January 21st 2007

We met from 12:30 to 3 PM today as we will be doing for the rest of the winter.

The next meeting will be on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007 from 12:30 to 3 PM at Beagle Books in Park Rapids MN. We will try to generally have the meetings on the third Sunday of each month–but there may be a few times of the year that we have to do something different.

Present: Russ, Sharon, Niomi, Jerry, John, Ted and 3 new writers John, Scott and Rhoda.

MN BOOK AWARDS:
They no longer have an anthology category so our book
TS15 is not eligible for entry.

TALKING STICK 16:
We will be having our board meeting this week and getting started on the next book.

BLOOMINGTON ART CENTER:
A day for writers, publishers, editors, and readers.
March 24, 2007 from 9:30 to 3:30.
This is a good place to sell our books. Jerry will see if he can arrange for someone to sell our books there. For more information, call 1-952-835-5227 or go to lpettit@gowebway.com.

GOOD READING:
“Child’s Play” by Alice Munro in Harper’s Feb. 2007

MISCELLANEOUS:
Several times we have discussed doing T-shirts with JWB and perhaps a clever writing slogan on them. One writer mentioned they should have a pocket.

READINGS:
We need to touch base with Zandbroz in Fargo. They are interested in us doing a reading.

20×20:
We are still interested in doing this in 2007. There seem to be problems with using the Museum. The hours there are very restrictive plus the stairs are a problem. We need to consider using Long Lake Theater? Also Pine River was mentioned.

GREAT AMERICAN THINK OFF:
April 1 deadline for your essay, June 9 Think Off Debate
at New York Mills Cultural Center
Which Should You Trust More–Your Head or Your Heart?
for more information, www.think-off.org

WILL WEAVER–SWEET LAND MOVIE:
We have heard that this will be in Park Rapids soon. We are going to check on this. Will Weaver is from Park Rapids and he has been very successful with short stories and novels. This is the second movie made from his writings.

OTHER WRITING GROUPS:
We are open to doing joint ventures with other MN Writing Groups. Perhaps jointly offering workshops, contests, joint readings, etc.

WRITING TIPS:
Try writing a piece in first person, then rewriting it in second or third person. Write as a poem and then as a short short story. For poems, watch the rhythm, try inner rhymes. Try cutting out as many words as possible, make it as short as possible.
It is very important to know how to re-write. Knowing when to stop is also important.
A poem should be like Teutonic plates in geology–two things going on at the same time, passing each other.
Take a well-known poem that you like. Try writing a parody of it, using similar lines and words and phrasing, perhaps a different subject. This helps to reinforce good rhythm.

Great meeting!! See you next time.