Meeting Reminder - Nov. 3

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

As always, meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older. 

Meeting reminder: Oct. 20

The next meeting of the Oshkosh Area Writers Club is 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library. Hope to see you there!

Wisconsin Book Festival

The Wisconsin Book Festival, Oct. 11-14, has a great schedule of speakers again this year, including James Patterson, Oshkosh's own Laura Jean Baker, Kate Moore (The Radium Girls), 2018 Charlotte Zolotow Award winner Bao Phi,  and former Gov. Tommy Thompson. Check it out!

Find a list of presenters here.

Click here for a schedule of events.

Meeting Reminder - Oct. 6

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

As always, meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older.

Write Now: Six-Week Novel Writing Workshop

Have you written a novel? Maybe you have a first draft or an outline? Join us as we apply New York literary agent/writing coach Donald Maass’ advice to take our novels to the next level.

Using Maass’ book, Writing the Breakout Novel, and its companion workbook,

we’ll study the elements of bestselling novels and incorporate what we learn into our writing. There will be homework!

Mondays, Oct. 22 - Nov. 26; 6 p.m.  Lower level conference room.

The first ten people who register will receive a free copy of Maass’ book and the workbook. To register, call the library at 236-5203 and ask for Ruth.

Program led by the Oshkosh Area Writers Club.

Meeting reminder: Aug. 18

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library. The Farmers Market and downtown road construction might delay your trip to the library so please plan accordingly. 

As always, meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older.

Meeting reminder - July 7th

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 7, in the lower level meeting room of the Oshkosh Public Library, 106 Washington Ave.


As always, meetings are free and open to anyone 17 years and older.

Meeting reminder - June 16

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

A gentle reminder that a portion of Main Street will be closed due to the Farmers Market; please plan accordingly.

See you Saturday!

Meeting Reminder - Saturday, May 19

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, in the lower level meeting room of the Oshkosh Public Library. As always, meetings are free and open to anyone age 17 and older.  I know some members have exciting news to share about the Lakefly Writers Conference (awesome to see so many OAWC members there!) and other news. 

2018 Lakefly Writers Conference: A Final Word

I dreaded the final hour of the 2018 Lakefly Writers Conference, when I would have to say goodbye to what keynote author Lori Rader-Day aptly called, “my tribe.” If I’d had any food in the house, I would’ve waved to everyone, “Let’s move this to my place!”

It is no secret that I love putting this event together. I'm thankful the Oshkosh Public Library allows me to do it, and for the energy and ideas from members of the Oshkosh Area Writers Club, a partner of the event. Our mission has always been to offer a quality writers conference at an affordable price. We may organize a conference but we strive to create a lasting experience that will move writers forward on their artistic journey. 

What makes this event special to me is the impact it has on people like Linda Bradshaw. When I saw her at Saturday’s lunch, she was floating. She’d had a pitch session that morning, she said, and the agent wanted to see the first 100 pages of her manuscript. Linda is a member of my local writers club; I know first-hand the hundreds of hours she has put into writing and how much this means to her. I also know she will seize this opportunity and polish those 100 pages until they gleam. I can’t wait to see what happens to her next!

Malinda Andrews

What’s next for us? In the summer months, we’ll review participant surveys as we plan for the future of the conference in 2020 and beyond. Expect to see a new logo in 2019 and a web page redesign in 2020. And we've already started booking speakers for next year!

Mark your calendar for May 10-11, 2019, at the Oshkosh Convention Center. If you felt the conference was of value, please tell your friends. We may put on a great conference but we can always use help promoting it!

The pleasure was all mine. ~ Ruth

Lakefly Writers Conference: Focus on Technique

You’ve got an idea and maybe a first draft written, but perhaps your writing isn’t as strong as you would like. Before you throw it away, check out these Lakefly Writers Conference workshops to help improve your writing technique:

As we go through life and meet new people, we often share our memories and tell stories of the high- and lowlights of our lives. Memoirist Christy Wopat will share practical steps to turn those oral stories into written words in Turning Memories into Memoir. Author of Almost a Mother: Love, Loss, and Finding your People When Your Baby Dies, Wopat will talk you through the process of how she turned her grief into narrative non-fiction, taking careful consideration of how her “truth” could affect the people in her life.

If creating memorable characters is a challenge for you, be sure to attend the

Beth Amos

ABC's of Character Development with mystery writer Beth Amos. Amos has written several series, each with a strong protagonist and a cast of unique and colorful characters. She will teach how to use your skills of observation and perception of those around you to bring your fictional characters to life. 

Carmen Leal

 Inspirational author Carmen Leal will lead Using Your Story to Inspire and Challenge. Inspirational writing requires a strong, personal voice. Leal will talk about how to use your unique story to reach the world. You'll leave this workshop with a new perspective and fresh energy to write articles and devotions that will challenge hearts and open minds.

