Friday, May 27, 2011
Our recent Meeting May 20th
Wannabe’s Journal
For
May, 2011
During our last meeting on May 20th I had a moment of enlightenment. I know you are asking yourself…what was so profound. Well…I guess I was struck by the fact that our group continues to grow both in numbers but also in scope and quality. The original group only had about a dozen people who had a interest in satisfying the creative talents that had been awaken by the classes we took at UD and Sinclair. Many of the group’s members have published pictures, novels, poems and other forms of creative writing. There have even been book marks and small prayer cards been created and shared by the group. It is not strange to find someone you know at a writer’s conference or workshop.
A lot has transpired since that day when we make the decision to start this group. Many of you now have web/blog sites, use Facebook and even use Twitter for social networking. In some ways we were ahead of the curve in not being intimated by the digital age where self publishing has become fashionable and is no longer labeled by instructors as vanity publishing.
I was especially proud to hear the members who attended our last meeting request that we have a meeting more often than what we have been doing since January. We will also try to have a more structured format in that we will have time to write while together, provide feedback to members who submit a sample of their recent poems and short stories and discuss current trends and books that other members might be interested in.
Panera has informed me that they can no longer reserve the community room for our meetings. We will have to meet as a group in the general area while they reconfigure the
Wannabe’s Updates:
News from the Meeting on the 20th
Judy W. Recently retired from the Dayton Public School system she has found her literary roots. She has publish a short memoir (350 words) in a literary magazine entitled: Sun Magazine (http://www.thesunmagazine.org/) for $ 32 per yr. She is currently writing her personal memoir and has engaged Dr. Eric Maisel author of “Mastering Creative Anxiety”. She is also participating in his summer writing experience workshop in Paris this year. God are we jealous or what?
She believes very strongly in keeping a personal journal and recommended a number of blog sites: Seriously Sixty at BlogSpot and Blood Red Pencil (Blog site for writers). She is an instructor for the LLI Program at the Osher Institute at the University of Dayton. She recently taught a class in writing a personal memoir.
Bill F. Recently attended the Mad Anthony Writers Workshop in April. While he enjoyed the seminar a great deal he felt as though he had hit the “mother lode” of literary assistance when he receive a personal critique of his children’s book by our very own Nancy Pinard. She has already proven her contributions to the literary business by publishing and teaching at UD and other venues. Hearing Bill speak of his session reviewing his book which he has read parts of to our group brought back memories of our classes and workshop seminars. She proved once again her credentials as a great instructor and fellow writer.
Annette J. She recently finished taking a creative writing class in Dayton. She was encouraged to attend our meeting by Trish C who was unable to attend. Annette is working on writing a memoir but has also written a number of limerick style poems in the past. She has taken up the passion for writing since she recently retired and started to take classes.
Martha: Wants to write a start about the younger generation as seen through the eyes of their grandparents. She shared with us a very personal story of a young couple who are in their early teens and the challenges that they face as they mature. The fact that they want to live a life just like their grandparents who have been married for nearly 50 years they have no idea that there is no secret formula that can be read in a book on how to achieve this goal. It seems strange that we put so much emphasis on college as the golden ring to success in life. Education in reality does not stop at graduation it only begins. That will be true for the rest of their life.
One of the interesting discussions centered on the timing of newborns in families sometimes follow the death of a grandparent or older member of the family. In some cultures they believe there is a connection between the two happenings. Food for thought?
Don P: He has a new email address. I will not publish it in this newsletter but if you want it I will have him send it to you. Don continues to be busy writing stories for writing contest at Dayton Daily News and Writers Digest. He announced that his lovely bride Rose is working on her memoir.
