Mind Mapping with Jeanne Williams

Creative consultant Jeanne Williams will do a one-hour presentation on mind mapping at the 10 a.m. Saturday, April 21 meeting, at the Oshkosh Public Library.

Mind mapping involves the use of key ideas or steps that are arranged around a single idea or task in diagram form. Jeanne will show how writers can use mind mapping as an effective way to plot or outline stories, poems, etc.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

Author Spotlight Schedule

“Author Spotlight” allows writers to bring in pieces of work that are eight or more pages, or a compilation of pieces that are best read/reviewed together. The last hour of each Saturday meeting is devoted to discussing the works of the featured author; advance registation is required and authors must bring ten copies of their work prior to their turn in the “Spotlight.” Those who accept a copy of the author’s work must commit to reading it and showing for the review.

The upcoming Author Spotlight Schedule:

Saturday, March 17 - Bethany (?)

Saturday, April 7 - Bob B.

Saturday, May 5 - Dixie

Saturday, June 2 - Mike N.

New Books

New books available from the Oshkosh Public Library (or any library in
the Winnefox Library System):

Extraordinary Poetry Writing
Ryan, Margaret

The Write-Brain Workbook: 366 Exercises to Liberate Your Writing
Neubauer, Bonnie

Writing to Change the World
Pipher, Mary Bray.

See Jane Write: A Girl's Guide to Writing Chick Lit
Mlynowski, Sarah.

Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer
Clark, Roy Peter.

How to Get Ideas
Foster, Jack

How to Get a Literary Agent
Larsen, Michael

Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents
The Writer Books

The Legacy Guide: Capturing the Facts, Memories, and Meaning of Your
Life
Franco, Carol

Bonding: A Journal to Bring You Closer to Your Mom
Lauer, Teresa M.

Janet Evanovich's How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author
Evanovich, Janet.

A Writer's Coach: An Editor's Guide to Words that Work
Hart, Jack

Write: 10 Days to Overcoming Writer's Block: Period
Peterson, Karen E.

How to Build a Great Screenplay: A Master Class in Storytelling for Film
Howard, David.

Street-smart Writer: Self Defense Against Sharks and Scams in the
Writing World
Glatzer, Jenna.

Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and For Those
Who Want to Write Them
Prose, Francine

Ray Bradbury Interview

Ray Bradbury has some great writing advice in "Zen in the Art of Creative Writing," some of which he repeats in an interview with Janet Wellington. The interview appeared in the March 1999 issue of Romantically Speaking; you can read it here.

Congrats Tom!

Tom Cannon has a story titled “24/7” in the ezine Long Short Story. Tom also has a story in the new "Cup of Comfort for Parents of Children with Autism." Way to go!

David Sedaris

David Sedaris, NPR humorist and best-selling author of the books Me Talk Pretty One Day and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, will appear at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Appleton, at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 17. He will read a selection of his work for 60 minutes followed by a 20-minute question and answer session and a book signing. Tickets: $38.50 / $33.50 / $28.50

Those "ly" Adverbs

Erick Emert has written a great article on why you should not use adverbs ending in "ly."

The Light Project

The Light Project, sponsored by The Green Bay Symphony, is a poetry contest based on the theme "light." The winning author will receive a cash prize and world-renowned composer Daniel Kellogg will set First Place Poem to music via an orchestral score with choir, performed by the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra in April of the 2007-2008 season!

The deadline is Jan. 31.

POETRY CONTEST GUIDELINES

Anthology Update

For those who missed the Feb. 3 meeting, the following is an abbreviated outline of what needs to be done to complete the anthology:

1. The copy needs to be retyped with the corrections made at the proofing session. [Most of this is done.]

2. Each author will receive their work in a folder to review the changes that were made at the proofing session. Also included in the folder is a sheet of proofreader marks; please use those marks when making any corrections. Whether or not you make changes, please initial each page and return the folder to Ruth. [In progress.]

3. Once everyone has signed off on their own work, we will repeat the process of the first proofing session: each piece will be read by two people (not the authors). A third person, a former editor, will also review the entire manuscript.

4. Repeat step 2.

5. Decide on a title and the order of the pieces. [In progress.]

6. All the copy gets turned over to a professional designer, Nicole. She will add the cover, title page, page numbers, table of contents, etc.

7. The club will review the entire, formatted manuscript one more time before Nicole uploads the manuscript to Lulu.

8. Party?