January Meeting: Writing All the Way to the Bone: Using Theme and Symbol to Give Depth to your Story

Join us on January 26 when Chris Merrill will speak on Writing All the Way to the Bone: Using Theme and Symbol to Give Depth to Your Story.

When writing what we hope will be a page-turning book, we tend to put the majority of emphasis on character, plot and conflict. But with a little attention to fundamental structure, you can get a "big story," literary feel even when writing a category or novella and turn an ordinary story into a keeper that reveals something new each time the reader returns to it.

Holiday Party Revamp

We're meeting at the bank instead of Lisette's house, and at the regular time! (9:30 to noon)! Hope to see you there!

Holiday Party - December 8

The holiday party and potluck will be December 8. Thank you to Lisette for volunteering to host!

 

Lisette will post directions on the loop, or you can contact her for more information.

 

Please bring a dish to pass and (if you'd like) a book for the Secret Santa book exchange (wrap up any "book I love"!)

November Meeting: Writing All the Way to the Bone: Using Theme and Symbol to Give Depth to your Story

Join us on November 17 when Chris Merrill will speak on Writing All the Way to the Bone: Using Theme and Symbol to Give Depth to Your Story.

 

When writing what we hope will be a page-turning book, we tend to put the majority of emphasis on character, plot and conflict. But with a little attention to fundamental structure, you can get a "big story," literary feel even when writing a category or novella and turn an ordinary story into a keeper that reveals something new each time the reader returns to it.

October 20: Carrie Lofty presents "Snake-Bite Scenes and Hollywood Plots: Writing Action with Heart"

You have the beginning. You know how it should end. But what to do with those hundreds of pages in the middle? Use my so-called "snakebite scenes" to help characters acknowledge their deeper passions and bond over moments of danger--even when surviving everyday dramas--and analyze movie classics to see how Hollywood tells a rip-roaring story. For plotters, pantsers, and everyone in between, this course can unblock your creative process and help you add action and heart to every page.

Get these dates on your calendar!

Fall will be here before we know it, so get these upcoming meeting dates on your schedule now before you're completely swamped!

All of these meetings will be held at 9:30 a.m., at the bank, as usual.

August 25: Exploring Media Tools - Audio & Video for Authors

September 22: Christine DeSmet will facilitate. We're planning something that will involve some pre-submission to Chris beforehand, so watch this blog and/or the loop for more details soon.

October 20: Carrie Lofty topic Snake-Bite Scenes and Hollywood Plots: Writing Action with Heart.

You have the beginning. You know how it should end. But what to do with those hundreds of pages in the middle? Use my so-called "snakebite scenes" to help characters acknowledge their deeper passions and bond over moments of danger--even when surviving everyday dramas--and analyze movie classics to see how Hollywood tells a rip-roaring story. For plotters, pantsers, and everyone in between, this course can unblock your creative process and help you add action and heart to every page.

Potluck - July 21

Summer is the time to relax and have fun, so instead of a regular meeting, we'll be having a potluck social (combined with a collage party for anyone interested). The potluck will be from 11:30 - 2:30-ish, and will be at Lisette's house.

Lisette has shared her address on the loop, but if you need it again, contact her directly, or contact Bobbi or Rachel.

Please note:  the Steering Committee will be meeting immediately before the general meeting, from 10 to 11:30.

Please note the subject changes!

May 19, Short Fiction and You, with Kelly Olmstead!
June 23, Plot Party - and maybe some other fun stuff!

We'll try to reschedule Carrie Lofty for this fall!

May 19 - Carrie Lofty: Snakebite Scenes and Hollywood Plots: Writing Action with Heart

You have the beginning. You know how it should end. But what to do with those hundreds of pages in the middle? Use my so-called "snakebite scenes" to help characters acknowledge their deeper passions and bond over moments of danger--even when surviving everyday dramas--and analyze movie classics to see how Hollywood tells a rip-roaring story. For plotters, pantsers, and everyone in between, this course can unblock your creative process and help you add action and heart to every page.

June 23 - Short Fiction and You

Have you ever wanted to write a short story, but didn’t know how to begin? Do your short stories always seem to turn into novels? And just what is short fiction, anyway?

In this workshop we’ll discuss:

• What is short fiction?
• Why write short fiction?
• What makes writing short fiction different from writing long fiction?
• What goes into good short fiction?

Join Kelly Olmstead June 23 to explore the genre. As the workshop approaches, Kelly may post some short stories for people to read ahead of time.

April 21 Meeting: Ogres & Onions - Writing a Story with Substance and Texture

Shrek once said: "There's a lot more to ogres than people think. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers."

On its surface, a good story is made of words. But it is under the surface where the meaning of the words create the mood, feeling, and tension that supports and propels the story to its final climax.

Join Kathryn Albright on April 21 for a discussion on using subtext, layering, and symbolism to create depth in your story.

March 24: Using Emotion to Hook your Reader (presented by Chris Merrill)

They'll laugh. They'll cry. They'll kiss eight bucks goodbye!

Join Chris Merrill as she tells us all about using emotion to hook your reader and keep them coming back for more...

Webster defines catharsis as purification of the emotions through art. This is exactly what many readers are seeking when they pick up romances and other genre novels. By using laughter, tears, or a good scare, connect with your audience and give them the escape they are seeking by ramping up the emotional intensity of your story.

February 18: Being an Author in the New World of Publishing (presented by Lori Devoti)

In the past there was one path and one choice for anyone wanting to call
themselves "author." Get an agent. Submit to a publisher. Wait. Pray. Revise.

Now though there are many choices and a quick Google search will turn up authors who have declared success, some mega success, with them all.

But how do you know which is right for you and your books?

Join us in February as Lori Devoti leads a discussion on the multitude of
choices in today's publishing world. Come with your questions and your
experience. Let's talk.

January Meeting!

Our guest speaker, Deborah Blum ( http://deborahblum.com/ ), NYT bestselling author of the critically acclaimed The Poisoner's Handbook, will join us on Saturday, Jan 28th. We'll be discussing history's most famous poisoners and a look at the way that romance and relationships provided a motive for every one of those murder cases.

You can find information about Deborah Blum, this book and other articles and writing she's done at http://deborahblum.com/.