Tuesdays with Story

Tuesdays With Story
WRITER’S MAIL for December 31, 2011

Good Words from Way Back

So all my best is dressing old words new,
Spending again what is already spent.
–William Shakespeare (1564-1616) in “Sonnet 76” (1609)

December 27 Meeting: Sequel to Boxing Day
The Second-and-Fourth writers followed up Boxing Day (December 26) with a sequel, taking the night off. Carol Hornung thanked Aaron Boehm for securing the space upstairs at Sundance, where the group will meet again on Jan. 10.

Who’s Up Next?
January 3: Rebecca Rettenmund (Chapter 3, The Cheese Logue), Liam Wilbur (Chapter 6, Scott & Rory), Kim Simmons (?), Amber Boudreau (?), Lisa McDougal (Chapter 2, Tebow Secret Family Recipe), and Jerry Peterson (Chapter 20, Thou Shalt Not Murder). Note: First-and-Third returns to Barnes & Noble Westside.

January 10: To get on the reading list, contact Carol Hornung at chornung88@aol.com. This Second-and-Fourth meeting again takes place at Sundance, upstairs!

January 17: Jim Cue (short story), Judith McNeil (more of “The Waldorf Hysteria”), Aaron Boehm (?), Millie Mader (Chapter 32, Life on Hold), Jennifer Hansen (?), and John Schneller (chapter, Final Stronghold). Meeting at Barnes & Noble Westside.

January 24: Terry Hoffman (more of The Great Tome). To get on the reading list, contact Carol. Check again for location of this Second-and-Fourth meeting.
January 31: Fifth Tuesday at Booked for Murder. Note: See below.
February 7: To get on the reading list, contact Jerry Peterson.

Final Reminder: January 7 with the Petersons in Janesville
Let Jerry Peterson know if you plan to attend the TWS Post-Christmas Party at the Christmas Castle (920 Glen Street, Janesville) starting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7. Then, find a carpool buddy, or, if you need a ride, contact Clayton Gill by Thursday (Jan. 5).

Heart of the Matter: Deadline January 27 for Fifth Tuesday January 31
First-and-Third group hosts our Fifth Tuesday at Booked for Murder on January 31 at 7:00 p.m. where we’ll hear entries for the Writing Challenge:

Write a short-short story, poem, film scene, or essay with a two-word title. One of the words must be either “heart” or “hearts” as in . . . “Blazing Hearts,” “Hearts Foreclosed,” “Kevlar Heart” . . . you get the idea. Length: 500 words max. Send your manuscript to Jerry Peterson by January 27.

There is a $5 entry fee, payable to Clayton Gill, who can collect at First-and-Third meetings in January (Jan. 3 and Jan. 17) or first thing at Fifth Tuesday (Jan. 31).

If you win the Writing Challenge, UW script-writing instructor Chris DeSmet will critique
the first 50 pages of your finished manuscript or work-in-progress. Your entry fee – along with the fees of other entrants – will go toward a dinner on the town for you and Chris to discuss her critique.

Booked for Murder is located at 2701 University Ave., Madison (http://www.bookedformurder.com/).

Writer’s Mail: Duty Roster
Please consider to plan to resolve to commit to help other TWS members every now and then while having fun and learning something as you edit Writer’s Mail for a month or so, like Liam and Carol (see below).

January – Liam Wilbur leads us into the New Year!
February – Carol Hornung edits from the heart!
March – Get some mo’ better writin’ by editing Writer’s Mail.
April – Shower us with your unique perspective.
May – Spring springs forth in the editor in you.
June – Putting a bug in all our ears.

Join up with an e-mail to Liam.

The Last Word: Not “Gone Fishing,” Just “Gone”
“Is it possible that, instead of heaving a huge biological sigh of relief, the world without us would miss us?” –Alan Weisman in The World Without Us (2007).

Best wishes for a happy and productive 2012 to all Tuesdays With Story members and their families. Please send your Writer’s Mail contributions to Liam.