Slate and Style: The Magazine of the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division 
Winter, 2021
Phone: (940)249-2517 
Email: S-andS-@nfbnet.org
Queenofbells@outlook.com
Web Site: writers@nfb.org
Follow us on Twitter: @nfbwd
National Web Site: nfb.org 
National Phone: (410)659-9314
***
Your 2021/23 Leadership
Shelley Alongi, President
Chelsea Cook, Vice President 
Katelyn Sipple, secretary 
Shawn Jacobson, Treasurer 
Board Members 
Barbara Hammel
Miss Ruth Williams
Tiffany Smith 
***
Table of Contents 
Editor's Musings Shelley J Alongi 
Presidential Bell Notes, Shelley J Alongi 
WD Year in Review, Staff Writer 
WD Leadership Seminar Plans, 2022, Staff Writer
Living Everyday with Gratitude, Dr. Lashawna Fant
Revisiting Writing Prompts, Joanne Evermore 
Catnap, Ruth Williams
Three Little Words, April Lynn Enderton 
Writers' Resource: Patreon.com Shelley J Alongi 
Member Profile: Shelley J Alongi, Queen of Bells 
Slate and Style Submission Guidelines 
Join the Division 
***
To search for an article, search for 
 and the title will appear on the next line.
You can live the life you want. Blindness is not what holds you back.
***
Editor's Musings
by Shelley J Alongi 
As this issue goes to press, another winter is thinking about settling over north Texas. It is taking its sweet time, however, since the temperature on Christmas was in the low seventies and Christmas Eve was even warmer. Being prone to fantasy sometimes, I am secretly hoping this winter gets as cold as the last one. If I hope it becomes cold I would like to avoid having the pipes freeze for a week. The blessing about last winter's frozen pipes was I was able to rediscover the sheer joy of a shower after not having that luxury for a week. There are many other ways to keep clean. I think a shower is one of life's luxuries. I know others have experienced luxury deprivation for longer. 

As I order the words in this final issue of 2021 I have successfully raised five kittens, though mom Cat did all the work, I just rescued her kittens from losing her. What a couple of funny stories for an article that would make. I never heard such a small fluffy thing make such noises of distress. When it was decreed that kittens would be born without hearing or sight for the first two weeks, God made up for it by giving them the tiniest most piercing voices, and the rest of us the ears and hearts to hear them. I guess I've been initiated as a true cat lady now. In true cat lady fashion Sherna, i.e., Mama Cat, gets spayed today.  

But, I digress. Among the articles in this issue are the honorable mentions from the 2021 Writers' Division Contest. We have an offering on gratitude from Dr. Lashawna Fant. We are embracing our future with leadership seminar plans for 2022. Look for an article on the new online writing phenomenon, Patrion. Also, yours truly is featured in the membership profile this issue. Onward and upward through cold winter, warm winter. Kick off your shoes and enjoy the last issue of 2021. Most of all, stay safe and healthy and Write On!  
***
Presidential Bell Notes 
by Shelley J Alongi 

Welcome to the winter issue of Slate and Style for 2021. We are coming off of our yearly hiatus and hope your holidays were good ones. The coffee is hot. The laundry is caught up and so are the dishes. It is time to start thinking about 2022. The Writers' Division is looking to train the next set of leaders. Even if the next elections do not occur till 2023 we are in our training season. A great division, small and mighty must prepare for its next forty years. We will be offering training seminars in 2022 and want you to be a part of them. Look for more information in this issue and beyond. 

We're hoping you'll join us for our Zoom meetings in 2022. check your email for the schedule. If you want to get a heads up on dates, look at the fourth Sunday of each month and mark your calendars. Start time is always 8:00 PM eastern. Adjust for your time zone and join us. 

Before any of that happens, kick your shoes off, grab your beverage of choice and maybe a cat or your favorite other pet and Read On!
***
WD Year in Review 
Staff Writer

It seems every year that the Writers' Division comes full circle. By that I mean we begin our meetings in January, announce our annual Writers' Division contest, meet as a board, have our conferences via Zoom or telephone depending on the technological preference of the year, break for convention, resume conferences, take our two month hiatus, and then get ready to do it all again. This is the framework for a successful year. Since being elected in 2019 and again in 2021 I have been the one to loosely oversee that this schedule runs smoothly. I enjoy doing it. 

