Tuesdays with Story

Writer’s Mail
Tuesdays with Story
January 18, 2017

OOPS ….

Due to road conditions, the 1-17-17 TWS meeting was canceled at 5.30pm. Several members didn’t see the message, which came through on a thread rather than its own email. Apparently, at least four members showed up but didn’t see each other. (Tracey was in the coffee shop section – the tomato-pesto caprese comes highly recommended.) Apologies for the confusion. If there is a need to cancel again, hopefully a designated email will notify everyone.

THANKS …

A big thank you to Jerry and Marge Peterson for hosting the TWS Post-holiday party on January 7^th. If you missed it, the decorations were spectacular, the company delightful, the split pea soup delicious, and the various dishes to pass a real treat. Who knew John Schneller was famous for sour cream chocolate cake? Here’s to next year …

REMINDER …

Submissions for the writing contest are due by midnight on January 22^nd. Forward entries to Jerry.

Here’s everything you need to know to win a critique of 50 pages of the book you’re writing, the critique to be provided by a published author . . . TWS alumnus and sci-fi writer Pat Tomlinson. Pat has three novels out and a fourth under contract.

Your assignment, write the very best short story, essay or poem you can with this as your prompt: The clock struck 11:59 p.m. on December 31st. So-and-so turned, tipped his or her glass to you (or to a fictional character) and said thoughtfully, “You know, I’ve been meaning to tell you this all year . . .”

Maximum length for your mini-masterpiece is 500 words. Go over and your piece will not be read.

Deadline for getting your entry to Jerry Peterson is midnight, January 22. He will forward all the entries to Pat who will select the best of the best.

There is an entry fee . . . $10. The winner gets all the money in the pot with which she/he is to take Pat to dinner at one of our finer restaurants in the Madison area.

The next time we meet . . .

January 31: Fifth Tuesday, Panera’s on University Avenue. Results of the writing contest to be announced.

February 7: Pat Edwards (chapter), Amber Boudreau (chapter, The Dragoneer), Hannah Marshall (poems), Eva Mays (chapter, Dhuoda), Jack Freiburger (???).Millie Mader (???), Jen Wilcher (chapter 2 rewrite), Hogoshiro Chronicles), Nora O’Reilly (chapter, Bill McCormick’s Bliss), Judith McNeil (???), Kashmira Sheth (???),and Jerry Peterson (short story), Mike Austin (chapter, Before I Leave).

Editors:  Eva Mays <eva.mays@gmail.com> takes on February (and hopefully the January 31^st shift as Tracey won’t be present). Send her your good stuff. Thank you, Eva.  Editor needed for March.

And finally …

Tracey will not be present at the Fifth Tuesday or February 7^th meetings. There is a piña colada waiting for her on a beach in Hawaii. She received her professional edit for “Losing It” and will share what she learned during the next available opening. Misery (and a little joy) loves company, after all.