Meeting Update - 2009 Schedule

It's that time again. We will be starting a new session! Get ready to sharpen your writing skills:

When: 4th Tues. of the month
Where: Promise Land Christian Bookstore, Temecula, CA
What time: 7:00 -8:30 p.m.

For 2009, we will be working from a book called Revision & Self-Editing, by James Scott Bell.

You can pick one up at Barnes & Noble, or we can order a copy for you.

List price is $16.99.
Amazon price $11.55.

We will be ordering through Amazon. The price will be $12.45 + shipping.

Please let us know if you'll be joining us by e-mailing 6harmers@sbcglobal.net
Also, we need to know by Jan. 19 if you want us to order you a book.

We are looking forward to seeing all of you!

Meeting Preparation - 9/23 - An evening with LampPost Publications

Hello, everyone!

I'd like to invite you all to come meet Brett Burner of LampPost Publications!

Brett is joining us next Tuesday, September 23 at Promise Land Christian Bookstore - to discuss the varying aspects of Print on Demand publishing, and share his knowledge on the publishing process as a whole.

The questions we've asked him to talk on (and I'm sure there are many more good ones) are:

Everyone is invited to attend. At 7 p.m. on October 23, Brett Burner of Lamp Post Publishing will be our speak to the group at Promise Land bookstore on the 79 South/Temecula Parkway east of Pechanga Parkway. Turn in at the Longs Drug Store and go left to find Promise Land on the right.

Questions Brett will answer are:

What is a POD publisher?

What types of books do you publish / are you planning on publishing in 2009 & beyond?

How many authors do you work with?

How do authors find you, or vice versa?

What makes a query standout for you?

What happens after the contract is signed? Editorial process to E-book and print.

What sort of marketing do you do to support your authors? reviews? book signings? etc.?

Where do you see E-books going in the future?

Thanks for joining us for this exciting, informative meeting! and be sure to post your questions here so that we can alert him ahead of time! :)

Have a wonderful day, and many blessings on your writing as the conference approaches! wish I could join you...

~Ashley

What are you writing for?

I'm intrigued by today's Writing Tip comment--and was wondering if you all would weigh in with your thoughts.

Writing is both a privilege and a business.

There is so much truth in that. This gift we are all blessed with is a privilege. How are you using your gift? Are you playing with it? Are you honing it as a skill? Are you writing for yourself? For your friends? For your family? Or do you see this as your future?

We are entering the fall season - with thoughts towards writing for a more public audience. We are inviting guest speakers:

• A Publisher
• A Literary Agent

Our topics for fall are still under consideration as we review what you want to receive from our next series of meetings. Please chime in, and let us know how we can serve you and your needs as writers who take time out of your busy lives to hone your skills, and understand that balance is needed.

Looking forward to hearing your comments...

~Ashley

Meeting Review Tuesday May 27 2008

What drives your interest in a novel -character or plot? This was the beginning focal point for our Tuesday writer's session. It's a Catch 22 or a round-about if you try to answer the question "Does plot creater character or do characters drive the plot?" We all agreed a well-written combination of plot and character creates the best of winning stories. So don't neglect either one when you're laboring over that blank my story sheet.


Before diving into our 15 word 'catch an editor in the elevator' story line and 250 word synopsis, Dan presented Hunt's basic plot skeleton that describes the movement of 98% of story plots (see diagram below - click to view larger image).

The eyes have it; two problems complete a story structure
one problem for the characters on the surface (Dorothy gets trapped in Oz)
one problem that is less obvious that the reader identifies with (the Wizard isn’t who everyone thinks he is).

The body of the work moves with at least three conflicts after a primary incident that traps a compelling character into a situation from which they can’t escape. The character progresses through the pages to a final conflict – their largest and bleakest moment. This generally ends with an epiphany where realization of the struggle produces a change in character.
So when you have finished your final draft, put a tux on the skeleton and go accept the prize for your award winning story.

