Highlights From Previous Spring Fling Events
Our next Spring Fling will be April 26th, 2025
2024 - at the Anderson Public Library April 27
Highlights included:
Morgana Shea gave a presentation on self-publishing,
Mona Mehas discussed submitting to journals and magazines and how to keep organized submission records,
John Hinton and Jenny Kalahar led writing exercises to get our creative juices flowing.
Attached is Morgana's presentation on self-publishing with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Please note that PSI is not affiliated with, nor is sponsored by KDP, and this presentation is meant for educational purposes only.
Summary of Mona Mehas' presentation:
It is important not to use AI, to double check and make sure the journals, magazines, and anthologies you submit to are both legitimate and open for submissions. View their guidelines carefully, and keep an organized record of where you submit, when, and whether or not it was accepted or rejected. Please note that some places do not accept simultaneous submissions. A digital spreadsheet is a great way to keep track of such information. You can color code submission based on if they are still active, if the publisher is legitimate or not, etc. Include date, name of journal, name of piece written, expected acceptance or rejection date, and payment. The surest way to be REJECTED is by not following the publisher's guidelines on font, cover page, etc. Please pay special attention to these things and follow up with your submissions.
Morgana Shea gave a presentation on self-publishing,
Mona Mehas discussed submitting to journals and magazines and how to keep organized submission records,
John Hinton and Jenny Kalahar led writing exercises to get our creative juices flowing.
Attached is Morgana's presentation on self-publishing with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Please note that PSI is not affiliated with, nor is sponsored by KDP, and this presentation is meant for educational purposes only.
Summary of Mona Mehas' presentation:
It is important not to use AI, to double check and make sure the journals, magazines, and anthologies you submit to are both legitimate and open for submissions. View their guidelines carefully, and keep an organized record of where you submit, when, and whether or not it was accepted or rejected. Please note that some places do not accept simultaneous submissions. A digital spreadsheet is a great way to keep track of such information. You can color code submission based on if they are still active, if the publisher is legitimate or not, etc. Include date, name of journal, name of piece written, expected acceptance or rejection date, and payment. The surest way to be REJECTED is by not following the publisher's guidelines on font, cover page, etc. Please pay special attention to these things and follow up with your submissions.
Places to submit:
Chill Subs, search on the Discovery tab on Submittable, and Authors Publish site.
Resources:
Chill Subs, search on the Discovery tab on Submittable, and Authors Publish site.
Resources:
2023 - at the Anderson Public Library April 29
Highlights included:
Hannah Michel Speaker
Premier Poet, Jenny Kalahar: Writing with a Confident Voice
Writing Exercises included throughout the day as time allows
- Review PSI publications
- Writing exercise
- vote in-person for Secretary & Treasurer
- discussion and vote for revised PSI Constitution & By-Laws (votes by email deadline 06 May 2023). One vote per member.
- Board Officer Reports
Hannah Michel Speaker
Premier Poet, Jenny Kalahar: Writing with a Confident Voice
Writing Exercises included throughout the day as time allows
2023 Spring Fling Members-Only Poetry Contest:
PSI Premier Poet Jenny Kalahar announced the winners:
Nancy Simmonds, 1st place for Cold Memories.
Sarah E. Morin, 2nd place for The Maple.
Rachel Wright, 3rd place for The Rock House.
Michael E. (Maik) Strosahl, 1st honorable mention for The Midnight Rise.
David Allen, 2nd honorable mention for I Can't Go In There.
Jenquia D. Jamison, 3rd honorable mention for A Disheartened Void.
Thanks to all PSI Members who entered the contest!
PSI Premier Poet Jenny Kalahar announced the winners:
Nancy Simmonds, 1st place for Cold Memories.
Sarah E. Morin, 2nd place for The Maple.
Rachel Wright, 3rd place for The Rock House.
Michael E. (Maik) Strosahl, 1st honorable mention for The Midnight Rise.
David Allen, 2nd honorable mention for I Can't Go In There.
Jenquia D. Jamison, 3rd honorable mention for A Disheartened Void.
Thanks to all PSI Members who entered the contest!
2022 - at the Anderson Public Library April 30
D'une Femme au Chapeau
by Nancy Simmonds
This year, the contest included an image submissions portion and an ekphrastic poetry portion! Many of our PSI poets submitted original artwork images to the images portion of the contest, as well as entering the poetry portion of the contest.
Congratulations to Nancy Simmonds, winner of the Images contest!
2022 PSI Members-Only Spring Fling Poetry Contest Results
Judge: PSI Premier Poet, Sarah E. Morin
1st Place – Alys Caviness-Gober (Fake News)
2nd Place – Mary A. Couch (Collage of Life)
3rd Place – Collaborative Poem by JAC, B. Monét & Z. Rose (Stuck)
HM1 – Rachel Wright (Alice)
HM2 – Morgan Galvan (Hunger for Adventure)
HM3 – Joe Ottinger (A Classic Lady)
You can read the winning poems in full here.
All poetry submissions were ekphrastic poems in response to Nancy’s winning image, which was given untitled to PSI member poets in order for the image title not to impact poetic inspiration. The contest image and first, second, and third place poems will be published in PSI’s annual, Ink to Paper. Many excellent images and poems were submitted; Sarah E. says it was a joy to review them.
