Guest speaker Jackie Lewis spoke to us about her writing endeavors as a local unpublished author as well as Editor of Minute magazine. Her talk was followed by a fascinating Q&A session.
Marian Poe told us of the Arkansas Writer's Conference and her contributions to Flashlight Memories, an anthology featuring work by her and Becky Haigler.
This month's Members-Only Mini Contest winner is Christy Cowden.
Cheryl Floyd presented the topic for this month:
Write a 750-1000 word short story in the genre of dystopia.
Dystopian stories are often set in the future and feature or have as the setting a society of bad circumstance in including oppressive control by the government, social conformity with no individualism, yet purport utopian achievement. Opposite of what one would call a "utopia" or perfect society of laws, customs, politics, and conditions.
Does not have to be futuristic.
Emphasize the setting or a protagonist's plight. Does he or she overcome as in the Giver, or succumb as in 1984?
As always, the meeting ended with a rousing Round-Robin session.
Flash-writing was pre-empted this month to accomodate time for our guest speaker.
Since 1935, Shreveport Writers Club has been a support group for writers. SWC includes writers from all stages of life. Many of us are published authors of fiction, non-fiction, or poetry. Others simply enjoy sharing their thoughts in written form with other people who love words.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
March Meeting
We had four guests at the meeting - Anil Minocha, Jana Ferguson, BIlly Neill, and Laurie Powers.
Guest Speaker Jim McClain talked to us about the process of self-publishing his book, Double-Team Trap, followed by a lively Q&A.
Barbara Moore won this month's Members Only Mini-Contest. She also presented us with a new topic:
Write a short story of 500 words or less involving all five senses.
Upcoming MOMC presenters were listed as:
April - Cheryl Floyd
May - Dave Hicks
June - Pam Raintree
Flash writing topics were presented by Christy Cowden:
1) That's Awesome
2) My Favorite Character
3) Mardi Gras
4) My Momma Said
5) Open topic
As always, the meeting was rounded out with another spectacular Round Robin reading.
The club would also like to extend get well wishes to Marie Brass and Shirley Brown. Hope you both feel better soon!
Guest Speaker Jim McClain talked to us about the process of self-publishing his book, Double-Team Trap, followed by a lively Q&A.
Barbara Moore won this month's Members Only Mini-Contest. She also presented us with a new topic:
Write a short story of 500 words or less involving all five senses.
Upcoming MOMC presenters were listed as:
April - Cheryl Floyd
May - Dave Hicks
June - Pam Raintree
Flash writing topics were presented by Christy Cowden:
1) That's Awesome
2) My Favorite Character
3) Mardi Gras
4) My Momma Said
5) Open topic
As always, the meeting was rounded out with another spectacular Round Robin reading.
The club would also like to extend get well wishes to Marie Brass and Shirley Brown. Hope you both feel better soon!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
February 12 Meeting
Phillip Volentine presented us with a skit entitled Megapixel Moment.
Flash Writing topics were presented by Barbara Moore:
1) Tell about a phrase evocative of your childhood, i.e. something your mother or father said
2) Write about a weird word you like (It has to be a real word)
3) If your name were a city anywhere in the world, what city would it be? (Paris, San Antonio, London, Hong Kong, Shreveport)
4) The kiss wasn't quite what I expected
5) Who is to blame for the Arizona shootings
We discussed compiling a history of the club (possibly on this page), and culling together various documents and other published works from and about the club. We will continue to work at getting a comprehensive club history documented.
Congratulations to Bonnie McEwan for winning the Verna Lee Hindgardner Award! Judge Sonia Coman Costanza remarked on her haiku, "In just seven words, this poem encapsulates a world of hope, transience, and change."
