Next Meeting: February 11!!

Yes, writerly people of the Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council (MECAC), our next meeting of the MECAC Writers Workshop is this Tuesday evening, February 11 at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring a short sample of your recent work to share and we'll offer our thoughts and ideas as we work together to improve our writing and support one another on our writerly journeys!!

And good news!! Our own MECAC Writers Workshop member Maureen Brown's new book The Exile of Cain is now available on Amazon here: The Exile of Cain. You may also find more information on her site: The Exile of Cain. (This link is also in the sidebar of this site.) 

So let's celebrate Maureen's publication success and work together to get our writing published as well!

See you all on Tuesday!!

WRITE-IN!

In November our Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council held a Write-In as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and we had a lovely time writing and chatting and drinking warm, bracing coffees and teas. 

In fact, the Saturday meeting was so successful that we thought we'd try it every couple of months.

So we'll be meeting on Saturday, January 18 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. 

Bring your laptops, notebooks, pens, and whatever writing utensils you use, and we'll have a wonderful writing session together!! 

See you there!!

PS The Writer's Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University is coming up in late February. Thanks to a dear friend, I'm attending the session with Anne Lamott, author of the incredible book on writing Bird by Bird. Check the link for dates, times, and prices. 

Next Meeting: November 12!

As National Novel Writing Month begins, it's time for our lovely reminder regarding our monthly meeting.

Our next meeting will be Tuesday, November 12 in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library starting at 7:00 PM.

Bring copies of a page or two (three at most) of your latest writing, and we'll read together and offer verbal and written feedback.

We always have a terrific time together, so we hope to see a full room on November 12th!

And don't forget NaNoWriMo!!  Even if you don't reach 50,000 words in November, you will write more than you would have otherwise...and that's a great thing. :)

See you all on the 12th!!

November Means NaNoWriMo!!

 

November is coming quickly upon us, and November means National Novel Writing Month, or affectionately known as NaNoWriMo.

Here's the link for the website: NaNoWriMo

Basically, several hundred thousand writers join together to each write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November.

Yes, that averages to writing 1,667 words per day in order to finish all 50,000 words by 11:59 PM on November 30.

I will be trying (and I emphasize "trying") to participate since I offer NaNoWriMo as extra credit for my Expository Essay students. If anyone would like to add me as a Writing "Buddy," my user name is SusanneB and my profile is available at http://nanowrimo.org/participants/susanneb.    

So let's keep on writing as November comes!! We'll be getting together for our regular meeting on Tuesday, November 12th at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library. I'll send a reminder a day or two before the meeting as usual.

See you then...and happy writing!! :)

 

 

November's NaNoWriMo Is Just Around the Corner....

Dear Burgeoning Novelist,

I'm writing to tell you I need you. That's right, I've been swirling around in the breathtaking labyrinths of your unconscious mind for a while now, and I'm itching to leap into the world. The only way I can come out, though, is if you commit to writing me in November.

So, if you haven't already, please sign in for 2013 NaNoWriMo and create me. For inspiration, just read Abby's story in our 2012 Annual Report. Abby's novel was such a powerful force that she faced down naysayers, found a way to write while juggling a busy life, and then crossed the finish line on the shoulders of NaNo's amazing community.

I know we'll write a gobsmacking, mind-bending story as well, so please commit to writing me in the following ways.

Donate $10 for the love of me. NaNo research shows that people who donate are more likely to write 50,000 words. But your donation means more than that. Your support will help approximately 500,000 people realize their writing dreams this year. You can spark a creative revolution!

Start prepping with a NaNo notebook—just released! We have so much to decide. Who is our protagonist? What sorts of wicked plans are our tales' rapscallions hatching? Sure, I've been swimming among the stories in your unconscious depths, but we have to start working to get 'em all out onto the page.

So let's get in the noveling mood. Check out these NaNo Prep resources to get primed:

• 10 Reasons You Should Do NaNoWriMo
• Inside the Mind of a Planner
• Pantser? Planner? Percolator?

Above all, please just write me. November is a grand celebration of everyone's amazing creative powers, so let's plunge into NaNo's rollicking mayhem and give light to a riveting story.

With rip-roaring wishes,

Your 2013 NaNo Novel
Word count: Ready to go...

***********

So, are we ready to write our novels, dear writers???

Think about it...and perhaps we can meet at the Pine Valley Library or at Pine Valley Java to write together a few times during November. :)

Writing with you,

Next Meeting October 8!!

The next meeting of the Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council (MECAC) Writers' Workshop is Tuesday, October 8 at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library.

 

Come join the writers of the Mountain Empire Area as we share our writings! Anyone remotely interested in writing is welcome to attend either to just listen or to join in the sharing!

 

If desired, bring 1-2 pages of writing to share with the group, and please make 6-8 copies so that other writers may offer written feedback as well as oral commentary.

 

Come check out our group and learn more about the art and craft of writing!

 

"How vain is it to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live."

~Henry David Thoreau

 

Next Meeting: September 10!!

The next meeting of the Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council (MECAC) Writers' Workshop is Tuesday, September 10 at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Pine Valley Library.

 

Come join the writers of the Mountain Empire Area as we share our writings! Anyone remotely interested in writing is welcome to attend either to just listen or to join in the sharing!

 

If desired, bring 1-2 pages of writing to share with the group, and please make 6-8 copies so that other writers may offer written feedback as well as oral commentary.

 

We look forward to seeing you there!!