Next Noble Pen Meeting

July 19th, 2012 at 7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

We were happy to see Mark and Chila again at the July 12 meeting.

Sam’s Dot Publishing has a Drabble contest open to entries through August, using the theme “Nesting” in SF/fantasy/horror genres.  Writing a Drabble will teach you something about getting full value from each of the exactly 100 words you use.

Roger Ebert calls the movie Prometheus “a magnificent science-fiction film …  in the classic tradition of golden age sci-fi” and gives it three stars.  Others like the special effects but can’t stand the illogical (dare we say downright stupid?) characters.

Victories

Nick has in hand the new book for railfans that includes his paid writing.

Shannon survived CONvergence (see his blog) despite presenting on seven panels and doing a reading, and there being so much going on that he rarely slept.  He sold some books, too.

Education

Author Mary Robinette Kowal writes that outlines are great tools, and can be flexible.  You can revise them so they don’t lock you in if you think of something better.

Many sources recommend a “Character Interview” process to help establish the players before you write your story.  You ask the questions and write down what they “tell” you.  The interview isn’t part of the story itself in most cases, but often suggests a great deal of material to use in the story.  A search will find many lists of questions to use, such as this long one, or this one, or this one.

Revision is one of the vital parts of writing, but Kristin M. Camiolo warns you shouldn’t revise your writing to death.

Half my life is an act of revision ~John Irving

It’s never too late – in fiction or in life – to revise. ~Nancy Thayer

Upcoming Schedule

July 19th

Shannon
Tyree
Bill

July 26th

Dylan
Ciuin (double slot)

Aug 2nd

Nick
Tyree
Ciuin

Aug 9th

Shannon
Ciuin
Jean?

Keep Writing,
Bill