>> Announcer: THIS PRESENTATION

WAS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS IN PART

TO THE PATRONS OF

"CHARLOTTESVILLE INSIDE-OUT,"

COMMITTED TO EXPLORING THE

PEOPLE, PLACES, AND QUALITY OF

LIFE THAT UNIQUELY DEFINE

CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ITS

SURROUNDINGS.

>> Bettyjoyce Nash: EVERYBODY

HAS A STORY.

WRITING BELONGS TO EVERYBODY.

LANGUAGE BELONGS TO EVERYBODY.

AND SO WHY NOT HAVE AN OPEN,

OPEN PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST

COME AND DO IT?

>> Terri: FOR WHTJ, I'M TERRI

ALLARD AND THIS IS

"CHARLOTTESVILLE INSIDE-OUT."

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC
www.captionassociates.com

♪ I WILL CARRY YOU ♪

♪ LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED

WATER ♪

♪ I WILL LAY ME DOWN ♪

>> Terri: THERE ARE PEOPLE WE

MEET IN LIFE WHO STAND OUT AND

CONTINUALLY INSPIRE US TO BE THE

BETTER SIDE OF OURSELVES.

OUR GUEST TODAY NOT ONLY

EXCEEDED HER DOCTOR'S

EXPECTATIONS AFTER COMPLICATIONS

DURING HER BIRTH, SHE HAS

SURPASSED EVERY GOAL SHE HAS SET

AND HAS RAISED THE BAR HIGH FOR

THOSE OF US LUCKY ENOUGH TO KNOW

HER.

JOIN US TODAY AS WE VISIT WITH

COLLEGE-BOUND SPECIAL OLYMPICS

GLOBAL MESSENGER ANNIE EPLEE.

COME ON!

>> Rachael Eplee: SHE'S GOT THIS

DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF LIFE THAT

I REALLY APPRECIATE, AND IF YOU

JUST SIT DOWN AND TALK TO HER,

IT RUBS OFF ON YOU AND IT GIVES

YOU PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, WHAT

REALLY DOES MATTER.

>> Ruby Garofolo: ANNIE'S GREAT.

SHE'S VERY SUPPORTIVE, ALWAYS

CHEERFUL.

SHE'S GREAT.

I MEAN, I LOVE ANNIE.

I'M SO GLAD THAT WE'RE FRIENDS.

>> Terri: ANNIE, YOU ARE A VERY

BUSY LADY.

TELL US ABOUT THE THINGS THAT

YOU'VE BEEN DOING AT MONTICELLO

HIGH SCHOOL THESE LAST FOUR

YEARS.

>> Annie: OH, WELL, I'VE BEEN A

PART OF THE BASKETBALL TEAM FOR

MORE THAN FOUR YEARS.

I'VE BEEN IN CHOIR AND IN, LIKE,

ALL FOUR DRAMA PRODUCTIONS AT

MONTICELLO HIGH SCHOOL,

BACKSTAGE.

>> Terri: AREN'T YOU ALSO IN THE

HONOR SOCIETY?

>> Annie: YES, I'M IN THE

NATIONAL AND ENGLISH HONOR

SOCIETY.

>> Terri: ONE OF YOUR OTHER BIG

ROLES, WHICH IS REALLY REALLY

COOL, IS YOU'RE A SPECIAL

OLYMPICS GLOBAL MESSENGER.

>> Annie: YES.

>> Terri: TELL US WHAT YOU DO.

>> Annie: WELL, I DO THE OPENING

CEREMONIES FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS

AND I GO AROUND CHARLOTTESVILLE

AND I -- AND THEY GIVE ME A

SCRIPT, AND I SAY AND I SPEAK IT

LIKE OUT AT DIFFERENT PLACES.

>> Terri: YOU'RE THE EMCEE.

>> Annie: YEAH.

>> Terri: OH, YEAH.

>> Annie: OF THE ENTIRE THING.

>> HI, I'M ANNIE EPLEE AND I'M A

GLOBAL MESSENGER FOR SPECIAL

OLYMPICS, SPEAKING TO YOU HERE

IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN

CHARLOTTESVILLE.

>> Terri: WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE,

WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE, YOU FACED

SOME CHALLENGES, RIGHT?

>> Annie: YES.

>> Terri: DID YOU THINK AS A

TEENAGER YOU'D BE DOING SO MANY

COOL THINGS?

>> Annie: NO.

>> Terri: NO?

>> Annie: NOT AT ALL.

IT JUST KINDA HAPPENED.

IT'S REALLY FUN.

>> Terri: CAN YOU TALK ABOUT

SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED

WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE?

>> Annie: WELL, I'VE HAD

SEIZURES EVER SINCE I WAS A

LITTLE BABY AND I'VE HAD

EPILEPSY, AND SO IT MADE IT VERY

CHALLENGING FOR ME.

SO WHEN I GOT OLDER, IT KIND OF

MADE IT HARDER FOR ME TO LEARN

THINGS IN SCHOOL AND STUFF.

>> Terri: BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO

HAVE SLOWED YOU DOWN A BIT.

