Posts Tagged fiction
Announcing the March edition of the YTBN Newsletter
Posted by Kathie in News, YTBN Newsletter on March 5, 2010
Our third issue of the new Yet-to-be-Named Newsletter, chockfull of all things writerly, is here! Hurry on over to http://www.ejourn.net/YTBNnews/mar2010/ and read the very latest.
Inside this issue we have a special report from Barbara Brabec at www.barbarabrabec.com on the issues surrounding the Google Book’s settlement, an interview with the lovely Tasha Alexander, author of historical novels including And Only to Deceive, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and her latest, Tears of Pearl. Chico Writers Group member, Lori “Stormy” Storm, pens a moving essay about The Library and gives her review of the book, Art & Fear. Much more are here in this monthly edition, including the instant hit, daily writing prompts.
So hurry on over and read up, then get to writing. And don’t forget, you, too, can have your article printed in our e-newsletter. For more information, read our Submitting Articles post.
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 and Critique Workshop Sat. May 16
(We are not affiliated with the Chico Writers Meetup Group*)
Chico Writer’s Group Craft Chat and Critique Workshop
“Describing Sounds”
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Time: 3:30 – 6:30 PM
Location: 1108 Sherman Avenue, Chico
Room: Butte County Library – Chico Branch conference room (directly across the hall from the circulation desk)
Fees: None
Agenda
3:30 – 4:00 PM Free write – We always have a fun writing exercise assigned that inspires creativity (and has resulted in poems, short stories and even the beginnings of longer pieces!). Come join!
4:00 – 4:30 PM Craft Chat: Describing Sounds
What was that noise – and how can you describe it to your reader? Whether it’s the creak of a basement door, the babbling of a brook, or the rush of the wind, your characters encounter sounds. We’ll talk about ways to describe those sounds so your reader hears them too.
5:00 – 6:30 PM Critique Workshop
All manuscripts have been turned in and distributed to members in good standing.
*Chico Writers Meetup Group is through a paid membership site, Meetup. We do not have anything to do with this group and are not affiliated. We never charge membership dues or collect fees.
Crafting Opening Lines and Critique Workshop
Agenda
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. Flash Fiction Writing Exercise and Craft Chat: Opening Lines
How do you pull your readers into your story from the very first line? What makes for a good first line? When should you write it?
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Critique Workshop
Manuscripts have been turned in and distributed to the members in good standing. Order of critiques are as follows: R. A., K. L., D. H.
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009
Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Place: Butte County Library, Chico Branch – Conference Room
Address: 1108 Sherman Avenue, Chico (cross street – First Avenue)
Raw #queryfail capture
Posted by Kathie in #queryfail, News, resources on March 9, 2009
Just uploaded is the complete capture of Twitter’s first #queryfail day. It is a raw file which hasn’t been stripped and shows image file names and other irrelevant information. However, if there are enough requests for the stripped version, we may post those at a later time. Click [here] to download (available only in rich text format). *update: also you can download an HTML file [here]. *
Also, under the “useful links” category in the navigation column, you’ll find a recently added “Creating a Pitch” which was written by the novelist Camy Tang. Definitely worth reading and even bookmarking for future reference.
Read and then Write
Our upcoming Craft Chat will be on how to add suspense to your novel. Here is an excellent resource, one that is worthy of being bookmarked and referenced every now and again: Suspense Writing and Action Scenes –
(http://www.creative-writing-solutions.com/suspense-writing.html)
The article (be sure to read both pages) guides the author through some thoughtful ways in which to write good physical fight scenes, characters and "the hook."
At the end there are a few writing prompts. Why not give them a whirl?
Workshop Saturday, February 21, 2009
Chico Writer’s Group Craft and Critique Workshop
Date: Saturday, February 21, 2009
Time: 4:30 to 6:30 pm
Place: Meeting Room (across from Circulation Desk)
Butte County Library, Chico Branch
Address: 1108 Sherman Avenue, Chico, CA
Agenda
4:30 – 5:00 PM Craft Chat
Naming Characters – Given names, chosen names, and nicknames are a part of who we are. How do we find the right names for our characters? What do the characters’ names mean for the story? Or does finding just the right name even matter?
5:00 – 6:30 PM Critiques
Members have been sent the manuscripts for critiquing. This is a closed session. Persons interested in attending our workshop may attend the first portion (Craft Chat) but will be asked to leave for our critique portion.
Synopsis Workshop Announcement
The Chico Writer’s Group is looking to host a synopsis workshop/seminar. If you are a published author, an editor and/or an agent and are interested in presenting, please leave a comment below (your name and working email address are required, we never sell, share or publish your email address) and someone will be in touch with you.
An Example of Very Creative Writing
In answer to your question that will surely arise at the end of this tale, yes, this did come from an email; one of those chain-letter style emails. However, it was beautifully done and a shining example of good creative writing. See if you can write a short one like it and if it comes out well, send it along to your friends and see if it ever comes back – a true sign that the hungry masses enjoyed it!
A blonde decides to try horseback riding, even though she has had no lessons, nor prior experience. She mounts the horse unassisted, and the horse immediately springs into motion. It gallops along at a steady and rhythmic pace, but the blonde begins to slide from the saddle. In terror, she grabs for the horse’s mane, but cannot seem to get a firm grip. She tries to throw her arms around the horse’s neck, but she slides down the horse’s side anyway.
The horse gallops along, seemingly impervious to its slipping rider. Finally, giving up her frail grip, the blonde attempts to leap away from the horse and throw herself to safety.
Unfortunately, her foot has become entangled in the stirrup. She is now at the mercy of the horse’s pounding hooves, and her head strikes the ground over and over.
As her head is battered against the ground, she is mere moments away from unconsciousness when to her great fortune, Frank, the Wal-mart greeter sees her dilemma and unplugs the horse.
And you thought all they did was say Hello.
Describe This
Here are just a few pictures snagged from Flickr.com of living rooms. You can check out more by going here. Your assignment is to write a description of the room you pick. Try to evoke some emotion as you describe it. Remember to include two to three senses when you describe the room (touch, taste, scent, sight, sound).
Physical Description of Setting Exercise
Try describing a room from three perspectives: through the door, looking in; from inside the room for the very first time, and then from the perspective of being an active participant in the room’s use on a regular basis, maybe focusing on a couple particular elements within the room.
Next, interject a character at the three different points.
How does the room’s view change the character? The mood? Does it affect the relationship between the character and the reader? If so, in what way?
Exploring these aspects will help you, the writer, engage or disengage your reader as you so desire. This is a useful tool to learn and master!
Good luck and, as always, write on!
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