Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 15!!

 We will be meeting online via Zoom on Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 PM. 

(Rescheduling after the evacuation warning/alerts of last week and all the resultant hubbub)

On Monday (9/14), I will e-mail the Zoom link for our meeting to everyone on our current e-mail list along with a request to send me the writings that you all wish to be read and workshopped by the group by Tuesday noon. Then I will e-mail these writings in a single PDF document to the group on Tuesday afternoon. 

You may print up the writings and read them before our meeting, or you may read them from a separate device than the one you are using for Zoom. 

If anyone wants to join us and didn't send me their writings, they may read their work aloud and receive some feedback. If someone would like to attend who isn't part of our group, you may send me their e-mail, and I will forward them the e-mail with the Zoom link plus the group's writings for the Zoom meeting.  

If you aren't on our e-mail list, please contact me via e-mail and I'll be happy to add you: Booklovingbunch@aol.com. Conversely, if you no longer wish to receive e-mails from this group, please reply to the email I send with your request to unsubscribe. Thank you!!

Everyone interested in writing is welcome to attend--we'd love to have you!! We are meeting monthly; I just don't always get the announcements posted here!! ;)

Let's continue writing bravely during this time of challenge. Once the libraries reopen fully, we will discuss how we will proceed with our meetings. 

Writing with you,

"Read, read, read. Read everything--trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out the window." ~William Faulkner

Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 16

We will be meeting online via Zoom on Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 PM. 

(Yes, this is the third Tuesday of the month, but I have been buried in teaching a very wonderful but extremely draining online Shakespeare class to homeschoolers, so we moved our meeting up a week. We will resume meeting on the second Tuesday in July).

I will be e-mailing the Zoom link to everyone on our current list along with the writings sent to me to read and be workshopped. You may print up the writings and read them before our meeting, or you may read them from a separate device than the one you are using for Zoom. 

If anyone wants to join us and didn't send me their writings, they may read their work aloud and receive some feedback. If they aren't part of our group, you may forward them the e-mail with the link.  

If you aren't on our e-mail list, please contact me via e-mail and I'll be happy to add you: Booklovingbunch@aol.com

Everyone interested in writing is welcome to attend--we'd love to have you!! We are meeting monthly; I just don't always get the announcements posted here!! 

Let's continue writing bravely during this time of tragedy and loss. Once the libraries reopen, we will discuss how we will proceed with our meetings. 

Writing with you,

"Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul." ~Anne Lamott

Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 14!

We will be meeting online via Zoom on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 PM. 

I will be e-mailing the Zoom link to everyone on our current list along with the writings sent to me to read and be workshopped. You may print up the writings and read them before our meeting, or you may read them from a separate device than the one you are using for Zoom. 

If anyone wants to join us and didn't send me their writings, they may read their work aloud and receive some feedback. If they aren't part of our group, you may forward them the e-mail with the link.  

Everyone interested in writing is welcome to attend--we'd love to have you!! 

Let's continue writing bravely during this time of tragedy and loss!! 

Writing with you,

"Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul." ~Anne Lamott

Next Meeting: February 11!!

The next meeting of the Writers' Workshop of the Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council (MECAC) will be Tuesday, February 11 at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Please bring 6-8 copies of either fewer than 1500 words of prose or a poem (two tops) to share for feedback with the group. 

Everyone interested in learning more about and improving their writing is encouraged to attend. 

In addition, we have the 25th Annual Writers Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University at the end of February (25th-27th). I have my tickets to see Alice Walker on the 27th, and I'm so excited to attend. I'm not sure if the sessions are sold out at the time of the reading of this announcement, but information and tickets may be found at https://www.pointloma.edu/events/25th-annual-writers-symposium-sea. 

I hope to see you at our next workshop meeting!! Happy writing!

"Stories are where memories go when they are forgotten."

 ~The Twelfth Doctor, Doctor Who

Next Meeting: Tuesday, December 10!!

The Writers Workshop of the Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council (MECAC) will meet on Tuesday, December 10 in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library starting at 7:00 PM. Most meetings last about 90 minutes. 

