We will meet at someone’s home at 7 pm, and the address will be in the distribution email. Use the contact form if you need me to add you to the distribution.

Discord and Meetups for Noble Pen

The Discord app provides another way for us to discuss. If you want to check it out, ask for an invitation link that will let you join. Also look for Creative Writing on Meetups.com for Cedar Rapids and make us look active there.

Writing Victories

1. Aime sent her “Fun with Democracy” manuscript to a beta reader.
2. Ciuin discovered she had three master versions of “Chessmaster’s Pawn,” which she hopes to publish before the end of the year. Two beta readers were editing different copies. She discovered that she could upload all three versions to ChatGPT and the program would analyze them and pull out the differences for her.
3. Aime and her writing partner have two ideas for the second comic book opportunity.

Reading Victories

1. Jeff finished “Once and Future King” and also “Far from the Maddening Crowd” by Thomas Hardy. The first was a good story but felt like it ended abruptly. He enjoyed Hardy’s book.

Personal Victories

1. Bill received an award for 25 years of volunteer service at the Czech and Slovak Protective Society (CPCS) Hall.

Literary News

Schedule

Nov. 12
Xander
Shannon
David

Nov. 19
Robyn
Aime
Ciuin

Nov. 26
THANKSGIVING-NO MEETING

Dec. 3
Robyn
Dylan
open slot

Keep Writing!
Robyn

We will meet at someone’s home at 7 pm, and the address will be in the distribution email. Use the contact form if you need me to add you to the distribution.

Discord and Meetups for Noble Pen

The Discord app provides another way for us to discuss. If you want to check it out, ask for an invitation link that will let you join. Also look for Creative Writing on Meetups.com for Cedar Rapids and make us look active there.

Writing Victories

1. Aime has seen the proof of her comic book that will appear in an anthology. It not only looks good, but is eight pages and is one step closer to publication.
2. Robyn pulled out a short story she wrote thirty years ago and realized it has the potential to be a novel. She explored the themes it presented then and discovered she is much better prepared to play those out now. She did a rough outline of the book.
3. Aime has a second opportunity to write a comic book for another anthology. She and her writing partner for the project have done some brainstorming for it.

Reading Victories

Personal Victories

Literary News

1. Xander and his former summer intern Leah went to see “You Can See Everything,” the documentary on Elizabeth Holmes. There is a huge mid-film plot twist, and is less about Elizabeth Holmes and more a psychology interpretation on the nature of truth. Disclosure: it’s three hours long.
2. Walter Koenig, the actor who played Chekov on Star Trek: The Original Series has died. The only original actors now living from that series are William Shatner and George Takei.
3. Sandy Frank, an American television producer, distributor, and marketer of television shows to U.S. networks recently died. His company produced or distributed shows such as Name That Tune, The Bobby Vinton Show, The Bill Cosby Show, and The Dating Game. He was also known for providing English dubbing for many Japanese monster movies, and importing other critically acclaimed Japanese films.
3. Patrick Stewart, a well respected Shakespearean actor in both the UK and the United States, and the actor that brought the world Captain Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Picard, as well as Professor Charles Xavier from the X-Men, died on Wednesday of this week. He was the winner of three Olivier Awards, a Grammy, and a Tony throughout his career.

Schedule

Nov. 5
Robyn
Jeff
Ben L.

Nov. 12
Xander
Shannon
David

Nov. 19
Robyn
Aime
Ciuin

Nov. 26
THANKSGIVING-NO MEETING

Keep Writing!
Robyn

We will meet at someone’s home at 7 pm, and the address will be in the distribution email. Use the contact form if you need me to add you to the distribution.

Discord and Meetups for Noble Pen

The Discord app provides another way for us to discuss. If you want to check it out, ask for an invitation link that will let you join. Also look for Creative Writing on Meetups.com for Cedar Rapids and make us look active there.

Writing Victories

1. Shannon is speaking on two panels at the Science Fiction Convention: How to Write Sci-Fi and How to Run a Writers’ Group.
2. Bill checked out a real book from a real library. We don’t know which one.
3. Jeff did NOT kill the horse in his latest novel chapter.

Reading Victories

1. Jeff is halfway through “The Once and Future King” by T. H. White. So far, it has not inspired him go see the movie “Camelot.”

Personal Victories

Literary News

1. The new documentary on Elizabeth Holmes, released this month, was recommended by several members of the group.

Schedule

Oct. 29
Aime
Ciuin
Shannon

Nov. 5
Robyn
Jeff
Ben L.

