Posts Tagged workshop
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”?
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.
The Critiquey Critique Workshop
Getting the most from critiquing and being critiqued
Host: CWG: Chico Writer’s Group
Type: Education – Workshop
Date: Sunday, April 5, 2009
Time: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Location: Chico Branch Meeting Room, Butte County Library
Street: 1108 Sherman Avenue
City/Town: Chico, CA
View MapQuest Map Google
MapQuest
Microsoft
Yahoo
Agenda
11:00 AM – Craft Workshop: Getting the Most from Critiquing and Being Critiqued
You’ve written your heart and soul out. Worked long, tireless hours perfecting your manuscript and now you ache for feedback other than from Grandma, the cat and your significant others. Fellow writers, perhaps. A critique group. But the size, type and availability of these groups might be far and few between, how can you go about getting the most out of your time spent with them and get the valuable insight you crave and desire? How do you, in turn, provide enough feedback to other authors so they are equally rewarded? We’ll be presenting effective, useful methods which will help you and your fellow writers achieve their goals during this session which is free to the public.
12:00 pm Closed session (members only) Critique Workshop
Manuscripts have been already sent out and members should be in receipt and have responded to the like. The order of these is: R.S.A. followed by K. L.
Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th, 2009 from 3:30 – 6:30 pm
Craft Chat: Race and Ethnicity
How do you make characters of a race (describing biological descent) or ethnicity (describing cultural heritage) other than your own realistic? How can you avoid reducing them to a stereotype? Where do you go for information? What obvious traps should you avoid?
We’ll be answering these questions and enjoying some free write time during our regular writers group meeting. Visitors are welcome! This is a free event.
Critique Workshop and Craft Chat
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2009
Times: 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room (directly across from circulation desk)
Chico Branch, Butte County Library
Address: 1108 Sherman Avenue, Chico
Agenda
-
4-4:30 p.m. Free Write followed by Craft Chat
-
4:30-6:30 p.m. Critique Workshop
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m.s.s in this order:
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D. H.
-
R. A.
-
L. H.*
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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.
Craft Chat and Critique Workshop
Agenda
1-2 p.m. Craft Chat and Writing Exercise
Topic: Physical Description – Setting
2-4 p.m. Critique Workshop
Members will critique manuscripts
which have already been distributed.
Note: If you have not previously attended
a Chico Writer’s Group workshop, you are
welcome to attend the craft chat session.
Critique Workshops are for members only.
Date: Saturday, January 24th, 2009
Location: Butte County Library, Chico Branch
1108 Sherman Avenue, Chico, CA
Meeting room directly across from Circulation Desk
For further information, leave a comment
below with your current, functional email address.
Craft Chat on Sentence Structure and Critique Workshop
Date: Saturday, December 27, 2008
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Location: Butte County Library – Chico Branch
Address: 1108 Sherman Avenue, Chico
(cross street is First Ave)
Agenda
2:00 PM: Craft Chat – Sentence Structure
What makes a complete sentence? Do you always have to use them? How do you learn to vary your sentence structures? Is it ever okay to use a run-on sentence to get your point across when it fits what you’re doing even if you’ve been told not to use them and that sentences need to contain only one solid idea? Fragments? We’ll talk about all of this and what sentence structure can mean for your story.
3:00 PM: Manuscript Critique Workshop
# # #
Upcoming Meetings
January – June 2009
(tentative)
Location: Butte County Library – Chico Branch
Saturdays (unless otherwise noted)
| January 10 | 3:30 – 6:30 PM | January 24 | 1:00 – 4:00 PM |
| February 7 | 4:00 – 7:00 PM | February 21 | 4:00 – 6:30 PM |
| March 7 | 4:00 – 7:00 PM | March 21 | 4:00 – 6:30 PM |
| April 5 (Sun) | 11 AM – 2:00 PM | April 18 | 3:30 – 6:30 PM |
| April 30 | 4:30 – 7:30 PM | May 2 | 4:30 – 7:30 PM |
| May 2 | 4:30 – 7:30 PM | May 16 | 3:30 – 6:30 PM |
| June 13 | 4:30 – 7:30 PM | June 27 | 4:30 – 7:30 PM |
We now have a calendar with updated information, including manuscript deadlines. You can click on the link at the top of the navigation column (CWG Calendar) or click here to go there now.
Deadline for Manuscripts – Thursday, Dec. 18th
Manuscripts for our upcoming workshop scheduled for Saturday, December 27th from 2pm – 4pm are due this coming Thursday, December 18th by 5:00 pm.
Important information about submitting a manuscript:
- First come, first serve. Presently there are none in queue.
- Check your manuscript to ensure it is free of any viruses before you send it in.
- No more than 10 pages, please (plays and screenplays max. is 20 pages).
- Formatted as follows:
- 10 – 12pt Serif font (Courier, Times New Roman)
- 1" margins all around
- 1 1/2 – double spaced
- No title page (please be considerate of your fellow writers who are printing these out at their own expense)
- Name, title of piece and contact information (phone or email) on top of first page
- Please number your pages
- Saved in (listed in order of preference): *.doc, *.txt/*.rtf, *.PDF
- Please note that the aforementioned files may be read by downloading free readers. If you require more information, please leave a comment with a current, valid email address (never posted) and someone will respond to you shortly.
- If you are unable to save your document in the aforementioned formats, you may alternatively bring enough copies to the next meeting for distribution and have it workshopped the following session in January, 2009. For a head count, please leave a comment with a current, valid email address.
- If there is anything in particular you would like to pass along to the readers, please include that into the body of the email.
## END ##
Craft and Critique Workshop Sunday, Nov. 2nd
This workshop promises to be exciting as we’ll be using our first half of the workshop trying our hand (or for those who’ve done this before, dazzling us) at flash fiction! Mark your calendars now, this is one not to miss!
Date: Sunday, November 2, 2008
Time: Noon to 3:00PM (Note the time change)
Place: Chico Branch of the Butte County Library
Addy: 1108 Sherman Avenue (cross of First Ave.), Chico
NOTE: The off ramp at First Avenue may be CLOSED. Please use the links to the maps below if you need directions using an alternate route.
Maps: Google |
MapQuest |
Microsoft |
Yahoo
12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM Craft Workshop
We’ll be trying out a workshop using flash fiction where writers are given a topic to write on for a few minutes and then discuss. This should be a very fun activity!
After the exercise, we’ll discuss the focus of the writing exercise, a specific element of the craft of writing. A sure winner for all genres of fiction!
1:00 – 3:00 PM Critique Workshop
Manuscripts need to be submitted to [kathie dot blog at gmail dot com] on or before noon Saturday October 25, 2008 and will be distributed to members who have attended meetings consistently and are in good standing. If you plan on attending but have not done so previously, you may request a copy be available to you when you arrive, however, we will not be distributing manuscripts to non-members for privacy and copyright purposes.
For more information, contact the organizer, Kathie Leung (pronounced Lee-young) at 521-4264 or [kathie dot blog at gmail dot com].
RSVPs requested! (You may use the "comment" link below to RSVP. Just please be sure to provide a valid email address. RSVP comments and general inquiry comments are not published and email addresses are never published.)
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