Please bring 6-8 copies of a piece of writing to share and be workshopped. Please keep prose below 1500 words or bring one poem--two if they are brief. 

We will read our work aloud as the group follows along, marking copies and making comments and suggestions. We are a supportive and encouraging group, and we are especially so for new writers. 

Anyone interested in learning more about the craft of writing is encouraged to attend! Please bring a friend!! 

We will also be discussing our annual attendance at the Writer's Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University in February. This event is always amazing, but this year is even more special as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this event with Alice Walker among the speakers. We do not want to miss this special event!

Have a joyous Christmas and a blessed 2020!! 

Writing with you, 

Susanne  

Next Meeting: Tuesday, November 12

The writers of the Mountain Empire area of San Diego County will be meeting the second Tuesday of November, the 12th, at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring 6-8 copies of a poem or no more than 1500 words of prose to be shared and receive feedback from the group. 

But if you don't have writings to share this month, please come to offer your two cents to our writing friends. We all desire feedback on our work, and your ideas may be just the thing!! 

This month is also National Novel Writing Month! For more information, see NaNoWriMo.org! We will add information on a possible Write-In date at the Pine Valley Library as soon as a date is confirmed. 

Hope to see you all on Tuesday, November 12th! 

Writing with you, 

“I admire anybody who has the guts to write anything at all.”  
—E.B. White

Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 8!

The writers of the Mountain Empire area of San Diego County will be meeting the second Tuesday of October, the 8th, at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring 6-8 copies of a poem or no more than 1500 words of prose to be shared and receive feedback from the group. 

But if you don't have writings to share, come to offer your two cents to our writing friends. We all desire feedback on our work, and your ideas may be just the thing! 

And don't forget: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is coming up soon in November! Perhaps we'll hold another "Write-In" on a Saturday at the Pine Valley Library! Let us know if you'll come! 
Hope to see you all on Tuesday, October 8th!

And a little fun with Poe for October! 

Writing with you,

"I am a writer. Therefore, I am not sane." ~Edgar Allan Poe

Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 10!

The writers of the Mountain Empire area of San Diego County will be meeting the second Tuesday of the month, September 10th, at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring 6-8 copies of a poem or no more than 1500 words of prose to be shared and receive feedback from the group. 

But if you don't have writings to share, come to offer your two cents to our writing friends. We all desire feedback on our work, and your ideas may be just the thing! 

And please feel free to bring friends interested in writing. The more, the merrier--always! 


Hope to see you all on Tuesday, September 10th!

Writing with you, 

"Poetry is like a bird; it ignores all frontiers." ~Yevgeny Yevtushenko

Meeting on Tuesday, July 9!

Welcome!! The next meeting of the Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council's Writing Workshop is this Tuesday, July 9, at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library.

Please bring 6-8 copies of a poem or two OR up to 1500 words of prose to be shared and workshopped with the group. 

If you don't have anything to share this month, no worries! You may offer your feedback to other writers and be part of the process!

Everyone interested in writing is encouraged to attend. We love meeting new people interested in writing!!  

We hope to see you on Tuesday! 

Writing with you, 

"Meaning is not what you start with, but what you end up with." ~Peter Elbow

Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 11!!

Welcome!! The next meeting of the Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council's Writing Workshop is this Tuesday, June 11, at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library.

Please bring 6-8 copies of a poem or two OR up to 1500 words of prose to be shared and workshopped with the group. 

If you don't have anything to share this month, no worries! You may offer your feedback to other writers and be part of the process!

Everyone interested in writing is encouraged to attend. We love first-timers!!  

We hope to see you on Tuesday! 

Writing with you, 

“Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.” ~Ray Bradbury

Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 9th!

The writers of the Mountain Empire area of San Diego County will be meeting the second Tuesday of the month, April 9th, at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring 6-8 copies of a poem or no more than 1500 words of prose to be shared and receive feedback from the group. 

But if you don't have writings to share, come to offer your two cents to our writing friends. We all desire feedback on our work, and your ideas may be just the thing! 

And please feel free to bring friends interested in writing. The more, the merrier--always! 


Hope to see you all on Tuesday, April 9th!

