Archive for category Meetings
Craft Chat and Critique Workshop: Point of View
Achieving a strong point of view (POV) is critical to storytelling regardless of the genre. Should you keep the same POV throughout the story? When can you change? Can you have several different points of view? One of the more difficult elements of the craft is learning how to use varying points of view and maintain them throughout the course of your story. We’ll be discussing the differences and offering some ideas on how to assess which type of POV works best for moving the story along in this week’s Craft Chat.
EVENT: Chico Writers Group Craft Chat and Critique Workshop
DATE: Saturday, December 19, 2009
TIME: 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Butte County Library, Chico Branch, Meeting Room
1108 Sherman Ave., Chico (cross street: First Ave.)
CONTACT: 
(530) 521-4264
AGENDA:
1:00 – 1:15 PM – Free write.
Bring along your pad of paper and pen or laptop and spend the first portion of our meeting writing to a prompt that will tie into our Craft Chat.
1:15 – 1:30 PM – Craft Chat: Point of View
1:30 – 3:00 PM – Critique Workshop – manuscript has been sent out to all members in good standing for review. Critique to be conducted round-robin fashion.
Next Meeting: Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy holidays and a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all!
Where Do You Get Ideas? Craft and Critique Workshop
Posted by Kathie in Meetings, craft chat on November 28, 2009
So where do you get ideas for your next novel? How do you get them? How can you tickle your muse and get her to speak to you? This is our topic for our upcoming Craft and Critique Workshop coming up on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at the Butte County Library, Chico Branch (1108 Sherman Avenue, cross street First Avenue) in the meeting room (directly across the breezeway from the circulation desk). Don’t forget to bring your writing gear for our kick-off free write session!
Agenda
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. Free Write
1:30 – 1:45 p.m. Craft Chat: How do you get ideas for your next piece?
1:45 – 3:00 p.m. Critique Workshop: Two pieces have been selected to be critiqued during this session. All members in good standing should have a copy and be prepared to review them at our meeting.
Next meeting: Saturday, December 19, 2009 1-3 pm @ Chico Branch – Butte County Library
Writers Workshop: The End All
Probably one of the most difficult things for writers, or should we say, storytellers, is learning how and when to come to an end. When and how exactly does one end the story? For most of us burgeoning novelists, this is the caveat, the one single solitary thing that keeps us from flourishing in the world of becoming published. You do, after all, need an ending to your novel, right? Well, step right on up, fetch some coffee and maybe a scone, grab a chair and listen to the story we’re about to tell. The topic for this coming meeting is “How – and when – to end your tale.” Catchy title, isn’t it? Have faith, it’s better than the other one that came to mind.
Our meeting will be held Saturday, November 21st from 1:30 – 3:30 pm at a location to be disclosed later. If you’d like to receive an email regarding the location, leave a comment here, just be sure to use a working email address.
Agenda
1:30 – 1:45 pm Free Write
Writers are encouraged to spend the first 15 minutes of our session writing from the prompt given (which often ties into the craft chat topic) and afterwards, share with the rest of the group.
1:45 – 2:15 pm Writer Share and Craft Chat – “Endings”; selection of topic for upcoming session (Saturday, December 5, 2009)
2:20 – 3:30 pm Critique Workshop
Selected authors will be sharing their current work and receiving feedback from other authors in the group. Manuscripts have already been selected and distributed. Please note that only members in good standing are eligible for having their work critiqued and members who have been in attendance previously and are planning on attending the upcoming session have been sent the selected manuscripts to read and prepare for the critique workshop.
For more information about the Chico Writers Group, click on the tabs at the top or use the navigation links.
Update on Meetings and Write-Ins
Posted by Kathie in Meetings, News, craft chat, write-ins on October 10, 2009
Here’s a list of our upcoming meetings which are open to new members. There is never a fee (no dues or membership fees). We just ask that if you plan on attending to please leave a comment here to let us know to look for you!
The following are held at the Butte County Library, Chico Branch (1108 Sherman Avenue, cross street First Ave.), Public Meeting Room (directly across breezeway from the Circulation Desk).
1-3 pm Saturday, October 24, 2009
1-3 pm Saturday, November 7, 2009
1-3 pm Saturday, December 5, 2009
1-3 pm Saturday, December 19, 2009
1:30-4:00 pm Saturday, January 2, 2010
1:30-4:00 pm Saturday, January 16, 2010
1:30-4:00 pm Saturday, January 30, 2010
We will also be holding closed session meetings, only open to active members in good standing. The locations are to be announced via email prior to the session. The tentative dates for these sessions are as follows:
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Our meetings are structured in the following format:
15-30 minutes (by member/participant votes) free writing from prompt followed by with sharing (optional, not required)
30 minutes craft chat – each session we will be talking about various elements of the craft of writing on topics selected by member interest during the previous session followed by a selection of the upcoming meeting’s craft chat topic
Remainder of time is spent critiquing manuscripts that have been distributed to the current, active members of the group whom are in good standing. New and interested members are more than welcome to stay for the critique portion of the meeting (unless an author scheduled for critique prefers not to have their work discussed with others outside of the current group), however, we regret we are unable to provide extra copies of the manuscripts selected nor are we able to distribute manuscripts to anyone prior to the session as we do require all recipients have attended at least one full meeting due to privacy and copyrights.
