Growing our Community: Workshops & New Substack Plans

Learn more about new opportunities to grow with Belle Point

It’s not news to many of you that one of our primary values as a small press is finding ways to cultivate community. As a regional publisher, we’re especially passionate about tapping into the good work already happening in and around the Mid-South, while also exploring new options to add our own contributions. As we get ready to head into the primary holiday season for many folks, we’d like to share some new opportunities.

First, we are expanding our Substack subscriptions to include paid plan options. Monthly ($6/month)/annual ($60/year = 2 months free!) subscribers will get exclusive access to monthly writing/publishing resources (usually around the middle of the month) as well as discounts on our merch, chaps, and other ephemera. Founding members can subscribe for $100/year to get these perks as well as discounts on our larger full-length products and workshops. Free subscriptions are still available for those who just want to keep up with our latest news and other occasional reflections. We know that choosing where to spend your money can be especially significant or challenging these days, so we’ll continue to find ways to support our readers and authors across all budget levels.

Next, we’re expanding our workshop program! After the success of our first two series this fall, we’re eager to bring on more writers and deepen the community around our own catalog of Mid-Southern literature. First off, I (Casie) will be leading a new seminar on “Writing Place” inspired by our debut publication, the Mid/South Anthology. The full registration fee ($80) includes a copy of the book (and shipping), but a reduced fee ($60) is available without the book. There are also 3 fee waiver slots available; if you’re interested in this option, please reach out to us directly (no questions asked). We’ll meet the first three Saturdays of January to discuss how other writers have explored place in their work as well as how we might apply it to our own writing. Registration closes December 2!

On a related note, we currently seek proposals for workshops (both virtual and as downloadable self-guided resources) from instructors around the country. If you think you have an idea that might be a good fit for us, check out more information here on our Submissions page and fill out the Google form through the link there. We’ll be reviewing proposals on a rolling basis as we fill in our 2023 calendar. Although we strive to make our workshops accessible by keeping registration costs low, we do pay instructors and will try to work with you on your preferred terms when possible. We look forward to hearing from you!

There’s more on the way as we get closer to things like Small Business Saturday and year-end shopping, but we wanted to keep you in the loop on the latest news. Please help us spread the word!

Next up: official publication and virtual launch of Kyle Vaughn’s The Alpinist Searches Lonely Places along with Khem K. Aryal for his installment in our ongoing Prose Series. Join us on Wednesday, November 9, at 7pm by signing up here.