Writers' Village University

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STAFF

My writing career started at age eleven when I wrote a 10-page, 10-chapter, derivative western mystery novel. After that I wrote occasional love poem or doggerel to relieve the boredom of history class at university.

In 1973, while recovering from a car accident, I was looking for something to fill in time on Wednesday nights while my fiancé attended Toastmaster meetings. My fiancé suggested that I try a creative writing course with Dr. Maara Haas. I walked into the old YMCA building in Winnipeg to discover a flamboyantly dressed, red-headed woman reading aloud silently to a group of 25 assorted people. I remained and become one of the many who both worshipped and hated Maara. Somehow she struck a responsive chord in me and shocked me into becoming a writer. I've never looked back.

In 1975, I took a poetry course with Maara. At the end of this she awarded me her Silver Apple award for the poet who suffered the most beautifully. This remains a highlight in my writing life. It was the first time that I had been recognized for my writing and the first time I started to take my writing seriously.

In 1983, my husband and I helped to start the Flin Flon Writers Guild, a group of persons in our area who are interested in writing. Over the years I've been secretary, president and newsletter editor. I've given several workshops, including some in poetry.

In 1985, I was one of the first Apprentice writers chosen to participate in the Manitoba Writers Guild Mentor Program. I was partnered with poet George Amabile and learned much from him. Since 1992, I've served on the Board of Directors of Canadian Authors Association Manitoba as a regional representative.

I've also helped to organize writing workshops and bring guest into the community. My writers' group works closely with the public library to wade through the mazes of red tape. I have learned that all writers are a little crazy and to care for and feed them at a few hours notice.

I'm a Canadian writer, born in a small town in Manitoba. I worked as a library technician for over thirty years in various government and school libraries. In 1999, I took early retirement because of ill health and now consider myself a full-time writer and poet. My husband who is also a member of WVU shares my interest in writing.

I became involved with Writers' Village back in 1997 when I met Bob Hembree in a study group while taking a writing course at Virtual University. Since then, I've been a member of the T. S. Eliot Room and now Word Weavers.

While poetry is my first love, I also write short stories and meditations. I have written a novel which simmers on the back burner while I try to decide how I want to rewrite the ending. Coincidentally, some of my writing has to do with cats as I have three beautiful literary mascots.

My work has been published in YWCA Bridges, HERizons, Flin Flon Reminder, Birtle Eye Witness, Freelance, Between Beaver and Athapap and Library Cat Newsletter. I also act as webmistress for my local writers' group as well as maintaining some other writing resource pages. My poetry web page can be found at Glenda's Poetry Page.

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