So what kinds of discussions are you contributing to when you join our meeting? Or what kinds of things are you missing out on if you can't or won't make it to one of our meetings? Here is a general summary of the things we discussed in 2021 at our conferences. We meet for the mutual edification of our members. Our purpose, according to our constitution, is to "advance the interests and expand the opportunities of blind writers, to share the spirit and techniques of writing and publishing, and to promote the welfare of blind persons through writing." To that end, we have gathered on Sunday evenings, the fourth Sunday of the month, (even when there are five Sundays in a month we meet on the 4th Sunday) to discuss writing style, publishing opportunities, character progress, and books. Good reading makes good writing, I say and you will be surprised how much good writing skill you can pick up simply by reading a well-constructed book with in tact grammar. Sitting down to write takes discipline and we don't always have it, so we discussed techniques for blocking writers' block. The best way to block writers' block is not to get it, offers one writer or maybe it's more than one writer. A lot of discussion this year centered on poetry, its detractors, its style and its particular forms. I don't write much poetry, and as a consequence I never can remember the number of lines to a particular form, but if you can, that's great. You can be the next Robert Frost, or Maya Angelou, or the next Amanda Gorman, the poet who red her poetry at the Biden inauguration in 2021. Has that much time passed already? Apparently it has. 

The Writers' Division entered a new frontier in 2021. We added a scheduled Monday night session to be devoted to poetry. Barbara Hamel who is seriously devoted to poetry, who serves on our board, hosted the Monday night gatherings. After a summer hiatus she decided to change her format to a Thursday night round table/workshop devoted to writing in general. Join her in any month that has a third Thursday and see what she's cooked up for discussions. 

Speaking of poetry, and we were, all the winning entries in the Writers' Division annual contest this year were in the poetry category. In the last issue we published the winners. This time we're presenting the honorable mentions. April Enderton who took first place also had an honorable mention. Look for "Three Little Words" and Cat Nap by Miss Ruth Williams.

So, what will happen next year? We have plans for leadership seminars. And, so far, anyway, convention is in person. That means a party! The Writers' Division will be forty years old in 2022. What fun! Stay tuned for ways you can help plan the festivities!
***
Leadership Seminars, 2022
Staff Writer

Yes, we are advertising early. Have you ever considered being a leader? Why not start at the division level? In order to prepare for our 2023 election the Writers' Division is hosting two leadership seminars, dates to be announced. What are the responsibilities of division leadership?: How do you plan for them? What kinds of things help you be a successful leader? What is a successful leader, anyway. You will be surprised at the answer to that last question. We will run our seminars for two hours with presentations and time for questions and answers. Will we charge for these seminars? I'm going to take a risk and say yes. You might wonder why we would charge for a seminar if we're desperate for leaders? I think the answer to that is simple. We will charge $10 for your participation. We feel if there is a monitary value placed on your time you will bring more to the table and receive more from the sessions themselves. And you won't be late. This charge amounts to $5 an hour. There will be more information in the next issue and by email. So, keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for more information. 
***
Living Everyday with Gratitude
by Dr. LaShawna Fant 
[Dr. Fant is from Mississippi. She is a published author. Her mission is to live her life fulfilling her god-given purpose. Her family is the reason her heart beats strongly and with passion for life. Her students also add extra twinkles in being the apples of her eyes.] 

As a child, my siblings and I were raised to be thankful. Our community was constructed on a foundation of gratitude. We were taught to say thanks when someone gave us an item, held a door for us to enter or exit, and even offer a polite comment. The community united to ensure its residents displayed appreciation and thanksgiving. 

Furthermore, we were reared to know life as endless magnificent atributes. To be able to breathe is a treasured gift. To have various abilities and to live everyday is also an incomparable blessing. The mere act of maintaining a positive demeanor and striving to make the world a better place to live derives from a heart knitted in appreciation.     

Every day you rise, there is always some reason to be grateful. Life is stocked with many challenges, but it also rains down many joys and We can only reside in the present and take life one day at a time. Remember to live your life being grateful for the little and big things. Possessing a heart of gratitude will undoubtedly help life be more pleasant and meaningful for each of us. 
***
Catnap 
by Ruth Williams
[This poem took honorable mention in the poetry category of the 2021 Writers' Division contest.]

When I awaken,
My feet are sore,
Have I been travelling again in my dreams?

My eyelids are stuck closed from frenzied REM flutterings.
Or did I travel by bullet train into the ether?
Was my seat by an open window?
 
Where do I go when I leave my body?
In the daylight, I search for clues,
As if this is reasonable.

What is this hair on my shoulder?
It's not mine, nor my cat's.
He slow-blinks, reassuring me.
No, we've both been here all this time.
Sawing wood. Hours tick by.
You never left. Trust me.

I love him, yes, but I don't trust him. 
He'd lie to me the same as any man wood.
Because he doesn't think I can take in the truth.

In my quiet moments, in my heart of hearts,
I know my life is somewhere else.
 
Makes me wonder what else has passed me by.

We may call them dreams,
But they seem familiar.
They ring so true.
Beckoning from a place we've already been.

