Creative Voice Foundation
Newly formed, Creative Voice Foundation is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting the literary arts. Currently focused on publication of The Writer's Block, the organization hopes to host poetry readings, workshops and other community writing events. The foundation intends to support the paper and its planned events through grants and various fundraising efforts, while maintaining an established presence within the community.
Click below to view a PDF copy of Creative Voice Foundation's bylaws.
The
Writer's Block
Stacy Shannon
and Rebecca
Mercurio, Editors
An idea is born...
One chilly March night in 1996, Stacy and I were happily chatting over
cups of tea at a nearby Borders Book Store. As we caught up on news and the
world, Stacy admitted that she had an idea to propose - would I be interested
in starting a literary publication with her? A budding creative writer, she
had grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of outlets for amateur writers.
She knew that I was an English major at the time and very appreciative of
literature (even though I hadn't created any works of my own). We both felt
there was a need for a creative literary medium in our community.
A
paper?!
Nervous but excited at the prospect, we decided to form a quarterly literary
publication that was non-competitive and would welcome works of any genre.
Our goal was to give up-and-coming writers the opportunity to see their works
in print, thus encouraging their creative spirits and hopefully inspiring
others as well. Out of this simple ideal The Writer's Block was born.
We
get started!
Full of hope, ambition, and just a touch of crazed idealism, we set out to
make the paper a reality. We trumpeted our idea to anyone who would listen,
and eventually began to attract attention from those not required by blood
relation to do so! The Writer's Block advertised for submissions through flyers
and word of mouth, and so began to accumulate a growing collection of poetry,
short stories, and cover art drawings.
The first issue arrives!
After long hours at Stacy's family computer and regular doses of caffeine,
the first issue of the paper was born on July 1, 1997! One hundred and fifty
copies of The Writer's Block were printed and distributed (for free) in local
stores and libraries around South Jersey and Philadelphia.
More
issues follow!
As more flyers went up and word began to spread, the paper garnered support
from various members of the community. Submissions increased, our caffeine
intake skyrocketed and the issues kept on rolling, though in the second year,
we offered them through subscription only.
The
paper's spirit keeps us in motion
Though the paper involved a great deal of work, it gave us many honest
moments of peace and encouragement. There was little that compared to reading
our latest crop of submissions together; I remember feeling so honored to
be part of those quiet afternoons. As we sifted through these printed pieces
of emotions and thoughts I felt the spirit of the paper, warm and strong among
us. It was this energy that guided us, and gently, but persistently, urged
us to keep going.
We
accomplish things!
During its three year history The Writer's Block published 8 issues, hosted
two poetry readings, formed a working relationship with the Audubon Poets
Society, and was featured in local newspapers and other literary publications.
We began to feel as though we were on the verge of something very real; had
this little paper started down the winding path to greatness?
And
then...a sad reality hits hard
Unfortunately, though the paper was gaining recognition and had all of
our enthusiasm behind it, by 1999 The Writer's Block began to feel the strain
of our college-student finances that were its main support. Out of respect
for its vision, we decided to put the paper on hiatus: partly because of lack
of funding but mainly because we no longer had the time and resources to keep
following its dream.
Time
passes...and we decide to try anew!
Just recently Stacy proposed the idea of starting the paper again! Since
we are both now out of college and much more settled in our personal lives,
we feel ready to renew our commitment to the paper and all of the new challenges
this will bring. We believe that we now have the resources and determination
to continue and expand our original vision: to encourage self-expression through
creative writing, and to inspire the appreciation of literature within our
communities.
Into
the future
We plan to continue publishing the paper quarterly while improving our
appearance and welcoming an audience beyond our own community. This time,
instead of subscriptions we will be soliciting family and business memberships.
The Writer's Block will now be published by Creative Voice Foundation: a non
profit organization we have just established. Though the paper will be its
current main focus, we hope to use it as a launching pad for other projects
in the future.
***
We hope our enthusiasm is contagious, and that we can continue to share in the talent and creativity that we have been so honored be a part of! Maybe you'll contribute to one of our issues someday, or maybe just celebrate some of the voices expressed there. Which ever it may be, we encourage you to revel in the warmth of creative expression. Whether you are one its dancers or just applauding the dance, we hope you are inspired by its beauty!
- Becky, March 2002