>> Annie: NO.

>> Terri: A BIT.

>> Annie: NO, I WOULDN'T LET IT.

[ LAUGHTER ]

>> Elizabeth Smiley: SHE'S GONNA

MAKE YOU PAY ATTENTION.

SHE HAS ENERGY AND SPIRIT AND

NOISE AND VOICE THAT HAS BEEN

VERY CLEAR AND VERY STRONG SINCE

SHE CAME INTO THIS WORLD.

>> Andy Chancey: I'VE KNOWN

ANNIE SINCE THE NIGHT SHE WAS

BORN.

I WAS AT THE HOSPITAL JUST

SHORTLY AFTER SHE WAS BORN AND

ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT ANNIE IS

SHE LIKES PEOPLE.

SHE LIKES BEING WITH PEOPLE, SHE

LIKES BEING INVOLVED, AND SHE

PUT HERSELF OUT THERE IN WAYS TO

MAKE SURE SHE'S A PART.

>> Terri: SO DESCRIBE WHAT

HAPPENED DURING ANNIE'S BIRTH

AND THE CHALLENGES SHE FACED

BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> Susan Goins-Eplee: THE

PREGNANCY HAD BEEN RELATIVELY

NORMAL, PRETTY SMOOTH, AND

TOWARD THE END OF THE PREGNANCY

I KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE

A PLANNED C-SECTION ON A

THURSDAY.

SO I HAD MY LAST PRE-NATAL

APPOINTMENT ON TUESDAY, AND I

WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND I TOLD

HER I DIDN'T THINK SHE WAS

MOVING AS MUCH, BUT WE HEARD A

HEARTBEAT, EVERYTHING SOUNDED

FINE, AND SHE SAID, "I'LL SEE

YOU ON THURSDAY MORNING."

SO THAT EVENING AND THEN INTO

THE NEXT DAY, I STILL WASN'T

SURE THAT ANNIE WAS MOVING AND

SO I CALLED THE DOCTOR, AND SHE

SAID, "YOU'VE LIVED WITH YOUR

BABY FOR NINE MONTHS.

IF YOU THINK THERE'S SOMETHING

WRONG, WE NEED TO CHECK."

SO I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND

THE NEXT THING I KNOW SHE IS

BREEZING IN, EVERYTHING IS

HAPPENING REALLY FAST, AND ANNIE

WAS BORN BY EMERGENCY C-SECTION.

SHE HAD HAD BLOOD LOSS WHILE I

WAS STILL PREGNANT, AND IT WAS A

STROKE.

SO SHE HAS A BRAIN INJURY ON THE

RIGHT SIDE OF HER BRAIN.

IT CAUSES WEAKNESS AND SOME -- A

LOT OF DIFFICULTIES ON THE LEFT

SIDE.

SO SHE'S HAD EVERYTHING FROM

PHYSICAL THERAPY TO OCCUPATIONAL

THERAPY TO SPEECH THERAPY.

SHE WAS DEVELOPMENTALLY DELAYED

AND HAD A LOT OF ISSUES RIGHT

FROM BIRTH.

>> Kelly Eplee: IN FACT, I WANT

TO GO BACK TO THAT BIRTH STORY

BECAUSE WHEN SUSAN WAS OUT OF IT

AND ANNIE WAS SMALL AND VERY

GRAY, I JUST REMEMBER HER BEING

JUST ALMOST LIFELESS AND I GOT A

CHANCE TO SEE HER ON THE WAY

OVER TO UVA, AND AS SOON AS SHE

GOT SOME BLOOD, A BLOOD

TRANSFUSION, SHE PINKED UP, SHE

TURNED PURPLE AND SHE STARTED

SCREAMING AT THE WORLD.

SHE DID HAVE INJURIES, SHE

CONTINUES TO HAVE INJURIES, AND

SHE CONTINUES WITH SEIZURE

DISORDER, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS

BEEN A SPIRIT OF FIGHT ABOUT

HER.

AND SO TO RAISE HER HAS BEEN

REALLY JUST TO PROVIDE ALL THE

LOVE AND THE FUN AND THE FOOD

AND THE WATER AND EVERYTHING

ELSE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AS A

PARENT, AND THEN JUST WATCH HER

SORT OF THRIVE BECAUSE SHE'S

ALWAYS HAD THE SPIRIT TO KEEP UP

AND THEN TO, I WOULD SAY TAKE ON

LIFE ON HER OWN TERMS.

>> Rachael: I REMEMBER JUST THE

EXCITEMENT AND THE ANTICIPATION

OF JUST WALKING INTO A HOSPITAL

ROOM AND SEEING HER, YOU KNOW,

AND SHE HAD A BUNCH OF WIRES AND

IT WAS SCARY AND IT WASN'T WHAT

I WAS EXPECTING, BUT THERE WERE

TWO OF US FROM THE FIRST DAY.

>> Ruby: I DON'T QUITE KNOW ALL

THE DETAILS ABOUT POINTING OUT

LIKE WHEN SHE HAD A SEIZURE, BUT

I DO REMEMBER THAT I WAS WITH

HER WHEN SHE DID HAVE ONE AND I

DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS

HAPPENING BECAUSE I WAS IN -- WE

WERE IN THIRD GRADE.

