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Noble Pen Meeting
September 9nd, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
Drop your weapons. You’re surrounded by armed bastards.
–Gene Hunt, Life on Mars
He had found a Nutri-Matic machine which had provided him with a plastic cup filled with a liquid that was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea.
–Douglas Adam, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
These T-shirts were tested on animals. They didn’t fit.
–Merchandise from BBC’s Top Gear
Victories
Nick had two rejections from the same magazine. The second one was just a crude drawing of an Italian hand gesture.
Ciuin started a blog and is writing or pasting in something new every day. Looks like she’s already behind. Taunt her.
Tyree lent a book to Ciuin who has not returned it yet–if she did, the door would keep blowing closed.
News
Sir Terry Pratchett talks about dealing with death while writing fantasy.
Editor and writing coach Daphne Gray-Grant writes about the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Writers.
Upcoming Schedule
September 9th
Tyree
Dylan
Shannon
September 16th
Tony
Nick
Mark
September 23rd
Dylan
Bob
Dave
September 30th
Ian
Dylan
Educational Programming — Shannon
October 7th
Tony
Ciuin
Bob
October 14th
Shannon
Tyree
Open slot
Keep Writing, Penites.
Shannon
Noble Pen Meeting
September 2nd, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
My name is Victoria Winters. My journey is beginning, a journey that I hope will open the doors of life to me and link my past with my future, a journey that will bring me to a strange and dark place, to the edge of the sea, high atop Widows’ Hill, a house called Collinwood, a world I’ve never known, with people I’ve never met, people who tonight are still only shadows in my mind, but who will soon fill the days and nights of my tomorrows.
–Opening Monologue, Dark Shadows, Episode 1, 1966
Victories
Ciuin has been asked to take a class which will make her a writing fellow. I think this means we’ll have to address her as “My fine fellow.”
Dylan got a reader’s choice and editor’s choice for his last contest entry. He also has a new commission. It’s a sick world out there.
Tony was able to struggle through and prepare his chapter for next week, despite the ongoing Mafia Wars. Why can’t the mafias just get along?
Housekeeping
We decided on 3 changes to scheduling last week.
1. We will be going to 3 critiques a week, starting September 9th. I am going to adjust the schedule below. Please note your new dates and tell me if there are any changes you need made.
B. We will suspend scheduling for the next few weeks to make room for further discussion and see how the 3 per week works.
Pi. We will return to scheduling at least one educational program per month instead of just scheduling when we have an empty slot. I’m volunteering for the first slot, there’s been something I wanted to try all summer.
News
Janet Reid posted something older than God. I still find it very funny.
Character, character, character, character, character, character. Oh, and did I mention character?
Upcoming Schedule
September 2nd
Nick
Tony
September 9th
Tyree
Dylan
Shannon
September 16th
Tony
Dave
Mark
September 23rd
Dylan
Bob
Nick
September 30th
Ian
Dylan
Educational Programming — Shannon
October 7th
Tony
Ciuin
Bob
October 14th
Shannon
Tyree
Open slot
Keep Writing, Penites.
Shannon
Noble Pen Meeting
August 26th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
Artists are people who say I can’t fix my country or my state or my city, or even my marriage. But by golly, I can make this square of canvas, or this eight and a half by eleven piece of paper, or this lump of clay or these twelve bars of music, exactly what they ought to be.
–Kurt Vonnegut, Timequake
Victories
Nick got back the professional critique of his cowboy novel. His condition is listed as stable.
Dave got paid for writing, not just the promise of, but actual money.
Ciuin sent Petty Theft to an agent, who seems very interested. I am immediately adding more Nazis to all my stories.
Tony thanks everyone for the fine comments on his last chapter, which he has already acted upon–in a good way, no stomping or cursing or anything.
Rachel has returned to school and is, by now, studying commercial music, which I think involves using all four chords.
Housekeeping
Now that we have grown to around a dozen regular and semi-regular members, maybe we need to readdress how we do scheduling. I want to keep it relatively simple, but make it a little less random. I’m just throwing this out as an idea, to see what people think.
