Meeting Reminder - April 5th

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 5, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

Bring your creativity and passion for writing—hope to see you there!

Write On! Micro Edition

Write On! Micro Edition

Spring into writing with four bite-sized writing methods designed to hone skills for new and veteran writers. No experience necessary; all ages welcome. Bring writing supplies/devices (free wi-fi available).

These free classes are held 5 p.m. Wednesdays at the Oshkosh Public Library.

April 2                 Six-Word Memoir
April 9                 Haiku
April 16               Post Card Fiction
April  23              Drabbles

Jade Ring Contest

The Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA) is thrilled to open submissions for the 2025 Jade Ring Contest, a prestigious annual competition celebrating exceptional writing in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.

Now in its 76th year, this contest offers writers a chance to shine, with cash prizes, publication opportunities in Creative Wisconsin Magazine, and a coveted residency at Write On, Door County for first-place winners. 

Open to anyone 18 and older, the Jade Ring Contest welcomes original, unpublished works. Submissions are accepted online through June 1, 2025, with winners announced on or near August 15, 2025.

Whether a seasoned author or a passionate newcomer, this is your opportunity to share your voice and join a vibrant community of Wisconsin writers.

 

For full guidelines and how to submit, visit wiwrite.org

Meeting reminder - March 15

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 15, in the lower level meeting room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

 

Meetings are free and open to anyone age 17 and older.

 

In addition to regular meetings on the first and third of each month, the club hosts various events throughout the year and is a proud partner of the Lakefly Writers Conference, held each May at the Oshkosh Convention Center.

Lakefly Writers Conference Keynote: Tammy Borden

Wisconsin author Tammy Borden will keynote the 2025 Lakefly Writers Conference.

Sponsored by the Wisconsin Writers Association, Tammy’s presentation is part inspirational, part motivational and 100% authentic as she shares insights into the transformative power of stories and how to capture the hearts of readers.

About Tammy: She is a professional copywriter turned novelist, compelled to document the unforgettable story of her mother’s life growing up in Nazi Germany. Released in summer 2023, her debut novel, Waltraud: A True Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany, rose to become a #1 Best Seller on Amazon #1 in Historical German Biographies and has captured the hearts and minds of readers around the world.

As a first generation American, Tammy grew up hearing stories from her mother about coming of age during World War II, and began recording them more than a decade ago, even traveling with her mother to Germany to walk the cobblestone streets and document stories in their actual settings. Now, those heart-gripping stories of love, loss, strength, and resistance have been artfully woven into a narrative that allows readers to step into Waltraud’s remarkable journey as an intimate observer.

Founded in 1948, the Wisconsin Writers Association is a creative community dedicated to the support of writers and authors. WWA sponsors and hosts year-round workshops and events throughout Wisconsin, offering discounts and exclusive resources. They aim to share experiences and knowledge while encouraging its members in their pursuit of this most noble art.

My First Writer's Conference

by Bernadette Weisse Mrazek

I felt apprehensive about going to the 2024 Lakefly Writers Conference. I didn’t know what to expect. I had been to a teacher’s convention once, as a librarian at the elementary school I worked at, but that was many years ago.

The writer’s conference was a two-day event at the Oshkosh Convention Center. I arrived in time to look around and find the rooms where the presentations would be held.

The first session I attended was about whether something is a story and how you  know for sure. The speaker used the "Wizard of Oz "as an example because it’s a story that almost everybody knows. The take-away was that stories have five components, or the what the speaker referred to as “The Five Cs.”

During the break, someone mentioned that the forensics speaker was interesting so I went to that session next. Although I’m not a fan of horrific stories of crimes and identifying remains of unfortunate accidents, part of the presentation compared animal bones to human ones and how they can be mistaken for each other.

On Saturday, I returned to the conference in time to check out the book fair. There were rows of tables with about 50 authors promoting their books. I browsed the tables and spoke to many writers, asking them questions about their book and writing habits. A young author I talked with has written several mini-series. She said her stories just flow out of her and made writing a book sound so easy, anyone can do it. Perhaps even me.

I spent so much time at the book fair that I missed the first session of the day. For the second session, I attended a talk by a nurse who explained that in any hospital, it is the nurse that is the main caregiver. She went on to explain what it was like working as a nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lunch was held in a big room with over a dozen tables set up as though it were a wedding reception, with center pieces and linen napkins. I dined with authors from all over Wisconsin and met a couple with their cute one-year-old boy who was the center of attention.

In the afternoon, I sat in a session led by a police officer. He talked about his real-life standoff and other incidents in his career. As he shared his experiences, he gave tips on how to write accurate descriptions of things like police chases and weapons to make your story authentic.

The final session I attended was “Writing a Memoir that People Want to Read.” Like any story, memoirs have a plot structure and each scene should connect.

After door prize winners were announced and photos were taken, I wrapped up my first Lakefly Writers Conference. There was nothing to fear. Who know it would be one of the fragments of my life?

Bernadette Weisse Mrazek is a member of the Oshkosh Area Writers Club; her work has appeared in the club’s anthology, Fragments of Ourselves.

Lakefly Registration is Open!

Registration is now open for the 2025 Lakefly Writers Conference, May 2 and 3, at the Oshkosh Convention Center.

 

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After the success of last year’s event, we’re excited to announce expanded features, including engaging panel discussions and a larger book fair. We are thrilled to welcome Wisconsin copywriter-turned-novelist Tammy Borden as our keynote speaker. Attendees can look forward to a diverse range of workshops tailored for beginning and mid-level writers. Additionally, experts will be available for one-on-one consultations, providing valuable feedback and guidance.

Join us for an inspiring weekend full of creativity, learning, and connections within the writing community! Early-bird price of $90 ends March 10; $75 for students and seniors.

But that’s not all!

Registration Is Open for the 2025 Lakefly Book Fair
This vibrant event will take place on Saturday, May 3, alongside the Lakefly Writers Conference, which draws over 120 regional writers.

Event Details:

• Date: May 3, 2025
• Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Location: Oshkosh Convention Center
• Admission: Free and open to the public

Table Information:

• Table Size: 96” by 30”
• Included: Linen skirt, two chairs (if sharing a table, more chairs are available upon request).  
• Price: $40

Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your work, connect with fellow authors, and engage with readers. Secure your table today and be part of this exciting event! 

For more information and to register for either of these events, click here

The Lakefly Writers Conference and Book Fair are sponsored by the Oshkosh Public Library in partnership with the Oshkosh Area Writers Club.