I DO REMEMBER GETTING HER A

PAPER TOWEL SO I COULD COOL HER

OFF OR SOMETHING, BUT IT WAS

SCARY.

>> Kate Hamilton: I FIND ANNIE

TO BE INSPIRING AND LOVING AND

ACCOMPLISHED AND DETERMINED TO

DO HER BEST AT ABSOLUTE

EVERYTHING, AND THE BEST HUGGER

EVER.

>> Paula Hoffman: SO ONE DAY SHE

SAID, "I HAVE ONE FOOT IN MY

SPECIAL ED WORLD AND ONE IN THE

ANNOYING OTHER WORLD."

IT WAS A BRILLIANT DESCRIPTION

AND ASSESSMENT OF WHO SHE IS.

>> Susan: SHE DIDN'T WALK UNTIL

SHE WAS ALMOST TWO YEARS OLD.

SHE'D MAYBE TAKEN TWO STEPS, BUT

THEN ONE DAY WE GOT A CALL FROM

THE DAYCARE AND THE DAYCARE

PROVIDER WAS JUST BESIDE

HERSELF.

SHE SAYS, "YOU WON'T BELIEVE

WHAT ANNIE DID.

SHE JUST STOOD UP IN THE

BATHROOM, WALKED INTO THE

KITCHEN, PULLED OUT HER CHAIR

AND SAT DOWN FOR SNACK."

FROM TWO STEPS TO OKAY, I THINK

I'M GOING TO DO THIS NOW.

>> Terri: YEAH, YEAH.

YEAH, YEAH.

>> Susan: SO, AND THAT WAS --

THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING

THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH HER IS THAT

SHE STRUGGLES AND STRUGGLES AND

STRUGGLES, AND THEN IT'S LIKE

OKAY, I GOT THIS NOW, AND SHE IS

GOOD TO GO.

>> Kelly: WELL, SHE'S

GRADUATING.

I REMEMBER WHEN SHE DECIDED SHE

WAS GOING TO GO TO COLLEGE.

SHE'S GOING TO THE MASON LIFE

PROGRAM AT GEORGE MASON

UNIVERSITY.

I REMEMBER WHEN WE TOOK HER --

WHEN WE TOOK HER SISTER RACHAEL

TO VIRGINIA TECH AND WE WERE ON

THE FLOOR AND TAKING ALL THE

STUFF TO THE ROOMS, AND THEN AS

WE WERE WALKING BACK DOWN THE

HALL, ANNIE LOOKED AT ME AND SHE

JUST HAD RESOLUTION ON HER FACE

AND SHE WAS KIND OF STOMPING

DOWN THE HALL, AND SHE SAID,

"YEAH, WELL, GET USED TO THIS

BECAUSE I'M GOING TO COLLEGE

TOO."

[ LAUGHTER ]

>> ANNIE ROSS EPLEE.

>> Terri: SO NOW YOU'RE

GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

HOW DOES THAT FEEL?

>> Annie: IT FEELS AMAZING.

I'M READY TO GO TO COLLEGE AND

HAVE A GOOD TIME.

>> Terri: AND YOU'RE GOING TO

GEORGE MASON.

>> Annie: YES.

>> Terri: ALL RIGHT.

SO YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

>> Annie: BEING MORE

INDEPENDENT, I GUESS, AND JUST

SEEING WHERE MY LIFE TAKES ME

FROM JUST EXPERIENCE, ALL THE

CLASSES.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE CLASSES

AND HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF

MYSELF ALL YEAR LONG INSTEAD OF

JUST TWO WEEKS.

>> Terri: BUT YOU'RE, YOU'RE

READY TO LEAVE THE NEST, AREN'T

YOU?

>> Annie: YES.

VERY MUCH SO.

>> Terri: YOU'RE THE TYPICAL

TEENAGER.

"BYE! SEE YOU, THANKS FOR

EVERYTHING."

>> Annie: YES, VERY.

>> Terri: SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO

DO?

YOU ALREADY HAVE SOME IDEAS

ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AFTER

COLLEGE.

>> Annie: YEAH.

A PHYSICAL THERAPIST FOR PEOPLE

WITH SPECIAL -- AND LIKE SPECIAL

HEALTH NEEDS IS ONE OF MY

OPTIONS.

>> Terri: THAT IS SO COOL,

ANNIE, YOU WOULD BE INCREDIBLE.

YEAH.

>> Annie: I'LL BE AN ASSISTANT.

>> Terri: SO YOU HAVE THIS

REALLY FABULOUS WIDE CIRCLE OF

FAMILY AND FRIENDS --

>> Annie: RIGHT.

>> Terri: -- YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS

TO YOU.

>> Annie: IT'S VERY IMPORTANT

AND I EVEN INCLUDE CAMP HOLIDAY

TRAILS AS ANOTHER FAMILY.

NOT JUST MY ORIGINAL FAMILY, BUT

JUST -- THEY'RE REALLY MY SECOND

FAMILY AND THEY'RE JUST SO NICE.

