Next Noble Pen Meeting

December 14th, 2017 at 7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

When you arrive for the Dec 14 meeting, expect to find our usual space full with an annual club party.  Look to your left as you enter and hope we have an adequate, if crowded, space.

Victories

Randy did rewrites.

Nick wrote train reports.

Education

Subplots (wikipedia) can add interest to a story so that it doesn’t seem like an obvious straight line from the inciting incident to the conclusion.  Subplots need to be balanced against the main plot, as too many, or ones that don’t connect to the main story may just get in the way.  Subplots can help develop the characters, assist with backstory, and add just enough complexity to keep the ending a mystery.

Lee Masterson recommends using some subplots, and Kristin Bair O’Keefe gives seven specific things that subplots should do.  Here’s some good advice on choosing subplots.

I think books with weak or translucent plots can survive if the character being drawn along the path is rich, interesting and multifaceted. The opposite is not true.  ~Michael Connelly

There’s that old adage about how there’s only seven plots in the world and Shakespeare’s done them all before.  ~Terri Windling

Upcoming Schedule

December 14 (annual squeeze-in, due to large party in usual space)
Randy
Ciuin
Stacie S.

December 21
Ciuin
Uriah
Aime

December 28
Stacie S.
Randy
Jeremiah

January 4
Nick
Stacy H.
Open slot

January 11
Open slots

Keep Writing,
Bill