Nov. 12
Xander
Shannon
David

Nov. 19
Robyn
open slots

Keep Writing!
Robyn

We will meet at someone’s home at 7 pm, and the address will be in the distribution email. Use the contact form if you need me to add you to the distribution.

Discord and Meetups for Noble Pen

The Discord app provides another way for us to discuss. If you want to check it out, ask for an invitation link that will let you join. Also look for Creative Writing on Meetups.com for Cedar Rapids and make us look active there.

Writing Victories

1. Aime wrote an editorial regarding the Amendment 1 issue on the upcoming election.
2. Robyn and Ciuin purchased a 1940s Remington manual typewriter with a still usable ribbon. It’s manufacturing date is known by the fact that it doesn’t have a key for the number 1. Rather, a lower case “L” is used for the number. Also, it has a cents key. Between the bottom of the typewriter and the case it came with was a carbon copy of the last document typed on it, from a dairy farmer disputing the price of milk he was paid.

Reading Victories

Personal Victories

1. Aime overcame procrastination and filmed a number of TikTok videos for her political career. They will be released through out the congressional session starting in January.

Literary News

1. Books by acclaimed Irish author Sally Rooney are barred now in the UK due to her support for pro Palestinian groups.
2. The children’s book author of “Dragons Love Tacos,” Adam Rubin and owner of a Brooklyn based curios shop Art of Play is currently embroiled in a he said/she said dispute with Kelly Clarkson over a mechanical bird which may or may not have been for sale.

Schedule

Oct. 22
Xander
David
Jeff

Oct. 29
Aime
Ciuin
Shannon

Nov. 5
Robyn
Jeff
Ben L.

Keep Writing!
Robyn

We will meet at someone’s home at 7 pm, and the address will be in the distribution email. Use the contact form if you need me to add you to the distribution.

Discord and Meetups for Noble Pen

The Discord app provides another way for us to discuss. If you want to check it out, ask for an invitation link that will let you join. Also look for Creative Writing on Meetups.com for Cedar Rapids and make us look active there.

Writing Victories

1. Robyn has made $9 in royalties on platforms supported through Draft2Digital and $18.45 on Amazon’s KDP with her first book and no marketing yet.
2. Xander and his summer research assistant’s article has been published in “Curious,” an on-line professional magazine. And they are asking for more material if Xander has it.
3. Aime completed a 2,000 word newsletter. She also has not yet committed printer-cide in spite of her machine acting up.
4. Dylan finished a 43,000 word series.
5. David is continuing to write new material.

Reading Victories

Personal Victories

1. Adriana saw a yard sign for Aime’s campaign in Mt. Vernon. Far outside Aime’s voting area, but she obviously has support there.

Literary News

1. British novelist and politician Jeffrey Archer, 86, passed away. After a political career, he achieved success with his third novel “Kane and Abel” in 1979. It is still one of the best-selling books in the world, with an estimated 34 million copies sold globally. He has written consistently since then. In total, his books have sold more than 320 million copies worldwide.

Schedule

Oct. 15
Robyn
Xander
Aime

Oct. 22
Xander
David
Jeff

Oct. 29
Aime
Ciuin
Shannon

Keep Writing!
Robyn

We will meet at someone’s home at 7 pm, and the address will be in the distribution email. Use the contact form if you need me to add you to the distribution.

Discord and Meetups for Noble Pen

The Discord app provides another way for us to discuss. If you want to check it out, ask for an invitation link that will let you join. Also look for Creative Writing on Meetups.com for Cedar Rapids and make us look active there.

Writing Victories

1. Xander and his summer student research assistant from Coe submitted a paper for publication, to an online journal. The article was on Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, otherwise known as a form of mad cow disease.

Reading Victories

1. Xander is reading “Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Re-creating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations” by Sam Kean. According to Amazon, it was a finalist for the 2026 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, a Los Angeles Times bestseller, an Indi bestseller, and the New Yorker’s Best Books of 2025. It is billed as an archaeological romp through the entire history of humankind—and through all five senses—from tropical Polynesian islands to forbidding arctic ice floes, and everywhere in between. Xander is enjoying it.

Personal Victories

1. Aime purchased printer toner.

Literary News

1. Mr. Busse, whom the new Cedar Rapids on the west side of Cedar Rapids is named for, passed away. The library community is grateful he lived long enough to see the project completed.

