Links for writers...

Periodically I will share with you links to websites which feature information useful for writers. Today I found this page of writers resources; it's jam-packed with all sorts of info regarding virtually every genre. I know SCRIBE has a number of members who are writing memoirs or personal essay. You'll find some good links here. There are also links for fiction, bloggers, travel, speeches, scripts, etc. You can easily spend an hour or two following some trails which might lead you into just what you've been wishing for. Check it out.

SCRIBBLES...

We had another great meeting on August 28th, with 25 intrepid ink-slingers sharing their work in critique groups. I think I can say that it is getting easier each time and many of us have gotten some great tips and encouragement from these sessions. I'm now looking forward to our first September meeting, when we'll be joined by the multiply-talented Owen Egerton. Remember, we meet on the second and fourth Saturdays each month. Upcoming meetings are September 11, September 25, October 9, October 23.
I mentioned some sites at the meeting, a couple of which were suggested by Jo Virgil when she spoke:
The Mayborn Conference is an annual three-day conference "created to enhance the quality of nonfiction writing, encourage innovation, and create a community of factual storytellers who maintain an unflinching faith in the narrative craft." If you're interested in writing literary nonfiction, you might think about attending next year's conference.
Jo also mentioned the Writers League of Texas, located right here in Austin. Their website offers many resources for writers as well as their regular meetings, workshops, seminars and contests. Check it out; there's something there which you can use.
Want a challenge? November is National Novel Writing Month. Willing participants can sign up to write a work of fiction at least 50,000 words long in the 30 days of November. Poke around their website and see what you think. I'm considering doing this, mainly because I frequently need to be forced to write, and this would be good for me. I'd like some company, though, so please let me know if you want to try this. No, I don't even have an idea yet, but I've got two months to come up with that. I rather like the idea of writing a novel I didn't intend to write!
On another topic, Kathy Sargent presented the idea of forming a book club, in which a group would read the same book and meet regularly to discuss it. If you're interested, shoot Kathy an email.
Finally, please feel free to use the comment box below to add links you've found, questions or comments you have, even samples of your writing! I've been very pleased to hear from many of you how SCRIBE is helping you. Keep writing!

Scribe meeting this Saturday, August 28th!

It's time once again for the scribes of Riverbend to get together. Since this will be a fourth Saturday, our meeting will include dividing into four small groups and hearing what others are writing, sharing our own writing, and discussing and critiquing the works we bring. It's a helpful exercise which will also make you feel encouraged and not alone in what can sometimes be a lonely pursuit—writing. As always, the meeting begins at 10:30am in Quad 4. I hope to see many of you and I encourage you to bring along other potential writers. We are an open group and we'd love to continue to grow.
If you missed our meeting on August 14th, here are the guidelines for critique/workshop meetings which Jo Virgil shared with us. Please keep these in mind when you come to share and listen this week.

Ten Commandments of Critiquing:

1. Comment on the text, not the author.
2. Speak from your own perspective.
3. Be willing to give honest feedback.
4. Remember that a writer’s work and the conversations about it in group are private.
5. Start with a positive comment, end with a positive comment.
6. Honor the writer’s own voice—don’t try to re-write.
7. Consider the writer’s goals in asking for a critique.
8. Be specific with suggestions, but avoid being nitpicky.
9. Make your critique concise and leave time for others’ comments.
10. Keep a sense of humor.

Ten Commandments of Being Critiqued:

1. Be open-minded to the comments.
2. Don’t argue or defend your work—in fact, just don’t talk except to ask for clarification.
3. Be willing to receive honest feedback.
4. Identify what you are looking for in the critique.
5. Leave your ego at home.
6. Keep a sense of humor.
7. Listen to the praise, not just the criticism.
8. Pay special attention to comments that you hear frequently, and take notes.
9. Remind yourself of the purpose of the critique.
10. Treat feedback like a gift from your mother-in-law: If you like it, use it with pride. If you don’t, quietly toss it aside after she’s gone.

SCRIBE meeting this Saturday, August 14th!

Don't miss our first August meeting this Saturday, when our special guest will be Jo Virgil, from the Writers League of Texas. Jo has expertise in the area of workshop/critique groups and will share much useful information and advice with us. Remember, our meetings are the second and fourth Saturdays each month, at 10:30am in Quad 4.
We held our first workshop meeting on July 24th. Twenty-two brave souls showed up to make their first tentative steps toward sharing their writing with the world. We divided into four groups and the experience was great! Here are some comments from those who attended:

"Our first workshop meeting was a positive time for me. Henceforth, my little tape recorder will travel with me to record the ideas that the workshop session triggers...The Scribe group is a gift from Riverbend offering us an educational, inspirational and motivational environment."

