1623 Studios in Gloucester is proudly announcing the 30th season of one of its locally produced program series: The Writer’s Block with John Ronan. It is one of the longest running, continuously produced cable shows in New England. As Erich Archer, the studio’s Executive Director, points out: “The Writer’s Block with John Ronan represents the very best of community media. John’s unmatched dedication has introduced hundreds of writers to the Cape Ann community over three decades. We have been incredibly fortunate to benefit from John’s passion and hope to support many more years of this outstanding program.”
The idea for The Writer’s Block began after Ronan, a poet, journalist, and producer, returned from an interview in Albany, NY. Back home, he asked the station’s former director, Sinikka Nogelo, if she was open to similar artist-interview programming on Cape Ann. “When do you want to start?” she answered. Since then, The Writer’s Block has been a community fixture, residents turning to Channel 12 every Thursday, at 8:00 p.m., as Mr. Ronan interviews writers and other artists who are locally, regionally, even nationally active. The 2019-20 season will kick off with the 363rd program!
Featuring in-house interviews as well as remotes, group presentations, and public readings, Ronan has greeted over 700 guests. Most are writers, from poets to novelists to beat reporters, representing thousands of years of writing experience. The show has also spotlighted musicians, photographers singers, sculptors and other brands of artists.
“At first, I had to beat the bushes to find guests,” says Ronan. “Now, the seasons are booked months ahead of taping.” The actor Michael York was a guest. And the widely published, Maryland Poet Laureate, Linda Pastan. But cornering visiting stars is not the emphasis. “We are for and about local artists who ‘sidelight’ as: soldiers, doctors, lawyers, lobstermen, teachers, executives, carpenters, nurses, photographers, confectioners, chefs… We boost budding careers, people who do not have big money, big clout, or a big PR machine. We are their PR machine.”
Studio 1693 and Mr. Ronan are especially proud of featuring the annual winners of the Poetry without Paper contest, run by the Sawyer Free Library. The students read their poems on the show and talk about why writing and reading have been important. The Writer’s Block is a former First Prize winner for Education Programing with New England Cable Television Association.
The Writer’s Block with John Ronan has been a creative gem, providing information, entertainment, and inspiration to others to go out and be creative themselves. It is an invaluable resource for Gloucester, Essex, Manchester and Rockport. Dynamic, reliable, community media – turning the ripe old age of 30.