Perhaps when the truth is told,
A dream is a map and a memory.
An echo of the clock's tick.
A compass leading home.
***
Revisiting Writing Prompts 
by Shelley J Alongi
Here is an idea from your Slate and Style editor for anew section. Writing prompts. 
This idea has surfaced many times over the years and so we'll try it again. Some intrepid person brings it up on Stylist on occasion. Think it over and email me off list to submit an idea for writing prompts. Maybe your idea will result in a contest-winning entry and submissions for Slate and Style. Enjoy! 
Submitting ideas for writing prompts may also offer people some subjects to write about and ways to write about them. You never know where this may lead. Let's be brave. 
***
THREE LITTLE WORDS 
by April Lynn Enderton  
[This poem earned an honorable mention in the 2021 Writers' Division contest.]

Three little words, 
Spoken softly through the phone. 
The voice sounds familiar, 
Though I don't recognize the tone. 
What does this message mean? 
How should I reply? 
This is something new, 
That much I can't deny. 
My heart is thudding wildly. 
I move my mouth to speak. 
But no gems can I offer, 
Though clever words I seek. 

Three little words, 
Say so little, mean so much. 
Burrow deep inside my heart, 
Where few other words have touched. 
Where do I go from here? 
Not something you would know. 
I am trembling with fear, 
But I strive not to let it show. 
My dreams for the future, 
Have sprouted wings and flown, 
Silence stands between us. 
I am truly now alone.  

Three little words, 
Fall as quietly as rain. 
They penetrate my soul, 
And paralyze my brain. 
I could question why, 
But the reason matters not. 
I could start to cry, 
Then my dignity is shot. 
I could laugh and sing. 
Let my honesty be gone. 
The world's a colder place, 
Since you said, "I'm moving on." 
***
Writers' Resource: Patreon.com  
by Staff Writer

How does it work?
The opening page of Patreon.com says it is the "Best way for artists and creators to get sustainable income and connect with fans." On Patreon, you can let your fans become active participants in the work they love by offering them a monthly membership. You give them access to exclusive content, community, and insight into your creative process. In exchange, you get the freedom to do your best work, and the stability you need to build an independent creative career.  
  
Patreon offers a place for all kinds of creators to create without worrying about chasing checks. The advertising claims you as the creator can concentrate on creating what you want and what your audience loves. Podcasters, video gamers, writers, comedians, visual artists use this format to offer their work to their audiences. This is a direct membership site where your fans pay you each month to create. 

In 2013, Jack Conte a Youtube musician drafted the idea for a web site that would pay him for his work. His room mate turned the idea into a fully functioning web site and now the company is a growing one. Patreon claims it does not use ads or algarythms to pay you. Your income is maintained by your fans who choose the amount to pay you.  To date, Patreon claims it has paid out two billion dollars and has two hundred thousand creators. 

It divides its offerings into "light", "premium" and "pro." The differences are in the levels of membership, the promotions you can offer and the types of workshops available to you as a creator. If you go "pro" you get a Patreon partner to help you grow your business. You can make this as successful as you like. Each plan offers basic tools for inviting fans to join your page, lets you communicate by email, posts on your page, or direct messaging. You also get the chance to participate in workshops showing you how to talk about Patreon, what to offer, and how to set up your page. Patreon claims you can pay yourself when you want or receive automatic payouts from Payoneer PayPal or direct deposit. 

Testimonials claim that it is easier to concentrate on the creation process since the income is more reliable. Patreon says they will answer your fans' questions about payments. There are more articles on https://www.patreon.com. Go to the site to read more details and decide if this model is for you. 
***
Member Profile: Shelley J. Alongi, Queen of Bells 

This year many of our subscribers are new, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce myself. When I was first involved with the National Federation of the Blind in the early nineties I attended my first convention in Dallas, Texas. I met the then editor of Slate and Style, Lori Stayer, over breakfast and attended a Writers' Division meeting. Over the next decades or two I served on the board and kept in touch with Lori Stayer and then ended up after a rather circuitous journey serving as Vice President, and now president of the division. It was members of the Writers' Division who introduced me to self-publishing and helped me get started in writing books. I was always making up stories as a child and writing them down on my Braille writer sometime during a school day or after hours. I helped put out a magazine in high school called Impressions and had a story published in it. I think there is a copy of that magazine, somewhere. I'm sure the story would surprise me if I read it again.  
If there is anything I've learned about my life it is that somewhere along the journey there is always a surprise or two for me. The biggest surprise is ending up in Burkburnett, Texas six years ago, renting a house, cohabitating with three cats, and writing three novels, a book of poetry, and a combination story and poem. Currently, my worklife consists of playing piano for a church each week, directing its small choir, and playing special services. My volunteer life consists of overseeing a kitchen for that same church which opens a Disciples Personal Care pantry two times a month. My duties include preparing food, serving it, cleaning up, talking to the people who come in for the items. One of my loves in life is the kitchen. I think that there may be a story in that, somewhere. We'll have to see how that pans out.  

