Schedule and Location

Our group meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month at the Nokomis Fire Station. From Sarasota or North, proceed a few blocks south of Albee Road on US 41 (past Matthews-Currie Ford) to Pavonia Road. Turn right (West, toward the bay) at the Fire Station's flashing yellow caution traffic light. From the south on US 41, we are two blocks north of Dona Bay. Turn left onto Pavonia Road at the flashing yellow caution light. At the Fire Station, drive to the fire hall's far end or west side; PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DOORS! We gather in the training room at the far end of the complex for a meet and greet at 6:00 pm but call the Meeting to order at 6:30 pm and take a Ten-minute break at around 7:50 pm. Meeting Adjourns: 9:00 pm

Saturday, March 23, 2019

March 20th 2019


What is an Abstraction? That was the question asked by Ed Ellis, as he opened our final meeting in March. A presentation by Ed Ellis, Abstractions, The Blood in the Author’s Veins, answered that question and many more in the course of the evening. When one thinks they know it all, it’s time to listen to someone like Ed explain a subject. His deep mining of information and cerebral explanations unearth knowledge we’ve not dreamed about.

Questions and discussion after the presentation sparked more questions and more discussion. I hope everyone enjoyed the chance to learn and better their writing skills.

Thank you, Ed, some of what you said actually sank in this old brain.

Oh, by the way, an abstraction can be anything creating an indirect thought leading to a conclusion.

Time for reading was short but we did manage to sneak in a couple of readers.

Living in a home without a kitchen, at least temporarily, was a teaching moment for Linda Bond. Renovation of her condo was supposed to be quick and easy. Any of you who’ve been through a major reno know, there ain’t nothing quick and easy, there’s always a screw up somewhere. Linda’s experience was no exception, but out of each issue there’s usually a nugget of knowledge found somewhere. After banging into an open cabinet door while attempting to oversee an issue the contractor was pointing out, Linda was upset. The fact the job was only into halfway done and she’d learned the time frame was expanding rapidly, she was beginning to lose her cool. Well, maybe she’d lost it, found it, and lost it again, but she took a break the next morning and sat down on a comfortable chair on her balcony with her coffee and shed the overseeing role. There, on the lake she overlooked, a beautiful white swan graced the water in the stately manner only a swan can achieve. If you want to know more about this story you will have to purchase a copy of Tales2Inspire’s next edition as Linda wrote this, especially for this publication. She is looking for an appropriate title, but for now, she simply calls it, A Teacher In My Life.

Next up, Bill Elam shared a short piece he’s written to accompany his book about a nameless old man and a group of nameless characters. He’s been asked by those who’ve heard portions of the story, “Are your characters real people?” In reply this and other questions he wrote these Author’s Comments, and the final word on the reality of his characters, YES, THEY ARE AS REAL AS YOUR MEMORIES. Does that answer the question? Bill, we can’t wait for the book to be published.

Thursday, March 07, 2019

March 6th, 2019

Another first Wednesday another great meeting of our writer’s group. We welcomed a couple of first-time visitors. Helen Longale, visiting in Englewood, saw our blog and decided to visit us. After the meeting, she expressed her appreciation for what we do and compared our group favorably with other groups she's visited. Helen, have a safe trip home and feel free to drop in anytime you’re in the area. Last week John Koehler contacted me about editing a piece he’d written. I showed him a sample of what I do and acted as a “Story Doctor” for a portion of his work. John came to the meeting this week. He said he enjoyed the meeting and we hope he comes back for subsequent meetings. Thank you both for attending.

In all, we had a good turnout, seventeen attendees and almost all of them participated in our discussion. This week we talked about editing. The Florida Writers Association, our statewide sponsor, has lists of qualified and talented editors. These professionals are waiting for writers to call upon them and request their services. Take advantage of joining the association and availing yourself of their services. Our discussion delved into the merits of hiring an editor, and for the most part we agreed, a good editor is invaluable in the writing process. 

