jessamyn West said, “Writing is a solitary occupation. Family, friends, and society are the natural enemies of the writer. He must be alone, uninterrupted and slightly savage if he is to sustain and complete an undertaking.”

Okay, but can’t we get together every once in a while despite our apparent savagery?

Thanks to the folks at the Greater Manchester Arts Council, the answer is a resounding “yes.” From April 25 to April 27, the first Poets and Writers Weekend will take place in various locations throughout Manchester and the impressive agenda is vibrant and varied.

Though this year’s focus is The Emerging Writer, authors of every rank and genre — established novelists, young poets and mid-career journalists alike — will find professional succor and creative sanctuary in the weekend’s well-rounded roster of celebrated scholars, esteemed authors, self-publishing entrepreneurs and organizational leaders in the literary arts.

One needn’t be a writer to attend and, in fact, readers are heartily encouraged to take in the colorful spectrum of lectures, workshops, discussions and readings as well, all of which promise to offer rare insights into the experiences, motivations and muses of writers, from various viewpoints.

Commencing the proceedings is a talk by Dr. Peter Stanlish — author of “Robert Frost: The Poet as Philosopher” and longtime friend of the man himself — who will discuss his book and the promise he made to Frost in 1944 to write it. The next day offers workshops by writers such as poet Elena Giorgiou, novelist Jon Katz and eco-writer William Shutkin, who will explore the writer’s experience through a number of lenses, whether it’s finding your distinctive voice, a reputable publisher or a reliable source of that elusive well-spring of all things creative: inspiration.

From the perspectives of both avid reader and ardent writer, I find myself most intrigued and sometimes confounded by this latter notion and, upon doing a little digging, found I’m not alone. It would seem that, simply by definition, writers are an opinionated lot and not only in the context of literary output but also in terms of personal methodologies and attendant advice to peers.

Somerset Maugham, for instance, once said, “The professional writer creates the mood. He has his inspiration too, but he controls and subdues it to his bidding by setting himself regular hours of work.” Italian author Alberto Moravia was of a similar mindset when he said, “I trust in inspiration, which sometimes comes and sometimes doesn’t. But I don’t sit back waiting for it. I work every day.”

Pearl S. Buck concurred, “I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.” And Jack London had a rather more aggressive approach when he insisted, “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”

I find Flannery O’Connor’s credo particularly comforting, which is, “Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days.”

Of course, then there’s Lillian Hellman, whose philosophy is decidedly rich and prickly in this inverted oxymoron. “If I had to give young writers advice, I would say don’t listen to writers talking about writing or themselves.”

No disrespect but I beg to differ. As a writer, I find the wisdom, camaraderie and — let’s be honest — commiseration of fellow writers singularly invigorating and validating. My friend Elayne Clift, a prolific Vermont writer who has authored more than a dozen books of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, is one of several cherished sounding-boards who keeps me on course, fielding my frustrations, hopes and triumphs with equal acuity and warmth. Her input is like gold to me, whether it’s her fearless aplomb on the topic of agents and publishers, her openness about the writing process itself or her helpful comments on my work in particular.

According to Beth Meachem, executive director of GMAC, the programs planned for the Poets and Writers’ Weekend are geared to offer the same type of support, with lively discourse and innovative writing exercises as well.

“They’re very interactive events,” she said during a recent conversation, “and the benefit for emerging writers is to be able to work in small groups and have access to more established writers. It’s also for people who just enjoy the spoken or written word. The more the merrier. The more dialogue, the more participants, the more fun.”

When I asked about the community’s support of the venture, she was enthusiastic on all fronts. “The response has been really good and I see this growing in years to come. We have great sponsors and that’s how we get a program out there that’s accessible to everybody.”

With many of the events are free of charge and others very affordable for a literary convergence of this caliber, the entire enterprise seems like the perfect fit for a region that supports an abundant creative economy, including a strong literary scene.

With Middlebury’s renowned Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference in the summer and the Brattleboro Literary Festival in the fall, spring was ripe for just this type of event and I asked Meachem about the evolution of the concept. “Clemma Dawsen is a writer who’s on the GMAC Board and she felt we should try to address all the arts and bring the literary arts to greater visibility.”

An award-winning nonfiction writer, Dawsen is teaching the workshop I could use most, entitled “Keeping That Appointment With Your Desk: The Writers’ Daily Practice.”

While I have no problem meeting other people’s deadlines, such my editor at this fine paper, that “book” I’ve been “writing” since before the millennium is definitely getting the short shrift in the sea of other obligations like kids, clients and clutter that inundates my life. Having written more grocery lists than fiction over the last decade, I could use a little nudge to break out of the “procrastinate, procrastinate, panic and produce” methodology that I fine-tuned so well in college and, instead, make a daily date with my novel.

On that note, I encourage all hungry readers and emerging, established and closet writers to explore next week’s inaugural of what is likely to be another outstanding, long-lived cultural tradition in this most literary of states.

Remember what Albert Camus said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” And the world needs all the help it can get right about now. But hey, no pressure.

Online: www.greatermanchesterarts.org

Annie: annieguyoncommunications.com

Archives: rutlandherald.typepad.com/soverscene