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September 25th 2005

We had a great meeting today, Sept. 25, 2005. The next meeting will be on Sunday, October 16 from 1:30 to 4 at Beagle Books in Park Rapids. Present today were: Sharon, Tarah, Jerry, John, Russ, Ted, LuAnne, Niomi and Gina.

TALKING STICK 14:

The books should be here next week!! We will let local people get their copies early if they wish. We will probably get them to Beagle and Bookin’ It as soon as they want them. The tentative date for the book release party will be Saturday, November 19. We will have our regular monthly JWB meeting at noon, followed by the book release party at 2 o’clock. This is tentative.

HACKENSACK BOOK ARTS CELEBRATION:

Since the last meeting, we took part in the Hackensack Book Arts Celebration. Several of our members did readings. Tarah and Sharon had their Lines and Light display upstairs in the church in Hackensack and the books were in the basement. Several of our members did readings. We sold quite a few books and talked to lots of people. The book arts section was a great success.

LINES AND LIGHT:

Tarah and Sharon will have their Lines and Light display in Wadena at the Tri County Hospital from October 1 through November 15.

WILL WEAVER WORKSHOP:

Don’t forget that Will Weaver will have a short writing workshop during the Brainerd Writers’ Alliance annual meeting on Saturday, October 8. Contact sharrick1@wcta.net for more information on that.

SINCLAIR LEWIS WRITERS’ CONFERENCE:

October 8, 2005 in Sauk Center, 8:30 to 5:30. Information on self publishing. Bill Holm is a speaker. Call 320-352-2735 evenings, Jim Umhoefer, coordinator for information.

DISCUSSION ON CHILDREN AND VIOLENCE:

Will Weaver will be a keynote speaker for this deliberation on Tuesday, Sept. 27 from 7 to 8:30 and also Thursday, Sept. 29 from 6:30 to 9 in Detroit Lakes. Ted Schaum gave us this information.

WRITING CLASS:

Also on October 8, there is a good class put on by the Loft in the cities. Mark Nissan, The Art of Metaphors.

PLACES TO SUBMIT:

1. Dust and Fire 2006, Writing and Art by Women, deadline October 21, 2005. More information: shauser@bemidjistate.edu. 218-755-3355 Susan Hauser.

2. See Minnesota Literature for many places to submit.

3. Lake Country Journal and Brainerd Writers’ Alliance had recent contests.

NATIONAL WRITE A NOVEL IN A MONTH – NOVEMBER:

Cindie Ekren is very interested in doing this. For more information, go to: www.fictionfactor.com/articles/novelamonth.html.

www.alternet.org/mediaculture/020294

POETIC FORMS:

Last month, Russ wrote a great pantoum. This is a poem with stanzas of four lines. They often begin and end with the same line or the second line of the first stanza might start the second stanza. They sometimes rhyme abab. It is the slowest of all verse forms and is perfect for evocation of a past issue. Russ’ poem was so funny and enjoyable.

This month, Jerry read a sestina that he had written. This was great. The sestina contains six six-line stanzas and a three line envoy. The end lines of each stanza contain the same six words in alternating order, and the ending tercet contains all six words. Writing these structured poetic forms is a great exercise.

OUR MEMBERS:

Sharon would like to publish a third book of her poetry. Jerry is working on his second book. This will be a collection of short stories, all containing various characters from one small town area. We have heard many of his stories and can’t wait to see the book. Tarah is working on her fantasy novel. Russ is interested in putting together a small book also. John mentioned doing a book of his short poems. We mentioned that it would be fun if JWB would do some publishing for some of the members.

MISCELLANEOUS:

1. Faith Sullivan has a new book named Gardenias. We would like to have her do a workshop when she is nearby doing a book signing.

2. Tarah mentioned that Fair Havens could sponsor a golf tournament and the proceeds could go to JWB.

3. Gina, our new attendee, is interested in writing children’s books. We gave her some contact names for ideas and assistance.

Great meeting!! See you next time.