I’m thinking of a 2 round lottery type system, where on the first meeting of every month we assign slots for the next month.
In the first round, we would hand out numbers to people who do not have a piece scheduled for the current month, and have about 50% attendance.
If any slots are left, we will open up a second round to anyone else who wants a slot.
News
From The New York Times, via George, an interesting article about the world of music recording which makes an interesting point on the dangers of too much copyright.
As someone who has sent hundreds of emails to agents, I know they make mistakes, because frankly, I rule. I’m also very humble.
Upcoming Schedule
August 26th
Shannon – Fangs 3
Tyree – Nyx 3, Chapter 4
September 2nd
Nick
Tony
September 9th
Tyree
Dylan
September 16th
Tony
Dave
September 23rd
Shannon
Mark
September 30th
Dylan
Bob
October 7th
Nick
Ian
October 14th
Dylan
Tony
October 21st
Ciuin
Bob
October 28th
Tyree
Shannon
Keep Writing, Penites.
Shannon
Noble Pen Meeting
August 19th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
I wanted to write about the moment when your addictions no longer hide the truth from you. When your whole life breaks down. That’s the moment when you have to somehow choose what your life is going to be about.
–Chuck Palahniuk
Victories
Rachel earned a dollar through creative effort.
Tyree wrote, edited, and submitted a piece in one week and it has already been accepted.
News
You know why you can’t get your experimental novel published? You’re not Keith Hernandez.But there is good news, this is all you need to get started towards that goal. In full disclosure, until five minutes ago, I had no idea who Keith Hernandez was, but I picked up through context that he was someone.
Yet another piece on dialog tags.
Upcoming Schedule
August 19th
George
Bob – Gordon Taylor
August 26th
Shannon – Fangs 3
Tyree
September 2nd
Nick
Tony
September 9th
Tyree
Dylan
September 16th
Tony
Dave
September 23rd
Shannon
Mark
September 30th
Dylan
Bob
October 7th
Nick
Keep Writing, Penites.
Shannon
Noble Pen Meeting
August 12th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
Somewhere along the way though, Russell had made a conscious decision to turn his back on the law and a life of the status quo. He revealed his homosexuality to his friends and, eventually, his family. He forsook the teachings of his childhood, and embraced a life of crime. It was a life in which he flourished, for the most part. But more than his talents as a thief and a confidence man, it would be the flamboyant, nonviolent brilliance of his jail and prison escapes–usually on Friday the 13th–that would eventually earn the affable, quick-witted, but occasionally vengeful Russell a national reputation in law enforcement and the media. He was known as the King of Con.
–Steve Mcvicker, I Love You, Phillip Morris
Victories
Nick is finally going to get his story back from his editor–and then the pain will really begin. He also might be interested if anyone has a lead on a good used vehicle–he’s all right, but his truck is gone.
Ciuin went to Philadelphia for an intensive writing class. She visited the Cheeseburger Palace, which looked suspiciously like a Hardee’s.
Tyree snagged a Robert J. Sawyer story for Aoife’s Kiss. Robert J. Sawyer is probably the most important Canadian, after William Shatner and Kiefer Sutherland.
Bill submitted his misheard song lyric flash fiction to “A Fly in Amber.”
News
From IO9, James Marsters tips for supervillains. Marsters has played villains on Buffiy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville, and Torchwood.
Barnes and Noble has announced it’s open to selling itself, which is a great disappointment to it’s parents.
Google has announced that through advanced mathematics, they have determined there are 130 million books in the world. Google will be scanning them and making them available in enema form by late 2017.
The Rejectionist is hosting a Feminist Science Fiction week for those of you who currently are or are interested in becoming female.
Words of Wisdom
Between victories and the first critique next week, Tyree is going to share some ideas on writing hooks.