Don recommended a Writer’s Workshop:
Beginning Creative Writing
This course focuses on learning and developing the elements of goof writing that are required for publication. The course explains the writing process in detail that must be employed when creating fiction for a book or a short story. It also explains how to analyze your story concept and implement the appropriate steps to produce a query letter to submit to potential publishers, in a timely fashion and without much stress. It deals with writing tasks such as: a story synopsis, character descriptions, cover letters, cover letters and an author's bio, all of which go into a submission packet or book proposal. The course also looks at the publishing industry and examines how editors judge submissions. No previous writing experience is necessary; however, knowledge of Basic English grammar is required. There will be a half-hour lunch break.
336915-A Sat 9a.m. - 3 p.m. June 11
Fee: $45/ resident; $55/non-resident
Instructor: Tony Lupia
Advanced Creative Writing
This course helps the writer edit, revise and fine-tune the story line and characters to make the story more enjoyable. It assists the writer in producing a sample chapter and a detailed outline. It also helps with the final preparation and formatting of a manuscript, so that it is ready to submit to a potential Publisher. The course explains the typical publishing contract, the publication laws and how literary agents work. The seminar also deals with the process of selling your writing skills and a book or short story that you hope to have published. It takes a critical look at what each writer can do to improve his or her work. Attendees should have completed the Beginning Creative Writing seminar or have equivalent knowledge.
There will be a half-hour lunch break.
336916-A Sat 9a.m. - 3 p.m. July 23
Fee: $45/ resident; $55/non-resident
Instructor: Tony Lupia
Courses at: Rosewood Kettering Arts Center
2655 Olson Drive
Kettering, Ohio 937 296-0294
Here is a copy of a story about Don’s sailing adventures:
Not Mighty Yar
The two sailboats were on a beat, heeled to almost 45 degrees in a fairly stiff breeze as each of the two skippers worked hard to get an advantage over the other. They were intent on the course and locked in on it, when suddenly Harry, the skipper of one of the boats, looked over at the other skipper and loudly yelled "I'm leeward. Don't keep coming down on me. I have the right of way. If you don't stop it we are going before the race committee."
"What do you mean you have right of way?" George, the second skipper, retorted even louder. "You overtook me from astern and have to maintain your proper course. Stop coming up into me or we will take this to the race committee."
Then without a second thought Harry reached over and shoved George, not holding anything back. They started to argue right there, each bringing up some rule that he thought applied and that might give him some sort of advantage. All the while they pushed and shoved and tried to hit each other with their antenna. Giant insects? No, just two radio control sailboat racers with each one knowing with absolute certainty that he was in the right.
If this were big boat racing, the two would be yelling across the gunwales of their boats and would then continue down the course, but with radio control sailing they were standing
on shore within arms length of each other.
During the ensuing argument neither skipper paid sufficient attention to his boat and thus lost ground to the leader who had been only three lengths ahead of them. Due to their face to face argument and their obvious inattention to the racing they were now about ten lengths back. While being so intent on each other they had lost sight of their positions and their subsequent losses to the leader. In fact they had actually dropped back to fourth and fifth place as two other boats got past them, while giving the two a wide berth to avoid any entanglement with their boats.
It went this way all around the course with more pushing, shoving and arguing and loss of position. Finally after all of the boats had crossed the finish line, they circled back to the dock, and pulled out of the water for the lunch break. At this point the two combatants started to discuss their lunch as if nothing had ever happened. They sat together talking, joking, laughing, and eating a sandwich. They had known each other and had been friends for over ten years. Their families often got together over the holidays and several times over the summer for outdoor barbecues. They had even taken trips together, sometimes for sailing, sometimes both families together for vacations.
Twenty minutes later the race director called, "Boats in the water. The start tape will begin in three minutes." The two skippers scrambled to comply and to then sail over to the area behind the starting line. They got there just as the two minute countdown began. At the starting gong they hit the start line side by side in third and fourth place with both of them jockeying for position.
The two sailboats were on a beat, heeled to almost 45 degrees in a fairly stiff breeze as each of the two skippers worked hard to get an advantage over the other. They were intent on the course and locked in on it, when suddenly Harry, the skipper of one of the boats, looked over at the other skipper and loudly yelled.
