Steve Burmeister/Budgeteer News

Building a Literary Empire

Lisa McKhann goes over a manuscript during a meeting of the Creative Prose Group, part of Lake Superior Writers.

Kyle E. Eller
Budgeteer News

Lake Superior Writers

From 1978 to 1997, Lake Superior Writers, a regional writers group for writers of all genres, lived happily at the Depot. But Sheldon Aubut, president of the Lake Superior Writers Board of Directors, says that changed when the Depot restructured and realized Lake Superior Writers was never a full member.

"It was felt down there that maybe we were no longer a good fit for their organization," Aubut said.

Lake Superior Writers was "shopped around" to see if anyone would take it over, but no one bit. As the group moved out on its own with Aubut at the helm, things looked bleak.

That was two years ago. Today, after reorganization, Aubut said, the group is growing and expanding, ready to become a "world class" writers' organization.

"It turned out to be something really good for us to be cut off from the Depot, because now we have the opportunity to make our own way," he said.

The organization's new vision is driven by an enthusiastic board of directors bent on creating a smaller version of the Loft, a writer's organization in the Twin Cities, and members say with the level of talent in the Twin Ports, the resources of northern Minnesota and the flourishing publishing industry here, there is no reason they can't succeed.

"I hate to use the term hotbed, but this is a hotbed of artistic writing," Aubut said. "It's kind of incredible for a city this size."

The vision

The vision for Lake Superior Writers borrows from the group's history and breaks new ground. Critique groups, a contest, a mentoring program, seminars, workshops, retreats and alliances with other area organizations are some of the services offered to the community.

Mary Ellen Sjoberg, a volunteer who serves as program coordinator, said the period of reorganization was also a time of self-definition, which resulted in contacts with granting organizations and in official non-profit status for the organization. Contacts among Duluth publishing outlets have resulted in monthly "short" programs, where editors and publishers teach Duluth writers how to get published.

In March, Lake Superior Magazine's managing editor and Lake Superior Writers board member Konnie LeMay gave writing guidelines for the magazine and advice from her experience. Upcoming presenters include Larry Fortner, owner of Fortner WordWorks and Jim Perlman, owner of Holy Cow! Press.

Sjoberg said longer workshops are also falling into place, to be hosted at Lake Superior College. Lake Superior Writers hopes to feature several later in the year if grant funding comes through.

Another opportunity for writers is the upcoming contest, open to writers from all over Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Mara Hart, a board member working on the contest, said she expects 200 manuscripts, which will be read and judged "blind" (no names on the manuscripts) in three categories — short fiction, poetry and creative non-fictions. In each category, a first-place winner and an honorable mention will be selected, with prizes of $150 and $100 respectively. An anthology and public reading will follow.

Hart recommended careful attention to the guidelines (available on the Lake Superior Writers Web site, http://www.narma.org/lsw, or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to Lake Superior Writers). "I would say to take it very seriously — it'll be very competitive," she added, noting that even the process of putting together a manuscript was worthwhile.

Lake Superior Writers currently offers mentor programs, and Aubut said the group is trying to put together retreats, though the project may not be complete until next year.

A final service is critique groups. At 7 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of every month, writers meet at Browser's N'ETc. (201 E. Superior St.) to hear each other's work and offer input.

Hart, a member of a critique group called the Creative Prose Group, said they help both beginning and experienced writers.

"I see that as a very exciting possibility for writers in Duluth .... it isn't only that (writing groups) give you good ideas, but they keep you writing," she said.

Daryl Rathe, also a board member, said participating in the Monday critique groups has broadened her writing horizons. "I have learned so much about other types of writing, like poetry. I never would have even considered writing poetry until I had come to these meetings," Rathe said.

As membership grows, more specialized groups may be created.

World class

Rathe, who calls herself the "list keeper," said a primary focus of the group is building membership rolls, which dwindled during reorganization. To do this, Lake Superior Writers is using its mailing list of more than 500 people, as well as the programs and critique groups, to draw in paid memberships ($12 annual dues). The group is more than halfway to its goal of 60 paid members by the end of the year, Rathe said.

Aubut and Hart echoed the importance of building membership. "With their memberships, we will be able to more envision our dreams," Hart said.

Aubut stressed a "symbiotic relationship" with other groups, including alliances with Poetry Harbor and several other Twin Ports organizations. However, he clearly has big dreams for Lake Superior Writers.

