Two Dead Lovers, Dead Funny

Author Kelli Dunham, a nonbinary comedian and former nun, will bring the
popular stand-up show Second Helping: Two Dead Lovers, Dead Funny to Oshkosh Public Library on Fri., Aug. 16 at 7 p.m., under the Dome.

This unique tragicomedy delves into Dunham's experiences through two widowhood before age 40, surviving an exploding knee replacement, and grappling with the challenges of a solo approach to life.

Set against the backdrop of Dunham's irreverent humor and insightful observations, the performance promises an evening filled with laughter and reflection. Second Helping navigates themes of love, loss and the unexpected plot twists that define our lives.

Wisconsin native Kelli Dunham is the celebrated author of seven books of humorous nonfiction, known for appearances on Showtime, the Discovery Channel, and stages across the country. Discover more at kellidunham.com

 

Congrats Dixie!

Congrats to Dixie Jo Jarchow; her novel, This Worthy Heart, is a featured August Kindle Book of the Month on Amazon!

A member of the Oshkosh Area Writers Club for 20+ years, Dixie writes creepy short stories and sweet romance with a twist.

Meeting reminder - Aug. 3

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

Meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older.

The Lakefly Planning Committee is accepting proposals for the 2025 Lakefly Writers Conference, May 2 and 3, at the Oshkosh Convention Center.

Proposals may be submitted using this form: Lakefly Call for Speakers 2025 Conference 

The Lakefly Writers Conference is sponsored by the Oshkosh Public Library in partnership with the Oshkosh Area Writers Club.

Author Visit - Francis Gary Powers Jr.

For more than three decades, Francis Gary Powers, Jr. has captivated audiences worldwide with his lectures on the Cold War, its veterans, espionage, and his father, CIA U-2 pilot Gary Powers. 

 

Shot down over the Soviet Union on May 1, 1960, Gary Powers' story became a pivotal moment in history. Referred to as the U-2 Incident, this event was immortalized in Steven Spielberg's 2015 Cold War thriller Bridge of Spies, depicting the exchange of the pilot for Soviet KGB Spy Rudolph Able in 1962.

During his talk, Powers discusses his experience consulting on the 2015 Spielberg film, growing up in the shadow of a famous Cold War figure, and how his research led to the USAF and CIA posthumously awarding his father the POW Medal/Directors Medal and Silver Star in 2000 and 2012 respectively. 

The free event is 6 p.m. Thursday, July 27 at the Oshkosh Public Library.

Meeting reminder - July 20

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 20, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library. 

 

Meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older.

 

Congrats, Joyce!

Congratulations to Joyce Frohn, who recently had two short stories accepted for publication;  Stake in Readers Beware Magazine, and Snowflakes in Table/FEAST

 

Joyce is a biologist who left her beloved slime molds to begin a professional writing career. She has been published in literary and devotional magazines for nearly 30 years.

Meeting reminder - July 6

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 6 in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

Meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older. 

Members are of all ages and write in a variety of genres. Check us out!

Poetry Workshop, June 10

Better Poetry, Better Life

Why dash off a poem, when you can write a poem that has the potential to change the world?

During this interactive workshop held at the Oshkosh Public Library, attendees will create poetry toolboxes filled with rhythm, meter, rhyme, tone, line breaks, fixed forms, and various other helpful tools to enhance our writing.

Participants will have the opportunity to write poems, share them with the group, and engage in discussions on refining our poems to maximize their impact.

 The program is free and open to the public. 

Instructors

Bill Gillard is an award-winning teacher of creative writing and literature at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and lives in Appleton with his wife and two daughters. His writing has appeared in dozens of journals, and his verse novel If a Clod Be Washed, is due for publication by Kelsay Books in 2024.

In 2021, Thomas Cannon was named the poet laureate of Oshkosh. As the author of five books and many poems published in journals, Tom is eager to bring people together through poetry. He and his wife Linda have raised three children and have three grandchildren.

Meeting reminder - May 18

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 18, in the lower level of the Oshkosh Public Library. 

New members welcome!

2024 Lakefly Writers Conference

The 2024 Lakefly Writers Conference is here and gone. A huge thanks to club members who volunteered their time and efforts to make the event a success!

Poetry Workshop

The Caramel Crisp Corner Bookstore is celebrating Poetry Month with a workshop from 5:30 to 7 .m. Monday, April 22.

The event will be hosted by local poets Bill Gillard, an award-winning teacher of creative writing and literature at UW-Oshkosh, and Thomas Cannon, Oshkosh poet laureate.

Participants will fill their poetry toolbox with rhythm, meter, tone, line breaks, fixed forms and other useful writing gear.

Writers are encouraged to bring their poetry to share are asked to RSVP on the event's Facebook page.

