©The Kubala Washatko Architects
Inspiring people to write and share their stories.
Opening Oct. 9! That word means different things to everyone. A place of safety. A place of warmth. A place of friends. This October, we at Write On, Door County are excited to move into a true home of our own. To us, home means a place to write, to read and to dream. A place to explore creativity and, of course, to find the stories we all have to tell. This building has been a dream almost 10 years in the making – one that began as a conversation among friends, then grew into a small nonprofit, then morphed into a home for writing through an anonymous gift of land on Juddville Road in 2013. For six years, we have brought writers to the county for our writers-inresidence program in exchange for providing programming for people of all ages in our community. Readings
and talks have been given by celebrated authors such as U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, New York Times best-selling humorist Michael Perry and internationally acclaimed writer Naomi Shihab Nye. Founding Director Jerod Santek did it all out of a small office in our residency house, collaborating with scores of venues, organizations, schools and individuals to share programming with the county. Now we have a place to call our own. The Writing Center will be much more than our home offices. It will host book clubs, classes, presentations and readings. It will be a place for children to learn the craft of writing, seniors to put their life lessons on the page and people of all ages to find the stories within.
It will house a carefully curated Discovery Library of works by Door County authors, past writers-inresidence and resources about the craft of writing. It will be a gateway to exploration, with 39 acres of grounds to explore and spaces to sit and write in the natural environment drew so many of us to Door County in the first place. And it will be a place of welcoming to all those who value the craft of storytelling. Please join us for the first step on this new journey Oct. 9, 6 pm, when we host a virtual grand opening on Facebook Live. Then see the center for yourself through guided tours Oct. 10-25. All are welcome to become part of our story at Write On, Door County – where home is a place for everyone.
4210 Juddville Road P.O. Box 457 Fish Creek, WI 54212 920.868.1457 info@writeondoorcounty.org writeondoorcounty.org
Board of Directors
From the
Directors’ Desk
Dee Paulsen, President Bill Guenzel, Vice President Sara Sohns, Treasurer Myles Dannhausen Jr., Secretary Vinni Chomeau
What a gratifying year it’s been at Write On, Door County. In the midst of the turmoil of 2020, we have found great joy in continuing to create and sustain meaningful opportunities for people of all ages to tell their stories. And now, with great excitement, we are opening the doors of our Writing Center to the community. Our goals are to open cautiously and safely, but with open arms to all who are just as eager as we to share all that Write On has created. Walk our gorgeous 39 acres of woods and trails. Pull down a book from our Discovery Library to peruse Door County and Wisconsin authors. Meet with your book club. Learn about our class offerings and register. Have a cup of coffee on our three-season porch, gaining inspiration from tall windows that open out to natural beauty. Explore. Discover. Create. Working with our board, members, donors, writers- inresidence and community, we’re fulfilling our mission to inspire people to write and share their stories. We believe that in doing so, we come to better understand ourselves and the world around us. We’re eager to share the Writing Center with you. Welcome to Write On.
Membership and Benefits
Lauren Ward, Managing Director Jerod Santek, Artistic Director
Beloved Door County writer Norbert Blei’s former writing coop and desk were relocated to Write On in 2014 from his home in Ellison Bay.
Who We Are Since 2012, Write On, Door County has been connecting people and communities through writing and reading. Our mission is to inspire people to write and share their stories. Write On offers workshops, author visits, memoir sessions, book clubs, conferences and classes throughout the county. Local writers and visiting writers-in-residence promote reading and writing everywhere from school classrooms to our beautiful, great outdoors. We believe that our words and stories allow us to better understand ourselves and one another. Write On is helping Door County residents and visitors of
all ages explore the stories they have to tell and discover the magic of connecting through words. Through collaborations with organizations such as Midsummer’s Music Festival, HELP of Door County, the Door County Jail, United Way, every Door County school district and 38 other organizations, we have been inspiring writers of all ages to grow and share. As we enter our next chapter, we look forward to the future of our new writing center and our dream of creating a new writers’ residence. Please join us as we take the next step in our journey of being a locally loved and nationally recognized haven for writers. Visit us in person or at writeondoorcounty.org.