Here’s the summary for our 15/250 exercise:

15 word pitch includes:
· protagonist (ex: an archeology professor)
· story problem (saves the Arc of the Covenant from unholy war mongers)

250 word synopsis includes:
powerful, colorful words
character voice, author voice
presented in present tense
plot, setting, main characters
does not exceed one page (page and one-half for high concept novels)

Next week we will be discussing characters. Please email any reviews of this topic to the members of the group.





~Sharon

Elevator Pitch

Hey gang.
Time to get your 15 word pitch in.
Here is the one I'm thinking about for the next book.

A culinary boot camp diva gets a taste of the ultimate comfort food-- grace.

If you are struggling as much as I am with the 250 word, it may be because you don't know your plot.

If you are finished with your book and feel it would help to write a back cover synopsis, go for it. I look forward to reading them. But if this seems impossible don't worry we are planning on discussing plot this month. We will go over a simple plot skeleton. This will serve as an outline for your 250 word back cover and hopefully help your story stay on course.

The next two months will be devoted to the two most vital elements of novel writing. Plot and character. I look forward to all your input.
See you Tuesday,
God bless,
Dan and Denise

Point of View - Meeting Notes

Greetings, fellow authors!

I say that, because as we all know - if you are writing, you're an author. It is what God has put on your heart to do. We write because we must.

We've agreed that there is so much going on in everyone's life - that we needed to put together a group "blog" so that we can remember what we've learned, and keep an eye on where we're headed. This is our toolbox, and as we grow it will be interesting to see how far we've come as a group! Dan and Denise are steering the ship, and we are most grateful for their bringing us all together!

First of all, thanks again to Bev for hosting. We appreciate you! (from the guests who wouldn't leave...) Secondly, we had a few new members join us - a nod to Leonard and Tonya - we are looking forward to seeing more of what you are working on. Glad to have you! Third - thank you all for the kudos! It's exciting to have landed my first book contract - and a total God thing that my editor's suggestion was to review my novel for... Point of View violations. Ha!

This week, we met to work on POV (Point of View). We've each done research on what POV means, how it can be a useful tool in promoting suspense, sharing the motivations of your characters, and driving your story forward. We had the extra benefit of being able to review writing from each of the POV narratives:

• 1st Person - I picked up the cup and handed it to Donna.
• 2nd Person - you picked up the cup and handed it to Donna.
• 3rd Person - Jackie picked up the cup and handed it to Donna.

Each one serves a different purpose - and puts your reader in a different place. Each one has its benefits and limitations. We saw first person through Sharon's teenage baseball star. Second person was explored through Ralph's exploration of all three POVs, and third person was reviewed both from Bev's intimate (character's inner thoughts) and Fred's more action oriented, third person limited.

Next time, we will meet to give our Elevator Pitches - your story in 15 words or less! and to provide our 250 word "back cover blurb." This is not your full story synopsis, mind you - but a teaser that would entice readers to open your book. It is the most hair-pulling, mind-bending writing that we can do, but a challenge that you'll find well worth it.

Please comment to this posting, and leave your thoughts for good places to research how to write a blurb / elevator pitch!

God bless and good writing... or, as Dan says... metaphors be with you!

~Ashley*

*If you are interested in posting a blog entry, please e-mail me: ashleyludwig@verizon.net and I'll set you up!

Show Don't Tell - Preparation for group meeting

We're back. I can't wait to share some of the info on what's happening in the publishing world.

Ashley's article on Show don't Tell is perfect. I wish it had been explained clearly to me from the beginning. I finally get it. :)

Please send your first page or 500 words to one another. This means- send a copy to everyone on the list. Then examine one anothers work, looking especially for show don't tell. Caviat. There is a time for telling and we will be discussing that. Bring your comments on Tuesday. Shoot for having them e-mailed by the beginning of this weekend.

I feel this is one of the most important aspects to great writing. In the examples it becomes clear the powerful difference made by showing. God bless you guys. I look forward to our meeting at Bev's next tuesday.

Thanks! Dan