Upcoming Schedule
August 12th
Ciuin
Tony
August 19th
George
Bob – Gordon Taylor
August 26th
Shannon – Fangs 3
Tyree
September 2nd
Nick
Tony
September 9th
Tyree
Dylan
September 16th
Tony
Dave
September 23rd
Shannon
Mark
September 30th
Dylan
Bob
October 7th
Nick
Keep Writing, Penites.
Shannon
Noble Pen Meeting
August 5th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
Kirk: All is well. And yet I can’t help wondering about the friend I leave behind. “There are always possibilities,” Spock said. And if Genesis is indeed life from death, I must return to this place again
Bones: He’s not really dead, as long as we remember him.
–Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan
George: What were you saying to the Rosses over there, anyway?
Jerry: Oh, I don’t know. I told them her death takes place in the shadow of new life. She’s not really dead if we find a way to remember her.
George: What is that?
Jerry: Star Trek II.
–Seinfeld Episode 135, The Foundation
Victories
Rachel read both stories for this week while riding a horse and didn’t fall off–I might have gotten something mixed around there.
Dave got word that an online publication is going to run “Snake Eyed Sue.” For reasons of national security, he can’t tell us where.
Tony got his piece out on time this week despite a complete re-write at the last minute. I’m still not sure I understood the bit where he gave the pig a bath.
News
According to the “Gender Genie,” I write like a female. That thing has to be broken.
Lifehacker has their 5 favorite book recommendation services. I get me better recommendations from Dylan.
Cnet has an article on ways to self-publish your ebooks. Their tip #1 is: Write a good book. Thanks guys. Thanks for sharing.
Some Fun
A mini-assignment for the next week. Think of your favorite villain from fiction and a one sentence description of why you chose that person.
Upcoming Schedule
August 5th
Shannon – Fangs Chapter 2
Nick – SSS Chapter 7
August 12th
Ciuin
George
August 19th
Tony
Bob – Gordon Taylor
August 26th
Shannon
Tyree
September 2nd
Nick
Tony
September 9th
Tyree
Dylan
September 16th
Tony
Dave
Keep Writing, Penites.
Shannon
Noble Pen Meeting
July 22th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
Man, you’re like school during the summer. No class.
-Rudy, Fat Albert
TURK: You’re like a 24 hour convenience store. You never close.
JD: That’s like a Fat Albert joke.
–Scrubs
Victories
Dylan’s last commission was not his last commission as he now has a new commission, which is new.
Mark submitted a book proposal to an open call, he has not yet got a chance to submit anything to the group, so he should do well.
Ciuin leaves next Thursday for Philadelphia, the polar opposite of the planet Venus.
Tyree will be as OSFest teaching people how to write and serenading the dealer room with his rich baritone voice and collection of off-color sea shanties.
After his abduction by the benevolent aliens of Mastadon VI, Tony has decided to wrap several of his short stories into a novel.
News
Agent Andrew Wylie has sold exclusive e-book right to Amazon for a group of authors including Norman Mailer and John Updike. The publishers of their paper books, whose contract were written before e-book were a reality, are calling foul.
In more e-book news, Amazon is now selling more e-books than hardcovers. Wow!
Upcoming Schedule
July 29th
Tony – Shadowland
Bob – a new Gordon Taylor Story
August 5th
Shannon
Nick
August 12th
Ciuin
George
August 19th
Tony
Bob – Gordon Taylor
August 26th
Shannon
Tyree
September 2nd
Nick
Tony
September 9th
Tyree
Dylan
Keep Writing, Penites.
Shannon
Noble Pen Meeting
July 22th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
Super automatic pilot motor running down circles in the parking lot
Self-sustaining system bit her in the neck and quick and kissed her and took all she got
Did you come here to dance?
Whats in your glass?
Do you feel better?
–OK GO, Let it Rain
Victories
Dylan’s commission was accepted without edits. His patron is probably going all Karate Kid right now–that’s and old school Karate Kid joke, you know: Wax on…
George wrote an ad which has run on three podcasts and it scheduled for one more. I imagine it something like this.
Tyree used email to reply to everyone on the list and was shocked to find out just how many of you are lurking out there.
