Chesterfield Writers Club - Back to the Blog!
Hey Gang. After a long absence, we're back on the blog. There's a lot going on so get comfortable and pull up a chair...Meetup Blackout
Well, a very strange thing happened. I was cleaning up after the Workshop event, and decided to delete the CWCAdmin meetup group we used to coordinate the workshop. I sent an email to Meetup.com and asked them to delete it. They overachieved - they deleted CWCAdmin AND ChesterfieldWritersClub! I have sent them email asking to have the site restored. I'll let you know what happens next.
JJ McMoon - Business side of Writing
On December 11, 2010 at 1pm JJ McMoon will present a seminar on the Business side of independent publishing. JJ was one of our panelists at the 2010 Workshop and is very knowledgeable about DIY publishing. He has a wealth of experience thanks to DIY publishing his novel "Lives - Perception is Reality". It promises to be a good show.
Branching Out - Chapters of the CWC
I plan to start opening chapters of the CWC next year at area libraries. One of the criticisms of the CWC is that the Chester library is too far away for some people. I hope to get more people involved by holding meetings at one of the other 8 Chesterfield Libraries. If you have a preference, let me know.
Facilitators Wanted
As we start branching out, there will be more need for facilitators at the other branches, and at the Chester location. I can't be everywhere at once! So, if you have an interest in facilitating a meeting on a regular basis, let me know. I'm even toying with the idea of creating a self-running meeting where anyone can facilitate. Let me know if you have ideas on that as well!
Change of Meeting Times
With the success of the Tuesday night meetings at the Commonwealth Barnes and Noble, I am thinking of moving meetings to a weeknight (still at the library though). Many people seem to think this is preferable to meeting on a Saturday afternoon. Also I'm considering going to a weekly format to accommodate all the different types of topics we want. (See next heading!)
Meeting Sections
It seems everyone wants some sort of review of their writing. And there is a desire to see an instituted "words on a page" requirement to membership. So, I'm thinking of increasing the number of meetings and create "Sections". Each "Section" would be 1-hour in length and would be one of:
- Topics (round table topic group discussion)
- Craft of writing (group discovery about elements of writing, with take-home exercise)
- Review of take-home exercises
- Writing workshop (hands-on writing exercises)
- Critique (group review of 3-4 writer's chapter or short story)
Write me if you can think of other Sections.
Each meeting would be comprised of 2 Sections and the sections would rotate from meeting to meeting. For example, if Week 1 was Topics and Craft, Week 2 would be Review (of the take home exercise from the previous week) and Writing Workshop.
Summary
So, there is a lot happening and a lot to come. Please keep coming to meetings and email me if you have any issues, concerns or new ideas.
Greg
