
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, September 26, 1993                   TAG: 9309300439
SECTION: HORIZON                    PAGE: D-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Mike Mayo, Book page editor
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

BLUE RIDGE WRITERS CONVENE TO DISCUSS THEIR BUSINESS

The Ninth Annual Blue Ridge Writers Conference will be held Saturday, Oct. 2, in Olin Hall at Roanoke College. This conference tends to stress the nuts-and-bolts business side of the literary world - writing, publishing and getting paid for it - but it's not completely focused on commercialsim. In the past it has featured many serious writers, and this year is no exception.

The guests include novelist, story writer and poet Ellen Gilchrist, author of "In the Land of Dreamy Dreams" and "Victory Over Japan"; Virginia's own Donald McCaig, novelist ("Nop's Trials"), essayist commentator on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered"; and screen and television writer William Patrick ("Rachel's Dinner").

A late addition to the program is editor and agent Don Congdon. He represents or has represented such literary heavyweights as Lillian Hellman, William Manchester, William Styron, Ray Bradbury, Russell Baker and Thomas Berger. He was a fiction editor for Collier's Magazine and has edited a dozen anthologies.

Among the subjects to be covered in the morning and afternoon workshops are the relationship between writers and agents, writing and marketing literary nonfiction, the plot and structure of screenwriting and a workshop with Ellen Gilchrist.

Registration is $50 for most folks, $25 for full-time students. Even though the official deadline for signing up was Sept. 24, the people in charge will probably make exceptions. And, for anyone who's interested in the business, this particular gathering, with its easygoing atmosphere and serious, professional approach, is highly recommended.

by CNB