Meeting Minutes June 24, 2012

We had another small turn-out this week, just five people. However it was a very productive meeting as Danielle's exercise prompted good dialogue. Following is the exercise:

This exercise is based on a segment from a lecture series on creative writing. A student taped his teacher's lectures for the semester (with permission) and posted them online. The teacher is a well-known published fantasy fiction author. You can find the whole series at: www.writeaboutdragons.com/home/brandon_w2012/ if you want to check it out.

Key points:

* Writing groups should help to make your writing more effective by giving helpful, constructive feedback on your work.

* Reading another person's work and giving feedback on it:

   - Take note of what you liked and disliked about the piece
   - Be specific about what you liked and disliked (example: "the dialogue between Bob and Joe at the diner on page 4 was funny," NOT "It was good.").
   - Be descriptive in how the piece made you feel, NOT proscriptive (ex: "I was bored here", NOT "You should make this part more exciting."). The author may have been trying to achieve a specific effect with a passage and besides, it isn't your job to fix it.
   - Make sure to include positive feedback... be sensitive to the fact that a writer has invested him/herself heavily in the work. Be polite.
   - Ignore the small stuff (spelling mistakes, typos, awkward wording) unless you've been specifically asked to comment on that because the work is in the final stages of editing. Instead focus on major issues... plot, character, content, and pacing for example.

* Receiving feedback from another person:

   - No talking! Don't try and defend your work or convince them of how great it is. They are telling you how they do feel about it and it isn't your job to tell them how they should feel about it!

   - Write down the feedback you receive and put it away until you are ready to revise your work. Once you've had a chance to think about it, consider what you want to change and what you don't based on the feedback you've been given.

The Exercise: Giving Helpful Feedback

Choose a partner. Spend 15-20 minutes reading your partner's work and another 20 minutes (10 minutes each) giving each other feedback based on the principles outlined above. Consider exchanging the revised version of your work with your partner at some future date so you can both evaluate how much the experience helped you to improve your writing.


After doing this exercise the group discussed the experience. The following points were made.

- It was helpful to receive honest critique of their work.

- It felt better for a one-on-one rather than reading in front of 10 other people.

- With a group we tend to say very little in the interest of time and/or less put on the spot in front of a larger group of people.

- Reading rather than just listening makes it easier to come up with constructive criticism.

- Is this process something we would like to explore in future meetings? Perhaps people who are looking for constructive feedback might consider bringing copies for other members to read along while they read their work aloud.


For the prompt Danielle played a song as follows:

Taking the Reader With You

"Imaginary" - performed by Evanescence

I linger in the doorway, of alarm clock screaming monsters calling my name.
Let me stay!
Where the wind will whisper to me, where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story.

Chorus:  In my field of paper flowers and candy clouds of lullaby
         I lie inside myself for hours, and watch my purple sky fly over me.

Don't say I'm out of touch with this rampant chaos: your reality.
I know well what lies beyond my sleeping refuge: the nightmare I built my own world to escape.

Chorus

Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming, cannot cease for the fear of silent nights.
Oh how I long for the deep sleep dreaming, the goddess of imaginary light.

Chorus

The lyrics to "Imaginary" describe someone escaping to a refuse they've created. The words of the song evoke an atmosphere of desperation to get away (rampant chaos, alarm clock screaming monsters) and reluctance to leave (linger in the doorway) the child-like haven (tell a story, candy clouds of lullaby) the main character has made for him or herself. As writers we try and take our readers to all kinds of places and for many different reasons. Non-fiction writers might take their readers to an event or a place of special significance. Fiction writers may create any kind of place to take their readers to. Regardless, we often want our readers to experience something there... a revelation or an emotion for example. The words we choose to use can have a huge impact on whether we accomplish that or not.

Pick a place to take us to today... a place you remember, a place you create, or maybe a place you'd like to forget. Decide what you want us to experience while we're there and then use words to take us with you. As you write, consider what you want our five senses to experience, how you want us to feel while we're there and what is going on around us.

Please share your work on this blog, whether you attended the meeting or not.

We only have one meeting per month during the summer. Our next meeting is Sunday, July 15th. Marilyn will be leading.

Have a safe and happy summer!

June 10, 2012 Meeting

First I would like to extend condolences on behalf of the group to Marilyn whose mother passed away recently.

Because I was late in reminding people of today's meeting we had a very small turn-out. There were five of us, enough for a meeting and a little social chatter. Below are the prompts I provided:

Back To The Future - You get in a time machine. You have the choice to go back to the past or forward to the future. Which do you choose? What do you see and learn?

OR

Pick a prompt from these song titles:

This is Why I Shaved My Legs?

