October 18th, 2023

“The Idea of a Story Idea,” where do writers get their story ideas? To begin our discussion, filling in for Rod, Ernie read from Ron Carlson Writes a Story, by author Ron Carlson and his chapter so titled. Scott Anderson responded from a poet’s point of view, and the conversation took off from there. A lively discussion followed as each member shared their sources of inspiration, motivation, and methodologies. Forty-five minutes later, we were still going. Our discussion group had seven members, and readings followed. Anne Moore and Scott Anderson joined in the discussion and critiqued our readers. Our readers were Peter McNally, Richard Cope, Bruce Haedrich, Jim Kelly, and Ernie Ovitz.

 

 

Turning to our readings:

 

Peter McNally led with a continuation of his autobiographical work, “Rewired.” Peter had suffered a stroke and seizures, resulting in a debilitating memory loss and a broken back. Trapped at home, he describes a strained marriage and a wife unable to cope with his condition. His vivid portrait left the group sitting on the edge of their seats – high compliments to Peter for a well-written piece and for his great progress physically and with his writing skills.

 

Richard Cope offered a short story and an intriguing alternate history. His premise, what if John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln’s assassin, had escaped to England – an England sympathetic to the Southern cause and a nation without an extradition treaty with the United States? However, all things were not rosy for Booth. His presence proves an embarrassment. The prime minister and the home secretary discussed the situation but deferred to the wishes of the Queen. Indeed, Booth was in for a surprise.

 

Bruce Haedrich read excerpts from his science fiction piece to bring the group up to speed on his progress. Bruce is making good progress and all sounds exciting through Chapter Seven. Well done Bruce

 

Jim Kelly read from Tremain of his Mackenzie Family saga. “A New Direction,” Tremain has proven an accomplished frontier scout for the Army in the Oklahoma Territory. After two years of service, times are changing with the subjugation of the native tribes, leaving the territory to settlers and outlaws to test them. Tremain is ready for a change and plans to return to Missouri to see family. Along the way, he meets a US Marshal, and the two men talk. Both like what they see, and a job offer follows. Tremain asks for time to think about it. His answer will follow in the next chapter.

 

Ernie Ovitz concluded the reading session with a reading from Book Three, Imperium, The Thirteenth Apostle, a novel on the life of the Roman Emperor Constantine: chapter 59, Nicomedia, January 7^th, AD 325. Bishop Ossius returned from his mission to Alexandria and Antioch carrying news that trouble remained in the church. Three bishops had been found teaching in support of the wayward Egyptian presbyter Arius, contrary to the Catholic faith. The men were unrepentant, and the synod at Antioch pronounced anathemas to their false doctrines, suspended the men from church office, and called a new synod to be held at Ancyra to decide the men’s fate. Constantine’s reply – “No, this will not do.” Bishop Ossius was stunned, “I don’t understand, my lord.” The emperor insisted, “I have led His armies to victory. He has proclaimed the unity of His people to me. No, this will not do.” He said I will have a council of the whole church. It shall be at Nicaea, the City of Victory, “God shall receive his victory at Nicaea.” Thus, plans for the first great council of the church were made to be held in June of that year.

 

We hope to see all our members at the next meeting – Wednesday, November 1^st. New members and visitors are welcome. We are an open group. Until then, keep on writing.

 

 

September 20th and October 4th, 2023

I’m glad to be back after suffering from an injury last month. I missed the September 20^th meeting, but my fearless companion, Ernie, gave me the notes he took. I will attempt to bring you up to speed now. Thank you for your patience.

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 Vacations, poor weather, and summer in general take a toll on the attendance of our little group. Still, six intrepid writers showed up this week. Ernie led off a discussion during which he read the author’s notes in John Sandford’s book Ocean Prey. Sandford explains some mistakes he’s made in writing this and past books. We’ve all made mistakes. Hopefully, we caught them before the book went to publication. But nobody’s perfect. We must search for errors in our work with editing and research before attempting to publish. If you rewrite or edit, inspect all parts of the work that might refer to the changes made. Sometimes, changing single letters or numbers can make the whole work come under scrutiny and lose the reader’s interest.

 

In the reading portion of the meeting, Peter McNally led off with a new chapter in his memoir, Rewired. After a Gran Mal seizure in the driveway of his home after returning from a workout at his gym, he wakes up in the hospital. Confused and frightened, he pulls the ventilation tube out of his airway and tries to get out of bed. He hears Code Blue announced as a medical team rushes into his room. The writers present tonight agree Peter uses excellent descriptions in his writing despite the challenge of having suffered multiple strokes and seizures, all of which have affected his memory.

 

Don Westerfield is a poet as well as an accomplished prose writer. This week, we were privileged to hear two of his poems. Upon the Wind urges the reader to “fling your worries upon the wind” and “Waste not a moment with useless tears.” Personally, it sounds like good advice. Have You Wandered is the second poem in which the question posed in the title addresses all the what-ifs in one’s life. Can we ever do anything about those oft-regretted but unchangeable events?

 

When Dennis Cathcart took the floor, he read of those who still adhere to the principles or actions of the past. Are we wrong to do so? Are there advantages to doing so? Have times really changed so much? Was this piece about the author? We all wonder but realize the past is bound to repeat itself if proven effective.

 

In his newest project, Aquataina, The Silent Planet, Bruce Haedrich introduces us to The Prometheus Project. In Chapter 3, Karl makes a pitch to enroll Natasha. As he explains the project, he sees she is willing to join the group of candidates he has validated to save humanity from inhalation by the massive remains of a moon from a planet named Janus. Bruce has a great imagination and the skill to make his story believable.

 

The continuing saga of the Mackinzie family unfolds in the latest work by James Harold Kelly entitled Tremain, as we follow the adventures of the young Sioux adopted by the Mackinzies after the death of his father, Shadow Hawk. Tremain serves as a scout for Teddy Roosevelt and joins the Rough Riders as they embark on their mission to Cuba.

 

This is what you missed if you weren’t there.

 

NOW FOR THE LATEST MEETING – OCTOBER 4^TH, 2023

 

Although hobbling along with the use of a cane, I made it to this meeting. I sorely missed not being here for the last one, and I do mean sore!

We started the meeting with Ernie leading a discussion about the importance of a good opening line. Do the first words of a story grab your attention? The opening line leads to an opening paragraph, an essential part of any story. Your work might never get read without those opening words garnering the reader’s attention. What about the last paragraph? Some believe it is equally vital, especially if you want readers to look for your books or stories. Each word in your work is essential, and each section of your writing has to hold the reader’s attention. Choose each noun, verb, and pronoun carefully while paying close attention to your use of adjectives and adverbs.

 

Our reading portion started with Bruce Haedrich reading Chapters 7 and 8 of Aquataina, The Silent Planet. Mark questions Karl about the spaceships the project, a coalition of seven nations, is building. His questions are challenging to answer, leading Mark to discover the actual object of the Prometheus Project. How will you keep the public from finding these ships will take a select group of humans to a distant planet and populate it with a strain of humans picked specially for the mission? Mark’s dislike for Karl blossoms into hatred, especially when he finds out Natalia has agreed to join the expedition. What happens next?

 

Ernie Ovitz returned us to the Roman Empire in the fourth century as Constantine sent his emissary, Bishop Ossius, to Alexandria to quell an uprising in the Christian ranks. Ossius requests Bishop Alexander not to attend the upcoming synod. The request, considered a command from the Emperor, is devastating to the church in Alexandria.

 

Two poems by Don Westerfield are always thought-provoking. A Whisper on the Wind shows the reader how love can come silently, build to a crescendo, and fall away as quietly as it came as one partner drifts away. As I listened to Shadow Song, I felt the words within myself. I can now see and beg forgiveness for things I am not proud of as time passes and my time on earth grows shorter. The Poet says, “Still, reminisce can I of passions I enjoyed so long ago.”

 

Birthday Cakes by Scott Anderson triggers fond memories of past birthdays baked with love by a mother. A horse-drawn fire engine, an expanse of deep blue water, a mountain to climb, peanuts, and cracker jacks fill the memory as another birthday approaches. A deep abiding love is still felt even though the mother has passed; her presence is felt at the sight of another cake.

 

There was a spring in his step as Richard Cope approached the lectern. When he began to read, the words came in machine gun-like rapidity. Bad Luck #9 could be easily made into a blues song with only the addition of a couple of refrains. The same goes for the second poem, Fiddle Me a Tune, as the last wish of a dying man; the timbre and pace of the words made me hear music.

 

Well, that’s about all I can muster for now. As vacations end and the weather cools, we look forward to seeing more of our writer-friends at the meetings. The more attendees, the less time we have to read and listen to critique. To be fair to all readers, ensure you can read your selection in four to five minutes, and only read if you can stay for a complete meeting. We hope to see you on October 18^th at 6:30 PM in the Nokomis Fire Station Training Room. But above all – KEEP ON WRITING!