AND ALL THE COUNSELORS IN THE

PAST ARE LIKE MY PARENTS FOR TWO

WEEKS.

AND THEY JUST ALL -- AND THEY

WELCOME EVERYBODY, SO IT'S VERY

NICE.

>> Terri: SO IT'S APPROPRIATE

THAT YOU'RE HAVING A BIG HIGH

SCHOOL GRADUATION PARTY THERE --

>> Annie: YES.

>> Terri: -- TO CELEBRATE AND

ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS ARE GOING TO

BE THERE.

AND YOU'VE HAD TEACHERS AND

FAMILY FRIENDS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT

THERE ROOTING FOR YOU EVERY

SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY.

>> Annie: YEAH, YEAH.

>> Terri: SO, OKAY.

SO YOU AND I HAVE BEEN WRITING

SONGS TOGETHER FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Annie: YES, LONG TIME.

>> Terri: AND I KNOW HOW WISE

AND INSIGHTFUL YOU ARE.

SO WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO

PEOPLE FOR UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE

WHO ARE DIFFERENT?

>> Annie: WELL, IT'S JUST TO NOT

JUDGE PEOPLE AS SOON AS YOU SEE

THEM.

JUST GIVE THEM A CHANCE BECAUSE

THEN YOU GET TO SEE HOW NICE AND

HOW BRIGHT SOME PEOPLE ARE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THE PROBLEMS

WITH EVERYBODY IS, IS THAT THEY

JUDGE PEOPLE WHEN THEY FIRST SEE

SOMEBODY.

>> Terri: WHY DO YOU THINK WE

ALL WANT TO JUDGE SO FAST?

>> Annie: BECAUSE THEY'RE

AFRAID, MOST LIKELY.

THEY'RE AFRAID OF THE PERSON OR

THEY'RE AFRAID OF SOMETHING

INSIDE THEM THAT DOESN'T WANT

THEM TO BROADEN UP WHO THEY WANT

TO INCLUDE.

♪ JUST LIKE YOU, I HAVE FEELINGS

TOO ♪

♪ WE'RE ON THE SAME TEAM AND

THAT SHOULD MEAN SOMETHING TO

YOU ♪

♪ WHY ARE PEOPLE SO AFRAID OF

PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT ♪

♪ COULD IT BE THEY JUST DON'T

UNDERSTAND ♪

>> Kelly: I DREAM THAT SHE'S

JUST GONNA CONTINUE TO GROW IN

HER GIFTS.

SHE'S WONDERFUL WITH PEOPLE,

SHE'S WONDERFUL WITH KIDS.

SHE'S ALWAYS EXCEEDED OUR

EXPECTATIONS AND MADE HER OWN

PATH, SO WE EXPECT THAT SHE'LL

SURPRISE US AGAIN.

>> Terri: YEAH.

OH YEAH.

>> Susan: WE STARTED TO SEE THIS

PRETTY EARLY ON.

ANNIE HAS NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM

STANDING UP, EVEN TO HER FIRST

GRADE CLASS, AND SAYING, "YOU

KNOW, I WASN'T IN SCHOOL LAST

WEEK BECAUSE I HAD A SEIZURE

BECAUSE I HAVE A BOO BOO ON MY

BRAIN."

TO HER FIRST GRADE CLASS, AND I

MEAN, THAT WAS JUST STUNNING TO

US, AND KELLY REMEMBERED THAT

YEARS AGO I SAID, "YOU KNOW, I

CAN SEE HER BEING THIS VOICE FOR

PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN

FOR THEMSELVES WHAT IT'S LIKE TO

HAVE STRUGGLES GOING THROUGH THE

WORLD."

AND SHE'S DOING THAT.

SHE'S DOING THAT ALREADY AS A

GLOBAL MESSENGER.

SHE'S DOING THAT BY GOING INTO

THIS PROGRAM AND SHE REALLY IS

BECOMING INSPIRED BY THIS

THERAPIST THAT SHE IS WORKING

WITH AND HE IS ALREADY BEGINNING

TO INTEGRATE HER WITH SOME OF

THE OTHER FOLKS THAT HE'S DOING

THERAPY WITH TO SAY, YOU KNOW,

HOLD THE FOOT RIGHT HERE AND

MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T MOVE.

AND SHE'S BECOMING AN ENCOURAGER

AND I THINK SHE MAY WORK WITH

PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS FROM

WITHIN, AND I THINK THAT'S

EXTRAORDINARY.

>> Terri: YEAH.

WELL, I THINK ANNIE IS

EXTRAORDINARY.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHE

DOES NEXT.

>> Susan: ME TOO.

>> Terri: THANK YOU.

>> Susan: THANK YOU, TERRI.

♪♪♪

>> Ray Nedzel: I PUNCHED THE

GAS, I TURNED THE WHEEL INTO THE

SLIDE, I POWERED THE ENGINE,

SPINNED THE BACK WHEELS, FORCED

THE FRONT OF THE CAR BACK ON TO

THE ROAD, POP.

