NETWO to bring summer love with annual writers workshop

This weekend on Saturday, June 21, the Northeast Texas Writers Organization (NETWO) will host their yearly workshop at Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC), and this time, they’re bringing in the love with their theme ‘It’s All About Romance!’.

NETWO has been active in this region of Texas since 1986, operating to support local writers on their literary journey. They often host writing contests, seminars, workshops, and weekly critiques to members and other writers in the Northeast Texas communities.

Founder Jean Pamplin told us about NETWO’s beginnings, “The community college opened about the same time and I went out there and took some classes. Dr. Larry Thompson was a professor at the college back then and I took his creative writing course. We began a writer’s group and it grew from there.”

Pamplin said that the group began with three or four people. Now, NETWO has around 20 members, give or take, and they come from all over Texas.

“The writer’s group is about involving people,” Pamplin said. “It’s something they love and we encourage them to be a part of doing what they love and finding support and a community with NETWO.” As the romance workshop approaches, Pamplin looked back on her own time with NETWO and how the group has helped her, “As a writer, you’re not always accepting of critique. Your work is almost like your child and you want to feel good about it. You can take critique to improve your work, but don’t take it to the extreme and lose your own voice. You can lose that voice if you’re not careful. I’m a much better writer than I ever was before, and it’s thanks to this group here.”

Above all, Pamplin encouraged everyone, not just writers, to find their creative community, “The first step is always the hardest– just to start. Then join a group. Join some kind of group that has a little bit of fellowship.”

NETWO’s ‘It’s All About Romance!’ workshop will be on Saturday, June 21. Registration will be at 8:30 a.m. and the workshop is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Humanities Building at NTCC, Room 101.

Authors such as Delia Latham, April Coker, Pattie Ball, and Dana Wayne will be speakers and available for book signings. Registration fee is $75 for adults and $15 for students. Breakfast, snacks, and lunch will be included. To find out more about this workshop, you can email mcdermottjjj@ gmail.com call Jeanette McDermott at 903-767-5473.