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January Meeting Minutes 2018

Hi Everyone, Today we held our January meeting.

PRESENT: Ryan, Mike, Tenlee, Dawn, Mary, Sharon.

TALKING STICK 27: At the end of December, we sent out our call for submissions for TS27. Submissions are coming in—be sure to get yours in before the March 1, 2018 deadline. We are doing shorter writings again and we would like to see some humorous items. We will have one prize for best humor, no matter the genre.

BOOK RELEASE PARTY: We are planning our book party for Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, but so far we don’t have a definite location yet. That weekend is also Art Leap, which is fine. We just now found out that is also the day for the Great American Storyteller event in Park Rapids.

CURRENT BOOKS: Tarah and Sharon have ordered the last proof for Louise Bottrell’s memoir. It should be completed very soon.

MISCELLANEOUS: Sharon has signed up for another online class at the Loft. This one is called The Writer’s Muse: Explorations in Creativity. The instructor is Jacquelin Cangro. This is more geared toward fiction, essays, memoirs, and narrative nonfiction but Sharon was told that this will also work for poetry. Sharon loves these classes and tries to take one every winter for inspiration.

Ryan is tentatively planning a writers’ retreat in May 2019 at his resort near Akeley MN. He is starting to look at grants now.

Ryan recommends this book: Word by Word by Kory Stamper. This is a memoir for the dictionary. Ryan also showed us the AlphaSmart Neo2, This looks like a keyboard with a small screen attached. It allows you to type and save your work (with some formatting) but you are not distracted by being on your computer with the Internet so accessible.

PRLAAC meetings—Niomi and Mike have taken turns attending these meetings. They are amazed at all the art events taking place in or near Park Rapids. People are still hoping that the Armory will eventually be turned into an Arts Center. There are some audience development events coming up. They discussed having an Arts section in the Park Rapids Enterprise now and then. The Great American Storyteller event will be held on Sept. 22, 2018. The website to find out info on this event is on their website www.thegreatamericanstory.org.

WRITING TIP: When you write a story, do a long version and also a short version.

WRITING EVENTS: Storytellers at the Bagley Public Library presented by Farm by the Lake. 218-694-2084 farmbythelake.anderson@gmail.com

Springboard for the Arts, winter/spring 2018 workshops in Fergus Falls. 6 classes from Jan 27 to May 26. http://tiny.cc/WoA2018.

Women of Words meets on the third Tuesday of the month from 11 AM to 12:30 PM at the Tuscan Center, 3333 W Division St , St Cloud 56301. Cost $15 for lunch. Email Ann Aubitz ann@fuzionprint.com or call 952-465-2623.

Women’s Fiction Writers Association, published authors wanted as judges. Email Rising Star Judges’ Coordinator, Melissa Naatz at m.naatzwriter@gmail.com for info or to volunteer. I know nothing about this group but it sounds interesting.

Writing Close to Home with Will Weaver. Feb 16 from 12 to 3:30 at Park Rapids Public Library. Register with Region 2 Arts Council at 218-751-5447 or alice@r2arts.org.

Fourth Saturdays, 10:30 AM to Noon at Sage on Laurel, 606 Laurel St , Brainerd MN. Presented by Brainerd Writers Alliance. Starts Feb 24, 2018. contact maggief56@gmail.com.

2^nd Annual Rosemount Writers Festival and Book Fair, Saturday March 24, 2018, 9 AM to 5 PM. Registration is now open. Choose from workshops in four different publishing tracks. https://www.rosemountwritersfestival.com/events–workshops.

Stei0010@gmail.com phone 651-423-2569.

We took turns reading and critiquing and had great conversations. Hope to see you all next time!