Critique Groups - Classes - SCW Contest

Classes

 

Sacramento Christian Writers

Ascension Lutheran Church
7607 Garden Gate Drive, Citrus Heights 

 

What You Missed:

Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Debbie Fuller Thomas
“What I Wish I’d Known”

Debbie presented what she learned from the publishing of her first book. The most important was

Wisdom. Fifteen years after writing her first story, she sold her first article written in a Junior College class. She soon learned that this was a fluke and it took many more years of writing to be published again. She carved out her writing time while her daycare children were napping. She started small with articles before her novels. Her debut novel, Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon was a finalist for both the 2009 Christy Award and the ACFW Book of the Year. Her second novel is Raising Rain.

On her blog site, Debbie asked her writing friends, “What I wish I’d known.”

Here are some of their answers.

• Pray more and turn your writing over to God’s leading. Be patient
• It is of key importance to follow-up your submissions
• Observe the due date and be on time or even early
• Start small and work up to longer works and books
• Set and keep a reasonable schedule to write at least several days a week.
• Hone your craft, guard your writing time
• Turn off your inner critique and just write full speed
• Practice writing, let other eyes edit, and practice some more
• Be strict in cutting the flab---your little darlings must go
• Allow pain and joy in your writing, to make tears and laughter for the reader
• True success is one-hundred pages without an “ly” word
• When rejected, tweak and submit it somewhere else
• Write well, edit often, rewrite till it’s the best you can make it
• Keep a list of character names. Note their physical and personality characteristics
• Have readers catch typos, have critique groups catch everything. Be open
• Within your style, make the changes the publisher wants
• Genres have cycles, wait for yours to reappear in God’s timing
• Stay true to your calling of what you write best
• Read books on writing, attend writing classes and conferences
• Network on line, with others in person and in writing groups.
• Get your name and writing seen on blogs and websites.
• Study publishers, don’t pitch to wrong house
• Be passionate about your book give it time and energy to market
• Be grounded, faithful to your call and professional
• Be honest and also encouraging to writers in your critique group
• Use description balanced with dialogue in articles and books
• Burst from your heart. Be creative
• Keep track to acknowledge all who have helped you write. Be thankful

Respectfully submitted by Beth Self

 

What You Missed:

Thursday, July 8, 2010
Lila Fraizer
“A Work-in-Progress “

To what group is your writing directed?

Establish your writing style and target reader: Is it for Yourself? Your family? God?

How to write and article or book.

1. Idea. Look everywhere, the environment, Personal experience, Media.
2. Legacy. Unique to you and your family, Memories, Family Treasure
3. Research. Online, Pamphlets, Walking Tour of Setting, Books, Be accurate.
4. Read. Find award books in the area of your genre, time period and publisher.
5. Write. Write. Write. Be truthful, charming, clever, interesting, surprising
6. Rewrite and rewrite. Stop and when done.
7. Critique. Have your group critique for clarification tone, POV, and copy edit.
8. Editor rewrites. Make changes to improve manuscript and keep your voice.
9. Conferences. Meet and secure agents and publishers.
10. Promote. Market by, internet, friends, interested people and speaking to groups

Lila gave us the eighteen steps she has taken so far to get her book in print. They are; Idea, Write, Research, Critiqued, Write some more, More Critiques, Searched for an Agent, Sent Complete Manuscript, Rejected, Sent to Publisher; Proposal---Synopsis---First two Chapters, Rejected, Joined Writing Society, Attended Conference, Found three Publishers, Sent to one Publisher---No response, Preparing to send whole Manuscript to second Publisher. Will send to third Publisher before deadline in October. Still optimistic.

Reported by BethSelf

 

 

You Won't Want to Miss:

 

General Meeting Thursday, August 12, 2010, 6:15 – 8:15 PM at Ascension Church, 7607 Garden Gate Drive, Citrus Heights, in the conference room.

Character Development

Presented by Julie Williams
It’s been said that no character wants to play a bit part. Each should desire to be the star of your work. Whether you’re writing a novel, short story, poem, or devotional, it’s imperative that every character you create be fully developed before you write that final draft. So, we’ll look at techniques for discovering temperament and personality traits with David Keirsey’s book Please Understand Me II. We’ll glean valuable advice from Brandilyn Collins’ book Getting into Character to find our character’s core values, mannerisms, actions objectives, and inner rhythm. Then we’ll look at some great online resources to help us color our character’s passions so they leap off the page. And if you’re like me, you may learn as much about your own character as about those of whom you write.

 

Critique Groups

 

The afternoon critique meetings are held on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Thursdays of the month starting at 1:00 PM at Ascension Church, 7607 Garden Gate Drive, Citrus Heights, in the conference room.

First Thursday upcoming dates are: August 5th, Sept. 2nd, Oct. 7th from 1-3 PM. Bring eight copies of your 1500 words. Join us with or without a manuscript.

Third Thursday upcoming dates are: July 15th, August 19th, Sept. 16th, Oct. 21st from 1-5 PM. The third Thursday is for longer, 20 pages, edits of a manuscript for flow and sequence, in one sitting.
E-mail Beth to be included on this schedule. cwbself@msn.com Unless scheduled come without a manuscrip to learn to be a critique editor.

Fourth Thursday critique group will meet on July 22nd, August 26th, Sept. 23rd, Oct. 28th from 1-3 PM. Bring eight copies of your 1500 words or come without your writing to learn to critique.

The Next Fellowship Luncheon is on the Fifth Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 1:00 PM. It is our Annual Summer Potluck Picnic at our president's home. Directions will be in the picnic informaion reminder email. If you are not on our weekly emial list, let us know cwbself@msn.com Please bring the following if your last name begins with: A-F Sandwitches, G-L Soft drinks/water, M-S Salads, T-Z Desserts/fruit. Please email your intentions and what you will bring.

The following Fellowship Luncheon on the Fifth Thursday is on September 30, 2010 at the Taste of Tuscany on Antelope Road at Roseville Road at 1:00 Email Beth if you want to car pool cwbself@msn.com

 

For all critique groups we ask you to bring:

1. Your body, as a writer and/or editor.
2. Your mind, with an open attitude.
3. Your spirit, tuned in and teachable.
4. Your heart, to share encouraging critiques.
5. Your desire, to ponder the ideas given for your growth.
6. Your thirst, your own water to drink (the other thirst, too).
7. Your writing, eight double spaced typed copies (1500 word limit).
8. Your ears, ready to listen.
9. Your hands, to thoughtfully take editing notes.
10. Your expectation, of a blessing in your Writing for Him.

 

 

SCW Challenge

 

SCW sponsors a members only summer writing challenge.

 

Critique Groups - Classes - SCW Challenge