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Anne Haberland Emerson Janis Falk George Harmon Ann Heyse Margaret LeBrun
Become a member of Write On, Door County to help residents and visitors tell their stories. Memberships and donations provide a base of financial support for our free and low-cost programs throughout the year. SIGN UP TO BECOME A MEMBER AT writeondoorcounty.org. Member benefits include: • Invitations to special programs and events • Opportunities to meet writers-in-residence • 10 percent discount on classes • Advance registration for conferences and other events • Quarterly email of original work by our writers-in-residence • Recognition on our website, including links for business members Business Members Bay Point Inn Beadle Bop & Co. Blahnik Investment Group Brilliant Marketing Carlson Erickson Builders Door County Eye Associates Edgewood Orchard Galleries Fair Isle Books The Garden Lady Gills Rock Pottery Great Northern by Design Island Bayou Press LifeCoach4Kids Main Street Market Door County Polar Bear Press Red Oak Writing Roen Salvage Co. Sand Beach Press Turtle Ridge Gallery Wake Up the Writer Within Members Melissa Alfredson Fred Amram & Sandra Brick Susan Jane Anderson Mary Pikul Anderson Susan Anhalt JoAnn Balingit Mary Jo Balistreri Francha Barnard Laurin Bellg Lana Billeaud Sara Biren Tom & Linda Birmingham Kathleen G. Blankenburg Bruce Bonafide Clay Bonin Michael Brecke Robert Breen Dan & Peg Bresnahan Lisa Brotz
Donna Bultman Charles Burgess Marianne Canter Ginnie Cappaert Robin Chapman Stephanie Chesloock Vinni Chomeau Frank & Cristy Christensen Valerie & Richard Clarizio Sammi Rae Clark Tom Clay Cathryn Cofell Beth Coleman Daniel Collins & Nancy Aten Helene Conlon Cecelia Conway John Coy Susan Cubar Curt & Sue Culver Ann Marie Cunningham Anne & Myles Dannhausen Tom & Ethel Davis Jacqueline Des Isles Peter & Gina Deschler Gloria Dougherty Anne & Minnow Emerson Chuck & Dolly Emerson Mary Enright-Olson Kathleen Ernst Janis Falk & Jim Bator Anne Marie Finley Karla Fischer Nancy Fishman Marianne Fons Lorrie Garces Jude Genereaux Beverly Gillen Dr. Jenna Goldsmith Eloisa Gomez Susan Gould Tori L. Grant Welhouse Beth Grbich Chuck & Cathy Gress
One-Year Membership Levels Individual (one adult) $35 Youth (younger than 18) $10 Family (two adults plus children) $60 Business $75
Annette Grunseth Bill & Jo Guenzel Judith GwinnAdrian Deb HagmanShannon Wendy & Tom Halloran Jami & Joe Hanreddy George Harmon Kathleen Harris Bill & Mary Hartman Margaret Hasse Marggie Hatala Allison Haus Ann Hazelwood David B. Henderson Kaye Henrickson Jane Hensge Ronnie Hess Ann & David Heyse Liz Hoffman Carol B. Hoffman Judy Hollingshead Laura Humber Karla Huston Lora Hyler Raeanne Hytone & Steve Heinecke Catherine Jagoe Joe & Sue Jarosh Carol Jensen-Olson Gary Jones Jaime Jorns Lynn Kaczmarek Joseph Kopec Cynthia & Tom Kraack Jerome & Jean Krebs Bill Krieger Cynthia & Tom LaConte Everett Lang Monica Lauscher Estella & Chuck Lauter Diane LeBlanc Margaret LeBrun Donna Leighton Heidi & Bob Ling Carollynn Lopez Peggy Lott Sally & Mary Lovell