POPPED RIGHT BACK AND KEEP RIGHT

ON GOING.

>> Terri: IN THE SPRING OF 2008,

WHAT BEGAN AS A WEEKLY GROUP

MEETING IN A LOCAL COFFEE SHOP

EVOLVED INTO A PERMANENT SPACE

FOR WRITERS OF ALL GENRES AND

LEVELS OF EXPERTISE.

JOIN US TODAY AS WE VISIT

WRITERHOUSE, A PLACE WHERE

PEOPLE GATHER TO CREATE AND

APPRECIATE LITERATURE AND

RECEIVE HIGH QUALITY

INSTRUCTION.

COME ON!

>> Terri Levinson: YOU'RE GOING

TO SEE THINGS THAT YOU SEE EVERY

DAY, RIGHT?

LIKE WHAT?

>> Kids: TREES, PEOPLE, CARS.

>> Terri Levinson: BUT I WANT

YOU TO START LOOKING AT THEM IN

A DIFFERENT WAY AND THINK ABOUT

HOW THEY MIGHT BE USED OR HOW

PEOPLE MIGHT INTERACT WITH THEM

IN SOME WAY THAT WE DON'T

NORMALLY DO.

>> Terri: SO SIBLEY, TELL US THE

MISSION HERE AT WRITERHOUSE.

>> Sibley Johns: WELL, THE

MISSION AT WRITERHOUSE IS REALLY

SORT OF A THREEFOLD MISSION.

ONE PART OF IT IS TO OFFER

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO

WRITERS AT ALL LEVELS, WHICH IS

GREAT BECAUSE THERE ARE CLASSES

FOR EVERYBODY AND I REALLY

BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY HAS A

STORY TO TELL, AND WHAT WE'RE

HERE TO DO IS PROVIDE THEM WITH

TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO TELL THEIR

STORY.

SO SOME PEOPLE NEED DIFFERENT

LEVELS OF TOOLS, DIFFERENT TYPES

OF TOOLS.

THE SECOND PART OF OUR MISSION

IS REALLY TO OFFER LITERARY

EVENTS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, SO

IT'S A WAY IN WHICH WE CAN

PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR OUR

WRITING ARTISTS TO SHARE WHAT

THEY'RE WORKING ON.

AND THEN THE THIRD PART OF OUR

MISSION IS REALLY TO PROVIDE A

SAFE AND NURTURING SPACE FOR

WRITERS TO WORK WHERE THEY CAN

BE MAYBE FREE OF THE TRAPPINGS

OF MAYBE BEING AT HOME WHERE

THINGS ARE NOISY OR YOU HAVE

ANIMALS THAT WANT THINGS FROM

YOU OR -- YOU KNOW, AND YOU NEED

A SAFE SPACE WHERE YOU CAN

QUIETLY THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE

WORKING ON AND THEN GET TO

WRITING.

SO THOSE ARE THE THREE PARTS OF

OUR MISSION.

>> Terri: AND SO TELL THE STORY

BEHIND HOW IT GOT STARTED IN THE

FIRST PLACE.

>> Sibley: WELL, YOU KNOW,

BASICALLY IT WAS STARTED BY A

GROUP OF WRITERS THAT MET

THROUGH THE CHARLOTTESVILLE

CREATIVE WRITING CENTER AND, YOU

KNOW, THEY WANTED TO KEEP

MEETING AND THEY WANTED TO KEEP

WORKING ON WHAT THEY WERE

WRITING AND THEY WANTED A SPACE

WHERE THEY COULD DO THAT.

WRITING CAN BE A VERY SOLITARY

PROCESS FOR SOME PEOPLE.

>> Terri: RIGHT.

>> Sibley: BUT FOR OTHER PEOPLE,

YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE

THAT ENCOURAGEMENT.

IT'S SORT OF LIKE WHAT HAPPENS

AT A GYM.

YOU KNOW, YOU NEED MAYBE TO BE

SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE

DOING THE SAME THINGS AND

APPRECIATE THE SAME THINGS AND

THEY CAN ENCOURAGE YOU.

SO THAT GROUP KEPT THEIR WRITING

MOVING FORWARD AND THEN THEY

DECIDED TO OPEN THE WRITERHOUSE.

>> Hannah Barnaby: EVEN AS AN

EXPERIENCED WRITER, IT'S EASY

FOR ME TO SOMETIMES GET BOGGED

DOWN IN MY WORK OR LOSE SIGHT AS

TO WHY I STARTED WRITING A

PARTICULAR STORY AND SHARING

THAT STORY WITH OTHER PEOPLE

REMINDS ME OF WHAT I LIKE ABOUT

IT AND ALLOWS ME TO SEE WHAT

THEY LIKE ABOUT IT TOO.

>> Bettyjoyce: I'VE NEVER BEEN

DISAPPOINTED WALKING INTO A

SEMINAR BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS,

THEY'RE ALWAYS GOOD.

THEY ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO

SAY, AND YEAH, IT'S AN AMAZING

MEMBERSHIP, AMAZING COMMUNITY

FOR WRITING.