Schedule

Oct. 8
Jeff
Ciuin
Dylan

Oct. 15
Robyn
Xander
Aime

Oct. 22
Robyn
Xander
David

Keep Writing!
Robyn

We will meet at someone’s home at 7 pm, and the address will be in the distribution email. Use the contact form if you need me to add you to the distribution.

Discord and Meetups for Noble Pen

The Discord app provides another way for us to discuss. If you want to check it out, ask for an invitation link that will let you join. Also look for Creative Writing on Meetups.com for Cedar Rapids and make us look active there.

Writing Victories

1. David completed a new chapter of his novel.
2. Dylan has another small commission.
3. Ciuin received more feedback on her second vampire novel, “Bishop’s Decoy,” from her high school English teacher, Mr. Fogle. He’s reading the explanation of how all the magic in her world works and while he’s not “a magic person,” he knows she wouldn’t have put in there if it wasn’t important for the series, he said.

Reading Victories

1. Jeff read “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” by Thorton Wilder. He appreciated the fact that the author made him care about the characters as most of them had a lot of tragedy in their lives. But in terms of action, nothing really happens. It’s more a study of human behavior and an interesting commentary on it. Jeff deemed it okay, but wouldn’t really recommend it even though it was a Pultizer Prize winner in 1928.

Personal Victories

1. Ben Snyder resigned from his position as manager of the ReStore, and has taken a position with NewBo. His new job will be much less stressful, so he hopes to get back to more writing.

Literary News

Schedule

Oct. 1
Robyn
Aime
Adriana

Oct. 8
Jeff
Ciuin
Dylan

Oct. 15
Robyn
open slots

Keep Writing!
Robyn

We will meet at someone’s home at 7 pm, and the address will be in the distribution email. Use the contact form if you need me to add you to the distribution.

Discord and Meetups for Noble Pen

The Discord app provides another way for us to discuss. If you want to check it out, ask for an invitation link that will let you join. Also look for Creative Writing on Meetups.com for Cedar Rapids and make us look active there.

Writing Victories

1. Adriana wrote a short story.

Reading Victories

Personal Victories

Literary News

1. Brandon Sanderson has announced he will not finish George R. R. Martin’s Song of Fire and Ice series if Martin does not. Sanderson cited writing styles, personal values, and creative philosophy as reasons.
2. Annie Dillard, a Pulitzer Prize winner, has died at 81. Her best known work was “Pilgrim Tinker Creek,” and other nature writings.

Schedule

Sept. 24
Robyn
Jeff
Dylan

Oct. 1
Robyn
Aime
Adriana

Oct. 8
Robyn
Ciuin

Keep Writing!
Robyn

We will meet at someone’s home at 7 pm, and the address will be in the distribution email. Use the contact form if you need me to add you to the distribution.

Discord and Meetups for Noble Pen

The Discord app provides another way for us to discuss. If you want to check it out, ask for an invitation link that will let you join. Also look for Creative Writing on Meetups.com for Cedar Rapids and make us look active there.

Writing Victories

1. Aime wrote 5,000 words in one day.
2. Ciuin has started seriously editing “Chessmaster’s Pawn” with the plan to publish it at the end of October.

Reading Victories

Personal Victories

Literary News

Schedule

Sept. 17
Ben L.
Aime
Robyn

Sept. 24
Robyn
open slots

Oct. 1
Robyn
open slots

Keep Writing!
Robyn

We will meet at someone’s home at 7 pm, and the address will be in the distribution email. Use the contact form if you need me to add you to the distribution.

Discord and Meetups for Noble Pen

The Discord app provides another way for us to discuss. If you want to check it out, ask for an invitation link that will let you join. Also look for Creative Writing on Meetups.com for Cedar Rapids and make us look active there.

Writing Victories

1. Dylan wrote 11,000 words this week.
2. Robyn has started the second book in her trivia series, this one about Halloween in the 1970s.
3. Xander’s newest ART Explains Science and History episode on “The Aphantasia Lie” has had 97,000 likes. That’s enough to remonetize his channel and continue making more episodes.

Reading Victories

1. Aime finished reading “Neuromancer” by William Gibson, the first book in his Sprawl Trilogy. Since she’s writing a memoir, she started a book by Sarah McBride. McBride was the first openly transgender person elected to the US House of Representatives.

Personal Victories

Literary News

Schedule

Sept. 10
Dylan-a double submission
Aime

Sept. 17
Ben L.
Aime
Robyn

Sept. 24
Robyn
open slots

Keep Writing!
Robyn