Next meeting

Just a reminder that there are five Saturdays in May so our next meeting won't be until 10 a.m. Saturday, June 7th, in the lower level meeting room of the Oshkosh Public Library. Dan is the Spotlight Author.

Life Stories Needed

FieldReport is a new web site that awards significant cash prizes for the best in personal writing. This call for submissions is for FieldReport's pre-launch beta period. Submission deadline is June 30, 2008 and there is no entry fee. Prizes are awarded July 1, 2008.

Post 2,500 words or less by going to the web site and typing in the password "truelife." (without the quotes). Award categories include Animals, College Life, Friends and Relations, Home and Garden, Parenting, and many others.

Writing Prompt for June 7

The writing prompt for the June 7 meeting is: "Pick up a few to take with you." The prompt may used any way you want.

Open Mic & Free Magazines

Just a reminder that we're hosting an open mic night at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, under the Library Dome, 106 Washington Ave. You can read old or new stuff, yours or someone else's. Please bring a dish to pass.

Of note: Hope S. is cleaning out the office of the Wisconsin Review and will be bring a box of FREE sample issues of various literary magazines to the open mic. It's commonly suggested to look at sample issues of a magazine before you submit something for publication; Hope is giving us a great opportunity to browse an array of magazine titles where we might want to submit future work.

Local Author Jess Riley

Oshkosh native Jess Riley will do a book talk and signing at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Oshkosh Public Library. Her appearance is co-sponsored by the club.

Jess spoke to the Writers Club in June 2006 about her self-published novel, which has now been picked up by Random House and will be available in stores May 20. The book, "Driving Sideways," is about a road trip taken from Fond du lac to L.A. by a young woman with Kidney disease (PKD) and a recent transplant. Lots of twists and turns in the plot and a killer sense of humor. Target has already selected it as one of their breakout books.

Jess's visit will be a great opportunity to ask her about going from self-publishing to working with a major publishing house, and what she has learned along the way.

Writing prompt for May 17

There are two writing prompts for the Saturday, May 17 meeting; use them in any way that suits you.

1. "Get off me!"

2. Write about your first apartment, dorm room, etc.

tips for distraction free

Lifehack org has an article on ways to keep yourself from being distracted while writing. It is at least some food for thought. Click on the link below to go to the article.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/tips-and-tricks-for-distraction-free-writing.html