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Upcoming Write-Ins and What is a "Write-In"?
The Chico Writer’s Group started hosting “write-ins” November, 2008 to help NaNoWriMo participants in the group and throughout the Chico community, reach their writing goal of 50,000 words in 30 days. Since then, several members were so happy with the results, they elected to continue this popular motivator.
As we gear up for this coming November’s National Novel Writing Month challenge, we’re putting out the call to all interested writers to come participate in our weekly event. No dues, no membership fees and a lot of fun! If you’re interested, drop us a line or leave us a comment with your current, active email address (which is never published) and we’ll include you in the scheduling process.
Want to know more about our write-ins? Read on!
A write-in is where two or more writers gather in a mutually agreed upon public place (coffee shop, 24-hour diner, public library, etc.) for a period of time (anywhere from 1-4 hours, typically. It all depends upon what the writers agree on doing.) The purpose of the meeting is to write.
For some, setting aside time to write and then actually using it to write, is difficult. A write-in holds the writer accountable. It also makes the time go by quicker and having others surround you, ideas flying, words adding up, it’s also inspiring. We acknowledge it’s not ideal for everyone, but give it a shot before you write it off entirely! (Yeah, pun intended.)
Write-in Rules:
- Talking is permitted, but keep it to a minimum. You are there to write!
Things like “Hey, what are some types of weapons other than a knife or gun, that a woman of medium size and height, could wield to stave off her attacker?” or “What’s the word for that thing that chops off heads, usually in a public forum?” are ok.
Ordinarily those types of questions could be Googled, but during National Novel Writing Month (November), that can be too time consuming and big distraction, keeping you from reaching the goal at the end of the month of completing the 50K words.
Asking for others to listen to you plot out your entire novel or read a chapter isn’t okay. Save that for our regular critique workshops. - If you say you’re going to be there and for some reason can’t or decide you’re not up for it, be courteous and drop a line to the organizer, the earlier the better. It’s not fair to the others in your group to just “not show up.” Same applies if you’re no longer interested. Let the organizer know!
- Be sure to bring your writing materials including a plug for your laptop/notebook, couple extra pens/pencils, notepads, etc. Remember, if you’re meeting in a coffee shop or restaurant, less is more. Space will be limited, so don’t plan on bringing all your resource books and spreading them out.
FAQ
Q: Do I have to arrive and leave the times the write-in is scheduled to start and finish?
A: No. You’re welcome to arrive earlier and leave later, arrive later and leave earlier. If you do arrive earlier, try to find a spot large enough for everyone. Arriving later or leaving earlier? Please be courteous of your fellow writers. Quietly set up and break down. Be sure to bus your table before leaving if meeting at an eatery.
Q. Are all write-ins at the same time/same day of the week?
A: No. The November write-ins are “any time we can get a couple of people and a couple of hours that all coordinate.” They can happen any time of any day of the week and usually more than once a week. Most writers are trying to squeeze in as much time as possible to reach that 50K goal. However, after NaNoWriMo, we do tend to meet on the same time/same day of the week, but that’s not written in stone. Yup, ‘nother pun. Sorry! If you’re interested in the non-NaNo month write-ins and see that the schedule doesn’t fit with yours, drop us a line (or comment – just be sure to give us a working email address to respond to you at), let us know you’re interested and what days/times work best.
Q: Why are your non-NaNo month write-ins always at the Chico Public Library?
A: They’re not. But usually they are. The reason is it’s free. No one feels obligated to buy a coffee or drink, there’s no charge for parking, it’s quiet and there’s usually plenty of room to write. Downtown Chico has metered parking and during the school year, there aren’t many “quiet” places to write. There aren’t any completely free places to write, either, other than the library.
Q: I want to come to a write-in, but I don’t always have access to transportation. Does that mean I’m excluded?
A: No. However, you might want to arrange for a ride or take the bus/a taxi the first time to make sure it’s something you want to do and have the opportunity to meet and get to know the others in our group. During that time, you can ask if there’s anyone willing to give you a ride.
Q. I’m an obsessive Googler because it helps me with on-the-fly research as the story I’m working on develops. If I come to a write-in, will I be able to access the Internet and Google?
A: Usually. The Chico Public Library now has free Internet Wi-fi and most of the locations we’ve picked in the past have offered free access. If you’re a habitual Googler and this is imperative you have access, let us know in advance so we can keep that in mind when looking for locations.
Q: I’m a full-time college student and only have free time between midnight and 2:00 a.m., does that mean I won’t be able to attend a write-in.
A: No. But don’t expect it to be a write-in we’ve organized! Of course, if there’s enough of a demand, we might be willing to entertain the idea. (But seriously, midnight to 2? Have you heard of this much needed thing called “sleep?”)