"I'm leeward" Harry yelled. "Don't keep coming down on me. I have the right of way. If you don't stop it we are going before the race committee."
"What do you mean you have right of way" George, the second skipper, retorted even louder. "You overtook me from astern and have to maintain your proper course. Stop coming up into me or we will take this to the race committee."
Don’s Book mark reads:
The Wannabes of
Metro Dayton,
Ohio
The greatest
Pleasure on earth
after sex, is reading
a good story
followed very,
closely by writing
one.
Thus the great life
Includes a bad boy
A good book, and
Paper and pencil
Live it up
Write a story
Long or short
But never hurry
He also recommended and distributed to the members present a copy of an article on “101 Best Websites for Writers:
http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules/2010/05/17/101BestWebsitesForWritersMyFavorites.aspx
Don H: recently published an article in his favorite web site, The World Net daily entitled
Republican Mensheviks have to go!
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=296561
Congrats to Don for having his work being published. He would like to write a column for the web site on a permanent basis. He is off to a good start. Don also read one of his short stories that he has been working on recently entitled: The Magic Set. The story details the search by a young man to find out the source of the secret words that are mumbled by the magician as he makes rabbits and playing cards disappear. He describes how the young man could not wait for Christmas morning when he received his Magic kit under the Christmas tree. It reminded me of one of the featured speakers at Antioch Writers Workshop a few years ago who discussed the power of words. Rebecca McClanahan’s book entitled “Word Painting” provides new writers with a guide for writing more descriptively. Writing is a form of Magic in the mind of the reader.
Last of all Don Q: I have finally finished my “Santa’s Magic” book. The editing, design and formatting are complete. I will proof it one more time before uploading it to Createspace and Smashwords in order to create the various versions. Then the real work begins.
I have recently started a new book on ghosts and family reunions. My bride has also convinced me to create a book of pictures of the flowers of the world that I have taken while on our many trips in Europe and the US.
I will be teaching again in the fall but I am registered to participate in the Antioch Writers Workshop which I am looking forward to participating in.
A Special request from Rosie H, a frequent Wannabe who is paying tribute to a young artist whom passed away too young in his creative career.
Hi Everyone,
I would like to invite you to a very special event--one that celebrates the memory of a young man and special friend of mine, Brandon Haskins. His life ended last July in a horrific scene. You might have read it in the newspaper and/or seen it on television. His step-father shot and killed him. Myself, along with a couple of my artist friends, started a memorial art scholarship as a way to honor Brandon's memory. We are also commemorating his life and beautiful spirit by having an exhibition in his honor.
I know this announcement is rather lengthy, but it is so important to me that you know about what we are planning, in order to honor our friend's memory. No matter, if you live far or near, I hope you can participate in some way.
Thank you in advance for your thoughtfulness, support and generosity.
Warm regards,
Rosie
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Next Meeting of the Wannabe’s: June 17th 2011 at 9 AM Panera on Brown Street
For those of you who want to manage your calendar there will be a meeting in July on the 22nd at Panera at 9 AM as well. The location may change
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
The Wannabe's Journal for May 2011
I know our meeting is a few weeks off on May 20th but I thought I would remind you of a great seminar that is scheduled for this coming weekend in Springboro:
How to Get Your Book Published: 3 Options in the Changing World of Publishing
The Springboro Public Library
is hosting
How to Get Your Book Published
Saturday, May 7, 2011
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Former Writer's Digest publisher Jane Friedman will cover all the basics on how to get your book published, including how to research markets, write query letters, and contact agents. She'll also discuss the changing landscape of the publishing industry, and how/when to pursue the increasingly viable self-publishing and e-publishing options. You'll learn what it takes to capture the attention of a New York publisher, what expectations you should have when it comes to the marketing and promotion of your work, and how to determine which publishing option is the best to achieve your goals.