Creating snappy, authentic dialogue is a challenge for

Shaun Harris

even seasoned writers but thankfully, novel and comic book writer Shaun Harris can help us improve with Me Talk Good For Money. Actions speak louder than words, but it's the great one-liners we all remember. 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 workshopping. 

The Lakefly Writers Conference will be held May 11-12 at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Cost is $75 and includes lunch on Saturday. For more information or to register, please visit https://www.lakeflywriters.org/

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

Lakefly Writers Conference: Focus on Social Media

Even authors who have contracts with traditional book publishers are expected to have a presence on social media as a tool to attract readers and sell books. Social media is even more important for those who strike out on their own via self-publishing or use a hybrid publishing company.

While several Lakefly programs incorporate the use of social media, two programs are specifically designed for writers who want to enhance their online presence in an effective manner that will result in establishing a relationship with readers and increasing sales.

Rex Owens

Wisconsin author and most recently, a presenter at Untitled Town Book and Author Festival, Rex Owens has blogged weekly for years. How to Create a Successful Blog, he will share he’s learned along the way, including the mechanics of blogging and creating content for your blog. Questions will be welcomed!

Jill Swenson, of Swenson Book Development, has noticed recent changes in the social media landscape and will share their significance during Everything You Thought You Knew about Social Media Marketing is Now Wrong. 

 With all the modifications to Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Google, et al, authors need to rethink what were considered best practices for marketing books. This presentation will highlight some of the most significant changes, discuss ways to protect your privacy and intellectual property, and present tried-and-true and new techniques for building your audience platform and marketing your book.

The Lakefly Writers Conference will be held May 11-12 at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Cost is $75 and includes lunch on Saturday. For more information or to register, please visit https://www.lakeflywriters.org/

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

Meeting reminder: April 21

The Oshkosh Area Writers Club will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 21, in the lower level conference room of the Oshkosh Public Library. As always, meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older.

Registration for the Lakefly Writers Conference ends soon! The keynote speaker is Lori Rader Day. Over 20 workshops to choose from, plus lunch on Saturday, all for only $75. For more information or to register, please visit https://www.lakeflywriters.org

2018 Lakefly Writers Conference: Focus on Genres

If you’re interested in writing for children, be sure to catch Dionne Kelm’s presentation, Children's Books: From Start to Finish. Kelm will share examples from her own work as she discusses the process of writing and publishing a children's book. Topics will include flushing out an idea, creating a mission statement, writing the book, branding your concept, finding a publisher, and marketing your work. 


Everyone has a story, but not everyone can tackle the daunting task of writing a memoir. Are you ready to turn your memories into stories that could possibly help someone else? In Friday’s session Turning Memories into Memoir, Christy Wopat, will talk you through the process of how she turned her grief into narrative non-fiction, taking careful consideration of how her “truth” could affect the people in her life. You’ll learn practical steps to get you on your way to turn your memories into memoir.

Valerie Biel

For fantasy writers, Valerie Biel will present From Stone Circles to Fantasy Fiction: How Archaeology & History Inspire Modern Storytelling. Explore how ancient monuments and the remnants of early civilizations and their history help create intriguing fictional worlds. Biel will guide you through the importance of research into current titles, the historical record, and folk lore & mythology, and discuss how to identify the gaps which make room for fictionalization.

The best stories minister to the writer before the reader even sees them. Carmen Leal, author of eight devotional books, and dozens of inspirational articles, will show you how to Use Your Story To Inspire and Challenge. You'll leave this workshop with a new perspective and fresh energy to write articles and devotions that will inspire and challenge hearts.

If history is your thing, check out Jim Brakken’s workshop, Writing Realistic Historical Fiction. Not all fiction that takes place in the past is historical fiction, but if you’re writing historical fiction, getting basic facts correct is crucial. Brakken will recommend resources for research, talk about using characters’ daily life, attitudes and dialogue to explore the time period, and how to not let history get in the way of our story.

The Lakefly Writers Conference will be held May 11-12 at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Cost is $75 and includes lunch on Saturday. For more information or to register, please visit https://www.lakeflywriters.org/

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

2018 Lakefly Writers Conference: Focus on Editing and Publishing

The 2018 Lakefly Writers Conference is offering the following sessions on editing and publishing:

Creating is so often a solitary endeavor that writers may lack the feedback needed to improve their craft. One great solution is to join or create a critique group, but how exactly do you do that, and what should you expect? Join Silvia Acevedo, author of the God Awful series of books and 10-year crit-group whiz, in How to Start (or Join) a Critique Group and Make the Most of Criticism. She will walk us through connecting with other creators, establishing submission guidelines, best practices for insightful critiques, and following through with your new friends.

In Eight Tips to Getting Published, retired teachers Larry and Ann Scheckel will share their experience in maneuvering through the pitfalls and rewards of the book publishing landscape. Having published six books in eight years, they will highlight mistakes made and triumphs achieved as well as pass along eight insightful tips to those who wish to experience the thrill of seeing their name on a book cover and their book on a shelf.