Lakefly Writers Conference Preview

Below is a preview of the 2024 schedule of programs at the Lakefly Writers Conference, May 3 and 4, at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Register before March 10 and save $15!

Me Talk Good For Money

Actions speak louder than words, but it’s the great one-liners we all remember. Novel and comic book writer Shaun Harris, will take you through the 10 Ironclad Rules of Dialogue and why they should be broken. Expect some group participation and on the spot work-shopping.

Developing and Revealing Three-Dimensional Characters

To ring true to readers, characters need to be as unique as the people around us. If filling out pages of character interviews to flesh out a hero or heroine sounds daunting, join this session. From using photos to inspire unique physical descriptions to consulting personality types, attendees will come away with a variety of strategies for creating well-thought-out characters readers can root for. We’ll also discuss how to reveal layered characters in a way that intrigues readers into turning pages. Led by Emily Conrad.

 

Self-Publishing on a Shoestring

What are the must-haves of self-publishing? What things aren’t worth your time early on and what are essential? What does it mean to go wide and when do you get paid? Learn the basics and more in this session led by Bailey Hansen about launching your writing career on a shoestring.

Back by popular demand, forensic anthropologist Dr. Jordan Karsten is one of three subject specialists. Co-host of Cold Case: Frozen Tundra, the UW-Oshkosh professor consults on death investigations for law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin, including the FBI and Wisconsin State Crime Lab.

Bram Stoker Award winner Sarah Read will present The Art of Anxiety: How to introduce tension
into your writing and keep the reader turning pages. She will address story structures, character development, dialogue, and sentence-level techniques that contribute to raising the stakes on the page. Each technique includes a mini writing exercise that builds throughout the lesson, so the students have a completed scene written by the end. The desired outcome is that students will have learned techniques that they can intentionally employ in order to make their writing more engaging and exciting.

The Lakefly Writers Conference is sponsored by the Oshkosh Public Library, in partnership with the Oshkosh Community Foundation, Wisconsin Arts Board, and the Oshkosh Area Writers Club.

Meeting reminder: March 2

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 2, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

New members welcome!

Lakefly 2024: Keynote Speaker Holly Day

 Holly Day will be the keynote speaker at the 2024 Lakefly Writers Conference, May 3-4 at the Oshkosh Convention Center.

Holly has worked as a freelance writer for over 30 years, with over 7,000 published articles, poems, and short stories and 40 books and chapbooks—most recently, the nonfiction books.

She offers workshops and classes to writing centers all over the country, including the Flatiron Writers’ Center in North Carolina, the Hampton Roads Writers group in Virginia, Hugo House in Seattle, and the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.

The Lakefly Writers Conference is sponsored by the Oshkosh Public Library, in partnership with the Oshkosh Community Foundation, Wisconsin Arts Board, and the Oshkosh Area Writers Club.

 

Fox Cities Book Festival - Author Patricia Engel, April 5

Open Mic - Feb. 29

Join us at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29 at the New Moon Cafe for open mic. Hosted by member/Oshkosh Poet Laureate Thomas Cannon, the night is sure to be fun!

Member News: Feb 2024

Congratulations to Bailey R. Hansen on the final installment of the A Monster By Any Other Name trilogy, a paranormal romance. Freedom is available on Kindle and paperback. 

 

Joyce Frohn recently had a short horror story accepted for publication in the anthology Leadership Gone Right, a collection of tales intended to transport readers to new realms where leadership shines brilliantly or takes a haunting turn.

 

Cara Salazar recently had a piece published in the anthology Start
with Welcome: The Journey toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation by Bri Stensrud. Cara shares the powerful and moving story of her late husband that led to his immigration to America.

Member Roberta Stuemke, who has been absent for the past year or so due to health problems, passed away on Feb. 3. Roberta worked for many years at Polk Library, UW-Oshkosh, and enjoyed writing science fiction. Our heartfelt condolences to her family!

 

Pi Day Open Mic Night

Meeting reminder - Feb. 3

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library. 

 

The majority of the meeting will be spent on critiques of submissions to the Oshkosh Public Library's 2024 Young Authors program.

2024 Lakefly Writing Contests

The Lakefly Writers Conference is accepting submissions for the 2024 Lakefly Writing Contests. 

Cash prizes; no entry free. Deadline is March 4. Sorry, open to Wisconsin residents only!

 For details and submission guidelines, please click here.

Author Visit - Tammy Borden

Menasha Public Library is hosting Tammy Borden, author of Waltraud: A True Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28. 

 

 

Tammy Borden is a professional copywriter turned novelist. Her latest World War II historical fiction novel shares the compelling true story of her mother growing up under Nazi rule. An engaging and evocative novel, Waltraud: A True Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany, represents a missing piece of World War II history—an average German girl's perspective. 