He said mention of retreats on the group's Web page has brought interest from around the world. Why not? he asks.

"Our main mission is going to be to service the Lake Superior region, but that doesn't mean that we can't bring people in for our seminars and bring people in from our workshops from anywhere in the world," Aubut said.

He talks of helping Duluth writers improve their marketing skills and suggests the group could help make Duluth writers influential in the writing world.

"I just really, really believe in this organization, and I really believe this organization can be a world-class organization," he said.

Why not?

You can contact Lake Superior Writers at Lake Superior Writers; PO Box 3025; Duluth, Minn. 55812-3025 or by phone at 728-9559 or 724-4822. Meetings at Browser's N'ETc. are free and open. If requesting contest information, be sure to include an SASE.

Poetry Harbor

Though you may not know it, Duluth has a thriving community of young poets, says Poetry Harbor's "Empress of the Open Mike," Liz Minette.

Photo by: Steve Burmeister/Budgeteer News

"We have an extremely active crowd that's doing a lot of serious writing," she said.

She should know. Minette coordinates two Poetry Harbor readings/open mike events per week, Tuesdays at the Norshor Theatre and Thursday's at Browser's N'ETc. Besides featured readers (poets who have a significant publishing history) at nearly all of these events, a slew of young poets use the open mike to share and hone their work, and Minette said the process is working for them.

"It seems to me this younger crowd is constantly writing, constantly creating, and events like Poetry Harbor and creative writing classes in high school, I think, are fueling that desire," said Minette.

The open mike events are just one aspect of the Poetry Harbor empire. The group, which is a decade old and has been featured in Poet's Market, also sponsors readings at Barnes & Noble; publishes a journal, North Coast Review; broadcasts poetry over public access stations in Duluth, Proctor/Hermantown, Cloquet and Eau Claire; publishes books and chapbooks, and works on collaborative projects with other organizations.

Poet and Poetry Harbor co-founder Patrick McKinnon said these functions work together to bring audiences to poets and poetry to the community. "All the programs really do shingle each other quite nicely," he said.

McKinnon added, however, that increasing attention is paid to the downtown readings.

Readings at both venues arose in a similar manner. Management, looking to draw crowds on weeknights, contacted Poetry Harbor about setting up open mike nights. Poetry Harbor saw advantages in accessibility and cost — the readings are free and open to the public — in the downtown locations. Poetry Harbor was happy to oblige.

The newest venue, Browser's N'ETc., started hosting readings in April, and is still finding its niche. However, McKinnon said management at Browser's was eager to get going, and that has opened new opportunities. "The people who run it are really interested in this kind of thing," he said. "They've been so kind to us. They set up a Web site for us."

One interesting feature at the downtown readings is the "Small Press Food Shelf." Since Poetry Harbor and North Coast Review receive numerous journals and books for review, they pass on the bounty for free once the organization is finished with them.

Minette said the Barnes & Noble readings draw an established, older crowd looking to hear established poets. During an interview at the Norshor, McKinnon summed up the difference between its readings and those at Barnes & Noble this way: "First of all, anything goes here," he said. "The wilder the better. There's no need to worry about the random shopper. You don't have to worry about the random drinker the same way you worry about the random shopper."

Minette agreed that the Norshor crowd appreciated the nearby bar and relaxed atmosphere. The Browser's crowd, which is still developing its identity, appreciates an even more relaxed atmosphere and the non-alcoholic, non-smoking environment.

Minette said it's important to try a poetry reading at least once or twice. "You've missed something, in a way, if you didn't get to see these performers perform live. We'd be missing something in our culture if we didn't see that," she said.

Poetry Harbor is breaking new ground with guest editors in each issue of North Coast Review, "as a way of trying to reward the middle-level poet with some kind of opportunity," McKinnon said. These opportunities, common in the Twin Cities, he said, are rare in the Northland. McKinnon added that it brings diversity to the magazine and allows local poets to peek behind the Poetry Harbor curtain.

Like those at Lake Superior Writers, McKinnon lauds the Twin Ports literary community and the cooperation between organizations serving it. "If the town can support all of these things, then all these things belong here. And it is supporting them," he said.

Thursday at 8 p.m., the featured poet at Browser's N'ETc. (201 E. Superior St.) is Jan Chronister.

For more information about Poetry Harbor events, call the organization at 733-1294 or visit the Web site at http://www.poharb.toofarnorth.com.