3rd Annual Open Mic Night

The 3rd Annual Open Mic Night took place on Tuesday, April 23rd at the Orangeville Public Library. We maxed out at 15 participants again and had a good crowd.

Dufferin County's Poet Laureate Harry Posner hosted and shared some of his poetry.

Linda Rebhan read some of her poetry

Emma Pink works at Mochaberry, a local coffee shop. "Words have the power to change lives," she said as she spoke on the coffee and words connection.

Clare McCarthy read from his latest work, "Growing Old Isn't For Wimps", a reflection on aging.

M.J. Moores read from her steampunk novel "Shadow Phoenix".

A rapt audience.

Marilyn Kleiber read from "The Healers", the second book in a series of myth/fantasy novels written under the name J.M. Tibbott. The first book is called "The Arrival". Book 3 of a possible 7 books is currently in the works.

Matt Griffin was his usual peculiar but very entertaining self. His impersonations of Jimmy Stewart and Kermit the Frog were on point.

Winston Utenbogaart read from his book of poetry "Leaves O'er Weathered Stones". We heard "From My Heartfelt Store", "By The Table Lamp" and "Dusky Evenings".

Eight-time published author of cozy mysteries, Diane Bator read from the first of her new series of Glitter Bay Mysteries, "All That Sparkles".

Dancer, choreographer, director and writer, Roland Kirouac entertained us with details of his memoir "Message From a Fool".

Andrew Welch read from his first book "The Value Crisis - from dollars to democracy, why numbers are ruining our world". He shared with us Chapter 8 - Numbering Our Days.

Healer, author and motorcycle enthusiast, Liz Jansen read from her memoir, a collection of stories, "Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment".

Jenn Crole read the poem "Current", inspired by the beauty in all things.

David Mcguinn shared his poetry on meditation and nature.

Judy Zarowny read three poems on the topic of relationships. "The Argument", "Fix Me", and "Forfeit".

Our talented group of writers!

See you next year!

Brian Henry Writing Workshop - Dufferin County Area

Writing Your Life & Other True Stories, Saturday, March 16, in Alton

The Caledon Public Library presents…

Writing Your Life & Other True Stories

Saturday, March 19, 2016

10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Alton Branch of Caledon Public Library, 35 Station Street, Caledon, Ontario (West of Hwy 10, North of Regional Road 24, south of Hwy 9. Map here.)

Have you ever considered writing your memoirs or family history? This workshop will introduce you to the tricks and conventions of telling true stories and will show you how to use the techniques of the novel to recount actual events. Whether you want to write for your family or for a wider public, don't miss this workshop.

Workshop leader Brian Henry has been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He publishes Quick Brown Fox, Canada’s most popular blog for writers, teaches creative writing at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to Buffalo and from Sarnia to Charlottetown. Along with Cecilia-Anca Popescu, Brian is the co-author of Bloody Christmas, a memoir of love and revolution, which is currently under consideration with a literary agent. But his proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published.

Fee (including lunch!): 40.71+ 13% hst = 51 paid in advance
or 43.36 + 13% hst = 55 if you wait to pay at the door

To let us know you’re coming, email brianhenry@sympatico.ca

Or phone the library at: 905-857-1400

To register, bring cash or drop a cheque off at any branch of the Caledon Public Library (Albion-Alton, Belfontain, Bolton, Caledon East, Caledon Village, Inglewood, or the Margaret Dunn Valleywood Branch – map of all branches here) or mail a cheque to:

Albion-Bolton Branch Caledon Public Library

150 Qyeen Street South

Bolton ON L7E 1E3

Blog Roll-Up: Best of the Week's Writing Blogs

Sorry to have missed last week, but I've got lots of great blog posts to share with you this week.

Self-Publishing
First off, in case you somehow missed it, is all the hoopla about Harlequin's new self-publishing endeavour. Jane Freidman of There Are No Rules offers this indepth post: Harlequin's Self-Publishing Venture: Is it the Future of Publishing?

Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent offers her take on it all with Self-Publishing: A Rant and a Q4U, and her follow-up post, My Final Thoughts About Self-Pub.

And if that's not enough info about self-publishing for you . . . 

If you're considering self-publishing your own book, don't miss Pimp My Novel's post, Self-Publishing...Great Idea or Worst Idea Ever? and There Are No Rules Jane Freidman's 3 Self-Publishing Paths You Should Undertsand.

E-Books

While we're discussing the future of publishing, take a look at Nathan Bransford, Literary Agents post, The Top Myths About E-Books, which includes why you won't go blind from reading them, and they aren't hot to the touch.

Marketing

Whether you are self-published or have gone with a traditional publisher, you'll need to market your book. Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent offers a three-part series about Four Major Marketing Principles:

• Part 1 of 3: Marketing Principle #1: You Must Shock Broca
• Part 2 of 3: Marketing Principle #2: If You're Not First, Forget it and Marketing Principle #3: Website Blunders to Avoid
• Part 3 of 3: Marketing Principle #4: Olympic Caliber Networking

Agents and Traditional Publishing
When can you query agents? How do you know your project is ready? Chuck over at the Guide to Literary Agents blog answers these questions.

Have you read a book that is similar to yours and want to pitch the author's agent? Chuck also offers you Three Ways to Identify the Literary Agent of any Book.

Pimp my Blog offers this glossary of publishing Terms to Know.

And finally, Casey McCormack goes back to basics on Literary Rambles to give us the answer (or remind us) to the question How Do I Format My Manuscript? Be sure to double-check before you submit your latest project.

Memoir-Writing

Are you writing about family, history or family history? Check out this guest post on Christina Baker-Kline's A Writing Life blog, Laura Schenone on Writing About the Past.

Miscellaneous

Jane Freidman's weekly Tweet Roundup: Best Tweets for Writers (week ending November 20th) on There Are No Rules.

The Guide to Literary Agents blog has a new recurring column, 7 Things I've Learned So Far. This installment features an inspirational post by Lynnda Ell, a former engineer who built a new career as a writer at the age of 62.

Member Blogs

Diane Bator's had a rough time creatively over the last couple of weeks. Read about her Little Creative Blocks. The Three-Ring Circus has also had a quiet couple of weeks post-wise, but returns with some editing help in this week's Links Tent and a Quick editing Tip about Word's Find feature.

Last But Not Least

The blog roll-up would not be complete without at least one link to Janet Reid's blog. This literary agent, also known as the Query Shark, offers some fail-proof advice about How to Get No More Rejections. You won't want to miss that!

Did I miss your favourite blog? Drop me a line and let me know, and maybe we can include a link in next week's roll-up.

Memories in Memoirs

I just finished reading "The Longest Trip Home" by John Grogan who wrote "Marley and Me". This book is his life story. At the end of the book he acknowledges...

"My siblings, Marijo Grogan, Timothy Grogan, and Michael Grogan, trusted me to tell this story accurately, honestly, and sensitiviely, even while recognizing that each of us sees our shared past through a unique prism."

We have always mentioned how different people remember stories differently. I like the way John Grogan worded it here.

Quote of the Day 11/25

Anyone who believes you can't change history has never tried to write his memoirs. - David Ben Gurion