Denise Low Roderick & Kristin MacRae Tamara Madison Thomas Malin Constance Malloy Gretchen & John Maring Emeil Marks Andrew McDonnell Michael John Michaels Judith Miller Carleen Monroe Michael Morrison Carol Muderlak Ralph Murre Joanne Nelson Kathleen M. Nelson Molly L. Newman Jan Newport June Nirschl James Nitz Steve & Kaaren Northrop Britain O’Connor Maryanne O’Dowd Caitlin Oleson Bob & Gail Onan Mike & Liz Orlock Madelyn Ostrand Courtney E. Pace Donna Parker Marylou Parthum Miranda & Baptiste Paul Eric & Dee Paulsen Dag Penpek Barbara Perloff Amy Phimister Patricia Podgers Richard Purinton Nancy Rafal Jim & Martha Rasmus Laura Reali Joyce Rewolinski Judy Roy Jerod Santek & Brian Bergee Madeleine Sargent John & Jackie Sawyer Thomas Schaefer Kimberly ScheyScuglik
Gretchen Schmelzer Ruth Scholz David Schrader Mary Seeberg Yvette M. Senger Kathleen Serley Carol B. Sills Mary Ellen Sisulak Katie & Mark Smullen Sara Sohns Kathryn Song Shelley A. St. Jean Jeff Steinberg Tim & Sue Stone Susan Straub Karen & David Studebaker Jesse B. Stukenberg Faith & Dan Sullivan Deena Sutherland Amy Tappen Lizbeth A. Thomas Judy & Thor Thoreson David Tilton & Paula Oeler Jeanne Topic Martha Trowe John & Anne Tuohy Sue Twiggs Kim & Terry Vogel Lori Vorpahl Cathy Casselman Vuksanvic Gail Ward Lauren & Travis Ward Francis & Mary Wasielewski Deb Wayman Kristin Wegner Jane Weis Ed Werstein Betsy L. White Lee Wilder Fred Wittig Judith Woodburn Tracy Zeman
Write On Goes Virtual Even in the age of COVID-19, Write On, Door County has continued to fulfill its mission of delivering world-class programming and authors to the people of Door County. Whether it’s learning the craft of writing from acclaimed authors such as Rebecca Makkai and Peter Geye, or diving into prose with Amy Hassinger, or connecting with writers through author readings, Write On offers virtual programming for people of all ages to explore their creative side. Throughout the fall, Write On will continue to offer classes online and in small, socially distanced groups when it’s safe to do so. Visit writeondoorcounty.org to see the most up-to-date events calendar.
COMING EVENTS Oct. 9
6-7 pm | Writing Center Virtual Grand Opening Celebration facebook.com/writeondoorcounty Join us on Facebook Live for a virtual tour of the building, special readings and a performance by Door County’s own Katie Dahl.
Oct. 10-25
Writing Center Tours Tour the beautiful new Writing Center, walk the grounds of our property on Juddville Road and find out what Write On, Door County is all about. Tours are available weekdays, 10 am – 5 pm; and weekends, 12-5 pm.
Oct. 10
10-11 am | Writing Nature Nearby with Amber Stoner Writing prompts will encourage you to look more closely and interact with nature. All participants will receive a nature writing journal handmade by book artist Amber Stoner.
Oct. 10
7-8:30 pm | Poetry Reading: Halfway to the North Pole Join the Door County Poets Collective and contributors for a reading of Halfway to the North Pole: a new anthology of poems about Door County.
Oct. 27
7-8:30 pm | Fiction Reading with Peter Geye and Diane Zinna Travel to Scandinavia through a reading by Geye from his novel Northernmost – set partly in Norway – and by Zinna from her novel The All-Night Sun, set partly in Sweden.
