LIGONIER VALLEY
WRITERS
Ligonier Valley Writers
News Update, October 2025
October 18: Annual General LVW Meeting,
Fiction Workshop, and Flash Fiction Readings
LVW is taking over the Smart Room at Ligonier Valley Library for most of the day this Saturday, October 18.
The library is at 120 W. Main St. in Ligonier, PA 15658, on the northwest corner of the Diamond. The Smart Room is on the first floor to the right of the entrance. There’s a metered parking lot just north of the building. (Warning: It is metered 24/7).
12:30-2:00 p.m. General Meeting. Annual general meeting of LVW membership. We’ll be planning the future of Ligonier Valley Writers, brainstorming programming for 2026, and voting for new officers.
This is the slate of nominees:
President Rebecca Dunn
Vice President Brittany Luczki-Stultz
Treasurer Anita Staub
Co-secretaries Judith Gallagher and Jean Podralski
All LVW members are welcome to attend. The election will take place around 1:45, so if you’re short on time, you can just catch the end of the meeting.
2:00-4:00 p.m. Fiction Workshop. Sue Baugh will lead a workshop on "Shifting Points of View: Different Eyes, Different Worlds." Here’s your chance to do some hands-on writing and reading of your work.
Here are some possible scenarios:
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Courtroom trial. Different characters testify about a crime that took place a few years ago in a small town.
Possible characters:
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Prosecutor or detective who will not let the crime go.
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Teen who was a young boy or girl at the time of the crime and knows the truth.
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The defendant, who is protecting a secret.
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A family member of the victim.
Funeral or reading of a will. People have wildly different views of the deceased and his or her legacy.
Possible characters:
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The deceased person.
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A son or daughter no one knew about.
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Someone who saw a side of the deceased no one else knows.
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Someone who receives a surprise bequest.
Family reunion. Some family members try to reconcile after several years of estrangement. Others try to sabotage.
Possible characters:
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Someone who wants to settle a score.
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Someone who’s trying to reestablish a damaged relationship.
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If you’re writing science fiction, consider a character who was taken by aliens years ago and discovers other family members had similar experiences.
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An animal observing the humans.
You’ll choose a scenario and create a character you’re drawn to. Then you’ll write the scene, including some interior monologue and some dialogue. Volunteers will share their scenes with the group. Then you’ll create a character you feel repelled by and write a very different scene.
You’re not locked into any of this sample content. Feel free to come up with your own scenario that will let you practice different viewpoints and perspectives. Maybe a story you’re already working on will fit the bill.
Sue Baugh is a Chicago-based author and editor who graduated from the University of Iowa's writing program and earned her MFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina.
In 2012 she published Echoes of Earth: Finding Ourselves in the Origins of the Planet. It’s a gorgeous photo-filled book that documents six of the world's oldest rock and mineral sites and encompasses science, art, and spirituality. The book has won several awards, and Sue has given talks around the country about her journeys.
4:00-4:45 p.m. Flash Fiction Readings. We’ll announce the winners of LVW’s twentieth annual Flash Fiction Contest and read the six winning stories aloud. The topic this year is the dark side or the light side of AI or robots.
Can’t make it from 2:00 to 4:00? Or maybe you’re more of a reader and listener than a writer? Feel free to join us at 4:00 for the flash fiction readings. If you have friends who may be interested, forward this email and flyer to them.
The workshop and flash fiction readings are free to all. Members of the public are welcome. All LVW members are welcome to attend the board meeting.
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To register for the workshop, email me at jgallagher@LHTOT.com by midnight today, Wednesday, October 15.
We’re working on scheduling events for 2026. We invite all LVW members and friends to share your ideas for topics and speakers. If you’d like to help plan any programs or have any requests, email me.
Ligonier Valley Writers Calendar 2025-26
December 14, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Annual LVW Christmas Party. St. Michael’s.
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January. Dues are due for 2026. $30 per year; you can download a membership application from LVWonline.org.
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January. Call for Student Poetry Contest entries for students in grades 4-12. Cash prizes in 30 categories, no entry fee, and an awards ceremony and booklet of all the winning poems. Download contest rules and entry forms from LVWonline.org.
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March 11. Deadline for Student Poetry Contest entries from students in grades 4-12.
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April 15. Call for entries for LVW’s 21st annual Flash Fiction Contest. Three cash prizes plus three Honorable Mentions, no entry fee, editing by a professional editor, readings of the six winning stories during the Halloween season, and publication at LVW's website. Deadline is August 15. Topic to be announced.
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April 25, 4:00-5:00 pm. Student Poetry Awards Ceremony. The winning poets in grades 4-12 will read their work to the audience.
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Watch for changes to the Loyalhanna Review submission process. We’re considering an earlier deadline. Details to come.
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Please check www.LVWonline.org or https://www.facebook.com/Ligonier-Valley-Writers-124601614313835/ for the latest info and date confirmations.
Judith Gallagher, Publicity Director
Ligonier Valley Writers
https://www.facebook.com/Ligonier-Valley-Writers-124601614313835/