NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

WRITERS' DIVISION

We're back at last in a new home, employing additional Web technologies, and with the launch of Version 2.0 of our Web site have several new content areas to enable blind writers to connect with each other and to serve as repositories for information and techniques on the art of writing and marketing one's works. These new features along with those you have come to love are listed below under "Site Orientation". Plans are in the works to further grow this space in the future. We encourage past visitors and those new to the National Federation of the Blind and the NFB Writers' Division to check back often for new content and site enhancements. Welcome back one and all!!

Introduction

The National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division began in 1982, as a place for writers to hang their hats at the U.S. National Federation of the Blind's annual convention. As the only organization of this kind in the world, we serve blind writers with material specifically designed to help blind writers and others wishing to understand and write about issues important to the blind.

Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be 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.
-NFB Writers' Division Constitution, Article II

Upcoming Events

This section will provide information about up-coming NFB and division events and important dates to remember. Please check this page often for the latest division happenings

January Telephone Gathering

A Literary Agent

Posted Monday January 9, 2012

On Sunday January 29th, at 7;30 PM Central US, our special guest is a Literary Agent, Mr. Jason Yarn. (We will soon have a more formal BIO) Jason works for the New York talent agency, "PARADIGM."

Here is what Paradigm says about themselves (taken from their website)
http://www.paradigmagency.com/

Since its founding in 1992, Paradigm has established itself as a leading entertainment talent agency, guiding the careers of an elite roster of actors, musical artists, directors, writers and producers. Led by chairman Sam Gores, the agency has carved out a distinctive niche in the entertainment landscape and earned a reputation for putting artists' interests above all else.

Paradigm's select yet diverse client list allows it to effectively compete with other large agencies while guaranteeing personalized attention to every client. With offices in Los Angeles, New York City, Monterey, California and Nashville, Tennessee, Paradigm provides representation to clients across its motion picture, television, music, comedy and personal appearances, theater, books, new media, commercial and physical production departments.

For call-in instructions and other information visit our Telephone Gatherings Page.

2012 NFB Writing Contest Now Open!

Posted Monday January 2, 2012

The annual youth and adult writing contests sponsored by the Writers' Division of the NFB opened up for submissions on January 1st and will close April 1st.

Adult contests, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and stories for youth are open to all entrants eighteen years and over.

The Youth Writing Contest, poetry and fiction, are to promote Braille literacy and excellence in creative writing. Entries will be judged on creativity and quality of Braille. The age groups for these authors is divided into grade levels: Elementary, Middle and High School.

Prizes for contest winners range up to $100 for adult categories and up to $30 for youth categories.

All contest winners will be announced at the Writers' Division business meeting during the NFB national convention to be held in Dallas, Texas, the first week of July, 2012. In addition, shortly after convention, a list of winners will appear on the Writers' Division Website,
www.nfb-writers-division.net. First, second, and third place winners in each category will be considered for publication in the Writers' Division magazine, "Slate & Style."

For additional contest details and submission guidelines,use the links below to access youth and adult information for contest participants.

Site Orientation

Below are links to our new and improved Web Site content areas containing information about our various projects, our history, national and state conventions, and how you can become a member of our division to help us achieve our mission on behalf of blind writers. Links to various site content along with a brief description of these content areas appears below:

National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division Home

The home page of the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division.

National Federation of the Blind

The World-Wide Web Site of the National Federation of the Blind.

National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute

The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. Named in honor of the late Dr. Kenneth Jernigan the NFB Jernigan Institute is the only research and training center operated by the blind for the blind. In its three years of operation the NFB Jernigan Institute has conducted innovative research projects and activities to inspire blind children and youth to explore careers thought to be undoable by the blind, operates the Braille Transcription and Proofreading Program in partnership with the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, (NLS), and has sponsored activities for blind children, blind seniors, blindness professionals and others. The Jernigan institute and various affiliate projects are funded by grants from the NFB'S Imagination Fund.

National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division Blog

The National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division Blog has been established to create a community of blind writers and those with an interest in writing and marketing their works to share news and information with each other. Posts concerning the works of blind authors and those dealing with issues related to living with blindness are welcome. Readers can also post comments about information offered by other community members.

About

Information concerning the history of the National Federation of the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division and its leaders.

Conventions

Information about the NFB National Convention and the NFB Writers' Division activities held during this annual event. This area includes text, audio and video presentations highlighting convention and division activities.

Discussion Groups

You can join our e-mail discussion group to network and share information with other blind writers.

National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division

Education Station

The Writers' Education Station will contain compilations of information related to particular aspects of writing and writing styles. Additional topics will include "Braille Literacy" "Computer and Access Technology Use by Blind Writers", "Marketing", "Publishing", and many more. Content for this area will be gathered from past issues of Slate & Style, our monthly telephone gatherings, presentations at our national convention, etc. This will be a dynamic area of our Web site so visit often.

Members

Information for division members and prospective members.

Publications

A list of newsletters and periodicals published by the National Federation of the Blind, and the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division. Some of these include:

Slate & Style

A quarterly publication of the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division containing information of interest to blind writers and other blind individuals.

NFB Writers' Division Podcasts

Podcasts produced by the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division covering a variety of content types.

Monthly Telephone Gatherings

Information about our monthly telephone gatherings usually held at the end of each month. Information about participation and an archive of recordings of past telephone gatherings is also available.

For Further Information

For further information about the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division and its activities please contact the division's President, Robert Lesley Newman: