November 18th 2006

BOOK RELEASE PARTY NOTES:

Our book release party ran from 4 to 6 PM. What a great day. The weather was wonderful and the writers were out in full force. At one time, I counted 35 people at the book release party and I think it was closer to 40 or 45 later. What a great turn out.

Many people drove the distance from the Cities to attend. It is so much fun to meet new people or to see old friends.

When we are going through the work of reading all the submissions and then going through the task of deciding which ones will go in the book and which ones will not–you get a feel for each writing. But when you hear them read by the actual writers, they always bring in something new that you had not thought of when you read them yourself. It is always so enjoyable to hear people read their own work. And inspiring.

For each book, we start in February and finish in November. What a long project. It is exhausting, but a labor of love. Seeing the final product and hearing the great comments makes all the long hours worthwhile.

Thanks to all of you who attended and made it a great event.

Sharon and Tarah
Jackpine Writers’ Bloc

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REGULAR DECEMBER MEETING NOTES:
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The December meeting of the JWB will be on Sunday, Dec. 10 from 1:30 to 4 PM at Beagle Books in Park Rapids MN.

Present for today’s November 2 o’clock meeting were: LuAnne, Scott, Jerry, Marilyn, Tarah, Sharon, Nancy, John, Cindie and Russ.

BRAINERD WRITERS’ ALLIANCE:
Jerry and Marion attended this seminar recently. Niomi had recently won the fiction category in their contest and Jerry won the essay category. Jerry’s essay was recently printed in the Review Messenger. Jerry says that we need to do something, a joint effort, with the BWA at some point. It could be a book and wine party, a reading, a poetry slam, etc.

FIRE RING VOICES:
This is a journal of men’s writing and art published annually at Bemidji State University. The call for submissions is open from September 1 through January 1. For guidelines: Call Dr. Mark Christensen 218-755-3356 at BSU. Or email mchristensen@bemidjistate.edu.

LOFT MEMOIR FESTIVAL:
January 12 and 13, 2007. Contact the Loft for more information. Mike Perry and Catherine Watson will be speakers.

TWENTY BY TWENTY:
We are still hoping to have this next year (2007) in conjunction with the Museum in Park Rapids. It would be 20 works of art: paintings or photographs, and 20 writers to each write about one piece.

NOVEL IN A MONTH:
Nancy and Cindie and LuAnne are doing well with their Novel in a Month. Sharon has slowed down but likes what she has done so far. Sharon’s main problem is that she is a poet, used to writing something short and then cutting it down more and more, not adding more and more!

GOOD BOOKS ON WRITING:
Plot or No Plot by ?
On Writing by Stephen King
Bird by Bird by Ann Lamont
Writing Fiction by ?
Writing Down the Bones by ?
What If? by ?
Creating Fiction by ?

A few people read what they had recently written. We had a short meeting today due to the Book Release Party immediately following.

Hope to see you next time!!