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

April Telephone Gathering

Self Publishing by Those WhoAre Doing It

Posted Monday April 8, 2013

April's topic is all about Self-Publishing, presented by members who are doing it!

Date of Gathering: Sunday April 28th

8:30 PM ET, 7:30 PM CT, 6:30 PM MT, 5:30 PM PT

1-218-339-4300

568839Pound

Come and interact with several of our Division members who have self published, or now are engaged in this form of publishing. Learn about ins and outs of using such venues as Amizon, Lulu, Smash words, and others. Self publishing has become an accepted and widely used form of getting your writing out there! As we have learned from past monthly telephone gatherings, hearing it from book agents, successful writers and academics, self publishing can not only be a method to establish a successful publishing track-record with an eye to stepping up to a brick & morter publisher, but it can be a publishing end in itself.

If you have self published come and share your experience. If you are looking to self publish, come and learn. (This all will be recorded.)

What's New

Items recently added to our Web site can be found here.

September 2012 Telephone Gathering Recording Now Available

Posted Wednesday October 3, 2012

On Sunday September 30, 2012 our special guest was David Wolverton -Farland an award-winning Science-Fiction writer. Listen to his presentation by selecting the link below:

September 2012, David Wolverton - Farland (MP3) 30.4 MB

To hear past telephone gathering presentations and for call-in instructions and other information for future telephone gatherings visit our Telephone Gatherings Page.

A Critique of your Writing

Have you just written your masterpiece? Would you like a seasoned writer to give you an evaluation of your material?

The Writers’ Division of the National Federation of the Blind is initiating a new service: "A Critique of your Writing."

Getting the Message Out

Posted Friday July 13, 2012

The National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division Announces a New Resource for Affiliates, Divisions, Groups & Chapters.

As Federationists changing what it means to be blind, we all have important stories - stories that the sighted public and the not-yet-blind need to hear. We can share them simply by living our lives or by speaking to groups, but to get wider coverage, we need to engage the media. Getting press attention, however, is often considered a daunting prospect by those with no public relations experience. That is, until now.

The NFB Writers' Division is pleased to announce its new "Guide to Writing Press Releases," a free, step-by-step tutorial on getting press attention. Designed by volunteer NFB publicist Donna W. Hill in consultation with other Writers' Division members, it is geared to nonprofessionals who want to make a difference. Learn how to recognize a news-worthy story, what the media is looking for and how to give it to them. Read examples of press releases that led to media coverage. Download a template for creating a standard document that you can store and re use.

Come experience this light-hearted, inspiring and educational resource at: http://www.nfb-writers-division.net/education_station/press_release_guide.cfm

For further information about the creation of this resource, check out "Wing's for Our Stories" by Donna W. Hill in the June, 2012 Braille Monitor. This article can be read, listened to, or downloaded in the following formats:

Braille Monitor editor Gary Wonder, in the intro to Donna's article, says, "Every affiliate should be lucky enough to have a member who makes sure that the media are well aware of the good work being done by Federationists."

We at the Writers' Division welcome your feedback and questions. And, don't forget to share your successes!

2012 Writing Contest Winners Announced

Posted Tuesday July 10, 2012

Once again this year the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division held its annual writing contest for blind youth and adults. Another new category entitled "Stories for Youth" was added to this year's contest along with the other contest categories that include youth and adult nonfiction, fiction short stories, and poetry. The 2012 contest winners can be viewed by selecting the link below:
2012 Contest Winners

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: