Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘Anu Garg’

Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , on November 13, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

Writer’s Mail
November 10, 2011
By Pat Edwards

“I dream for a living.” – Steven Spielberg

A core group of 2nd & 4th-ers gathered at Barnes & Noble for critiques (and caffeine, for many of us) and camaraderie…

Jack Freiburger brought Path to Bray’s Head to an end. Jen suggested cutting the last sentence and ending it with “Go with the journel.” Carol wondered if it could end with some kind of boating term for smooth sailing. Holly wants some atmosphere at the beginning of the scene. Terry felt that the sudden jump to the present day was too quick. She also wondered about the condition of the blanket – was it worn after all these years, or was it so sturdy it hardly looked worn at all? Holly wanted a little more emotion at the end, but Cole felt it worked quite well.

Cole Ruby read the next scene from Champions. Jack pointed out that Vice has no expectation of fairness at this point, so for him to say something isn’t fair doesn’t quite fit. Katelin thinks there’d be more that Mark knows through the church about demons – he’s trying to fit things into his world view. Jen figured Jenna would want to know WHY her brother is still alive first, then ask about the vampires later. Jack thought the matter-of-fact attitude of Jenna paralleled Vice nicely, bonding them as brother and sister. Katelin thought Jenna might experience or express a little more fear or surprise, and Terry thought some stronger verbs would be useful. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 30, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Writer’s Mail for October 28, 2010
by Pat Edwards

“Me fail english? Thats unpossible.” - Ralph Wiggum, The Simpsons

The Pumpkin Challenge
In honor of the upcoming holiday, Webook.com is doing a pumpkin challenge. Your pumpkin can take any form (carved, cursed, animated, giant, murderous, a pie) but it must cause terror in a person or group of people. Real terror. None of that mushy “moderate fear” kind of thing.

Write a scary story in which a pumpkin is the main catalyst for terror. (max 300 words)

The WEbook editorial staff will pick our three favorite submissions and award the authors free entry to PageToFame. Go to http://www.webook.com/project/The-Pumpkin-Challenge for rules and information.

Who’s up Next?
November 2: Amber Boudreau (chapter 16, young adult novel), John Schneller (chapter 2, Final Stronghold), Greg Spry (chapter, Beyond Cloud Nine), Randy Haslow (chapter, Hona and the Dragon), Judith McNeil (???), and Jerry Peterson (chapter 4, Thou Shalt Not Murder).

November 9: Kim Simmons (chapters, City of Winter), Randy Haslow (chapter, Hona and the Dragon), Annie Potter (memoir), Carol Hornung (scene, Sapphire Lodge), and Sariah (???).

November 16: Greg Spry (chapter, Beyond Cloud Nine), Pat Edwards (poems), Chris Maxwell (rewrite, short story), Cathy Riddle (chapter, Beer Crimes), Aaron Boehm (chapter, Hell Cage), and Kim Simmons (chapter, City of Summer).

December 7: Clayton Gill (chapter, Fishing Derby), Justin Schober (chapter 1/part 2, sci-fi novel), Jen Wilcher (chapter), and Jerry Peterson (chapter 5, Thou Shalt Not Murder).

Publishing Lawyer Lincoln
From Alicia Connolly-Lohr
I just self-published my historical fiction novel Lawyer Lincoln In Transit to Freedom on Amazon in the Kindle store. I’m currently working on my Author Central page for Amazon. I have also submitted the book to createspace.com (owned by Amazon but run as a separate business). There it will be available as a publish-on-demand book. Just awaiting the proof. Although TWS in on my acknowledgements page, I want to pass on special thanks all who helped with critiques. Thanks so much.

Need a Character Name?
Why waste precious intellectual energy creating names yourself? This absolutely wonderful site has several random name generators. There’s a pseudonym generator, a fantasy name generator, an elf name generator, a superhero name generator and a lot MORE! My new evil twin name is going to be Savage Acholateezit, courtesy of the evil name generator. Here’s the main site link http://online-generator.com/index.php Don’t miss the “business section,” which includes project names and band names. What kind of music do you think the The Homeless Clouds create? (more…)

Read Full Post »

Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , , , , , on August 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Tuesdays with Story
WRITER’S MAIL for August 26, 2010
by Clayton Gill

Good Words from Way Back
“A lover without indiscretion is no lover at all.” – Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) in The Hand of Ethelberta (1876), found in The Little Oxford Dictionary of Quotations

No More Excuses: Submit Yours Today
If you haven’t written your Fifth Tuesday mini-masterpiece, do it today! Here’s the set-up: You oversleep. You get to work late, and the boss is in your face about it. You’ve got to say something to get yourself out of trouble. Send your magnificent lie – confined to 400 words or less – to Jerry Peterson today, or at the latest, tomorrow (Friday, August 27).

If you haven’t made your reservation for Fifth Tuesday (7:00 p.m., August 31), do that today, too. E-mail either Jerry or Shel Ellestad and let one of them know you’re coming. Guests are always welcome, but let Jerry or Shel know they’re coming too.

Cathy Riddle is hosting Fifth Tuesday at her home. Jerry has e-mailed us driving directions via Yahoo! Groups. If you have not already volunteered to bring a specific item, then bring something tasty to share at our potluck.

Report from the Field: Gen Con Indy 2010
Gen Con Indy 2010 – “the original, longest running, best attended, gaming convention in the world” — took place August 5-8 in Indianapolis. Patrick Tomlinson participated. He reports that, besides all sorts of gaming, Gen Con has an extensive selection of seminars, readings, critique sessions, and the like for writers.

“The organizers,” Patrick says, “bring in many writers, editors, and publishers to give talks on how to write, the business of writing, and the changing publishing industry. The conference was immeasurably helpful to me. Not only did I get to meet over a half-dozen professional writers and editors, but I learned a huge amount about the craft in a very short time. I made valuable connections in the industry, and I’ve even gotten a position as a slush editor for Apex Magazine.

“I think I’ve probably cut a year or more off of my development as a professional writer by going to this convention. While it certainly focuses on the sci-fi and fantasy genres, the advice given is applicable to all of us. It didn’t come cheap — between the drive, room costs, tickets, food, and so forth — but in the end I think it was the best money I’ve spent all year.” (more…)

Read Full Post »

Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , on August 20, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Tuesdays with Story
WRITER’S MAIL for August 20, 2010
by Clayton Gill

Good Words from Way Back
Light rain-drops fall and wrinkle the sea,
Then vanish, and die utterly.
One would not know that rain-drops fell
If the round sea-wrinkles did not tell.

So souls come down and wrinkle life
And vanish in the flesh-sea strife.
One might not know that souls had place
Were ’t not for the wrinkles in life’s face.

–“Souls and Rain-Drops” by Sidney Lanier (1842-1881), found in The Joy of Words “from the library of Sheldon G. Ellestad.” This poem was published posthumously in The Poems of Sidney Lanier and characterized as one of his “unrevised early works” (per Wikisource at http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Souls_and_Rain-Drops).

Lucky Draw from Verse-O-Matic
Pat Edwards tells Writers Mail that Poetry Jumps Off the Shelf is partnering with Verse Wisconsin to conduct the Jawbreaker Poetry Project. “Luck of the Draw” is the theme. These poetry proselytizers are seeking poems that “touch, in some way, on good fortune, misfortune, opportunities gone awry, flukes, coincidence or second chances.”

They will pack selected poems into “jawbreaker capsules” along with candy, gum, or toys, and a chance to win a year’s subscription to Verse Wisconsin. Then they will load the capsules into a dispenser called the Verse-O-Matic. The Verse-O-Matic, packed with poems and goodies, will hit the road in April–National Poetry Month—visiting venues throughout Wisconsin. Then it will travel with the Verse Wisconsin editors to events, conferences, and festivals nationwide throughout 2011. “Luck of the Draw” poems will also be published in the summer 2011 online issue of Verse Wisconsin.

Contributors of selected poems will receive one jawbreaker capsule with their poem in it, a photo of the Verse-O-Matic in action, and publication of their poem in the summer 2011 issue of Verse Wisconsin enhanced by an audio file. For “Luck of the Draw” poem submission guidelines, visit http://www.poetryjumpsofftheshelf.com/.

Visit Pat’s blog at http://poetiosity.com/.

Money for You…
August Moon Publishing House wants your best short story, reports Jerry Peterson. And, they will pay you for it–and publish it–if your story makes it into the top 10 of any of three divisions in the company’s short story contest.
(more…)

Read Full Post »

Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , , , on August 8, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Tuesdays with Story
WRITER’S MAIL for August 6, 2010
by Clayton Gill

Another Madison with Good Ink
It was a hot and sticky night. In my backyard, the long dog day of August collapsed at last and rolled over in the dark to pant with tongue hanging out. Distant lightning bared its fangs, but I heard no bark, no growl of thunder.

Unfortunately, I heard no Tuesdays with Story members begging for ink in Writer’s Mail, either. So I prodded the laptop to attention and googled “visiting writers” plus “Madison.” Then I discovered there is another Madison, a lively writers’ place, back East in Connecticut. This New England Madison is the home of RJ Julia Booksellers (http://www.rjjulia.com/) where mystery writer Karen E. Olson regularly reads her work.

Karen has a part-time day job editing a medical journal at Yale University. But she also has seven books under her by-line, including three in a series called “The Tatoo Shop Mysteries”—every book features “ink” in the title. See http://www.kareneolson.com/index.html. For insight into Karen’s choice of narration style and point-of-view, check out her blog at http://kareneolson.blogspot.com/.

Many thanks to Greg Spry for editing Writer’s Mail during July. Please see below for the “Newsletter Duty Roster,” which needs editors to volunteer for October and November.

But hey fellow Tuesdays, we’ve got more dog days ahead, so please throw some meat – or ink – to your August newsletter editor. Always hungry, despite the heat. Thanks! (more…)

Read Full Post »

Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , on August 2, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

TUESDAYS WITH STORY
WRITERS MAIL FOR JULY 29, 2010
by Greg Spry

Next Fifth Tuesday: August 31st, 2010
It’s only 5 weeks away, August 31. Make your reservations now. Send either Shel Ellestad, or Jerry Peterson, a note telling them you are coming and who you’re bringing as guests. Yes, guests – friends, spouses, children – are always welcome.

It’s also time to write your Fifth Tuesday mini-masterpiece. The first two are already in.

Announcements
Anne Allen wrote an article for Nebraska History and won Best Article of The Year. It even involved a cash prize! Anne Beiser Allen’s article, “A Scandal in Niobrara: The Controversial Career of the Rev. Samuel D. Hinman,” has been selected by the Nebraska State Historical Society to receive the 2010 James L. Sellers Memorial Award for the best article to appear in Nebraska History during 2009.

Andrea Kirchman’s short fiction piece, “Don’t Listen to the Sirens” just got published on the Six Sentences blog. Check it out! http://sixsentences.blogspot.com/2010/07/dont-listen-to-sirens.html

Meeting Recap: Tuesday, July 27th – 2nd & 4th
Eleven folks gathered at BN for critiquing Tuesday night.
(more…)

Read Full Post »

Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , , on July 23, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

TUESDAYS WITH STORY
WRITER’S MAIL FOR JULY 22, 2010
by Greg Spry

Next Fifth Tuesday: August 31st, 2010
It’s only 6 weeks away, August 31, our next Fifth Tuesday feast and festival of writing, August 31. Place to be announced, but not the writing challenge. We have that: You’re late for work because you overslept. Your boss hates oversleepers, but he does love entertaining stories. Create the most outlandish excuse for why you were late . . . and do it in no more than 400 words.

Write your mini-masterpiece now. Git ’er done, and email it to Jerry Peterson.

Meeting Recap: Tuesday, July 20th – 1st & 3rd
Randy – Judith wanted to know where the story takes place. Randy tells us it takes place in a fantasy world, in medieval times. Pat felt like it was Mexico. Judith thought it was Finland. She also felt the dream could be more mystical. Jerry wondered why Hona didn’t turn to look and see what was carrying her in the dream, or at least try to see if she was able. John and Jerry wanted to know what made the creature noble. Elijah thought she needs to take the time to consider her answer after her friend asks an evocative question. Jerry thinks her world feels very real, but for a medieval period, would she be allowed out in the woods? Does Thil hear the conversation between Hona and the goat?

Jen – She tells us a few years ago she was searching for something and a little lost. Pat enjoyed the poem and picked up on the Zen of it but had a question about the opening lines. Pat would like to see her take the poem to the next step, because the rhythm is there, she’s curious to see what she could do with it. Elijah thought it didn’t rhyme, but that it worked. Judith wanted to see what happened to the mind throughout the poem. Cathy got more of an understanding from Jen’s introduction than she did from the poem itself – something she could relate to. John wanted to know about one line in particular. Millie wanted to know why one word was capitalized, but if it’s a spiritual reference, then it made sense.

Judith – Elijah found words that ratchet up the tension in any conversation, not just in the car on the road. Pat was surprised Marshall didn’t make any comments about it being Sam’s fault the car got pulled over. Perhaps the tiredness is causing some of the tension. Randy wondered if you can say ‘shit’ on the radio. John thought it strange he died and then survived with a head wound. Cathy wasn’t sure about the word dialogue – perhaps it could be replaced with tirade or rant.

Pat Tomlinson – Someone wanted to know if Wynn was British or not. Pat decides on the spot that he’s a New Zealander. Pat E, brought up the story to print it out and couldn’t stop reading. Jerry had a problem; after a while the android is referred to as a character, who is dead on a table, but now there are two – it’s a naming issue for him. Amber wanted the main character to show a bit more bravado, but Pat insists that since the character isn’t curled up in the fetal position on the floor shows he had some guts. Cathy thought the main character could go over his feelings in the epilogue. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , , , on July 15, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

TUESDAYS WITH STORY
WRITER’S MAIL FOR JULY 14, 2010
by Greg Spry

Meeting Recap: Tuesday, July 13th – 2nd & 4th
To borrow the immortal words of “Pogo,” “Friday the Thirteenth came on a Tuesday this month.” But it was a good 13th as 13 people gathered at Barnes & Noble for talk of divorce, fairy tales, lobster fishing, science fiction, and the grapes of death. . .

Holly Bonnicksen-Jones started things off with a scene from Coming Up for Air. There was some confusion regarding the phrase “Little Sister Lecture” – we weren’t sure which one was the little sister. Have Liza tune out for a second, not a minute. That’s too long. And the love of Ty isn’t being question, it’s whether Liza is being a good mom. Maybe move some of the ruminating to the scene with the psychologist.

Randy Haselow read chapter three of Hona and the Dragon. Be sure to have Hona tell her friend the name of the dragon, now that she knows it. The dialog had a lot of complete sentences – chop that up a bit. There was a lot of discussion about Hona’s character – should she have more attitude and strength now, or is it all part of the Master Fairy Tale plan to have the character develop more later on? We agreed that the dragon and flying carpet are driving the story now, but it seems to be a quietly building classic fairy tale, and the other elements will come through soon.

Jack Freiburger presented a scene from Path to Bray’s Head. Tighten up a bit – there’s some redundancy about folks not talking, but keep details like the “whine of the winch.” Also, “Immediately I realized” seems too long of a phrase to best serve Sean’s sudden realization that Dick isn’t there. The action was nicely upped at the end with that revelation.

Patrick Tomlinson read a segment of his novel A Hole in the Fence. The humor works well, but an absurd plot or quirky characters are needed sooner to engage the reader. Too much narration, could use more dialog. There seemed to be an odd mix of technological description and nature metaphors, and there were times that the hard core science fiction was conflicting with the fun, humorous bits. Watch the point of view – stick to one character per scene, and be careful of description for the sake of description.

Andrea Kirchman finished things up with chapter 3 of Reunion. Lots of great descriptions and funny lines. There were some continuity issues – can’t describe someone’s face if the character can’t see her face. Take out some of the eye rolls (but keep the last one, where it’s passed on to the children). And why does she throw the grapes away? Have her react, give her an emotional reason to chuck ‘em in the trash.

Who’s Up Next?
July 20: Randy Haselow (chapter, Hona and the Dragon), Nicole Rosario (???), Jen Wilcher (chapter, Memories Awakened), Judith McNeil (radio play/part 2, “South to Sunday”), Patrick Tomlinson (short story/part 2, “Downloading Death”), and Karl Bryan (short story, “Dubai Stopwatch”/part 2).

July 27: Terry Hoffman (chapter, The Journal), Karen Zachary (Oak Arena), Karl Bryan (short story, “Dubai Stopwatch” part 3), Dan Hamre (either “Afterthought” or “Tractor Jockey”), Annie Potter (chapter, memoir)

August 3: Kim Simmons (chapters 41-42, James Hyde), Greg Spry (novella/part 3, Goodbye, Mars), Randy Haselow (chapter, Hona and the Dragon), Amber Boudreau (chapter 15), Clayton Gill (chapter 15, Fishing Derby), and Jerry Peterson (chapter 12, For Want of a Hand)

August 10: Patrick Tomlinson (A Hole in the Fence), Jen Wilcher (???), Holly Bonnicksen-Jones (Coming Up For Air), Jack Freiburger (Path to Bray’s Head), Randy Haselow (Hona and the Dragon)

August 17: John Schneller (chapter 1, book 3), Millie Mader (poem), Patrick Tomlinson (???), Judith McNeil (???), and Aaron Boehm (???).

Next Fifth Tuesday: August 31st, 2010
Still looking for a place for our next Fifth Tuesday feast and festival of writing, August 31. But we’re no longer looking for a writing challenge. We have that: You’re late for work because you overslept. Your boss hates oversleepers, but he does love entertaining stories. Create the most outlandish excuse for why you were late . . . and do it in no more than 400 words. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , on July 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Tuesdays With Story
Writer’s Mail for July 2, 2010
by Greg Spry

Fifth Tuesday Recap – June 29, 2010

Twenty-nine TWS writers and guests reserved chairs for last night’s Fifth Tuesday event at Terry and Jan Hoffman’s home . . . and most made it!

A discussion, initiated by Brandy Larson Yosephi, took place of commencement address stories – the writing challenge – not written. Said Bill Dries, “I intended to write one for a graduation ceremony for a dog obedience class: ‘Woof woof woof woof woof woof woof.’”

Donna Coughlin suggested Bill insert a few ‘arfs’ for variation.

Mark your calendar for our next Fifth Tuesday . . . August 31. First-and-third group hosts.
(more…)

Read Full Post »

Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , , on July 2, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

Tuesdays With Story Writers Mail, June 28, 2010
by Jen Wilcher

Tuesday Night at the Bookstore

Kim: City of Winter: Hero’s age is unclear. Snotty nose kids are usually younger than thirteen, need to clarify age, scene a bit thin, discussion on how to develop his anger at the ocean, Jack carried on as usual about cinemagraphic writing, landscape levels and referent development, etc. Group moved on to …

Dan: Idolatry: Most liked the dialogue, but some suggest the story could use some compression, street light in a blackout? Patrick suggested “a miracle”, Jack a burning dumpster as the Christmas Star, second wave objections to Mary Magdalene as a stripper, Patrick lead group prayer for divine guidance. As no guidance came we turned to….

Jen: Group applauded big improvement in the rewrite of her chapter, most corrections were grammatical, migraines discussed, some objections to type of headache

Randy: Hona and the Dragon: Does a child know what an Equinox is? Is a dragon feline or leonine? Extensive discussion on lengths of sword and daggers, simile for claws, Hona at eleven must not baby talk, possibly change her mis-pronunciation of Firebreath’s name, Jack liked even tone and it quality.

Ann Potter: Memoir: A nasty scene well done, ending in a faint, discussion on how to craft jump-cut to the unconscious/regained consciousness, changes in tense useful but not consistent.

Jack: Bray’s Head: Problem with old men’s dialogue, sounds southern, Andrea says what Jack reads is an improvement over what he writes. He hopes she takes shorthand.
(more…)

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.