This program is free and open to the public. No registration is required, The library is located in Springboro at:
125 Park Lane
Springboro, OH 45066
(937) 748-3200 voice
Ms. Friedman is a member of the University of Cincinnati faculty and former editor of Writer Digest. She is well respected in the publishing industry and has been a speaker a number of local writer’s workshops. If you have not heard her speak I would highly recommend hearing her presentation.
Other news and articles that I would recommend:
The little Black Book of Self Publishing at Matt Gartland. Just search for the article in his blog site. Here is the site address: http://mattgartland.com/about/
Self Publishing is the Future at http://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/04/19/self-publishing-is-the-future-this-is-your-guide/
40 free tools for Authors At Teleread.com: http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/40-free-tools-for-authors-by-piotr-kowalczyk/
How to Self Pub on Amazon, Kindle and IBookstore: http://www.dragosroua.com/how-to-self-publish-on-amazon-kindle-and-ibookstore/
Self Publishing 101 – A guest post by Briana Pierce http://epmarcellin.com/2011/04/29/self-publishing-101/
This last blog post is one of the best I have read recently in summarizing your options.
I hope everyone is well. I can understand that there are days when it is perfectly fine to curl up in the corner of the couch and read a good book. But two weeks is a bit too much. I have actually caught up with my reading and organizing my office.
Hope you all have a great week and keep afloat. Hope to see you on Saturday if not then on the 20th at our next regular schedule meeting at Panera.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wannabe's Journal for April 13, 2011
As many of you found out last week. I now am able to be two places as the same time. No...I am not Superman. I cannot even fathom the idea of trying to leap small buildings. I have a hard time putting my cloths on in the morning. My life changed on Wednesday night while I was sleeping. Someone had hacked my email account and stole all my contacts. My account had been cannibalized. I was not in Spain as the message implied. I was actually in my den all day Thursday trying to recover my email, folders and contacts. I finally got my contacts back by Friday night but not without a lot of effort on the digital chat feature on my pc. The lesson learned is that you need to change your email security frequently...once a month. Also have a backup email account and tie it to the one you use most frequently. Most of all...export all your contacts twice a year to Excel spreadsheet and save them as a CSV file format. We enough about that geek stuff.
My week was not completely ruined by the TEST. I recovered in time to attend the Mad Anthony Writers Workshop in Hamilton, Ohio on Saturday. The two day event began on Friday night at 7 PM with registration and mixer. The featured speaker that evening was Margaret Luongo, Ass. Professor of English at Miami University who gave a talk on: The Joys of Writing"
Saturday's Program started promptly at 8:30 AM. The morning sessions were broken into four categories of interest: fiction, non fiction, career and anything goes. Three were three class periods in the morning for each category and two in the afternoon. I was not able to attend all the sessions but I can provide you with some insight on what the speakers discussed in the sessions that I did attend.
Speaker 1: Hallie Ephron talked about POV(point of view) from 8:30 to 9:45. Ms. Ephron is the author of Never Tell a Lie and Come and Find Me. She provided a very educational handout that discuss the various types of point of view:
First Person
Third Person Limited
Multiple Third Person
Omniscient
Many of you know why I would attend this session. I really struggle with this issue. I will keep the handout from this session...it might help.
Speaker 2: Jane Friedman talked about the "3 Models for Do-it-Yourself Publishing. Since I am teaching a class on this very subject I was hoping that I could pick up some new material to include in my future lectures. Ms. Friedman is well known and respected in the writing community for her work at Writers Digest and her blog: There are No Rules(http://blog.writersdigest.com/norules/). He lecture center on the following:
Self Publishing will not kill your chances with a publisher or agent.
Seven of the publishers comprise 87 % of all books sold
In many cases the exercise of self publishing is just as difficult as finding an agent and publisher
Self publishing generates low volumes normally. Total sales less than 300 copies on average.