News
This tool has book going around the internet: Find out who you write like.
For all you non-fiction guys, here’s how you write a book proposal.
I’ve always wondered about this. A YA writer talks about how to keep up with the kids.
Carl East from Hull topped Apples’s iBookstore charts with his novel “Incest Urges of a Nymphomaniac.” Coming up next on Sick Sad World.
Upcoming Schedule
July 22nd
Tyree – Short Story
Ciuin
July 29th
Tony
Bob – Gordon Taylor Story
August 5th
Shannon
Nick
August 12th
Ciuin
George
August 19th
Tony
Bob – Gordon Taylor
August 26th
Shannon
Tyree
September 2nd
Nick
Tony
Keep Writing, Penites.
Shannon
Noble Pen Meeting
July 15th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about.
–Oscar Wilde
Victories
Tyree’s fantasy story Acorns is being considered by the Darrell Award jury. It is not known at this time what they consider it.
Tyree will be putting out a magazine of Cosmic Crime Stories, sci-fi pulp detective stories. Remember there are 2^22.931 stories in the naked city.
Dave’s picture of the Abbey Creek school will go on the cover of a pamphlet about Mt. Vernon. Sadly, they aren’t letting him do any words.
I got a piece on the Six Sentences blog. Just a thousand more good sentences, and I ‘ll have a novel.
Dylan finished his last commission piece, but he has lost his best customer to matrimony–the customer’s that is, Dylan’s already married.
Tony has figured out what the short story he is writing is about. Hopefully, it’s something awesome.
News
A new study shows that kids who have books to read over summer vacation do better in school. Well, duh.
Once again, IO9 has a great gallery of pulp covers.
Upcoming Schedule
July 15th
Bob – Lord Gordon Taylor 1
Tyree – Short Story – Against the fall of light
July 22nd
Tyree – Short Story
Ciuin
July 29th
Tony
Bob – Gordon Taylor Story
August 5th
Shannon
Nick
August 12th
Ciuin
George
August 19th
Tony
Bob – Gordon Taylor
August 26th
Shannon
Tyree
September 2nd
Nick
Tony
Keep Writing, Penites.
Shannon
Noble Pen Meeting
July 8th, 2010
Happy Chef, 1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
I wanna be a cowboy baby
Ridin’ at night ’cause I sleep all day
Cowboy baby
I can smell a pig from a mile away
–Kid Rock, Cowboy
It never takes longer than a few minutes, when they get together, for everyone to revert to the state of nature, like a party marooned by a shipwreck. That’s what a family is. Also the storm at sea, the ship, and the unknown shore. And the hats and the whiskey stills that you make out of bamboo and coconuts. And the fire that you light to keep away the beasts.
–Michael Chabon, The Yiddish Policeman’s Union
Victories
Ciuin is go for her intensive class in Philadelphia. Something, something, cheese steak, Rocky V.
George’s podcast is going well, he’s getting good feedback from the artists whose music he’s playing in his podcasts, and it has been 12 days since his last OSHA reportable accident.
Rachel schooled me in the fact that not all women dig Doctor Who for the beefcake.
News
Gregory Levey tells us how having 700,000 Facebook fans can be a bad thing.
More advice from editors. This time it’s Cat Rambo of Fantasy Magazine. Cat Rambo, I wonder if that’s an assumed name.
Here is an article about idea generation which talks about the rule of 20, the idea that you have to have 20 ideas before you have an original one. Personally, I’ve never had 20 ideas.
Upcoming Schedule
July 8th
Dylan FOTS , Chapter Sixteen
Shannon – Solomon’s Heist, Chapter Nine and Ten
July 15th
Bob – Lord Gordon Taylor 1
Tyree – Short Story – Against the fall of light
July 22nd
Tyree – Short Story
Ciuin
July 29th
Tony
Bob – Gordon Taylor Story
August 5th
Shannon
Nick
August 12th
Ciuin
George
August 19th
Tony
Keep Writing, Penites.
Shannon
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