Marcy Simmons provided us with this month's Members Only Mini-Contest:
Hurricane Katrina was a devastating storm that will never be forgotten - it wrecked the lives of thousands, leaving them homeless and mentally shaken while killing hundreds more. People's lives were shattered, ripped apart, and life in the Big Easy became a living nightmare for those left stranded in its aftermath. It affected the nation in so many ways. Look at the picture (below) of real people after the storm and write a 500 word Fictional Narrative from the viewpoint of one of the young men in the photo - what was he feeling? What did he go through during the storm? Did he lose family members? Was he hungry? What was he feeling as he was trying to keep the battered boat afloat? Do you suppose hte other young man may have been his brother, son, or best friend? Suppose they had been trapped for days, and found the boat floating by in the garbage and rubble that floated through the streets. What was the one young man's reaction and how did he salvage the boat? Did he see this as their only tool for survival? Do you think he may have cried at some point and thought it was hopeless? Give him a fictional identity.
The December Mini-Contest was held over, so no winner was announced at this meeting. However, Bonnie McEwan added some flourish to the pass-around trophy:
The meeting was concluded, as always, with Making a Mark pens being distributed and a rousing Round-Robin reading.
Notes for upcoming meetings:
The April meeting will NOT be moved due to the conflict with the Christian Readers and Writers Conference.
Our March speaker will be Jim McClain, author of Double-Team Trap. He will also be bringing copies of his book for sale at $20 each.
Our April speaker will be Jackie Lewis, Editor of Minute Magazine.
Best wishes go out for a speedy recovery to Marie Brass who fell and injured herself recently. We all look forward to seeing her again at a meeting soon!
Flash Writing topics were presented by Barbara Moore:
1) Tell about a phrase evocative of your childhood, i.e. something your mother or father said
2) Write about a weird word you like (It has to be a real word)
3) If your name were a city anywhere in the world, what city would it be? (Paris, San Antonio, London, Hong Kong, Shreveport)
4) The kiss wasn't quite what I expected
5) Who is to blame for the Arizona shootings
We discussed compiling a history of the club (possibly on this page), and culling together various documents and other published works from and about the club. We will continue to work at getting a comprehensive club history documented.
Congratulations to Bonnie McEwan for winning the Verna Lee Hindgardner Award! Judge Sonia Coman Costanza remarked on her haiku, "In just seven words, this poem encapsulates a world of hope, transience, and change."
Marcy Simmons provided us with this month's Members Only Mini-Contest:
Hurricane Katrina was a devastating storm that will never be forgotten - it wrecked the lives of thousands, leaving them homeless and mentally shaken while killing hundreds more. People's lives were shattered, ripped apart, and life in the Big Easy became a living nightmare for those left stranded in its aftermath. It affected the nation in so many ways. Look at the picture (below) of real people after the storm and write a 500 word Fictional Narrative from the viewpoint of one of the young men in the photo - what was he feeling? What did he go through during the storm? Did he lose family members? Was he hungry? What was he feeling as he was trying to keep the battered boat afloat? Do you suppose hte other young man may have been his brother, son, or best friend? Suppose they had been trapped for days, and found the boat floating by in the garbage and rubble that floated through the streets. What was the one young man's reaction and how did he salvage the boat? Did he see this as their only tool for survival? Do you think he may have cried at some point and thought it was hopeless? Give him a fictional identity.
The December Mini-Contest was held over, so no winner was announced at this meeting. However, Bonnie McEwan added some flourish to the pass-around trophy:
The meeting was concluded, as always, with Making a Mark pens being distributed and a rousing Round-Robin reading.
Notes for upcoming meetings:
The April meeting will NOT be moved due to the conflict with the Christian Readers and Writers Conference.
Our March speaker will be Jim McClain, author of Double-Team Trap. He will also be bringing copies of his book for sale at $20 each.
Our April speaker will be Jackie Lewis, Editor of Minute Magazine.
Best wishes go out for a speedy recovery to Marie Brass who fell and injured herself recently. We all look forward to seeing her again at a meeting soon!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
February meeting rescheduled
Due to weather cancellation, the February meeting for the club has been moved to this Saturday, February 12th. Same time, same location.
Monday, January 17, 2011
January Meeting
We welcomed visitor (and now new member) Angela Wells.
Flash writing topics were presented by Bonnie McEwan:
-What do you think about the birds falling from the sky and the fish floating ashore?
-What happens to me during The Winter Solstice?
-If I could change one thing about myself it would be...
-Who is my hero? Why?
-What can I do about the one thing or person that (which) really irritates me?
