September 2nd Meeting Report

We had an outstanding meeting this Labor Day. Barbara Lloyd won a book at our drawing, and C. Hope Clark from funds for writers spoke. Her presentation was excellent, I took four pages of notes and learned a lot. Here are the highlights that stood out to me:

1. Sign up for the Funds for Writer's newsletter (at least one of them!): http://www.fundsforwriters.com/newsletters/  

2. Writing is a profession that is extremely hard to earn a living at. To make it, you need to DIVERSIFY. Start submitting to magazines, blogs, magazines, newspapers, and magazines.

3. Nevada has a great arts commission, that awards grants to artists. Check it out: http://nac.nevadaculture.org/ Community Foundations are also a good source of funds.

"Where can I get a grant to stay home and write?"

"Doesn't exist."

"Where can I get a grant to publish my first book?"

"Doesn't exist."

To get a grant (fellowship, scholarship... call it what you will) you need to first, show you are a writer, and second, be specific about your goals and how the money will be used. Start local (community foundations and Nevada Arts Council) and move out. National Endowment Grants are extremely competitive.

4. The emotion that I took away with me from the meeting was that I can do it. I will find a way to publish my memoir, and the other books forming in my mind. I'd also written a list of organizations specific to my memoir to look up, and a list of trade magazines to google.

A big thank you to Hope for coming to speak to us this Labor Day.


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The 5th Monday of September will be a first chapter read. All readers that night will read the first pages of first chapters from books they haven't read previously. Cool!

The officers meeting is coming up next Thursday, September 12th. If there is an idea or suggestion you'd like the board to consider, let Gregory (or another board member know).

Dues are still due.

If you'd like to volunteer to help with our booth at the upcoming Book Fair, email Gregory.


BRAGS:

Congratulations to Darrah Whitaker on being contacted from overseas about writing he did over a decade ago.


QUOTE OF THE NIGHT:

"Your old college girlfriend is a guy in Italy?"

WRITING TIP from Jo Wilkins:

Fiction is written (almost always) in 1st or 3rd person POV. If you are writing non-fiction, think about using 2nd person. It is the only time an author can get away with talking directly to the reader without being accused author intrusion. 2nd person allows the author to hold this conversation with the reader because we are teaching the reader or relaying information directly to them. It puts the reader at ease receiving the information and allows the author to be himself/herself while delivering it. It becomes a natural exchange.

DID YOU KNOW?

There is a free online class starting October 15th. Here's the description and link:

A unique and exciting introduction to the genre and craft of historical fiction, for curious students, aspiring authors--anyone with a passion for the past. Read classics of the genre, encounter bestselling writers of historical fiction, and discover your own historical archive while interacting with a global community of interested readers.

https://www.coursera.org/course/hisfiction

CALENDAR:

September/October 2013 Sun       Mon      Tues      Wed           Thur           Fri                 Sat
	2 THE COFFEE HOUSE  in Henderson  6:30-8:30	3	4	5	6	7
8	9 Lutheran Community Church 6:30-8:30	10	11 Writer's Pen and Grill	12 HWG officer's meeting	13	14
15	16 THE COFFEE HOUSE  in Henderson  6:30-8:30	17	18	19	20	21
22	23 Lutheran Community Church Workshop Critique 6:30-8:30	24	25 West Side meeting at Skinny Dugans 6:30	26	27	28
29	30  THE COFFEE HOUSE  in Henderson First Chapter Read  6:30-8:30	Oct 1	2	3	4	5
6	7 THE COFFEE HOUSE  in Henderson 6:30-8:30	8	9 Writer's Pen and Grill	10	11	12

Thanks for reading.
-Jenny Ballif, Newsletter Editor