Writing with you, 

Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 12!!

The writers of the Mountain Empire area of San Diego County will be meeting the second Tuesday of the month, March 12th, at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring 6-8 copies of a poem or no more than 1500 words of prose to be shared and receive feedback from the group. 

But if you don't have writings to share, come to offer your two cents to our writing friends. We all desire feedback on our work, and your ideas may be just the thing! 

Hope to see you all on Tuesday, March 12th!

Writing with you, 

"So the writer who breeds more words than [s/]he needs is making a chore for the reader who reads." ~Dr. Seuss

Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 12th!

The Writers' Workshop of the Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council (MECAC) will be meeting on Tuesday, February 12, in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library at 7:00 PM. 

Please bring 6-8 copies of a poem or prose piece to share and receive feedback. 

If you didn't write anything this month, that's okay. Please come anyway to offer your insights to other writers on their work. 

This month is also the 24th annual Writers Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University. This event will be held on February 18-21. See the link above for information on the authors' interviews and talks and the overall schedule. For more specific information on the authors and their topics in the evening events, see this link: Writing That Imagines. Tickets range from $10-$20 per event. 

The Writers Symposium by the Sea has been a wonderful venue to see authors talk about the art and craft of writing. Past years' interviews can be seen at UCSD-TV/writers. 

Hope to see you Tuesday!

“The greatest part of a writer’s time is spent in reading, in order to write; a man will turn over half a library to make one book.” 
—Samuel Johnson

Next Meeting: December 11!!

Our final meeting of 2018 will be Tuesday, December 11 in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library at 7:00 PM. 

Please bring 6-8 copies of a poem or prose piece to share and receive feedback. 

If you didn't write anything this month, that's okay. Please come anyway to offer your insights to other writers on their work. 

Hope to see you all soon!! 

Take care, and keep writing!! 

Warmly,

"Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our sense of life: they feed the soul." ~Anne Lamott

Next Meeting: October 9!

The writers of the Mountain Empire area of San Diego County will be meeting the second Tuesday of October, the 9th, at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring 6-8 copies of a poem or no more than 1500 words of prose to be shared and receive feedback from the group. 

But if you don't have writings to share, come to offer your two cents to our writing friends. We all desire feedback on our work, and your ideas may be just the thing! 

And don't forget: National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is coming up soon in November! Perhaps we'll hold another "Write-In" on a Saturday at the Pine Valley Library! Let us know if you'll come! 
Hope to see you all on Tuesday, October 9th!

And a little Poe for October! 

Writing with you,

Next Meeting: September 11!!

The writers of the Mountain Empire area of San Diego County will be meeting the second Tuesday of the month, September 11th, at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring 6-8 copies of a poem or no more than 1500 words of prose to be shared and receive feedback from the group. 

But if you don't have writings to share, come to offer your two cents to our writing friends. We all desire feedback on our work, and your ideas may be just the thing! 

Hope to see you all on Tuesday, September 11th!

Writing with you, 

Next Meeting: Tuesday July 10th!

The writers of the Mountain Empire area of San Diego County will be meeting the second Tuesday of the month, July 10th, at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring 6-8 copies of a poem or no more than 1500 words of prose to be shared and receive feedback from the group. 

But if you don't have writings to share, come to offer your two cents to our writing friends. We all desire feedback on our work, and your ideas may be just the thing! 

Hope to see you all on Tuesday, July 10th!

Writing with you,

"I like nonsense; it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living." ~Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss)

Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 12!!

To All Mountain Empire Writers and Those Interested in Writing!

We meet the second Tuesday of the month (and have for over ten years now!) in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library at 7:00 PM. We'll be meeting this month on Tuesday, June 12 @ 7:00 PM! 

Bring 6-8 copies of a poem or fewer than 1500 words of prose if you'd like to receive written feedback. We're kind and helpful!! 

We also discuss publication strategies (especially those of us who are published) and work to improve our craft. 

Everyone is welcome--bring a writing friend!!

The Definition of Writing: "Throw up into your typewriter every morning. Clean up every afternoon." ~Raymond Chandler

Writing with you,