This agreement came with some caveats, however:

1. Pick your editor carefully, your editor must be ready and qualified to do the type of editing you need. There are different types of editors, Copy Editors, Proof Editors, and Content Editors; there are also sub-types in each of these fields - too many to mention in this blog. Copy Editors are helpful with grammar, layout, and helping to ensure your writing falls within the parameters of proper language usage. They often do double duty as a Proof Editor when they proofread the piece while pointing out errors in spelling, use of double words, and those simple typos we all make. Finding the improper use of homophones, hear and here, flower and flour among others keep a writer from being embarrassed. Proof Reader/Editors are great assets and keep us from making silly errors. Now, Copy Editing is a different world altogether; when working with a Copy Editor it’s important to explain exactly what you’re trying to impart to your readers. Your ideas on paper may not be as easy to write as to speak and your Editor can help with this process but, they must understand what you’re trying to do. Choose your Copy Editor carefully, make sure you’re both on the same page with an understanding of your message.

2. Don't expect an editor to salvage poor work, make sure you've done your duty to have the piece as clean and free of errors as possible before submitting it to an editor. Giving an editor a rough draft is likely to cause them to reject the work, or it can end up costing you a lot more money

3. Editors are human, they make mistakes just like you do, they are not infallible. It’s your story, your work, the editor’s job is to make suggestions which might make your work better and more readable. If you disagree and cannot accept the editor’s suggestion, don’t make the change, it’s your choice! But, remember your editor may have a better handle on what is better for your work, consider the advice carefully before rejecting it.

4. Editors often work with publishers or agents and can be helpful in introducing you to writing professionals interested in your genre. If you find an editor you like and get along with, one you feel you can trust. Don’t be bashful, ask how the editor can help you in furthering your career.

The discussion was energetic and numerous POV’s presented. It’s always fun to hear what a group of writers has to say about almost any subject.

REMEMBER, THE VENICE BOOKFAIR IS MARCH 15-16
SUPPORT OUR LOCAL AUTHORS

Moving away from the discussion, we entered the reading portion of the evening. Eleven writers were willing to share their work with us, although a couple of them opted out as the evening progressed for various reasons, the most prevalent being the facilitator misread the note on the sign-in sheet. My faux pas.

We started out with Peter McNally reading Chapter Two of his work Rewired. Documenting his struggle to recover from multiple strokes, catastrophic seizures, and the aftermath of the devastating medical incidents takes a lot of courage and resolve. It’s been over sixteen years and Peter has regained much of his intellectual skills lost to brain damage. His memory still causes problems as he cannot always recall major events in his life. Challenges faced and hurdles overcame fill this chapter. Peter’s writing skills have come a long way in the months he’s attended our group. We can see a marked improvement in his personality and the way he faces his challenging life after near defeat; for sure, he can claim many victories in his fight.

Bill Elam brought us what he calls the final chapter of Part 1 in his story of an old man, unnamed throughout the story. Presenting another of those touched by the old man’s life, he portrays an airline pilot’s vision of the old yellow airplane well out over the Gulf of Mexico and at an altitude, it could not have achieved. We can’t wait, though we must, for this story to reach publication.

In his unique manner, Peter Frickel read a collection of nearly perfect sentences, each provoking thought and forming the basis for an enchanting story. Depicting an African field hand facing a hungry lion in a field. A question, death - what is it like? Is time a hunter, will any born into time survive? War, hunger, life, death, and noise comprise some of the things he touched on. Bird songs, their chirps, and twitters, what do they mean, are they communication as we know it? A volcanic eruption in Pompeii, how can all these things not trigger a writer’s desire to pen something from their heart.

Barbara Frickel’s work entitled Victorydone a few years ago at Myakka State Park, gave us a look at nature’s handiwork. With her words and rendering, the magic pencil depicted the beauty of a thistle. Her biblical reference to King David as being brave, talented, and handsome gave us a different view of the simple and often despised thistle. Victorious over its surroundings, it finds a way to grow in harsh conditions and still supplies a unique beauty with its colors and softness amid thorny covering. It is tough but beautiful.

Communist Cuba is the setting for Jeffrey Kutcher’s biography of Amauri, a youngster growing up in a Solar located in old Havana. The chapter took us inside the schoolroom where the teachers are required to teach the version of Cuban history authorized by the government. Amauri’s perception of the lessons and his opinions are formed. How does he feel about what he’s taught? We’ll have to wait and read on.