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"I really enjoyed this reading session and, to be candid, much more than I thought I would...I was in a great group, everyone was very encouraging, it was a non-threatening environment, and I was sitting with some very talented writers to boot."

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"My first feelings of intimidation turned to appreciation as each shared from their writing and welcomed feedback. I not only learned from our critique of other's writings, but how I can improve my writing from the feedback given to me from the group."

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"It was a terrific session. I was fortunate enough to be in the smartest and best looking circle of writers (they let me stay anyway). The diversity of writing ranged from poetry to technical, fiction, and essay. Everyone was both supportive and helpful... Some of us brought completed work and others brought work in progress. It was both a low pressure and very enjoyable experience."

As you can see, there's no reason to be afraid of our fourth-Saturday sessions; they're all about encouragement and constructive feedback...oh, and fellowship with our fellow writers!
Please make a concerted effort to attend SCRIBE meetings. As a new group struggling to find its identity, every person is important and has much to offer the group. I hope to see you this Saturday!

SCRIBE meeting this Saturday, July 24th

We had a great time at the last SCRIBE meeting, where Dr. Bob Lively shared his experiences as a writer and offered some valuable advice.
Now, it's time for our first workshop/critique meeting, this Saturday, July 24th, at 10:30am in Quad 4. For this meeting, we're asking that you bring something you've written: 3-5 pages of a story, a poem, an article, a journal entry...just about anything. We'll divide into small groups of five or six and take turns listening to everyone read their work. Then we'll discuss and try to offer some constructive steps to improve that work. Don't be nervous; if you ever plan to write for publication, you need to get used to people reading and commenting on your writing. If you're not quite ready for this step, though, please don't skip the meeting. You're still encouraged to attend and listen and see what goes on at the workshop sessions.
I'm in the middle of Stephen King's On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, and I highlighted this section:

I think I was forty before I realized that almost every writer of fiction and poetry who has ever published a line has been accused by someone of wasting his or her God-given talent. If you write (or paint or dance or sculpt or sing, I suppose), someone will try to make you feel lousy about it, that's all.

SCRIBE exists to do the opposite of that, to encourage and nurture you as you explore your own God-given gifts. I'm going to be there this Saturday morning and I'm going to read something and then I'm going to listen and then...I'm going to write something better. Please join me!

Don't miss our first regular meeting this Saturday!

SCRIBE will begin its regular schedule of meetings this Saturday, July 10th, at 10:30am in Quad 4 on the Riverbend campus. I'm delighted to announce that our guest author/speaker will be Dr. Bob Lively. Bob is a Presbyterian minister who for years was Riverbend's teacher-in-residence. He has published numerous books and short stories and was a long-time columnist for the Austin American-Statesman. He is also — and this is one of the best compliments I can pay — a wonderful storyteller. Don't miss this chance to hear Bob talk about his writing experience. He'll answer your questions and inspire you to put your own stories on paper.

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SCRIBE is open to anyone who aspires to write; you need not be a member of Riverbend and you need not be a writer of religious or inspirational content. The only qualification is that you have a desire to write. There's no charge to attend meetings. Come and meet others who share your interest and find encouragement, advice and fellowship.

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Guests for future meetings include Jo Virgil, who will explain the workings of workshop/critique groups at our August 14th meeting, and Owen Egerton, a novelist/comedian/actor/screenwriter from Austin who will speak at our September 11th meeting.
Great things are happening for writers at Riverbend. I hope you'll be part of the excitement

We don't need no stinkin' rules...or do we?

Anne Rapp got a great reaction when she shared her tongue-in-cheek rules for writing at our meeting last Sunday. If you missed it, there's a link in the post below where you can read her list. It reminded me, though, of another thought-provoking list of rules for writers. This one was formulated by Elmore Leonard, a master novelist who has given me countless hours of reading pleasure. About ten years ago, his rules were published in a series by the New York Times. More recently they have been published in a very brief book which is padded out by some drawings and a little extra verbage. But Leonard's original list is well worth your time, especially --though not exclusively--for fiction writers. You can find them here.