>> Terri: AND THERE ARE

QUARTERLY CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

THAT ARE OFFERED, RIGHT?

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> Sibley: YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SO EACH QUARTER WE OFFER THREE

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLASSES.

WE HAVE NON-FICTION, POETRY, AND

THEN WE HAVE FICTION.

SO KIND OF THE THREE BASIC

GENRES OF WRITING, AND THEN WE

ALSO OFFER SEMINARS DURING EACH

QUARTER AND THOSE ARE SORT OF

MORE SPECIALTY WORKSHOPS THAT

ARE USUALLY ABOUT A HALF DAY

LONG.

THEY CAN BE ANYTHING FROM

INFORMATION ABOUT THE INNER

WORKINGS OF THE PUBLISHING

WORLD --

>> Terri: WHICH IS REALLY

IMPORTANT TOO.

THE CRAFT IS SO IMPORTANT, BUT

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT

AS WELL.

>> Sibley: EXACTLY.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW,

YOU KNOW, SHOULD I E-PUBLISH OR

WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY BOOK OR

WILL I LOSE CONTROL OF MY

MANUSCRIPT IF I GO THIS WAY OR I

SELL IT TO A PUBLISHING HOUSE.

AND SO WE TRY TO OFFER SEMINARS

IN THAT REGARD, BUT ALSO IN THE

CRAFT SIDE OF WRITING AS YOU

MENTIONED.

SO WE TRY TO VARY THE SEMINARS

AND THEY CAN SORT OF BE TEASERS

FOR GETTING PEOPLE MORE

INTERESTED IN TAKING A BIGGER

CLASS.

>> Terri: AND WHAT ARE YOUR

LITERARY SALONS?

WHAT ARE THOSE?

>> Sibley: SO OUR LITERARY

SALONS SORT OF FULFILL THAT PART

OF OUR MISSION WHERE WE WANT TO

HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE IN

THE COMMUNITY TO SEE AUTHORS AT

WORK AND TO VISIT WITH THEM AND

MEET THEM AND HEAR THEIR WORK

AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN

THE LITERARY WORLD.

SO THEY COME HERE FROM -- YOU

KNOW, THEY COME HERE FROM

WASHINGTON, D.C., PEOPLE FROM

MARYLAND, NORTH CAROLINA, AND

THEN VIRGINIA, OF COURSE, WHO

COME IN AND THEY TALK ABOUT

THEIR BOOK BEING PUBLISHED.

AND IT'S USUALLY -- WE TRY TO

GET IT SORT OF HAPPENING RIGHT

ON THE VERGE OF PUBLICATION OR

RIGHT AFTER PUBLICATION, SO IT'S

AN EXCITING TIME FOR THEM.

>> Terri: YEAH, YEAH.

>> AND THEY CAN BE ON TOUR.

>> Terri: AND THE CLASSES ARE A

NICE SMALLER SIZE, SAY MAYBE 12,

18 PEOPLE TOPS DEPENDING UPON

THE CLASS, SO IT REALLY IS THIS

INTIMATE SETTING WHERE YOU FEEL

LIKE YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU

NEED.

>> Bettyjoyce: I KNOW WHERE

THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IN MY

LIFE, I WOULD NOT HAD WRITTEN AT

ALL IF I HAD NOT HAD A WEEKLY

CLASS TO GO TO.

AND IT JUST KIND OF KEPT ME

GOING WITH A SUSTAINED EFFORT,

AND THEN WHEN THINGS FREED UP, I

WAS ABLE TO DEVOTE MORE ENERGY

TO IT.

>> Hannah: FOR ME THE KEY TO

WORKING WITH STUDENTS AT

DIFFERENT LEVELS IS TO REMIND

ALL OF THEM RIGHT OFF THE BAT

THAT YOU'RE NEVER DONE LEARNING

ABOUT HOW TOE WRITE, THERE'S

ALWAYS MORE -- TO WRITE, THERE'S

ALWAYS MORE TO DEVELOP.

AND ALSO TO SET UP RELATIONSHIPS

BETWEEN NEW STUDENTS AND MORE

EXPERIENCED STUDENTS SO THAT

THERE'S KIND OF A MENTORSHIP

ASPECT TO THE CLASS, NOT A

JUDGMENT ASPECT OR A COMPETITION

IN ANY WAY, AND IT ALSO ALLOWS

WRITERS TO MEET EACH OTHER AND

BECOME AWARE OF EACH OTHER, TO

SHARE THEIR WORK AND TO MEET

PUBLISHED AUTHORS WHO, YOU KNOW,

NOT SO LONG AGO WERE JUST LIKE

THEY WERE, UNPUBLISH,

UNDISCOVERED, ON IT GIVES THEM

HOPE THAT THEY CAN BE PUBLISHED

SOME DAY TOO.