The “Reader’s Digest” version, as Doug Sahlin expressed it, for Yale Larson’s latest adventure led us up to an Extravaganza held at the Van Wetzel Performing Arts Center organized by Yale and his billionaire client in hopes of flushing out a suspected murder. The band, The Frog Prince is to be the featured act and its drummer is suspect number one. Will this work?

Linda Bond returned with the conclusion of her 50-Year-Old Wedding Cake story. On display at the anniversary party, the cake has survived 50 years in freezers with only minor damage. The decorations remain intact and a comparison of the cake to the marriage was fascinating as both suffered moves, traumatic issues, good and bad times, but each survived.

To close out the readings for the evening, Susan Haley read her poem, Shadow Warriors. Breaking from her penchant to write free-verse poetry, Susan wrote this in a rhyming pentameter. Written shortly after her husband’s passing, the poem was touching and poignant. I quietly wiped away the hint of a tear and saw more than one person rub their eyes.

Although we did not get to all our readers this week, we will hear from them at the next meeting. John Koehler and Don Westerfield will lead off the reading at our next meeting. Also, our next meeting, March 20th, will feature a presentation from our own Ed Ellis, a teacher and fellow writer whose credits include being a writing instructor at the Ringling School of Art and Design. Be sure to join us as Ed presents Abstraction, the blood in the veins of the writer.

Until we meet again, KEEP ON WRITING!

Sunday, March 03, 2019

Visiting Writers Forum
An Author Reading & Conversation Series
 
Fred Koehler
Tuesday, March 5
7:00 - 8:15 pm
Alfred R. Goldstein Library
Room 113

Please join us on Tuesday evening to hear author and illustrator Fred Kohler share recently-published work, discuss his career as an artist and writer, and answer questions from the audience. This event is part of the Visiting Writers Forum, an author reading & conversation series that’s sponsored by the Creative Writing Program at Ringling College of Art and Design and the Isermann Family Foundation.

Every Visiting Writers Forum event for the 2018-2019 academic year is open to the public and has no admission charge. Everyone is welcome.

Parking is a breeze. Any parking space that's open--save handicapped places, unless you have proper signage for that--is available for your use during this event.
The Alfred R. Goldstein Library's physical address is 2700 Bradenton Road. Here's the address in Mapquest.
                         
For those who'd prefer to see where the Goldstein library is on the Ringling College of Art and Design campus map? It's building #16 on this map.




  Fred Koehler is an artist and storyteller whose real-life misadventures include sunken boats, shark encounters, and hurricanes. Whether free diving in the Gulf of Mexico or backpacking across Africa, Fred’s sense of adventure and awe of nature overflow into his characters’ stories.

 Koehler is passionate about encouraging young artists, promoting social justice, and conserving our environment. He lives in Florida with his wife, kids, and a rescue dog named Cheerio Mutt-Face McChubbybutt.

Excerpts from an interview with Fred. For the full interview, go to HenryHerz.com!

For what age audience do you write?

FK.
I write the stories that come to me, and I let the publishers decide who they’re for. My books range from picture books for 3-5 year-olds all the way up to novels for middle grade readers. 

What aspect of writing do you find most challenging?

FK
I think ideas are the hardest. A good one is like a gold doubloon in a treasure chest filled with plastic coins. You have to pick up each and every one to examine it and determine which one’s worthy and which ones are only shiny objects.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

FK
Stop talking during your critiques. Listen. Listen. Listen. Then go out and be a different writer based on what you learned.




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Saturday, March 02, 2019

An Opportunity to be published

STRONGER TODAY BECAUSE. . .

MANY OF YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY THINK OF A TEACHER, BUT THAT TEACHER COULD BE SOMEONE IN OR OUT OF CLASSROOM.
***
Think about the person who was the strongest model in your life, write your story and enter it into the next Tales2Inspire contest. 
NO ENTRANCE FEES, 
this is an ‘Authors Helping Authors’ project. 

See all details at: www.tales2inspire.com/contest

DUE DATE: APRIL 15th