Bulletin News

College Hosts Community “Writing Marathon” on Oct. 16

10/05/2010

The Seven Valleys Writing Project (SVWP) will offer a free “Writing Marathon” for aspiring novelists, poets and playwrights on Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Blue Frog Coffeehouse at Main and Court streets in Cortland, N.Y.

The event, which will provide writers in the community with dedicated time to start and revise their work as well as advice from experienced writers, will take place from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The “Writing Marathon” is open to the public.

“Too often writing is an isolating activity,” says organizer Kathryn Cernera of the SVWP. “We want to bring together people writing in many genres and styles at the same time.”

During the marathon, SUNY Cortland English Department faculty members will lead two one-hour, creative writing sessions.

At the conclusion, writers will be given an opportunity to read their work at an open mic. “Writing Marathon” T-shirts will be available for sale.

In 2008, SUNY Cortland was approved for the long-term, renewable federal Department of Education funding to start this local Writing Project branch as a means of helping outstanding Central New York teachers improve their writing and research. The SVWP is one of more than 200 federally supported National Writing Project sites in the U.S. The project goal is to support teachers and their communities as they complete their academic, professional and personal writing. For more information about the SVWP, visit the website at cortland.edu/SVWP.

For more information about the marathon, contact Cernera or project co-director David Franke, professor of English and professional writing, at (607) 753-5945.