Just Write

Logan Library Writer's Group - April 9, 2008 Meeting Notes

ATENDEES:  Bill Merritt, Muhammad Maruf, Anne Wodnick, Leah Webb

BUSINESS:  Met with Anne Wodnick concerning the new blog.  We recieved a handout with directions for posting and commenting.  This form was to be e-mailed to all in the group.

It was discussed that the group might think about a set limit of people who will show for a meeting.  If less than 4 will be there, we might think about cancelling that night.  But also keep in touch with Catherine before a decision is made in case there is important information that is needed to be shared from Anne, etc.  Also, with summer coming up, it might be nice to keep track when people's vacations, etc. are going to be so we know how to plan for education and writing samples.

WRITING SAMPLES/FEEDBACK:  Bill gave Leah feedback on Joseph script.  He also shared a poem he wrote for his brother's fiance when she passed away.  What a beautiful way to honor her. He will be passing out copies to the rest of the group next week.  He is going to bring info on a poem that his brother wrote about his fiance and her sister that was published.  He is also planning on bringing a work called "Cape May" and then another writing that is of a lighter tone. 

Muhammad is working on a  25 page paper on dreams (in another group).  He has put some of the info he has on dreams on Facebook.  When you go to Facebook, type "society for anthropology of consciousness" and you should be able to find his writing there.

FUTURE EDUCATION, WRITING SUBMISSIONS:   April 23

• Education:  Andrea
• Writing Submissions: Bill and feedback on Andrea's story

April 23, 2008 "Just Write" Meeting Notes

Attendees: Bill Merritt, Andrea Gadson, Jo Ann Laughlin, Joan Romeo

New Member: Dave Warren

Scribe: Joan Romeo

Facilitator: Andrea Gadson

Welcome to new member Dave! We are very happy to have you as part of the group, and we look forward to your contributions. Dave is a published author who writes fiction for young adults.

Educational Segment

Anne Wodnick, Branch Manager, spent the first part of the meeting showing the group how to use the Blog.

Some tips:

Notify Anne at awodnick@gcls.org when you want to submit a post; this will alert Anne that there is a post that needs her approval as Blog Administrator.

When posting on the Blog, use your name or initial to indicate you as the author of the post.

See Blog handout for access instructions.

Critique Segment

The group critiqued a writing sample from Bill Merritt, entitled, "Cape May....my summer utopia."

Bill would like to continue working on this piece and will bring it back again to the next meeting.

The group also critiqued a writing sample from Dave, entitled, "Jest".  Dave also shared some tips on how to submit a query letter.

Upcoming Event:

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 10, 2008. Anne Wodnick has booked author, John Bond. John attended the Circle of Authors conference attended by Anne and has agreed to be a guest speaker for our first meeting in September. Specific information about this upcoming workshop will be available at a later date.

Next Meeting, May 14th, @7pm

Education:    Andrea Gadson

Writing Submission:     Bill Merritt

                                          Andrea Gadson

Meeting notes submitted by:  Joan Romeo

MAY 14, 2008

ATENDEES:  Joan Romeo, Bill Merritt, Catherine Sampson, Leah Webb, Muhammad Maruf, Joanne Laughlin, Gwynne Schaeffer

SCRIBE:  Leah Webb

BUSINESS: 

• Pictures from prior meeting reviewed - will be placed on blog.
• Newly completed brochures distributed to members.
• Meeting notes will be held for approval at next meeting before placing on blog.
• David Warren's book, Promised Land, PA;  Terror Has a New Home is available at the Logan Library.  Take a look.
• Notes, etc from all prior meetings will be archived on the blog.
• Members are encourage to place articles, etc. of interest on the blog.

 EDUCATION:  Gwynne shared a book called A Writers Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You by Ralph Fletcher.

IN MEETING WRITING SAMPLES:  None

WRITING SUBMISSIONS:

• Bill Merritt submitted Cape May. He is deciding if it should be prose or poetry.  Will redo it for next meeting.
• Gwynne has resubmitted her Jamal story for publication.

 OTHER MATTERS:

• Joanne has backlogged copies of writing magazines she will share.
• Author recommendation: Stephenie Meyer/ an American J.D. Rollins.
• Discussion of pros/cons of only reading authors that are of the same style you write.

