Next Noble Pen Meeting

Feb 23rd, 2012 7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

The next meeting will be a little different.

Ciuin has requested that we read aloud her short play to help find the rough spots and to estimate playing time.

Then, if time permits, we will read aloud what we each have written from the following writing prompt, and discuss how the approaches differ and which ones might work well.

Each person should write a paragraph or a few paragraphs, preferably not much more than half a page, that could be the beginning of a story using the given characters and situation.  I chose generic characters rather than ones already created (sorry, Bob).

An elderly man, frail but mentally sharp, who seems to be in unfamiliar territory, is sitting at a bar near a young loudmouth who is bragging about how he is not afraid of something that has the neighborhood scared.  The bartender is a good-natured and middle-aged woman who would rather the loudmouth didn’t start anything.

Victories

Shannon did a final (fast) edit on Call of the Beast, which is being renamed Minion of Evil, and turned it in for publication.

Ciuin received a call from her hero, who had been impressed by her writing, to talk about important matters that may lead to a future dream job for her.  The bad news is that her editor for Petty Theft has had eye surgery and won’t be working for perhaps months.

Education

In keeping with our writing exercise for the week, here’s a pep talk on starting your story or getting un-stuck if you can’t seem to proceed.  This page has a bunch of links on how to name and develop characters.

Fate tried to conceal him by naming him Smith.  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Every human being has hundreds of separate people living under his skin. The talent of a writer is his ability to give them their separate names, identities, personalities and have them relate to other characters living with them.  ~Mel Brooks

Upcoming Schedule

February 23rd

Dylan
Ciuin (review and read aloud)
(Time permitting) All read their writing exercise
(see News above for details)

March 1st

Nick
Shannon
Tyree

March 8th

Open slots

March 15th

Open slots

Keep Writing,

Bill