Success is based on growing your readership(platform) through marketing
What to do:
Build credibility
Seek self promotion advice
Like starting a small business
You are the sales force
Need to be comfortable with Technology
Resources:
e-Book Architects for Formatting
Submit parts of your manuscript to "Good Reads"(http://www.goodreads.com/)
Cover Design is very Important---seek advice
Interesting Facts:
Amazon is selling the majority of all e-Books.
Reviews are very important...especially on Amazon.
Complete your profile
e-Book Pricing: Prices between 2.99 and 10.99 the author gets to keep 70% of the sale as royalty. Prices outside that range the royalty drops to 30%
Allow for readers to have a preview of some of the story
New venue for short story writers for e-Books. There is now Kindle Singles for manuscripts 20, 000 words or less.
Fiction is most often priced lower than non-fiction.
See you are never too old to learn something new. Even an old f... like me.
Speaker 3: Nancy Pinard who talked about Crafting Emotion on the Written Page
Many of us are familiar with Ms. Pinard's skills as an instructor as well as her depth of knowledge on this subject.
She reviewed three methods of achieving emotion in the mind of the reader. The class was able to read a number of pieces of that she handed out to those in her crowded lecture.
Concrete Specific Detail
Collaborative
Flashback and Flash-forward
In Fiction the paragraph is a Unit of though(emotion) not of time. Wow think about that when you are writing in the dark.
Members of her class were exposed to the beautiful poems of Christine Lovin. And we also read part of Abigail Thomas (memoir) entitled A three Day Life. This is a great book for those who are considering writing a memoir.
Luncheon Speaker: Hallie Ephron
She was fantastic in how humble she described this profession of writing. Her best advice is to have a case of champagne on ice. Celebrate your first draft, celebrate you first rejection letter or email, and if you are lucky enough celebrate you first sale or contract. I had to smile because I remember the day I received my draft copy of Letters from Otto which had a major mistake when it arrived. It didn't stop my lovely bride and I uncorking a good bottle of Merlot that afternoon.
Speaker 4: Peggy Barnes Writing Your Life Story
What a wonderful surprise to find that this respected author lives close to my home in Springboro.
"You write to find out the truth about yourself." This is the backdrop reason why you would want to consider writing a memoir. Much of memoir writing is flashback or back-story in structure. One author who we have recommended in this blog in the past is Ann La Monte who wrote "Bird by Bird" She also endorsed the concept of having the Sloppy First Draft(or Shi..y First Draft as she called it). Using all of the five senses to describe the scenes is another must have, Memoirs is a story of overcoming odds. You have to ask the question: "Who are you writing this for?"
One of her recommendations was rather interesting for those of us who listen to the NPR programs that is on daily about 1 PM called The story. If you have not listened to the show yet I would encourage you to do so. If you do not want to write you may want to explore other forms of digital publishing: U-Tube, Video recording, Audio and etc.
Ms. Barnes provided us with a list of recommended books and authors and I will bring copies of the list to the next Wannabe's meeting in May. The one book which I would recommend that she read from was "Choices" by George Ella Lyon.
My schedule did not permit me to attend any addition sessions that afternoon. The day was a great bargain and investment.
For those people who missed my Self Publishing Class at UD here is a sample of what we covered last class
Things to consider:
•Do you have the time, money and experience?
•Do you know your audience?
•What is important to you…producing a project or writing?
•What are your goals?
•Do you have a platform?
•Have you done the research?
•http://ereads.com/
•Do you have access to the software?
http://www.adobe.com/products/digitalpublishingsuiteIn addition Consider:
•Choosing the right eBook publisher
•Picking the right format for the cover and book text
•Secure a ISBN Code
•Create your e-Book cover using downloaded format
•Understand the payment options
–Create your own business
•Use an e-reader to test your product
•Start Blogging, Twitter, use of social networking , contact newspapers, create posters and start marketing your work.
Wannabe's Next Meeting at Panera----------May 20th. I will send out a notice and coupons for coffee for those coming to the meeting.
Wannabe's Next Meeting at Panera----------May 20th. I will send out a notice and coupons for coffee for those coming to the meeting.
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