Oct. 11
10 am – 12 pm | Celebrate LGBTQ+ Coming Out Day with Jeremy Owens The creator, producer and host of Chicago’s long-running, live literature show You’re Being Ridiculous will host an inclusive, supportive class to celebrate the rich and diverse LGBTQ+ community, encouraging participants to write and share their personal stories.
Oct. 12, 14 and 16
9 am – 12 pm | Memoir Writing with Michael Brecke in person Small towns are places where stories thrive and plots thicken. They give birth to story, and story to memory. Explore those stories; then write or tell them during our time together.
Oct. 16
11 am – 12 pm | Art/Speaks in person Join us for this free program, taking visual art as inspiration for new poems, essays or stories at Edgewood Orchard Galleries.
Oct. 21
4-5:30 pm | Depth through Dialogue with Dipika Mukherjee Learn how to use dialogue to build tension and create authentic characters with award-winning novelist Dipika Mukherjee.
Oct. 23
7-8:30 pm | Poetry Reading with Angie Trudell Vasquez, Michael Torres and Heid Erdrich Madison’s poet laureate, Angie Trudell Vasquez, will join National Poetry Series winners Michael Torres and Heid Erdrich for a reading and conversation.
Nov. 5, 12 and 19
7-8:30 pm | The Craft of Writing Series: Poetry with Kimberly Blaeser and Sean Hill Join us for a three-week program focused on the craft of writing poetry with award-winning poets Kimberly Blaeser and Sean Hill.
Nov. 7
10:30 am – 12 pm | Writing Young Adult Characters with Agency with Miriam McNamara Discover ways to deepen understanding of your character to drive the plot of your young adult novel.
Nov. 14
Online Comics Workshop with Crystal Gibbins Have you ever wanted to make comics but weren’t sure how to start? Participants will learn the basic elements of comics and find out how to create their own through a series of short writing prompts and fun drawing activities. The workshop is appropriate for both adults and high school students.
REGISTER AND LEARN MORE writeondoorcounty.org writeondoorcounty.org| 3
Winter 2011 Write On, Door County is conceived by Anne Haberland Emerson, Michael Brecke and Vinni Chomeau
June 2014
Leadership Door County 2014 completes its class project to benefit Write On
November 2015
April 2013
Write On’s home in Juddville is purchased by a generous donar
September 2013
Jerod Santek joins as executive director
May 2015
August 2014
Norbert Blei’s Coop is relocated from Ellison Bay
May 2016
Open house dedicates the Coop and celebrates the publication of Soundings: Door County in Verse, a publication of the Door County Poets Collective
The Power of Storytelling with author Liza Wiemer is offered at all five Door County high schools
Thirty-five teens from Door County and Milwaukee take part in a day of creative learning on Washington Island
June 2016
January 2018
April 2018
June 2018
Quarterly international poetry potlucks begin with the Door County Poet Laureate
Writing on the Door: Children’s Literature Conference is offered in Sturgeon Bay
July 2019
Write On helps revive the Clipper Connection, Sturgeon Bay High School’s literary magazine
Oct. 9, 2020
Ground is broken for the new writing center, to be completed in the summer of 2020
The Writing Center opens!
©The Kubala Washatko Architects
4 | Write On, Door County Advertising Supplement
Poetry Meets Music collaboration with Midsummer’s Music begins
February 2014
January 2014
Write On is granted 501(c)3 status
Collaboration with the Hal Prize and the Door County Poet Laureate Program begins
April 2014
Write On welcomes its first writers-in-residence
October 2015 August 2015
July 2015
Write On offers its first summer youth creativity camp
The annual Recharge Your Creative Battery retreat is first offered
Edgewood Orchard Galleries selects Write On as a beneficiary of their annual Gifts from the Heart benefit show Writing Your Life Stories for senior citizens is piloted at Sturgeon Bay Library
March 2017
February 2017
Write On is a literary partner at the annual Association of Writers and Writing Programs Conference, which attracts 12,000 attendees. More than 1,000 people attend Write On’s cosponsored event with the Center for Fiction, featuring novelists Emma Straub and Ann Patchett.
