Next Noble Pen Meeting

January 11th, 2018 at 7 pm

Scott’s Family Restaurant

1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids

News

We recently discussed having more educational material at meetings. Ciuin presented a short session on January 4th,  Aime  will do one on January 18 and Stacie in the future. Do we want longer educational times? Let us know your thoughts.

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Authors of works set in “current time” face a challenge to keep from immediately appearing dated.  Brands change.  Technology changes.  Fashions change.  Your newsletter editor found his story was outdated upon completion in 2008 by having such things as pay phones (yes you could still find one then if you searched).  You don’t know what will change next year.  M. T. Anderson’s essay considers the problem.

It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future. ~Yogi Berra

Victories

A ten-minute educational session went well.

Nick finished a chapter.

Randy sold out of his book and has to order more copies.

Ciuin is close to finishing Chessmaster’s Pawn.

Stacy H is having Shannon edit her story.

Education

It is often said we must write what we know, although that is oversimplifying things.  But even when imagining situations and worlds, we start from our experiences.

Do you feel like your life is not bringing you interesting ideas for writing?  Elizabeth Sims suggests doing a few things out of your comfort zone to bring on new ideas and knowledge.  Just think it through and don’t risk more than you can stand to lose.

Whether you get risky or not, make the most of the ordinary experiences around you.  Watch people.  Notice settings.  Sims suggests eavesdropping.  That’s usually pretty low-risk.  But don’t just follow a conversation.  If you can be unobtrusive, notice the actions and expressions that go with that conversation.  Go beyond just watching.  Observe.  Describe the characters, their actions, and their tone of voice in your mind.  Some day those descriptions may appear in your novel.

You can observe a lot by watching. ~Yogi Berra

If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.  ~Jim Rohn

Upcoming Schedule

January 11
Ciuin
Randy
Stacie S.

January 18
Aime: 10-minute educational
Stacie S.
Aime
Ciuin

January 25
Jeremiah
Randy
Ciuin

February 1
Nick
Stacy H
Uriah

February 8
Randy
Open slots

Keep Writing,
Bill