Just Write

Facilitator: Jo Ann.  The meeting began shortly after 7 PM.

Present:  Pam, Jane, Jo Ann, Muhammad, Bill and Richard.

Minutes:  No minutes were submitted for approval.

Announcements: 

• Muhammad shared information he received on the New Jersey Writer's Conference to be held in Atlantic City in September.  He passed around a brochure with conference information and a web site address.
• Pam shared information she had obtained from reading Writer's Market including the suggestion to maintain an idea log and how to prepare a query letter.
• Jo Ann mentioned the idea of offering a reading of members' works in the fall.  She had found the idea in a book about writers' groups. 
• Jo Ann sent a reminder of tonight's meeting to everyone.  Everyone appreciated that.  It was suggested that in the future the agenda be attached to the notice.

In Meeting Writing:  Jo Ann provided the writing prompt for the in meeting writing portion of the meeting.  It was, "The officer asked, 'Are you Morgan Fields?'  I answered, 'Yes, but...'"  Richard, Jane, Muhammad and Bill read their in meeting writing.

Reading and Critique of Group Members'Writing Submissions:  There were three writing submissions.  Pam submitted Finding Patterns in Astrology; Muhammad submitted Ben Franklin and the Genealogy of Writers' Groups; Jane submitted Does Marriage Really Matter.

Writers' Reports - Works in Progress, Goals, and Progress Toward Goals: 

• Richard has submitted several short stories to his college magazine.
• Pam is going to submit work to writing contests.
• Muhammad will continue work on the Ben Franklin piece.
• Bill is working on a piece about dreams and will have a submission for an upcoming meeting.
• Jane will continue working on her essay on marriage.
• Jo Ann will bring in a children's short story next time.  She is also working on the memoir and a sketch for a novel.

Meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM.  Next meeting: May 27, 2009.

Scribe:  Jo Ann

Facilitator:  Jo Ann.  The meeting began shortly after 7 PM.

Present:  Pam, Jane, Jo Ann, Muhammad, Bill

Announcements:  Jo Ann asked if the members wished to pursue the idea of sponsoring a reading of group members' work.  The idea had been mentioned at the 5/13 meeting.  The members discussed it further and decided they wished to pursude it.  Pam suggested late September or early October would be a good time for the event.  The possible time of day for the event was discussed and it was the consensus of those present that evening would be preferable.  Members would prepare work to read at the event, both fiction and non-fiction, for children and adults.  Jo Ann suggested that light refreshments be offered and the event be held in the larger meeting room.  she volunteered to contact Anne to get her comments about the proposed event.  Jo Ann also noted that an updated member contact list was needed and she offered to ask Anne about that.

In Meeting Writing:  Jo Ann provided the writing prompt for the in meeting writing portion of the meeting.  It was, "This is the life", he said.  "What's left of it," she said."  Jane, bill, Pam and Mohammed read their in meeting writing.

Reading and Critique of Group Members' Writing Submissions:  There were two writing submissions.  Jo Ann submitted her  children's short story, The Wedding Trees, and Pam submitted her nonfiction piece, Uncensored Response to Social Security Disability Questions.

Writers' Reports - Works in Progress, Goals, and Progreses Toward Goals:  There was no discussion.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.  next meeting: June 10, 2009.

Scribe:  Jo Ann