For more information, take some time and browse this site as we have published a number of articles and links to supporting documents and sites pertaining to our group.
Write-Ins
During the month of November when many of our writers participate in the National Novel Writing Month, otherwise known as NaNoWriMo (visit http://www.nanowrimo.org for more information and registration), we typically beef up our write-ins. These are open sessions for writers of all kinds, ages, genres, etc. It’s a time to set aside and meet at an agreed upon location to do little more than write. It’s a great motivational event, if you haven’t done this before, give it a try!
Because this was popular and a great motivator, we’ve continued to hold write-ins. We usually meet every Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:30 am at the Butte County Public Library, Chico Branch (1108 Sherman Avenue, Chico, cross street is First Ave.) at the very back tables just before the magazine and newspaper section. As the attendance varies, we suggest you leave a comment here to let us know you plan on attending. Also leave your current, working email address and check prior to attending as we do sometimes cancel and don’t always publicize cancellations for a number of reasons.
Do you have to arrive and leave on-time? Absolutely not! This is your time to write.
Can we chat while we’re attending a write-in? Generally this is frowned upon as (a) we’re in a library and (b) we’re there to write.
For more FAQs on this topic, see our post: Upcoming Write-Ins and What is a “Write-In”?
Craft Chat: Describing Setting through Character’s Eyes
The Chico Writer’s Group will be hosting a Craft Chat Saturday, September 12, 2009 on the topic of how to describe a setting through the character’s eyes. This is a free event, writers of all walks, all levels of experience, are invited to attend.
Craft Chat and Critique Workshop
| Date: | Saturday, September 12, 2009 |
| Time: | 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. |
| Location: | Butte County Library, Chico Branch |
| Address: | 1108 Sherman Avenue (cross 1st Ave.) |
| Chico, California | |
| Public Meeting room directly across breezeway from the circulation desk. | |
| What to Bring: | Pen/pencil, writing tablet or a laptop/notebook |
| Agenda | |
|
1:00 – 1:20 PM |
Free write. Using prompts, writers will be given the opportunity to write for fifteen minutes, then share what they’ve written to the other members of the group.* |
|
1:20 – 1:30 PM |
Craft Chat: What are some effective ways to describe the setting in your fiction through different character’s eyes that is unique to the character’s own voice? We’ll explore this question, exchange ideas, and review resources available to add to our writing toolbox. |
|
1:30 – 3:00 PM |
Critique Workshop: Members in good standing will be offering critiques to authors of assigned manuscripts which are distributed prior to the meeting. Members: Please attempt to use the critique worksheet, available for download, when reading the manuscript, complete it and bring it with you to the meeting. |
| About: | Closed sessions are still open to the public, we just ask that anyone interested in this segment enters prior to the session, understands they are only there to observe, and may ask questions, enter into a conversation with the members after the session concludes (however, after session discussions should be conducted outside the meeting room). Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent at all times due to the nature of the conversations that take place. If, however, the authors do not feel comfortable having their manuscript reviewed in the presence of minors, we reserve the right to ask anyone under the age of 18 to please leave the room. |
| *Sharing written free write work | This portion of our group meeting is not critiqued. Other writers are encouraged to give feedback, provided it’s positive. The free write portions of our group meetings is meant to inspire, challenge and bring about new and exciting ideas about the written word to those participating. While you are not required to read your work aloud, this is an invaluable opportunity to hear the differences in points of view and often quite enjoyable both for the writer and the members of the group. Alternatively, provided your writing is reasonably legible, you may always invite another member to read your work out loud to the rest of the group. |
Coming Saturday, September 26, 2009: Writing Conference Review. Chico Writer’s Group members who have attended writing conferences over the summer will be sharing useful information with us. This is also a free event, open to the public. If you are interested in attending this special presentation, please contact us (you may leave a comment here, just be sure to provide a working email address so we can reply. Email addresses are never published publicly.) as space is limited.
The Chico Writer’s Group, is not affiliated with the Meetup Group with a similar name.
Craft Chat Notes: August 22, 2009
Posted by Kathie in Meetings, craft chat, resources on August 22, 2009
Upon the request of R. S. Alderson, the handout distributed during our meeting and craft chat about “Avoiding Adverbs and Describing Movement” is respectfully removed. Here are some resources that might be useful to writers:
A list of commonly used adverbs: Moms Who Think (http://www.momswhothink.com/reading/list-of-adverbs.html)
And while you’re there, slip over to the list of verbs, also located on that site and linked to the aforementioned page.