Q: My daughter is interested in attending, but she’s fourteen. Can she come to a write-in?
A: Yes. However, special arrangements for drop-off attendees under the age of eighteen is required for safety and legal purposes. We require the parent/legal guardian to contact us prior to attendance unless the parent/legal guardian will be accompanying the minor and staying on the premises the entire time.
Q: So can my nine year old son attend, too?
A: No. Male and female minors between the ages of 13 and 18 may attend (see above Q/A), however we’re unable to accommodate anyone under the age of 13. As a suggestion, contact your child’s school and ask the language arts department about hosting write-ins and writer group meetings for students interested in writing but under the age of 13.
Q: I’m not a writer, but I am an avid reader. May I come and offer to read some of the works in progress novels, maybe give a few suggestions, kick around some ideas with the writers?
A: Thanks, but no. At least not at a write-in. If you are truly interested in reading some of the works in progress and provide feedback, please drop us a line!
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About the Chico Writer’s Group
Contact: Kathie Leung (lee-young)
530 521-4264
Kathie dot blog at gmail dot com
Chico Writer’s Group
Agenda
2:00 PM
Creative Writing Exercise
Members will be invited to share and discuss their assigned writing exercise. Exercises are posted prior to each session on the website: ejourn.net/cwg
2:30 PM
Craft Chat
Led by a CWG Member we will explore various elements of writing, focusing on one specific area at each session.
3:00 – 5:00 PM
Critique Workshop
Manuscripts received by the deadline (12PM Pacific Time 8 days prior to upcoming meeting) will be assigned a Critique Leader and discussed in the order received. Of course, manuscripts left from previous workshop take priority. For critique guidelines, format, etc. please review the brochure’s interior or visit us online at www.ejourn.net/cwg for further info.
Please note: Sometimes we will be reading and discussing adult themes which might include graphic violence, adult situations and language, and sexual situations. Therefore all members are required to be 18 years or older. We encourage you to leave children home.
Welcome
The Chico Writer’s Group first met in January of 2008. It was founded by Kathie Leung, whose desire was to bring into the community, a forum where other writers could meet on a consistent basis and help one another sharpen and hone their talents.
The purpose of the group is to provide a warm, welcoming environment where writers of all levels of skill, format (essay, short story, novel, poetry, prose, playwright, screenplay, etc.) and genre (children’s, young adult, fiction, fan-fic, chick lit, sci-fi, fantasy, etc.) can share craft tips, develop skills through writing exercises and critique one another’s work in a safe, friendly, non-threatening environment.
Meetings
The following is the schedule for meetings throughout the fall and beginning of winter, 2008 and are subject to change. To be notified of changes, please contact Kathie Leung at 521-4264 or "kathie dot blog at gmail dot com".
All meetings are from 2 – 5 p.m.
Locations: To Be Announced
Sunday, September 21st
Saturday, October 5th
Saturday, October 25th
Saturday, November 8th
Sunday, November 16th
Sunday, November 30th
Sunday, December 14th
Saturday, December 27th
National Novel Writing Month Write-Ins are scheduled throughout the month of November. For more information, please contact Kathie.
Membership: Dues & Responsibilities
There are presently no dues for membership, or rather, there are no financial obligations. As a member, we do expect you to fully participate – especially in the area of critiques. Members should be periodically submitting a manuscript for critiquing and always should be participating in critiquing the work of others in order to be considered a member in good standing. Writing exercises are encouraged, but not required.
Unless previously arranged or extenuating, unforeseen circumstances arise, as a member you are expected to arrive on time with copies of your writing exercise and the assigned critique manuscripts.
Manuscripts for critiquing purposes should have been read at least twice and have editing marks and comments written on the printed out copy.
Once the critique is finished, members are required to return their edited copy to the writer. Please write your name and phone number and/or email address at the top, right corner of the manuscript so if the writer has any questions, they may contact you for further clarification.
If you have a piece that’s being critiqued, you should bring a copy of your work with you and possibly an extra copy should anyone forget to bring one or we have a guest attending.
Writing Exercises
Prior to each meeting, we will assign a writing exercise which correlates to the upcoming Craft Chat topic. The exercise will be posted online at our website with ample time to complete the exercise. If you do not have regular access to the Internet and are unable to download the upcoming exercise, please notify Kathie to have your name added to an update email notification list and the prompt will be emailed to you after online publication.
The purpose of these exercises is to help you, as a writer, explore areas and elements of the craft that you may have not considered before, haven’t spend time developing or merely strengthen what skills you already have.
Take your time and give it a try. There are no right or wrong ways to complete the exercise. Be sure to print out a copy and bring it with you to the next meeting to share with others and discuss how the exercise may have changed how you look at your writing, what doors may have opened, what hurdles you jumped … or even came upon!
