Monthly Archives: November 2011

The Noble Pen for Dec 1, 2011

Next Noble Pen Meeting

Dec 1st, 2011  7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

Most employers are giving their people the day of November 24 off, if not an entire long weekend, to work on their writing.  We wouldn’t want to interrupt that opportunity, so we”ll meet next on December 1st.

We also need to consider whether we will meet on Dec 22nd, which will be a busy time for most.  A preliminary poll indicated enough interest to have the meeting, but this needs to be confirmed at the Dec 1st meeting.  Check your schedules so we can decide this.

Victories

Nick started a new science fiction novel.   I’m guessing its title will be Romance on the Train to Andromeda.

Dylan received a rejection.   Even worse, it was a generic one.  All winning streaks must eventually end.

Education

Shannon suggests this page on How to Read Like an Editor.  It points out that while all of the things we usually discuss are important, the ultimate goal is to write something that entertains.  Perhaps we don’t mention that enough.

It’s like a comedy of errors that Shakespeare is considered one of the great geniuses in the history of the written word, when his primary objective was to entertain. ~Ken Davenport

Nothing contributes to the entertainment of the reader more than the change of times and the vicissitudes of fortune.  ~Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 BCE)

The problem with quotes on the internet is that it is difficult to verify their authenticity. ~Abraham Lincoln

Upcoming Schedule

November 24 th

Thanksgiving

December 1st

Nick
Shannon
Tyree

December 8th

Kate
Shanna
Shannon

December 15th

Shannon
Dylan
Nick

December 22th

Possible meeting – consider your schedule

December 29th

Open slots

Keep Writing,

Bill

The Noble Pen for Nov 17, 2011

Next Noble Pen Meeting

Nov 17th, 2011  7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

There have been suggestions that our critiques take too many tangents that go on too long.  That’s not surprising with creative minds full of interrelated facts.

The moderator will try to pay more attention to this.  Please help keep us on topic, and discuss the tangential stuff before and after critiques.

Victories

Shannon finished the draft of End of the Internet, by writing 3,000 words in one day.

Dylan is up to 20,000 words of submissions to a humorous almanac, a sizable fraction of the total.  They think he’s funnier than he thought he was.

Education

Most of our group is working on fiction, but there are many other ways to be a writer, as Mr. Johansen lists for us.

Fiction writers may benefit from the Snowflake Method.  You can follow his advice without buying his software.

“We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. ~Chuck Palahniuk

Upcoming Schedule

November 17 th

Kris
Nick
Chila

November 24 th

Thanksgiving

December 1st

Nick
Shannon
Jen

December 8th

Tyree
Shanna
Shannon

December 15th

Open slots

Keep Writing,

Bill

The Noble Pen for Nov 10, 2011

Next Noble Pen Meeting

Nov 10th, 2011  7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

If you don’t get emails of the week’s review submissions by, say, Tuesday of any week then check your spam/junk folder.  That turned out to be some people’s problem recently.  If it isn’t there, an email query to the author may be in order to find out if the material has been sent.

You can also contact the moderator at the address this newsletter is mailed from, or through the web page at http://noblepencr.org

Victories

Tyree had an enjoyable time and made good sales at ICON.

Shannon has been invited to write an article for Paranormal magazine.   He has recent experience in recording the voices of ghosts.

Dylan has a volunteer editor for his serial.  He found two more beta readers for FOTS while he was at ICON.

Education

Dylan recommended an article on how to set the mood of a story.

As soon as I hear a sound, it always suggests a mood to me ~ Brian Eno

If you’re not in the mood, you can’t do that stuff right.~ J.D. Salinger

Upcoming Schedule

November 10 th

Kate
Shannon
Tyree

November 17 th

Kris
Nick
Chila

November 24 th

Thanksgiving

December 1st

Nick
Shannon
Jen

December 8th

Tyree
Shanna
Shannon

Keep Writing,

Bill