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New voices dispel old myths

Richmond - The Editor, It was as good as graduation night for 11 ESL creative writers at a workshop with Nancy Lee, writer-in-residence at Richmond Public Library Wednesday night.
Richmond - The Editor, It was as good as graduation night for 11 ESL creative writers at a workshop with Nancy Lee, writer-in-residence at Richmond Public Library Wednesday night.Public readings were cheerfully received by family, friends and members of the community. But the best part of the event was the birth of a meaty, newly-published chapbook, which challenge some traditional beliefs, such as:1. Good writing must be weighty or lengthy; not so, be concise, to the point, and, most importantly, interesting for modern readers, who spare very little time on reading.2. Adults telling stories of their lives tend to be navel-gazing: not so, the pen can transform dusty memories into sparkling prose with a message of hope.3. Words are dull because they are not visual: a good picture is worth a thousand words? Yes, yet a composition with a sense of lively drama may be even better because it invites readers to rekindle their sleeping imagination.Go to Richmond's Brighouse Branch, and dip into the freshly-minted New Voices II. Next year, enrol in a class, and you'll be given a new lease on life! Let me conclude by listing the benefits for any interested individual:1. You'll grow passionate, positive and pen-itching (meaning desiring to pick up a pen or sit with a computer any time of the day and create good, interesting stories on short notice.)2. You'll feel surrounded by people and community and capable of doing good for yourself and others.3. The desire to read other writers grows by the minute. If you let the desire to have a good read or to write on a creatively disappear, it will be an irredeemable loss; you only have yourself to blame! Ling (James) Hung Ling (James) Hung Richmond Richmond