Posts Tagged NaNoWriMo
About That Contest
The Chico Writers Group on Facebook
Back in November we announced a contest [Like Us and Win!]. While we had a notable increase in fans on Facebook, we didn’t come anywhere close to the targeted mark. And then on Facebook, we posted a question: should we try with another contest in 2011. Aside from one jubilant response, it was whisper quiet. Crickets chirped.
Perhaps everyone was too busy with the holidays and the aftershock of NaNoWriMo to be bothered. That’s the best we could come up with, surely it couldn’t have been the prizes!
So come February 2011 we’ll announce a different contest. But because we didn’t reach the goal of 1,000 fans, sadly that contest is over, there were no winners.
Perhaps we can have a writing contest where entrants must post to the fan page on Facebook. We’ll leave that idea out there and see what you have to say about that idea.
Until then, write on! And Happy Holidays, too.
Your friends at the Chico Writers Group.
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
In less than a week thousands will be sitting down to write a novel. Challenged by Chris Baty, the wonderbrain behind this mad adventure, writers of all types and around the world are spirited along to write fifty-thousand –that’s right, 50,000– words in thirty days. And if you’ve been so inspired to do this that you actually churn out a book (which are typically another 40-50K more words depending on your genre), literary agent Colleen Lindsay doesn’t want you trying to pitch it to her. But don’t let her stop you from pitching it to others. Just be sure it’s worthy of the agent’s time and not just sent out to a pool of agents on December first. Not cool.
Last year, Chico Writers Group hosted a number of write-ins as several took the challenge. This year, however, we won’t be hosting write-ins. We will most likely continue holding our write-ins at the library on Wednesdays between 9:30 and 11:30 am, except we might be moving to the inside portion at the back of the reference area where it might be a tad warmer (see diagram below). If you plan on coming and haven’t been before, you might want to stop off at the comment section and give us a holler so we know to be looking for you — and that you’ll be looking for us. If you have a laptop you’ll be using and require power during the two hours, we suggest you bring a suitable extension cord as the number of open and available outlets is limited. There are some nearby our location, but for some, it might be a stretch.
Click on the picture above to enlarge.
If write-ins are your thing, one of our members will be working with the Chico NaNo liaison, Lynn, and hosting write-ins at her offices on Rio Lindo Avenue after 5:00 p.m. Want more information? Go to NaNoWriMo.org and register. Once you’re done, edit your profile and select Chico, California as your region and be sure to sign up to allow the liaison to send messages to you. Still need more or can’t figure that out? Hit that comment box and let us know. Just be sure to use a valid email address so someone can respond.
Update on Meetings and Write-Ins
Posted by Kathie in craft chat, Meetings, News, 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”?
NaNoWriMo Write-Ins
The Chico Writer’s Group will be holding several write-ins throughout the month of November for writers to work on their novel for National Novel Writing Month (or just to write on whatever their current work is.) We will be foregoing the critique workshop mid-November and use that time for a write-in and resume our workshops on Sunday, November 30th.
The schedule for write-ins won’t come with advance notice but we’ll attempt to post them here as time and opportunity presents itself. Here are the current write-in dates and times and places:
Wednesday, November 5th: 9am – noon at Augie’s (250 Salem Street, next to St. Augustine’s church, corner of 3rd Street and Salem in downtown Chico).
Sunday, November 16th: Time and location to be announced.
You do not have to be a member of the Chico Writer’s Group to attend but it would be greatly appreciated if you would contact us to let us know you plan to attend. These meetings may be cancelled if there isn’t enough interest generated, so please check with our website before heading out!
To learn more about the National Novel Writing Month, visit http://www.nanowrimo.org. As the site is being hit hard now that the event is in full-swing, if you’re receiving an error, please try back later. There still is time to register and get in on the fun, so visit today!
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.
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