Craft Chat
Each session will include a 30-minute presentation given by a member about a specific element involved in writing. If you have a particular interest you’d like to explore, please let us know. Likewise, if there is a topic you would like to present, drop Kathie a line and we’ll explore that further!
Critique Workshop
The meat and potatoes of our group is the critique workshop. This gives writers the opportunity to receive invaluable feedback on their writing. Whether you are planning on taking your work to publication, submit it for a contest or merely work on strengthening your skills while honing your talents, the critique workshop is a must.
We do have specific guidelines as a writer submitting a manuscript for critiquing, as a leader of the critique and as a reader. As well, we have certain “rules” designed to make the experience enjoyable, productive and rewarding for everyone. Along with this brochure you will find a handout on our critiquing process, guidelines, rules and so forth. On our website you will find several links in the navigation column that will further provide you with useful information about editing, proofing, reading for content and more. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!
Manuscript Guidelines
The following is a checklist of manuscript format guidelines.
- Font size 10 to 12 point
- Font face: Times New Roman, Serif fonts, Arial
- One and a half to double spaced lines
- One inch margins all around
- Pages numbered
- Name, phone number and/or email address on title/first page
- File should be saved in (listed in order of preference):
*.doc
*.rtf or *.txt
*.PDF
Note: If you are unable to open any of the files noted above, please contact "kathie dot blog at gmail dot com" and provide a list of files you are able to open. If you do not presently have an Adobe Reader, you can download one for free by visiting Adobe.com.
For the purposes of critiquing and time constraints, manuscripts are to be 5 to 10 pages in length. They may be portions of a longer piece and do not necessarily have to be from the beginning of the greater work. For shorter pieces including poems and prose, you may submit more than one per session, however if you choose to submit several short pieces, please do so in one file format so all are included at the same time in the critique, otherwise the remainder will be placed into queue.
Manuscripts are to be submitted via email to Kathie by noon Pacific Time no less than 8 days prior to upcoming meeting. Members will receive their attached copies via email by 5:00 pm with specific instructions in the body of the email, provided they have attended meetings previously and are in good standing.
We operate on a “first come, first serve” basis. While we restrict submissions to 8 days prior to an upcoming meeting, you may submit as early as you like.
End
FAQ
Question: Do I have to submit a manuscript?
Short Answer: No.
Detailed Answer: Our writers submit manuscripts as they become available. However, the purpose of these workshops is to provide invaluable feedback to the writers which obviously can’t be done if there isn’t a manuscript.
Question: Do I have to critique others?
Short Answer: Yes.
Detailed Answer: The whole point of critique workshops is to provide each writer with feedback. In doing so, we can learn how to strengthen our own writing. It isn’t fair to ask for your work to be critiqued if you aren’t returning the favor!
Question: Should my manuscript be print ready, meaning a final copy that’s ready to be published?
Short Answer: No.
Detailed Answer: While you should aim to have your copy as polished as possible, free of grammatical and spelling errors as possible, your manuscript doesn’t have to be ready for publication. Some writers are looking merely to sharpen skills, try out different techniques and grow from the experience. Others may have a certain contest or purpose to fulfill as a goal.
Question: I’ve never proofread or edited before. Are there rules to follow?
Short Answer: Yes and no.
Detailed Answer: You’ll find proofing and editing information here on this site which will be helpful both in editing/proofing a copy as well as understanding the marks that are made on your own piece. Go at your own pace, ask questions and do what you feel most comfortable doing. If you’d like, we can pair you up with another writer to help you learn editing and proofing methods.
Question: Is there a specific format I should use for my manuscript?
Short Answer: No.
Detailed Answer: While we don’t require a specific format, you should get into the habit of writing within the industry’s standards. Work should have a header with the title of your piece, your name, the date (or season) and what draft/copy level (e.g. first draft, third draft, final copy, etc.) We urge you to number your pages. The industry standard is to double space, set margins to 1? on all sides, use a Courier font at 12pt. which we encourage you to stick with.
Question: Do I have to send my manuscript in prior to the meeting?
Short Answer: No.
Detailed Answer: To guarantee your piece is critiqued and that you get the most “bang for your buck” (even though it is a free workshop, your time is worth something, right?), it is in your favor if you do send it by the deadline or even earlier. If you wait and bring it with you, we can’t guarantee we’ll have enough time to get to it. If, however, you do opt to do this, make certain you bring enough copies for everyone (about 5, not including your own copy).
Still have questions? Need more information? Feel free to ask! Either use the comment section here (we can all benefit from the questions and answers) or email kathie dot blog at gmail dot com.
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