Editor’s note

SHOCKING VERBS, LAWLESS NOUNS will be out in early January and is available for kindle pre-sale now. It is a showcase of writing from the past and present authors of the Bucks County Writers Workshop, a group that had built a reputation for tough but fair critique, fantastic writing, interesting people and support for the local community for more than twenty years, under the leadership of author and broadcast veteran, Don Swaim.

In the carefree days of early 2020, before the shit hit the fan, Don Swaim presented the workshop with the idea to put together a collection, celebrating the diverse array of writing from the members who have sat at the BCWW critique table. I was honored to be asked to be a part of the editorial team, vetting submissions, organizing the book and even (arg!) editing the pieces selected for publication.

It was first time as a real editor, under the guidance of managing editor and award winning author, John Schoffstall. Serving as co-editor with the brilliant authors and editors Natalie Zellat Dyen and Candace Barret, we spent much time figuring out the things I have only ever heard of in rejection letters. We said things like “This is a great piece, but it just doesn’t work for this book,” and “This would be perfect if the author could just cut 3000 words from it”. It gave me a totally new view on how this process works after the author releases their work into the world for submission.

Keeping track of a total word count, making sure various genres were balanced, proofreading (arg! although i learned no one loves this part) arguing with authors when they didn’t agree with edit notes, this was all new and, while incredibly difficult at times, now I have the proof copy in my hand, and it is beautiful.

I dread editing my own pieces, although with the feedback I have received from the BCWW, I have found this task to become less daunting every time. But being and “editor” was nothing like that. Having authors trust us with their work, allow us to suggest tweaks and correct their typos, and then seeing all those beautiful words on the pages of a real live book has been a rewarding experience and one I hope I have the chance to participate in again.

So let me tell you why I love this book, that I made with some of the best writers I know.

There is no theme. Coming from working on the “Collection of Utter Speculation” series, it was freeing to read such a variety of work. Memoirs, poems, pulp, Sci-Fi. Some of these stories are fluid, poignant slices of life, some deep dives into the psyche of strangers. There is history and fantasy and twists in between. There are confessions and examinations of self. And there’s humor, sliding in and out of the pages.

Some of the writers are new to publishing and some are veterans of the industry, but all of them offer their work as a testament to the workshop that has helped guide them along their journey.

Contributors:

Don Swaim, John Schoffstall, Candace Barret, Grace Marcus, David L. Updike, Chris Bauer, Beverly Alice Black, Alan Shils, Ashara Shapiro, William J. O’Toole, Natalie Zellat Dyen, William J. Donahue, Melissa D. Sullivan, LCW Allingham, Kristian Rowley, Jim Kempner, Wil Kirk, Bobby Cohen, Javad Mohsenian, Daniel Dorian, and Ilene Raymond Rush

Look for SHOCKING VERBS, LAWLESS NOUNS soon, and read more about the Bucks County Writers Workshop here.