The Good Stuff

Blank Sheet of Paper

Last Dollar

All I Wanted Was A ______

Don't Waste My Time

No One Needs to Know

An Old Pair of Shoes

I Cross My Heart

No Fear

Five Minutes


I urge everyone to attempt a prompt from the above and post it here on the blog.

Next meeting is Sunday, June 24th.  Danielle will be leading.

May 27th, 2012 Meeting

There isn't a whole lot to report. Only six people in attendance but we had some good laughs. Thanks Danielle. ;)

Clare provided the following prompt:

Here's The Setting:  You are seated at a table in an eating establishment; restaurant, coffee shop, fast food outlet, bar, fancy restaurant or whatever... Two characters sitting at a table nearby are having a conversation and you are eavesdropping. A third party arrives and an animated discussion takes place. Your task is to begin a mystery story using this cast of three colourful characters. Use as much dialogue as possible, and as a hook include a surprise or puzzle. (Think up a suitable title while you are at it).

This exercise brought out quite a few giggles. You might want to try it yourself. And for those in attendance, please share your writing on this blog. And if you were not in attendance and attempt this exercise, you can share it here too... or any writing you desire to share.

The next meeting is Sunday, June 10th at 1:30pm. Marilyn is scheduled to lead.

A little great news on the writing front! I have an interview posted on the Blue Ridge Literary Agency website that makes mention of the Headwaters' Writers Guild!

http://blueridgelitagency.blogspot.ca/2012/05/welcome-murdermystery-author-diane.html

Meeting Cancelled

As per our discussion at today's meeting, the meeting on Sunday, May 6th has been cancelled. Our next meeting will be held on Sunday, May 27th.

Meeting Minutes April 1, 2012

Another short meeting today, members had things to do and places to be.

We welcomed Barry back for his second meeting. Barry writes sci-fi, mystic and spiritual books. He also has a website and book publishing company at www.alderbookpublishing.ca where you can purchase his books and e-books as well as have your own published. His current series is called "Inner Voices."

Kelli was back and talked about the bumps along her publishing journey. We were all reminded that if a publisher asks you for money up front, be wary and check them out!
On the topic of publishers:
Judy is looking into Balboa Press which is a division of Hay House.
Clare is dealing with Pandora Press for his next book.
Danielle reminded us for self-publishing there are Create Space and Lulu.
We also have three of our own writers who have their own publishing companies:
           Barry with Alder Book Publishing
           Gloria with Spiral Press
           Marilyn with Sun Dragon Press
Jayne's publisher, currently working on book 2, is Harborlight Press. They are a division of White Rose and Pelican. They are at the low end of royalty presses but she has gotten a cheque and they require no monetary investment.
As Clare reminded us: We all have to start somewhere.

Judy read about an awards presentation she attended a few years ago.

Sonja came in and we chatted about her winning Dragonfly's "Tell Me Her Story" contest by SJ Pringle. She plans to get permission to post the picture, now called "Emma's Resolve" and links for Dragonfly and SJ Pringle. She thanked everyone who came to support her Saturday at the presentation.

Diane read Chapter One from her new book Deja Vu.

Danielle read the second half of her story from two weeks ago.

Prompts:

This week we did an exercise on alliteration - using as many words starting with the same letter/sound as possible. Everyone did a great job, but honourable mentions were Clare, Jayne, Judy and Megan.

After all the giggles, we packed up and called it an afternoon.

Our Next Meeting is April 15. Diane will be leading.
Have a great two weeks and keep writing!!!

Dragonfly Arts Contest

Dragonfly Arts on Broadway in Orangeville had a contest recently. Anyone was welcome to stop by the store and take a look at one particular painting created by S.J. Pringle, and then submit a story about the picture. The winner of this contest was our own Sonja Wolter.

Today S.J. Pringle (Jill) read stories she chose as runners-up before Sonja read her winning story. The difference between Sonja's story and the others was that Sonja's story included dialogue. Jill then presented Sonja with a print of the oil painting.

I thought this contest was a great idea and encouraged Dragonfly Arts to present this opportunity again, perhaps with a different artist. I was just sorry I didn't participate myself. Note: If you are ever stuck with your own writing I recommend you stroll through an art gallery.

Thanks to HWG members Ron, Jayne, Patricia and former member Laura for attending Sonja's prize presentation. Below are pictures of Sonja with the artist (S.J. Pringle) and the painting. To read all submitted stories you can drop in at Dragonfly Arts at 189 Broadway in Orangeville. I understand all submissions will be put into a binder for all to read.

 Artist S.J. (Jill) Pringle                  

 Sonja Wolter reads her story next to the portrait.

                                                                   

                                                                     

 The artist presents Sonja with a print of the     portrait now entitled "Emma's Resolve".

Congratulations Sonja!