 

The event is free and open to the public. 

Wisconsin Writers Clubs

Writing is hard work, but you don't have to struggle alone. Joining a writers club is one of the best decisions you can make to hone your craft. A good writers group should provide support/encouragement and give meaningful feedback on your work. 

If you're interested in joining a club but don't live in the Oshkosh area, The Wisconsin Writers Association has a wonderful list of writing clubs through the state.

 Don't see one in your area? Here's ten tips to help you start a writing group.

Meeting reminder - Jan. 20

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20 in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

Also, we're sad to announce the passing of member Eric Nienass (Haunted Barracks); his obit can be found at Konrad-Behlman.

Calling Young Oshkosh Authors

Is there a young budding writer in your life?
 
The Oshkosh Public Library is accepting submissions from kids ages kindergarten through high school through Feb. 1 for inclusion in a published anthology as part of their Young Authors program.  Help kids explore their imaginations, develop their writing skills and build self-confidence through the art of storytelling!
 
For details and submission guidelines, please click here.
 

 

 

Oshkosh Area Writers Club FAQs

Meetings are open to anyone 17 and older. We get a mix of people writing various genres at different skill levels.

Is there a membership fee?

 
No. But it would be appreciated if you like us on Facebook! 

 

When/where does the club meet? 

 
We meet at 10 a.m. the first and third Saturday of each month in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

How many members are there?

 
There are about 12 core people, others come and go as life allows. Meetings can have as few as 10 and as many as 22 people. Some are beginning writers, others have been published and a few have agents/book contracts.

How do the meetings work?

 
Meetings start with short introductions and general announcements. Then we begin critiques - a person reads their work aloud (5 minutes or less; time yourself at home if necessary), followed by a group critique. Not everyone reads at every meeting, so it's okay to attend, but not share your writing. If you do plan to read, please bring six copies of your work to share.

We also make special arrangements for people with completed manuscripts or compilations - anything that is too long to read during a meeting.

What else does the club do?

 
During the year, we host free programs at the library and in the community - including open mics, author visits and writing workshops. We also co-sponsor the Lakefly Writers Conference each May at the Oshkosh Convention Center.
 
The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library. 

 

Join us!

Meeting reminder - Dec. 16

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

In lieu of our regular meeting, we will be doing a White Elephant gift exchange. For those unfamiliar with our tradition, you are to bring something you already own that is in new or excellent condition; do not spend any money but please wrap/bag the gift. 

After the random gift exchange, the gift you go home with is to be used as a writing prompt. Write about the gift in any form you choose - poem, sketch, memoir, story, etc.

For those unable to attend, have a happy holiday season and we will see you in 2024!

Congrats Bailey!

Bailey Hansen and Laura Rye have released the final book of the Monster By Any Other Name paranormal romance trilogy, Freedom. 

You can check out of Freak Camp, but can you ever leave?

Jake and Tobias hit the open road together, where Tobias must confront their deepest fears, fighting not only for their love but for their freedom. As shadows close in, their love becomes a beacon of hope in the heart of the abyss.

Meeting reminder - Dec. 2

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

 

Meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older.

Meeting reminder - Nov. 18

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 in the lower level meeting room of the Oshkosh Public Library. 

 

Meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older. 

 

All writers are welcome, regardless of genre and skill level.

Upcoming events

Oshkosh is a great community for writers; check out these events happening this week!

 

Celebrate NaNoWriMo - Meet Local Authors and a Developmental Editor
Caramel Crisp Corner
5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16

Poetry/Prose Open Mic
New Moon Cafe
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17
 
Oshkosh Area Writers Club
Oshkosh Public Library
10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18

All events are free and open to the public.

Meeting reminder and more!

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in the lower level meeting room of the Oshkosh Public Library. New members welcomed!

Also, open mics will continue at the New Moon Cafe! Oshkosh Poet Laureate Tom Cannon hosts these events which are held at 7 p.m. the third Friday of the month. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet other area writers and share your work with a supportive audience.

Lastly, for those participating in National Novel Writing Month, Caramel Crisp Corner in downtown Oshkosh is offering quiet writing space and NaNoWriMo events. More info at https://www.caramelcrispcorner.com/events

Meeting reminder - Oct. 21

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, in the lower level meeting room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

New members welcome!

Call for Proposals - Lakefly Writers Conference

The Lakefly Planning Committee is accepting proposals for the 2024 Lakefly Writers Conference, May 3 and 4, at the Oshkosh Convention Center.

The committee is especially interested in speakers who can teach a particular writing technique to beginning and mid-level authors, regardless of genre. Topics could include foreshadowing, character development, or building tension.

Programs are 50 minutes long with an expected attendance of 25-35 participants.

