Next Noble Pen Meeting
November 14th, 2013 at 7 pm
Scott’s Family Restaurant
1906 Blairs Ferry Rd NE, Cedar Rapids
News
Tyree presented some educational material at the last meeting. We have been shirking that aspect of our charter lately. However, it is difficult to squeeze that in with three reviews and still end the meeting at a normal time. The moderator would appreciate feedback on how much time people want to devote to education.
-Do we want to postpone such sessions while we have stiff competition for review slots?
-Do we want to stay later to do it all?
-Do we want to cut to two reviews some nights to make more time for education?
-Would people be interested in additional educational meetings at some other time?
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The departure of an Amazon executive may hint that their success in the publishing world, as opposed to selling other publishers’ books, is less than expected.
Victories
Tyree finished the draft of two more scenes of Aoife’s Kiss.
Education
Nancy Kress, in her book Beginnings, Middles, and Ends, says in order to hook an editor or reader the first three paragraphs of a story (in a novel perhaps more) should accomplish several things: establish a character, at least hint of conflict, anchor the story in a setting, and demonstrate clear writing with good mechanics. Others echo the general sentiments. While some may not agree these are hard requirements, few would call them bad attributes for an opening.
At the next meeting we will have a brief discussion of how these criteria are or are not met in a couple samples (not the ones handed out at last meeting).
The beginning is the most important part of the work. ~Plato
In my beginning is my end. ~T. S. Eliot
A good beginning makes a good end. ~Louis L’Amour
Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop. ~Lewis Carroll
Upcoming Schedule
Nov 14th
Tyree’s 10-minute lesson
Cassie
Dylan
Jed
Nov 21st
Tyree
Nick
Laura
Nov 28th
Thanksgiving – no meeting
Dec 5th
Tyree
Barbara
Dylan
Dec 12th
Cassie
Nick
Riley
Keep Writing,
Bill