Next Noble Pen Meeting

Sept 3rd, 2015 at 7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

Attendance has hit both highs and lows recently. We need your participation when you can make it.

–//–

The Hugo Awards for sci-fi have been given for 2015, and the “Sad Puppies” probably had some effect but none of their slate of candidates won. They appear to have succeeded in heading off several nominations from making the finalist lists. This group was protesting what they saw as a trend to equalize women and minority awards regardless of the quality of the works. The arguments caused a record turnout of member voters.

–//–

Terry Pratchett’s last novel is out posthumously.

Victories

Cassie wrote 2200 words, updated her web site, and started a mailing list and subscribe link on the site.  She put a picture relating to her story in progress out on Twitter and got interest.

Dylan has more than 200 followers on Twitter.  He made progress on a commission, which like most is going to run longer than planned.

Tyree wrote his first paranormal romance story.  It is 4800 words and he did it in one sitting.

Education

Some mistakes make the writer look like a rookie,  so you should try especially hard to avoid them.  Chuck Wendig lists several common problems.  (Just read past his crude language, which some may find to be less effective than straight talk.)  He says you shouldn’t overdo the details that don’t add much to the characterizations or plot.  You should get the story moving on page 1, and get the reader involved with the characters’ problems right away.  Above all, you need clarity to avoid confusing the reader.

Here’s another list of mistakes to avoid and still another.

Upcoming Schedule

Sept 3
Dylan
Cassie
Dylan’s lesson on POV?

Sept 10
Open slots
(Laura evaluating readiness)

Sept 17
Open slots

Sept 24
Open slots

Oct 1
Open slots

Oct 8
Open slots

Keep Writing,
Bill

Next Noble Pen Meeting

August 27th, 2015 at 7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

Attendance has hit both highs and lows recently.  We need your participation when you can make it.

Victories

Cassie has made good progress with her Christmas paranormal romance, by adding 2000 more words.  She found the certificate from a Young Writers conference she attended in 5th grade, and it gives her inspiration.

Dylan had a 10,000-word writing weekend.

Education

Should you use adverbs?  Most advice says yes, but in moderation.  Adverbs aren’t only words ending in -ly, but include any modifier of an adjective or verb, including adverbial phrases.

They are overdone if they are being used in place of active verbs, strong dialog, and good adjectives.   For the choice  (“Hurry,” he said loudly.),  or (“Hurry,” he yelled.)  the strong verb is better than the adverb. “Very” is an adverb that rarely adds anything to a sentence.

There are times when an adverb is the best choice.  “An overly long phone call upset her schedule,” “He entered silently,” and “He ate quickly” make good use of adverbs.

Here are some references about adverbs:
A summary sheet
Basic explanation of adjectives and adverbs
A list of 3732 adverbs (just in case you didn’t think they were numerous)
Use Carefully
What’s so Bad about Adverbs?

Upcoming Schedule

Aug 27
Tyree
Cassie

Sept 3
Dylan
Cassie
Dylan’s lesson on POV

Sept 10
Open slots

Sept 17
Open slots

Sept 24
Open slots

Keep Writing,
Bill

Next Noble Pen Meeting

August 20th, 2015 at 7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

Attendance has hit both highs and lows recently.  We need your participation when you can make it.

Victories

Stacie and Shannon have scheduled a book reading and signing on Sept 18.

Education

Nancy Spiller offers some advice for memoir writers.  Here are three important things to consider.  Here’s another take on it.

Upcoming Schedule

Aug 20
Cassie
Stacie

Aug 27
Tyree (?)
Open slot

Sept 3
Open slots

Sept 10
Open slots

Sept 17
Open slots

Keep Writing,
Bill

Next Noble Pen Meeting

August 13th, 2015 at 7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

In an interview, long-time author Usula K. Le Guin (see wikipedia) names a wide variety of books and authors she likes, but stubbornly refuses to pick any absolute favorites.

Victories

Dylan is posting Sand and Ash as a weekly serial.

Tyree got proofs for Bombay Sapphire II and turned them back in.  He may be getting an agent, and BS could be considered for a movie.

Cassie wrote another 6,000 words on the paranormal Christmas romance.

Ciuin was asked to write the text panels for a museum exhibit.

Nick started editing Part 2 of Earth Ends.

Education

Where do you start your story?  All stories happen over time, and the author must decide whether to present events in chronological order, in some interesting disorder, or start at an attention-grabbing point and fill in the background later (in medias res) – but not necessarily the MOST action-packed moment.

Michael Rabiger explains the many timeline options in terms of film, but novelists should gain insights as well.

Flashbacks can be used if not overdone, but it is best to fill in all you can of the information the reader needs about preceding events with a minimum of flashbacks.  Here are some tips on using and avoiding flashbacks.

And now the sequence of events in no particular order. ~Dan Rather

A story should have a beginning, a middle and an end, but not necessarily in that order. ~Jean-Luc Godard

Upcoming Schedule

Aug 13
Ciuin (Dylan backup)
Stacie

Aug 20
Cassie
Ciuin?

Aug 27
Tyree (?)
Open slot

Sept 3
Open slots

Sept 10
Open slots

Keep Writing,
Bill