Barry Wightman will lead Ask not what you can do for an Editor ‐ ask what an editor can do for you (and your story). This session gets right to the heart of the matter. What makes a piece of writing publishable and market ready? A fast- paced session sparked with real‐ world examples, the session covers what an editor does: a good editor serves your story.

Phillip Martin

 Philip Martin, director of Great Lakes Literary, will help writers create The Perfect Pitch. You’ve got the attention of an editor/agent for only 5-to-7 minutes. How can you present your book or proposal in an engaging, concise manner that will hopefully land you a book contract? Martin will share his expertise as an editor and publishing consultant to help you craft that perfect pitch. Be sure to sign up for free pitch sessions on Saturday!



The Lakefly Writers Conference will be held May 11-12 at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Cost is $75 and includes lunch on Saturday. For more information or to register, please visit https://www.lakeflywriters.org/ 

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

2018 Lakefly Writers Conference: Focus on Mystery/Murder

The 2018 Lakefly Writers Conference has some great offerings for mystery/murder writers:



On Friday, May 11, Coroner Corner will feature Winnebago County Coroner Barry Busby and Deputy Conorer Cheryl Brehmer. Busby and Brehmer will talk about body identification, notification of family, and working with the police and the district attorney. Audience questions are welcomed. Please note, the content of this program may include graphic language so this workshop might not be appropriate for everyone.


Mystery writer Lori Rader-Day will kick off Saturday morning with the keynote. Rader-Day is the author of the Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning novel Little Pretty Things, and The Black Hour, winner of the Anthony Award for Best First Novel. Her third novel, The Day I Died, was an Indie Next Pick and is a finalist for the Chicago Writers Association’s Book of the Year. Rader-Day's short fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Time Out Chicago, Good Housekeeping, and others. Her next novel, Under a Dark Sky, will be published by Harper Collins in August. Find her at loriraderday.com.

Get a behind-the-scenes view of criminal cases from the defensive side of the courtroom with Writing Defense. This panel discussion will feature private defense attorneys Jerome Buting, Kathleen Stilling and Ryan Ulrich, who will answer your questions related to jury selection, defense strategy, preparing a witness for trial and whatever else you want to know to make your legal thriller come to life!

Back by popular demand, Det. Jeremy Wilson will round out the crime/murder workshops. Wilson is currently assigned to the Investigative Services Bureau of the Oshkosh Police Department, where he works as a Detective. Since joining the Oshkosh Police Department, Jeremy has served as a patrol officer, field training officer, worked undercover and as a forensic phone analyst. Det. Wilson has previously spoken at the conference about blood splatter, crime scene collection and digital forensics – we can’t wait to see what he has in store for us this year!

Lastly, Laura Jean Baker will talk about her collaboration with her lawyer-husband Ryan Ulrich that lead to her memoir, Motherhood Affidavits, and how she interwove her husband's real-life cases into stories of her own.

The Lakefly Writers Conference will be held May 11-12, 2018, at the Oshkosh Convention Center. Cost is $75 and includes lunch on Saturday. For more information or to register, please go to https://www.lakeflywriters.org/

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

Wisconsin Spring Writing Contests

There are several writing contests this spring for Wisconsin residents. Enter one today!

The deadline for the Lakefly Writing Contests is March 30. Must be a Wisconsin resident or attending the Lakefly Writers Conference, May 11-12, Oshkosh. Four categories, including one contest just for teens. No entry fee; cash prizes. Submission rules at: https://www.lakeflywriters.org/contests

Lake Superior Writers are accepting submissions for their 2018 writing contests. Deadline is April 1. Four categories; the theme is “rescue. For submission rules, visit https://lakesuperiorwriters.org

The Peninsula Pulse and partners are accepting literary and photograph submissions for the Hal Prize. Deadline is May 1. Visit http://thehalprize.com for details.

The Jade Ring Contest is open for contest entries until May 10th. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Writers Association in collaboration with Creative Wisconsin. Four categories. Entry fee WWA members: $15.00; non-members: $20.00. For submission guidelines, visit https://wiwrite.org/contests/

Meeting reminder - March 17

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

As always, meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older. 

Also, a reminder that the Lakefly Writing Contest deadline is March 30. No entry fee; cash prizes. Details here > https://www.lakeflywriters.org/contests

Meeting Reminder - March 3

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

As always, meetings are free and open to anyone 17 and older. 

2018 Lakefly Writing Contests

There is still time to enter the 2018 Lakefly Writing Contests! Categories for adults are flash fiction, short story and poetry. New this is year a short story contest just for teens.

No entry fee; cash prizes. Sorry, Wisconsin residents only! 

For submission rules, visit www.lakeflywriters.org/contests