Sue Still
GCLS - Golden Crown Literary Society
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GCLS Writing Academy - Class of 2021/2022
In September 2021, I was accepted into the GCLS Writing Academy with 15 other new or existing authors.
So far it's been an informative and incredible journey...
Tutors -
Anna Burke, Finnian Burnett, Karelia Stetz-Waters, Sheree Grier, Radclyffe, Melissa Brayden and many more...
Details:
The GCLS Writing Academy is a nine-month intensive program for new or relatively new writers who are interested in writing a novel. In this course, students will learn the critical components of quality writing.
The Writing Academy goes beyond the craft of writing and takes students through all aspects of writing and publishing a novel.
Note that we've had students with full bodies of work and students who have never published anything before.
This program hones the skills of anyone seeking to write excellent women-loving-women literature and trans/nonbinary/genderfluid narratives.
Writing Academy Mentors
As part of the course, the GCLS Academy connects us with an established author in our genre as a ‘mentor’ to support us while we work on our drafts. These authors volunteer for this, and it’s a fantastic opportunity.
My Mentor - K. Aten
I am very fortunate and proud to announce that my GCLS writing academy author mentor is K. Aten.
An award-winning author with Flashpoint Publications, she 'writes heroines into existence one genre at a time'.
As a spec-fic fan, you may have already heard of her. If you haven’t, then you should read her stuff. It’s awesome!
Not only that, but she’s a really great person. Kind, patient, supportive and has a wicked sense of humour. I'm really enjoying working with her.
Her recent fantasy novel ‘Elemental Attraction’ is a 2022 GCLS ‘Goldie’ finalist and 2021 Lesfic Bard Fantasy Award Winner.
GCLS 2022 Conference - Albuquerque.
I flew all the way from England to New Mexico to attend my first ever literary conference.
It was a truly special event and one I will never forget.
The conference packed in several days of panels, workshops, author readings and a wonderful keynote speech from Sheree Greer, The were tables by authors, publishers and distributers and daily games. Everywhere you walked, you saw all your favourite authors, and the cameras were certainly out taking selfies.
At the end of it all were author signings, the academy graduation and the Goldie Awards ceremony with speakers including Karin Kallmaker, Katherine V. Forrest, and also Elana Dykewomon, who sadly died a couple of months later.
For me, the conference was one of firsts.
I got to meet up with my academy writing peers and now 'family', spend quality time with them each day, face to face, and lots of hugs for the first time, which made the trip truly worthwhile.
I also got to perform my first public reading from the first chapter of my draft debut fantasy novel, meet my mentor K Aten, who was super cool and kind. I got to take all my original copies of treasured books with me and get them signed.
Finally, I got to graduate.