August 19th Meeting Report

We enjoyed a great meeting this Monday, hearing from Morgan St. James about writing good dialogue and improving our skills as writers. Gregory has started a tradition of giving away a book at each meeting. Most of the books are writing related. If you have a book to donate to the book bag (that is NOT your own novel), bring it to Gregory.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

*Remember the great drawing we're doing for all those members (excluding group officers) who paid their dues by the second week of August? Unfortunately, it's been delayed slightly. The drawing for the workshop critique will occur next week, August 26th. The workshop critique (where the four winners will read 8 to 10 pages and receive a 15 to 20 minute critique) will be at the Lutheran church on September 9th. Stay tuned!

*We have a speaker on Labor Day, September 2nd. Hope Clark from "Funds for Writers" is going to be in Vegas for the holiday weekend, and we are so excited that she's coming to talk to our group! Funds for Writers has been one of the "101 best websites for writers" (A list put out by Writer's Digest) for 12 years.

*We have a fun gala coming up in October.

*Preparations for the 2014 Las Vegas Writer's Conference are well underway. We have a good selection of authors and agents attending. A big Thank You to Darrah for all his work as Conference Coordinator.

*Dues are still due. If you haven't renewed your membership with HWG, you can do it through paypal online at this link, or you can bring $40 to one of the next meetings.

*If you would like to participate in the Vegas Valley Book Fair (in November) email Gregory.


BRAGS:

Congratulations to Donald Riggio on his interview with Fran Lewis (a well known reviewer for Goodreads) on World of Inc.

Congratulations to Morgan St. James on five radio interviews this month, including one on NBC radio.

(p.s. If you have a brag to share, but are unable to make a meeting, email me.)


WRITING TIP from Jo Wilkins:

When should you seek an editor? First, you need readers to give you an honest critique. A few friends or a critiquing group is great for this first step. Then, when you are satisfied with the content and flow, choose a friend (maybe one who happens to teach English) to look at your work. The last, and hopefully final step, is a competent editor (knowing the industry) to polish your work. 

Once you go to the expense of hiring an editor, don’t rewrite after the edit, because then you need to start at the beginning again. 

DID YOU KNOW?

Poetry Sans Fronteirs is holding a poetry conference. If you'd like more information, look here:

http://poetrysansfrontieres.weebly.com/contest-page.html

CALENDAR:

September 2013 Sun       Mon      Tues      Wed           Thur           Fri                 Sat
	19 THE COFFEE HOUSE  in Henderson  6:30-8:30	20	21	22	23	24
25	26 Lutheran Community Church 6:30-8:30	27	28 West Side Meeting at Skinny Dugans 6:30	29	30	31
1	2 THE COFFEE HOUSE  in Henderson Hope C. Clark Speaking  6:30-8:30	3	4	5	6	7
8	9 Lutheran Community Church Workshop Critique 6:30-8:30	10	11 Writer's Pen and Grill	12	13	14
15	16  THE COFFEE HOUSE  in Henderson  6:30-8:30	17	18	19	20	21
22	23 Lutheran Community Church 6:30-8:30	24	25 West Side Meeting at Skinny Dugans 6:30	26	27	28

Thanks for reading.
-Jenny Ballif, Newsletter Editor