Internationally acclaimed writer Naomi Shihab Nye visits Write On for both school and public programs that reach more than 1,200 people “Focused on Poetry, Writing On The Door”, our first weekend writing conference, is filled to capacity
November 2017
Write On presents award-winning children’s author John Coy at Washington Island, Gibraltar, T.J. Walker and Sunrise schools
October 2018
More than 600 people hear United States Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith read at programs sponsored by Write On at Sevastopol School and Southern Door Community Auditorium
April 2019
Writing on the Door: Paths to Publication Conference draws 100 particpants to Egg Harbor
June 2019
Lauren Ward joins the staff as managing director; Jerod Santek becomes artistic director
Write On, Door County
Milestones
writeondoorcounty.org | 5
What Is a Writer’s Residency? In addition to inspiration and talent, what most writers need is time. Time to focus on a project without interruption. Time to get away from the distractions of home life to be – for a concentrated period of time, first and foremost – a writer. Not a spouse, parent, caregiver, employee or employer, but a writer. Write On, Door County offers writers at all stages of development the space and time to give serious focus to their creative projects. Unlike many artist-residency programs that require a stay of a month or longer, Write On welcomes and encourages one-week residencies. We know how difficult it is for working artists to carve out time away from their jobs and families, so
one week fits many people’s lifestyles. And when people have one week when the only thing they have to do is write, it’s amazing how much they can accomplish! Our writers-in-residence come from all over the country and abroad. Next year we’ll welcome writers from Latvia and France, as well as California, Virginia, Washington, Oklahoma, Iowa and many more locations, including writers from right here in Door County. Why would someone living in Door County apply for a Write On residency? As one resident stated, “I’m too easily distracted at home. I will clean out the fridge, do laundry, organize the spice rack out of guilt that I should be doing
something other than writing. Here, I don’t have any obligation except to write!” Write On also recognizes that most writers can’t afford to rent a space for a week or longer – especially one that offers the peace and solitude of our 39 acres of open meadow, old orchards and hardwood forests. Other than an application fee, residents do not pay for their time at Write On. Instead, in exchange for the residency, they conduct a community-service program. Past writers-in-residence have worked with students in the schools, Scandia Village residents, medical center staff and clients, inmates in the county jail and others. We’re proud
Give the Gift of Writing As Thanksgiving approaches, we find ourselves experiencing a poignant sense of gratitude. It is a time to say thank you in so many ways, to everyone who’s been part of Write On during the past year. It has been a year of inspiration, warm interaction, and learning and growing through writing and reading. We had great success with our spring conference, Writing on the Door: Paths to Publication. Throughout the school year, we helped Sturgeon DONATE ONLINE AT Bay students create a beautiful literary magazine. Our July Kids WOW! writeondoorcounty.org camp brought middle school students together for a week of fun and writing. In early November, we were honored to host New York Times bestselling author Michael Perry for an intimate evening to benefit our work. Write On has taken root over the past six years, and the coming year will bring great excitement for new horizons. We hope you will join us in these endeavors and consider us in your year-end giving.
“The place is serene and exudes positive energy. I don’t see a need to improve anything because my experience was amazing.” — Participant in Recharge Your Creative Battery with James Mihaley 2019 program
Inspiring people to write and share their stories. 4210 Juddville Road | P.O. Box 457 | Fish Creek, WI 54212 920.868.1457 | info@writeondoorcounty.org writeondoorcounty.org
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to share the talents of our writers-inresidence to enrich the lives of so many Door County residents. In 2020, we’ll offer our first funded residency program: a memorial established by a woman to honor her late husband and his interest in both writing and visual art. The residency will, fittingly, be awarded to a writer working in ekphrasis: writing inspired by visual art. If you’d like to honor a loved one by sponsoring a residency that aligns with his or her passions – or want to honor your own passions through a residency sponsorship – we’re happy to explore possibilities with you.