 NEXT MEETING:

• Education:  Andrea (2nd part of editing)
• Writing submissions: Bill and Andrea
• In-meeting topic: Catherine

ATENDEES:  Muhammad M, Gwynne S, Bill M, Joann L, Leah W, Christine J(first time)

SCRIBE:  Leah W

BUSINESS:

• Reviewed prior meeting notes
• Reminder to check blog for new admissions and electronic copies
• Discussed idea that 2 people be prepared for education in case the first is not there
• Muhammad explained he will be doing geneology/kinship charts
• Discussed how historical events fit with story line and characters

EDUCATION:  Joanne provided writer's magazines for member's use. Discussed articles that fit with people's style and ideas that could be used for future education.

 WRITING SUBMISSIONS:

• Bill: "Seal" story
• Chris: shared memoir of time as a child

NEXT MEETING::

• Education: Andrea or Leah
• Writing submissions: Bill and Andrea (or Leah)

SCRIBE: Leah W

BUSINESS:

• Reviewed prior meeting notes
• Reviewed dates of summer meetings in July and August
• Muhammad shared info about convention in Atlantic City.
• Info received from Craig Newman, past speaker to the writing group.  Expect e-mail.

EDUCATION:  Leah provided a hand-out dealing with competition in the market when writing a book proposal.

OTHER MATTERS:  Discussion on knowing the difference between an untapped market and a "just not-there" market.  Also, if there is no market yet, how to use examples of other authors who took the very first steps in their specific market.

IN-MEETING WRITING:  "Seven days ago--------------, but now nobody will talk to me"

WRITING SUBMISSIONS: 

• Bill:  "Cape May" - more revisions, but in fthe uture, he will add ideas from prior drafts.
• Andrea:"God and His Ant" - she will be placing this up on her own blog when compleed.  Waiting to hear about story she submitted to a contest in "Writer's Digest"
• Leah: feedback and ideas on what to do before submitting script/ contacting churches and finding out if plays get copyrighted.

 NEXT MEETING:  Education: Andrea

ATENDEES:  Bill Meritt, Andrea Gadson, Alex Balsiki, Karen Baliski, Richard Parker, Richard Voza, Leah Webb, Muhammad Maruf, Jo Ann Laughlin, Catherine Sampson

BUSINESS:  Three new members.  Shared meeting structure, our background, our mission, styles of writing of each member, etc.  The group willl meet both times each month during the summer. to comply with library PR.

IN MEETING WRITING:  "That will come back to haunt you"

EDUCATION:  Andrea shared steps for successful editing, activity on passive sentences, types of editing.

WRITING SUBMISSIONS: 

• Muhammad:   "A Geneology of Geneology".  He will be sharing more over the next several months.
• Joanne:  "A Pleasant Land, A Goodly Heritage: Story of a South Jersey Homestead".  She is planning to develop a  book with 3 parts.

NEXT MEETING:

• Education:  Not assigned
• Writings:  Bill, Joanne, Alexa, Richard

SCRIBE: Muhammad Maruf

ATTENDEES: Chris Juliano, Joann Laughlin, Muhammad Ma'ruf, Bill Merritt, Richard Parker

IN-MEETING WRITING EXERCISE: Write a piece to fit the title "Lost Product" in prose, poetry or other form.

EDUCATION : Joann presented explanations of words and expressions describing concepts relevant in wriing narratives. Presentation was based on a 14 page document , derived from a publication of the Nieman Foundation For Journalism.

WRITING SUBMISSIONS: Bill Merritt's "Disaster on Crum Creek" and Muhammad's revised version of "Untitled" (geneology) were read and critiqued.  Also, a continuation of the discussion of Joann's "A Pleasant Land, A Goodly Heritage: The Story of a South Jersey Homestead".

NEXT MEETING: 

• Education (none)
• Writing submissions: Bill, Alexa, Chris

ATENDEES:  Bill Merritt, Muhammad Maruf, Leah Webb, Alexa and Karen

SCRIBE:  Leah Webb

BUSINESS: 

• Review of prior meeting notes
• Prior archives for blog/ Should it be both notes and submissions?
• Book Reccomendation: "Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold
• Discussion concerning education being only once a month

IN-MEETING WRITING: "Write a letter to yourself as if it were from someone you love or dislike"

WRITING SUBMISSIONS: Bill and Alexa shared their writing.  Bill is going to submit his paper "Cape May" to the Cape May Gazette

NEXT MEETING: No assignments