>> Robin Traywick: EARLIER THIS

SUMMER I LEARNED THAT MY NOVEL

HAD EARNED THE BEST UNPUBLISHED

NOVEL CONTEST THAT IS PUT ON

EVERY OTHER YEAR BY RICHMOND

MAGAZINE AND THE JAMES RIVER

WRITERS, SO THAT WAS A HUGE

HUGE THRILL, AND I CERTAINLY OWE

WINNING THAT CONTEST TO MY CLASS

AT WRITER'S HOUSE BECAUSE I

COULDN'T HAVE SHAPED UP THAT

NOVEL AND REVISED IT IN A WAY

THAT IT WOULD BE WORTHY OF

WINNING A CONTEST IF I HADN'T

HAD THE HELP OF MY COLLEAGUES IN

THE CLASS AS WELL AS MARY KATE.

(READING) DORSY'S DREAM WAS A

TRAIN WRECK LOOKING TO HAPPEN,

EVEN WITH A GOOD JOCK LIKE

ALVAREZ MONTEGRO IN THE SADDLE.

>> Sibley: WE HAVE PHENOMENAL

INSTRUCTORS AND A VERY WIDE

ARRAY OF STUDENTS WHO ARE TAKING

THE CLASSES, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY

FROM YOUNG PEOPLE TO RETIREES,

AND SO THERE'S A BROAD AGE

RANGE.

THERE'S A BROAD SORT OF BASE OF

WALKS OF LIFE, WHERE PEOPLE ARE

FROM AND --

>> Terri: YEAH.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE COMPLETE

OPPOSITE END OF THE SCALE WHERE

YOU HAVE YOUR SUMMER CAMP FOR

KIDS.

>> Sibley: YEAH, SO WE ARE

TRYING TO HAVE DIFFERENT TYPES

OF CAMPS FOR DIFFERENT AGE

GROUPS.

SO OUR THIRD THROUGH FIFTH

GRADERS, IT'S SORT OF A

STORYTELLING STYLE CAMP WHERE

KIDS ARE LEARNING HOW TO TELL A

STORY.

THEY MAY BE FIRST-TIME AUTHORS,

SO WE HELP THEM KIND OF LEARN

HOW TO TELL THAT STORY MOST

EFFECTIVELY.

AND THEN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

ARE A LITTLE FURTHER ALONG AND

THEY'RE GOING TO WORK ON STORIES

MORE THAT ARE -- THAT PERHAPS

THEY ALREADY HAVE IN HAND OR

SOMETHING THEY'VE BEEN THINKING

ABOUT GETTING GOING.

AND THEN THE HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENTS, OF COURSE, ARE FARTHER

ADVANCED AND OFTEN WORKING ON

MORE COMPLEX ISSUES OF CRAFT AND

SO THERE'S SORT OF SOMETHING FOR

EVERYONE HERE.

>> Erin James: I WANT YOU TO

TAKE THE NEXT 30 SECONDS ON THE

NEXT PAGE IN YOUR JOURNAL, WRITE

DOWN ALL OF THE WORDS YOU

ASSOCIATE WITH THIS WORD.

ANY WORD, THOUGHT, FEELING YOU

ASSOCIATE WITH THE WORD "TREE."

>> Terri: IF SOMEONE WANTS TO

BECOME A MEMBER HERE, WHAT DO

THEY HAVE TO DO AND THEN WHAT

ARE THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP?

>> Sibley: BASICALLY IT COSTS

$50 A YEAR.

>> Terri: THAT'S FANTASTIC.

>> Sibley: AND WHAT YOU GET IN

RETURN FOR THAT $50 IS YOU GET

ACCESS TO ALL OF OUR MEMBERSHIP

NEWS AND NEWSLETTER, AND THEN

YOU GET DISCOUNTS ON OUR

CLASSES, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT

DISCOUNTS.

YOU GET A PREVIEW OF THE COURSES

WHEN THEY COME OUT, AND SO YOU

GET TO BE THE FIRST TO SIGN UP

FOR COURSES AND SOMETIMES WE DO

REALLY HAVE POPULAR COURSES.

>> Terri: OH, I BET.

>> Sibley: AND OUR MEMBERS GET

FIRST ACCESS TO THAT.

>> Terri: LIKE BOOM.

>> Sibley: SO WE GIVE THEM A

COUPLE OF DAYS TO CHECK

EVERYTHING OUT AND MAKE SURE

THEY GET THAT CLASS THAT THEY

WANT.

AND THEN THEY GET ACCESS TO OUR

FACILITY TO COME IN, THEY CAN

HAVE A WRITER'S GROUP HERE.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY.

LOTS OF SPACE, VERY COMFORTABLE,

AND THEY GET THE COLLEGIAL

ATMOSPHERE OF WRITERS WHO ARE

PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE

DOING, AND I THINK THAT'S WORTH

A LOT.

SO -- AND WE ALSO PROVIDE

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE

SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC CHALLENGES,

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF

WHAT OUR MISSION IS, IS TO MAKE

WRITING ACCESSIBLE FOR ANYONE

WHO WANTS TO WRITE.

