Next Noble Pen Meeting

July 21st, 2011  7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

Writing contest is this week:  Let’s each write one paragraph which could be the beginning of a story. We’ll read them to the group, and vote on which one is best, with discussion of why.

Victories

Ciuin wrote a script about the Villisca axe murders that will be used for the Usher’s Ferry event “Usher’s Scary”.

Dylan’s submission to a humorous almanac was used as a good example for others to imitate.

Kris passed certification in CPR and First Aid.  Is she expecting our critiques to lead to injuries or heart attacks?

Education

-Do not put statements in the negative form.
-And don’t start sentences with a conjunction.
-If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a
great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
-Never use a long word when a diminutive one will do.
-Unqualified superlatives are the worst of all.
-De-accession euphemisms.
-If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
-Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
-Last, but not least, avoid cliches like the plague.
–William Safire, “Great Rules of Writing”

I’m sure we won’t agree on our paragraph contest.  I’ll repeat the link to 355 opinions on what makes a good first paragraph.

Upcoming Schedule

July 21 st

Nick
Dylan
All: paragraph contest

July 28 th

Shanna
Kris
Dylan or ??

August 4 th

Tony
Nick
Open slot

August 11 th

Open slots

Keep Writing,
Bill