Adverb Abuse and How To Avoid It: Craft Chat & Critique Workshop
Craft Chat and Critique Workshop
Topic: Adverb Abuse and How To Avoid It
Host: Chico Writer’s Group
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Location: Butte County Library, Chico Branch – Meeting Room
Street: 1108 Sherman Ave.
City/Town: Chico, CA
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*****AGENDA*****
1:00 – 1:20 pm Free write exercise
During this time, members will be given the opportunity
to write from prompts provided and then share (voluntarily) with others at the end. Be sure to bring writing tools (paper and pen or laptop, stone tablets work well but can be a bit noisy)!
1:20 – 1:40 pm Craft Chat: Adverb Abuse and How To Avoid It
This is a step beyond and ten times better than Schoolhouse Rock!
As writers, we sometimes slip into a habit of using and then abusing adverbs. How many times can your character be found looking, glancing, frowning, smiling, catapulting or picking the hairs out
of his ears? Learn some of the tools of the craft and how to
avoid adverb abuse during this insightful chat session.
Handouts will be distributed at the close.
1:40 – 3:00 pm Critique Workshop
(open to members in good standing, guests and visitors are
invited to listen, but we are unable to provide copies of
the scheduled author’s work)
Members: Remember to have your manuscript in to Ruth
by Thursday, August 13th. This is a strict deadline.
Upcoming Meetings
The following is a list of our upcoming meetings (2009). New members and those interested in the group are more than welcome to attend except when noted as “closed session.” New and interested members are respectfully asked to contact us prior to attending the meeting so we can provide you with information about the session and about our group.
Except where noted, meetings are held in the meeting room directly across from the circulation desk at the Chico branch of the Butte County Library (1108 Sherman Avenue – cross street 1st Ave. – Chico).
| Manuscript Due Date | Manuscript Distribution Date | Meeting Date | Time | Location |
| Thu., July 9 | Fri., July 10 | Sat., July 18 | 1-3 p.m. | Chico Library |
| Thu., Aug. 13 | Fri., Aug. 14 | Sat., Aug. 22 | 1-3 p.m. | Chico Library |
| Thu., Sept. 3 | Fri., Sept. 4 | Sat., Sept. 12 | 1-3 p.m. | Chico Library |
| Thu., Sept. 17 | Fri., Sept. 18 | Sat., Sept. 26 | 1-3 p.m. | Chico Library |
| Thu., Oct. 1 | Fri., Oct. 2 | Sat., Oct. 10 | 1-3 p.m. | CLOSED SESSION* |
| Thu., Oct. 29 | Fri., Oct. 30 | Sat., Nov. 7 | 1-3 p.m. | Chico Library |
| Thu., Nov. 12 | Fri., Nov. 13 | Sat., Nov. 21 | 1-3 p.m. | CLOSED SESSION* |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Fri., Nov. 27 | Sat., Dec. 5 | 1-3 p.m. | Chico Library |
The noted (*) closed session locations will be disclosed to members in good standing prior to the scheduled meeting.
Dates and times are subject to change. We will attempt to update this blog and other web sites where announcements regarding upcoming meetings are located with the corrections. All active members in good standing are automatically notified via email.
Meetings typically begin with a “free write” segment (time allotted is voted on by participants) typically with a prompt that leads into the prearranged craft chat portion of the meeting. Writers are encouraged to bring paper and pen/pencil or a laptop for this portion. Afterwards, everyone is encouraged to share what they wrote as this portion is not a “critique.”
The Craft Chat is about a variety of topics (character development, how to name your piece, worldbuilding, adding red herrings, etc.) all pertaining to the craft of writing. Handouts covering the topic are typically distributed at the end of this segment.
We conclude our session with a critique of (typically) two submitted manuscripts.
Rescheduled Craft Chat & Critique Workshop
Due to illness, our last Craft Chat and Critique Workshop was canceled. It’s been rescheduled for this coming Sunday, June 28 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm at the Butte County Library, Chico Branch (1108 Sherman Avenue) meeting room.
Agenda:
3:00- 3:30 PM Craft Chat
Planting Red Herrings
A red herring can divert your reader until you’re ready for them to know the truth. How do you set up a red herring and make your reader follow its scent – without being suspicious?
3:30- 5:00 PM Manuscript Critique
All members in good standing have been sent the manuscripts for this week’s critique session.
Craft Chat & Critique Workshop Canceled
Due to illness and schedule conflicts, today’s craft chat on red herrings has been postponed and the critique workshop is canceled. Further information to come.
(Sunday, June 14, 2009)
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