>> Charlotte Wood: ALL RIGHT, SO

HERE'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

GET YOUR NOTEBOOKS BECAUSE RIGHT

NOW YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW MUCH

ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER AT ALL, YOU

MAY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT YOUR

CHARACTER AT ALL, BUT I

GUARANTEE BY THE TIME YOU FINISH

THIS ACTIVITY, YOU'LL HAVE AN

IDEA OF THE HOPES AND DREAMS OF

YOUR CHARACTER AS WELL AS A

LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR PAST AND

MAYBE WHAT THEY'RE STRIVING FOR.

ARE YOU READY?

>> Terri: YOU ALL ALSO HAVE

MONTHLY ART EXHIBITS, SO IT'S A

REALLY LOVELY SPACE.

>> Sibley: WE DO.

>> Terri: AND THEN YOU'RE

INVOLVED IN A WRITING CONTEST.

TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> Sibley: YEAH, SO WE DO A

WRITING CONTEST WITH CVILLE

WEEKLY, AND I MEAN, WE HAVE A

LOT OF INCREDIBLE WRITERS IN

THIS COMMUNITY.

CHARLOTTESVILLE IS -- YOU KNOW,

HAS QUITE AN AMAZING HISTORY OF

WRITERS AND CERTAINLY HAVING THE

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA HERE IS A

HUGE ASSET, BUT I THINK THAT

THERE'S A GREAT FOOTPATH FOR

WRITERS HERE, YOU KNOW, GREAT

TRADITIONS TO BE CARRIED

FORWARD.

AND SO WE'LL HAVE A WINNER SOON

AND IT'S $500 FOR THE FIRST

PRIZE, AND THAT'S A REALLY NICE

FRIES FOR SOMEBODY TO REWARD

THEIR EFFORTS IN WRITING.

>> Terri: YEAH.

AND MANY WRITERS WHO COME

THROUGH WRITERHOUSE GO ON TO

BECOME PUBLISHED WRITERS.

>> Sibley: ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST

TIME EVER, WE TAUGHT A NOVEL IN

A YEAR CLASS.

WE HAD A FANTASTIC AUTHOR FROM

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARY KAY

ZURAVLEF.

SHE CAME DOWN AND WORKED WITH

THE CLASS 12 TIMES A YEAR

INTENSIVELY EACH TIME, AND WE

HAD A MEMOIR IN A YEAR CLASS,

TOO, WHERE SOME OF THOSE

STUDENTS -- FOR EXAMPLE, ONE

STUDENT HAS HAD A PIECE OF HER

WRITING PUBLISHED IN THE

"WASHINGTON POST."

SO IT IS VERY, VERY EXCITING FOR

US.

WE TRY TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL OF

THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT HAPPEN

FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

>> Terri: YEAH.

ANY BIG PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

>> Sibley: THERE'S ALL KINDS OF

REALLY EXCITING THINGS GOING ON

IN THE WRITING WORLD RIGHT NOW.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S ONLINE

WRITING CLASSES THAT ARE REALLY

BIG IN A COUPLE OF THE WRITING

CENTERS LIKE IN BOSTON,

AND BETHESDA, MARYLAND, AND SOME

OF THE BIGGER CENTERS.

AND SO THAT'S AN AREA THAT WE

COULD EXPLORE: WOULD THAT WORK,

WOULD THAT HELP PEOPLE?

THERE'S LAUNCH LABS THAT ARE

GOING ON WHERE PEOPLE HAVE A

CHANCE TO LAUNCH A NOVEL AND GET

FEEDBACK.

AND SO THERE ARE MANY, MANY

THINGS AND MANY TRENDS THAT

WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT WE COULD

EMBRACE HERE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE

TO EXPAND UPON OUR CURRENT

OFFERINGS.

SO IT'S REALLY AN EXCITING --

THE WORLD OF PUBLISHING IS

CHANGING EVERY DAY, JUST

EXPONENTIALLY, AND SO KEEPING UP

WITH THAT AND TRYING TO MAKE

THAT WORLD ACCESSIBLE TO OUR

MEMBERS IS A BIG PART OF WHAT

WE'RE TRYING TO DO, BUT IT'S

EXCITING.

IT KEEPS US, YOU KNOW, ROCKING

AND ROLLING HERE.

>> Ray: (READING) THEN SHE SAYS,

"I HATE IT WHEN YOU CALL ME THE

SAME NAME AS YOU CALL YOUR CAR."

AND I SAID, "HEY BABY, I'M

SORRY, I'M A MAN OF LIMITED

NICKNAMES."

AND SHE SAID, "OKAY," AND I

SAID, "I WASN'T TALKING TO YOU.

I WAS STILL TALKING TO MY CAR."

THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY FUNNY

TOO.

>> Terri: THAT'S IT FOR THIS

WEEK.

FOR WHTJ, I'M TERRI ALLARD.

JOIN US NEXT TIME ON

"CHARLOTTESVILLE INSIDE-OUT."

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC
www.captionassociates.com

>> Announcer: THIS PRESENTATION

WAS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS IN PART

TO THE PATRONS OF

"CHARLOTTESVILLE INSIDE-OUT,"

COMMITTED TO EXPLORING THE

PEOPLE, PLACES, AND QUALITY OF

LIFE THAT UNIQUELY DEFINE

CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ITS

SURROUNDINGS.