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Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , , , on February 11, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Writer’s Mail
Tuesdays with Story
January 29, 2015

““But do you know how old I will be by the time I learn to really play the piano / act / paint / write a decent play?”
Yes . . . the same age you will be if you don’t.” ― Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

Who’s up Next?
February 3: Lisa McDougal (chapter, Tebow Family Secret), Amber Boudreau (???), Mike Rickey (poems), Kashmira Sheth & Amit Trivedi (chapter, novel), Alicia Connolly-Lohr (chapter 11, Coastie Girl), Millie Mader (chapter 60, Life on Hold), and Judith McNeil (???).
February 10: 2nd and 4th – unknown
February 17: Alicia Connolly-Lohr (chapter 12, Coastie Girl), Andy Brown (chapter, The Last Library), Pat Edwards (???), Kashmira Sheth & Amit Trivedi (chapter, novel), Mike Rickey (poems), and Jerry Peterson (chapter 7-8, Rooster’s Story).

Crowd-sourcing the Publishing Industry
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Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , , , on November 9, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Writers Mail
November 4, 2014

Andy Pfeiffer read from his NaNoWriMo novel, A Song of Destiny. Judith mentioned that the age or school status should be revealed earlier in the chapter. Pat pointed out the Andy has a distinctive voice and that he should give it free rein in wackiness. Pat asked about Carter’s remarking on race of a couple of Wal Mart employees. Andy said the he has a mild case of Asperger’s Syndrome and is extremely detailed oriented. Pat suggested that Carter should either be totally focused on the person, remarking on the color of their clothes, etc., or more focused on distances, etc. Judith asked about Destiny’s knowledge of cutting lens. Others suggested that she not be allowed to cut the lens, which would provide additional conflict in the runaway venture.

Judith McNeil read from My Mother, Savior of Men, Chapters 22,23, 24. Jerry felt that Charlie’s dad had smoothed the way for his chair to be accepted at the museum. The group liked the chapter on the trip to Ecuador. Millie liked the development of the father son relationship on the trip. Jerry pointed out the need to insert how “tea” got into hotel room in that scene and to action of Charlie picking up phone in one of last scenes.

Mike Rickey read his poem Grandfather’s Barns. Everyone loved the descriptions of the barns holding the energy of various aspects of the farm. Pat loved the phrase “knowers of grit”. She suggested that he show effects of weather and the elements on the barns. (more…)

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Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , , , on February 22, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Writer’s Mail
February 6, 2014


“The greatest rules of dramatic writing are conflict, conflict, conflict.” – James Frey

Notes from 2/4/2014
A dozen of us gather round the tables at the old B&N.

Lisa reads from Chapter Eleven of Tebow’s Family Secret. Pat thought the dialogue flowed and that it was a good chapter. She wondered about what was served at the restaurant the characters visited, but Lisa explains it’s a ‘fusion’ joint. Judith reread some chapters and thinks things are converging. Andy wondered why a character would find a joke about their daughter funny instead of disgusting. Pat thought the ending was very compelling. Jerry thought one character was very laid-back about his mother getting out of prison. Kashmira thought Lisa could add a smell or some description to the restaurant scene.

Cindi reads from Chapter Five of North Road. Millie could relate to the story. Andy initially thought Chapter two was a bit of an info dump, with no dialogue, but the twist at the end hooked him. Amber thought there could be a little more shorthand between sisters in the section that was read to the group. Pat thought she could cut quite a bit out of these chapters and get right into the meat of the story, the part that has emotional resonance. Bob gets the value of telling a story slowly and methodically, but it does bog it down in places. Bob also likes the characters but doesn’t think she needs to hold the reader’s hands.

Bob reads from his short story Hole in the Wall. Lisa was confused about a character who gets introduced. Pat liked the tone though she doesn’t like scary stories. Lisa thought it was too light and didn’t think a lot happened. Some thought it could be ominous. Jerry has a question about geography and if the hole has been taken out yet. Cindi and Pat thought it was very visual, which was great. (more…)

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Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , on May 3, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Writer’s Mail
April 19, 2012
By Pat Edwards

“If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor.” – Edgar Rice Burroughs

Notes from 4-17-12
Eight of us around the table tonight – 1 guest. Jaida, finishing her English degree, sits in with the group after having visited with 2nd and 4th.

Rebecca shares chapter 6 of The Cheese Logue. Lisa really enjoys the writing and admires her clarity. Pat wonders if there should be a break after a particular scene. Jen agrees it needs a better transition. Jerry didn’t follow the description of putting the money in the register. Greg thought this was the best integrated chapter so far. A couple of people were surprised at the age of one of the characters. Pat liked the juxtaposition of Rebecca not being afraid to wear a cheesehead in public, but terrified of reading in front of the group.

Lisa shares Chaper 2 of Follow the Yellow. Jerry had a question about the way something was written – it sounded as if one character placed a hat on her own head instead of another characters. Pat wondered why there was so much info about a new character. Rebecca thought it was strange someone bit their lip so hard it bled. Jen wonders how much ASL one character knows. Turns out, none, the character’s mother is translating. There’s some question and discussion about the level of mental ability of one character and all of the childlike characteristics she displays.

Pat shares her poem, Luna. First of all, I’m honored to have my name mentioned in a poem by Pat. Lisa admits the moon is her favorite heavenly body. Greg didn’t think it was Pat’s most poetic poem, but he likes the moon, too. There’s some question of measuring the moon with one’s thumb; Greg didn’t like it, Jaida liked the visual. Jen liked the last two lines, Lisa didn’t –that’s poetry folks. (more…)

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Writer’s Mail

Posted in Newsletter, tagged , , , , , on May 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Albert Camus:
“The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.”

Tuesdays With Story Writers Mail, May 6, 2010
by Carol Shay Hornung

Note from the Editor: Hi gang. I’m jumping in to do the newsletter in May . . . Please send anything you might think would be useful. I’m aiming to have it out every Thursday, so with luck, here goes . . .

Tuesday Night at the Bookstore
Notes from Amber, 1st and 3rd

We are seven. Let’s see…yes, we have a male presence – Clayton! Now, we are eight. Woot, one more guy, Greg and finally John! And one newbie, Gwendolyn.

Pat is our facilitator for tonight!

Millie – Kim liked Zak in his hunky coat. Pat wondered if Erin’s parents would be amazed at how pretty she is or more about how grown up she looks. Millie gives us some background. Cathy was looking for more information on the debate at the end of the chapter. Clayton found lots of opportunities for detailing the relationship between Erin and her parents. Greg thought it flowed well but was looking for more drama. Nicole thought she could expand on conversations after consumption of the pot brownies.

Cathy – Millie thinks the analogies were great. Greg wants to know about beer, but doesn’t think there should be an overload of beer. John thinks we’re looking for a good story, not how to make beer. Clayton thinks some knowledge of beer should go toward solving the murder. Clayton thinks there’s opportunity for disagreement. Pat likes the characters and their dimensionality. Pat invents a new word – klugy, the opposite of elegant. John also liked the characterization of Nine. Greg thought it flowed well. (more…)

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