Proposals should include a short bio (what makes you qualified to talk on the proposed subject); program title and description; and two take-aways (what will a writer learn from your presentation). More than one pitch can be submitted together. Please include links to your blog, website and/or other online content that can be reviewed by the committee.

Speakers receive a small stipend and an exhibitor table. Speakers traveling more than 50 miles are eligible for a hotel room; other travel expenses are not covered.

For a sample of the types of programs held in the past, please review the 2023 schedule at https://lakeflywriters.org/2023-conference-schedule/

Proposals may be submitted electronically to: lakeflywriters at gmail dot com.

The Lakefly Writers Conference is sponsored by the Oshkosh Public Library in partnership with the Wisconsin Arts Board, the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, Oshkosh Area Writers Club, and Wisconsin Writers Association.

Free mini-writers conference on Saturday, Oct. 7

Friday - open mic and book launch!

Friday night! 7 p.m. at the New Moon Cafe, downtown Oshkosh.

 

Authors from the Oshkosh Area Writers Club's newest anthology, Fragments of Ourselves, will be reading from the book, which will be available for purchase. Only $5!

 

 

Meeting reminder: Sept. 16

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

New members welcome!

New books!

Check out these new books available from the Oshkosh Public Library:

Out of Silence, Sound. Out of Nothing, Something: A Writer's Guide
Susan Griffin

In an elegant but contemporary voice, award-winning author Susan Griffin breaks down the creative process step-by-step, guiding the reader through a practical course in how to begin and end a work of literature, whether fiction or nonfiction, poetry, or prose.

The Book Bible: How to Sell Your Nanuscript - No Matter What Genre - Without Going Broke or Insane

Susan Shapiro

In The Book Bible, New York Times bestseller and wildly popular Manhattan writing professor Susan Shapiro reveals the best and fastest ways to break into a mainstream publishing house. Unlike most writing manuals that stick to only one genre, Shapiro maps out the rules of all the sought-after, sellable categories: novels, memoirs, biography, how-to, essay collections, anthologies, humor, mystery, crime, poetry, picture books, young adult and middle grade, fiction and nonfiction.

Yours Truly: An Obituary Writer's Guide to Telling Your Story


James R. Hagerty 

In a surprisingly upbeat, heartfelt book about a serious subject, The Wall Street  Journal's veteran obituary writer, award-winning journalist James R. Hagerty, shares his unique skills with those who want to have the last word with flourish, honesty, and even humor.

Whether in-brief for future newspapers and websites, or as a more complete mini-memoir for friends and family, Yours Truly is a guide to making sure your story is told the way you want - and how the process of preparing your own life story can help you live a better life.

Author Visit - Ed Bentley

Caramel Crisp Corner is hosting author Ed Bentley at 5:30 p.m., Sept. 14th.

Bentley will discuss his book “What a Way to Go! Death in Oshkosh in the 1880s."

Before photography was commonplace, newspaper writers used a unique, graphic style of writing to allow readers to visualize the sometimes horrific and tragic events that occurred in their cities and neighborhoods. This book showcases such articles and obituaries from the 1880's in Oshkosh and is a fascinating read for residents, researchers and history buffs.

Meeting reminder - Aug. 19

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

 

Meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older.

Win a conference scholarship!

Win a Scholarship to the Wisconsin Writers Association Annual Conference - 75 Years of Success Stories, October 6-7, 2023

Explain why you want to attend the 75th Conference Event and receive a complimentary Scholarship registration to both days of the Conference. There will be three scholarships awarded. 

Submit a double-spaced, 12-point font, no more than 800-word essay telling why you want to attend this year’s conference. The deadline is midnight on July 31st.

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

Meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older.

Bored? Check out these writing-related events!

The Wisconsin Writers Association has a nice calendar of events throughout the state for, and by, Wisconsin writers. Check it out at https://wiwrite.org/events!

Meeting reminder - July 1

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 1st, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library. 

 

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

New members welcome!

Jacqui Just Chatters

Jacqui Just Chatters is seeking non-fiction submissions to be read aloud in a 3-10 minute podcast, hosted by Jacqui Lents.

Authors can record and submit their own story, or have it read for them. Submissions may be previously published; writers retain all rights.

 

The deadline is Aug, 14; the current theme is "moving." 

 

For more information or to listen to previously recorded podcasts, please click here. 

Conquer Books Adventure

The all-inclusive Conquer Books Adventure begins Oct. 15 in scenic Door County.

Participants will focus on building their first or next book, and come away with a compelling story outline, a better understanding of author marketing, and a personalized business plan. 

When not working on your craft, enjoy panoramic autumn views at one of Wisconsin’s most desirable locations

The retreat is Oct.12-15.  Early bird pricing ends June 18th. Scholarships are available.

Click here for more information.

Meeting reminder - June 17

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 17, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library.

Meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older.