In relating my writing to all of this, I say that each of my creations has its own catalyst for beginning the creation process. The first book released in 2015 is called Trespasser and comes from my learning about the railroad. It is a romance mixed with the job of an engineer. The second novel released in 2017 is called Brave Pilot and traces the story of foiling a terrorist plot. It has a few surprises in it. Forgiving Sky released in 2018 is about an airplane mechanics journey back from an accident on an airport property. Christ Crush: Poems and a Story is a collection of poetry on the subject and a story which was brewing since early childhood and came together in the way that only stories can. Given time and a perfect spring day it all put itself on paper. The story involves cats, coffee, rain, a tree, and a mystery encounter that's not really a mystery. 

I feel like my writing masterpiece is the story called Angel Hug. It's not an original story though the writing, thoughts and dialog may be original. Angel Hug is my own version of the biblical account of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane the night before the crucifixion, the night some call Maundy Thursday. 

All these creations can be downloaded as e-books on the Apple Books app, Barnes and Noble, Kobo.com, and Amazon.com. Lulu.com has paperbacks of Forgiving Sky and Trespasser as well as a hard cover eddition of Trespasser. Draft2digital has done an excellent job of distributing my work. The rest is up to me. 

I currently have other books in the pipeline. My current novel is a baseball novel about a major league pitcher. It's taking its sweet time about being completed. 

Some of my writing experiences include several newsletters, one for a group called Life Choices, a club I named in college. Our main focus was presenting Jesus from a Jewish perspective and the newsletter covered the happenings of the members of the club. I founded an aviation club while living in California called Titan VFR, VFR meaning Visual Flight Rules. Titan derived from the mascott of California State University, Fullerton. I've written accademic papers along with some short stories. You can read various stories and essays on a site called storymania.com. 

I usually write about the things that I am passionate about: Christ, cats, cooking, trains, and bells. You may notice from my email that I am the Queen of Bells. It is a fitting email, really. 

My favorite color is red, and my favorite icecream is just about anything that isn't chocolate. My number one quality is that there is always something about life that surprises me. I guess the surprise is that I get interested in many things and always end up on some kind of journey, and  I never quite know what it might be. 
***  
Slate and Style Guidelines
Here are the guidelines for Slate and Style
They include submission deadlines, contact information, requirements for your bio and cover letter, general information and word counts for genres. Enjoy. 

Submission Dates 

Spring Issue: March 21st---Submissions close February 28th

Summer issue: June 21st---Submissions close May 31st

Fall issue: September 23rd----Submissions close September 2nd

Winter issue: December 21st---Submissions close November30th

Please read through all the guidelines carefully. Submissions that do not follow these guidelines may not be considered for Slate & Style. 

Submission guidelines are as follows:

Length requirements are: articles, 1500 words or less, fiction and memoir/personal essay, 4000 words or less, book reviews, 1000 words or less, poetry, 36 lines or less.

Again, send ALL submissions as email attachments no matter the genre. Include a cover letter along with your submissions with author's name, title of piece(s) and contact info-phone, email and address included. Also include a bio with your submission(s). Your bio should be no more than 150 words. Do not send an entire history, just include key items you feel are important for readers to know. Send as an attachment as well. More than one submission is allowed per email but do list all submissions in the required cover letter. 

Send submissions to s-and-s@nfbnet.org 

In the subject line of your email, write: Slate & Style submission, your name, and number of submissions. Example: “Slate & Style submission, Myrna Badgerow, 3 submissions”.

Use Microsoft Word or create an RTF document for all submissions. No other formats are accepted, and therefore will not be considered. 

Proofread and check your grammar and formatting before submitting. 

Slate & Style will consider all submissions for publication. However, please be careful with graphic sexual and violent content as well as language and -religious, anti-gender, anti-racial and anti-homosexual orientation content. Characterization and plot often require this type of material, but it must serve a purpose. Gratuitous material with no purpose or meant only for derogatory reasons, will not be considered. Material will be published according to the discretion of the editing staff.

Please direct questions and comments to the email address listed above for submissions, in your subject line, please include your name and simply write: “QUESTION”. Then write your question in the body of the email.
***
Join the Division
Join a group of creative, active writers involved in all aspects of writing: educational reviews, poetry, short stories and novels. We have writers in
all phases of the craft. We have some who enter contests, some who self-publish, and some who have worked with mainstream publishers. We are always looking
for writers with new ideas.

It’s only $10 to join. Pay online by going to 
writers.nfb.org our division web site. Click on the button that says “PayPal”. If you’re new to a screen reader, you can search for the word “pay” on the site till you find PayPal and
then click on that button. The PayPal information encourages donations, but this link can also be used to pay dues.
The End.