CONGRATULATIONS to the winners!
Congratulations to Nancy Simmonds, winner of the Images contest!
2022 PSI Members-Only Spring Fling Poetry Contest Results
Judge: PSI Premier Poet, Sarah E. Morin
1st Place – Alys Caviness-Gober (Fake News)
2nd Place – Mary A. Couch (Collage of Life)
3rd Place – Collaborative Poem by JAC, B. Monét & Z. Rose (Stuck)
HM1 – Rachel Wright (Alice)
HM2 – Morgan Galvan (Hunger for Adventure)
HM3 – Joe Ottinger (A Classic Lady)
You can read the winning poems in full here.
All poetry submissions were ekphrastic poems in response to Nancy’s winning image, which was given untitled to PSI member poets in order for the image title not to impact poetic inspiration. The contest image and first, second, and third place poems will be published in PSI’s annual, Ink to Paper. Many excellent images and poems were submitted; Sarah E. says it was a joy to review them.
CONGRATULATIONS to the winners!
This year's Spring Fling business meeting included a few items up for PSI Membership vote. Two Amendments to the PSI Constitution and By-Laws and three PSI Board officer positions were voted on and ratified by the attending membership!
Check out our PSI Board here!
2022 Spring Fling Agenda:
Check out our PSI Board here!
2022 Spring Fling Agenda:
- 10:30 Welcome
- Business Portion: Board Reports, Committee Reports, Local Societies' Reports, Voting for 3 board positions, Voting on 2 Amendments to the Constitution & By-Laws
- Celebration of PSI published authors
- Presentation of Spring Fling Contest winners, by contest judge PSI Premier Poet, Sarah E. Morin
- Break
- Keynote presentation by our PSI Premier Poet, Sarah E. Morin on "Ogden Nash"
- Lunch
- Presentation about the annual Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest for young poets
- Break
- Short Presentation on "Fair Use and Crediting" by Sarah E. Morin
- Information and Q/A about the multi-category PSI Annual Poetry Contest
- Open Floor -- comments and ideas from members
- Calendar and Final Comments
- Round Robin poems sharing
2021 - April 24th via virtual Zoom
"April Showers Bring May Flowers"
by Alys Caviness-Gober 8x10 acrylic on canvas
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We gathered for our Annual Spring Fling event online Saturday, April 24. We had a lot of fun and informative presentations and workshops planned.
AGENDA Brief Business Meeting Spring Fling Ekphrastic Poetry Contest Winners Mini-Presentation: How to Make a Video for the PSI YouTube Channel Main Presentation/Workshop: Greeting Card Poetry Mini-Presentation: Critiquing in a Group Mini-Workshop: Write a Poem Inspired by Meditative Music Round Robin Poems Reading PSI's 2021 Spring Fling Conference YouTube Playlist Part 2 announces the 2021 Spring Fling Poetry Contest winners |
Serenity, by Sandra J. Nantais
PSI Members-Only Poetry Contest
This year, the poetic form for our annual PSI Spring Fling Members-only contest was . . . Ekphrastic Poetry! The contest included a PSI Members-only artwork competition, the winning piece of which was used by our PSI Members for their Spring Fling poetry contest entries.
Ekphrastic poems explore, engage with, and describe a painting, drawing, sculpture, or other form of visual art. Our PSI Members are invited to submit 1 -2 photos of original 2D and 3D artwork.
Spring Fling Ekphrastic Poetry Contest Winners:
Image Winner: Sandra J. Nantais, Serenity
First Place Poem: Gail Denham, Mama's Voice
Second Place Poem: Linda Eaton, Recollection
Third Place Poem: Rachel Wright, Interval
Honorable Mention 1: Jenquia Jamison, Here
Honorable Mention 2: Mary Couch, Serenity's Home
Honorable Mention 3: Beverly Stanislawski, Quietude
This year, the poetic form for our annual PSI Spring Fling Members-only contest was . . . Ekphrastic Poetry! The contest included a PSI Members-only artwork competition, the winning piece of which was used by our PSI Members for their Spring Fling poetry contest entries.
Ekphrastic poems explore, engage with, and describe a painting, drawing, sculpture, or other form of visual art. Our PSI Members are invited to submit 1 -2 photos of original 2D and 3D artwork.
- 2D art = paintings, drawings, mixed media, photography, etc.
- 3D art = sculpture, textiles, furniture, jewelry, etc.
Spring Fling Ekphrastic Poetry Contest Winners:
Image Winner: Sandra J. Nantais, Serenity
First Place Poem: Gail Denham, Mama's Voice
Second Place Poem: Linda Eaton, Recollection
Third Place Poem: Rachel Wright, Interval
Honorable Mention 1: Jenquia Jamison, Here
Honorable Mention 2: Mary Couch, Serenity's Home
Honorable Mention 3: Beverly Stanislawski, Quietude
2017 - ISFPC/PSI Spring Meet at Anderson Public Library
Highlights from the event hosted by Last Stanza Poetry Association.
2017 Gallery