Congratulations to Bonnie McEwan for winning the December Members Only Mini-Contest!
The January MOMC has been extended to be turned in at the February meeting. John Brizzi has provided the following topic:
Write a short piece of 500 words or less that is dialogue-driven.
MOMC topics will be provided by the following people in upcoming months:
February: Marci Simmons
March: Barbara Moore
April: Cheryl Floyd
May: Dave Hicks
Making a Mark pens were given out to Marie Brass, Shirley Brown, and Carlos Colon
Phillip Volentine distrubuted Minute Magazine, featuring a column he writes.
Barbara Moore demonstrated the Flip Dictionary, which led to a discussion of book resources
Lee Adams gave a motivational speech about writing that made everyone smile.
Outgoing President Becky Haigler was presented with an engraved pen and pedestal as a thank-you for her hard work and dedication under her tenure as club President.
Incoming President Christy Cowden announced the appointment of Phillip Volentine as the new club Vice President.
As always, the meeting ended with a resounding round robin reading session.
Flash writing topics were presented by Bonnie McEwan:
-What do you think about the birds falling from the sky and the fish floating ashore?
-What happens to me during The Winter Solstice?
-If I could change one thing about myself it would be...
-Who is my hero? Why?
-What can I do about the one thing or person that (which) really irritates me?
Congratulations to Bonnie McEwan for winning the December Members Only Mini-Contest!
The January MOMC has been extended to be turned in at the February meeting. John Brizzi has provided the following topic:
Write a short piece of 500 words or less that is dialogue-driven.
MOMC topics will be provided by the following people in upcoming months:
February: Marci Simmons
March: Barbara Moore
April: Cheryl Floyd
May: Dave Hicks
Making a Mark pens were given out to Marie Brass, Shirley Brown, and Carlos Colon
Phillip Volentine distrubuted Minute Magazine, featuring a column he writes.
Barbara Moore demonstrated the Flip Dictionary, which led to a discussion of book resources
Lee Adams gave a motivational speech about writing that made everyone smile.
Outgoing President Becky Haigler was presented with an engraved pen and pedestal as a thank-you for her hard work and dedication under her tenure as club President.
Incoming President Christy Cowden announced the appointment of Phillip Volentine as the new club Vice President.
As always, the meeting ended with a resounding round robin reading session.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Annual Holiday Party
On December 4th, we had our annual holiday party. A great time was had by all as we read holiday stories, ate, and made merry!
Regular business: Phillip Volentine collected submissions for the song lyrics Members-Only Mini Contest after he presented his song "Movin' On". Barbara Moore announced Marcy Simmons as November's Members-Only Mini-Contest winner for her story based on the lighthouse picture presented at October's meeting.
John Brizzi announced the theme for December's contest - "Write a short story of 500 words or less that is dialogue-based."
Pictures to be added soon!
Many of you asked for Julie Brizzi's hummus recipe. Here it is:
Red Pepper Hummus
2 cans garbanzo beans, drained
1 12 ounce jar roasted red peppers in water, drained - reserve liquid
juice of 1 small lemon
1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Put everything in a food processor and puree until smooth, gradually adding a tablespoon or two of liquid from red peppers until mixture is slightly fluffy. Transfer to serving bowl and chill 1 hour.
Garnish with fresh parsley.
Regular business: Phillip Volentine collected submissions for the song lyrics Members-Only Mini Contest after he presented his song "Movin' On". Barbara Moore announced Marcy Simmons as November's Members-Only Mini-Contest winner for her story based on the lighthouse picture presented at October's meeting.
John Brizzi announced the theme for December's contest - "Write a short story of 500 words or less that is dialogue-based."
Pictures to be added soon!
Many of you asked for Julie Brizzi's hummus recipe. Here it is:
Red Pepper Hummus
2 cans garbanzo beans, drained
1 12 ounce jar roasted red peppers in water, drained - reserve liquid
juice of 1 small lemon
1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Put everything in a food processor and puree until smooth, gradually adding a tablespoon or two of liquid from red peppers until mixture is slightly fluffy. Transfer to serving bowl and chill 1 hour.
Garnish with fresh parsley.
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