JuNoWriMo & the Community of Online Writers

I'm amazed by the generosity of fellow writers. I have learned a great deal about our craft by reading blogs, participating in contests and challenges.

JuNoWriMo: During the month of June you are welcome to step up to write 50,000 words in 30 days. You select the project(s) - novel or non-fiction, adult or children's manuscript. 

In a nutshell, this a positive minded community of online writers nudging each other to KEEP WRITING. 

Who’s behind JuNoWriMo (June Novel Writing Month)? Becca Campbell and Anna Howard are participants in and huge fans of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Becca got the crazy idea of starting up her own version of a novel in a month adventure in June (because November wasn’t enough) and started tweeting the idea around. Anna tweeted back and Becca asked her to help, and the two of them spent some time conspiring behind locked doors to bring you what is the fresh, summery, and citrus-smelling event called JuNoWriMo.

What are waiting for? Check out http://junowrimo.com/ and Sign Up!

Indiana SCBWI MG/YA Meet-Up

June Critique Session

Registration is CLOSED.
SCBWI Writers of middle grade and young adult fiction are welcome to Meet-up on June 14. Hosted by Manju Howard and Gail Nall. Bring 5 copies of the first 5 pages of your MG or YA work-in-progress to critique. 

This is a FREE SCBWI event. Writers will need to bring their own lunch.

Space is limited to 12 writers.

To register email Manju Howard: manjuhoward@gmail.com.

In the subject line: MG/YA Meet UP

Please include the following information in your email:

Full name

Title of MG or YA WIP

Genre

Email address

Date / Time:

Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location:

Zionsville Library's Hussey/Hoffman Room

250 N 5th St, Zionsville, IN 46077

Saturday, June 14 - SCBWI MG/YA Meet Up

Schedule:

10:00 - Introductions: Name, writing background & critique experience

10:30 - Critique Guidelines

10:40 - Critique 1 MG/YA First 5 Pages *

11:20 - Critique 2 MG/YA First 5 Pages *

12:00 - Bag Lunch  

1:10 - Critique 3 MG/YA First 5 Pages *

1:50 - Critique 4 MG/YA First 5 Pages *

2:30 - Break

2:40 - Critique 5 MG/YA First 5 Pages *

3:20 - Critique 6 MG/YA First 5 Pages *

4:00 – Session Ends

* 1. Author being critiqued will read their 5 manuscript pages aloud.

   2. Writers in each group will individually write a brief critique.

   3. Group discussion on manuscript’s good points and concerns.

Writers' Conference Tips

10 Things to Bring to a Writers' Conference

by Rachelle Gardner 

1. Concise and fascinating answers to questions like, “So, what do you write?” and “Tell me about yourself.”

2. Organized thoughts about the book(s) you’re pitching, so you can easily give a 1 or 2 minute pitch when asked.

3. One-sheets for each book you’re pitching—plenty of copies in case agents or editors want to keep them.

4. Business cards.

5. A printout of the first chapter of your novel. You just need a few of copies since you will show them in meetings but probably won’t leave them with agents or editors.

6. A camera if that floats your boat.

7. A tote bag or brief case (not too big) to carry around your stuff, or simply a folder to hold your papers and keep you organized.

8. A professional-looking, business-casual wardrobe with comfortable shoes. A nicer outfit for the banquet Saturday night.

9. Personal goals for the conference… and an open mind so that you don’t miss opportunities and connections that come your way unexpectedly.

10. A big smile, since it’s the best way to forge connections with others and keep yourself relaxed.

For more Writers' Conference Tips:

Writers’ Conference Etiquette 
by Scott Hoffman

http://foliolit.com/resources/writers-conference-etiquette 

Get Thee to a Writers Conference 
by James Scott Bell

http://stevelaube.com/get-thee-to-a-writers-conference

Shoveling Plot Lines through the Snow

I just shoveled 4 inches of fluffy snow off my driveway. To make the job interesting in a Tom Sawyer kind of way, I thought of the snowy driveway as a story and the sidewalk like readers. I began by scooping a clear path on the sidewalk so that readers could watch the story unfold. Then I got to work on the driveway. 

Each line of snow I pushed my shovel through was a character's plot line. One line blissfully traveled across the cement. A second line ran parallel then veered off. A third line ended abruptly. A fourth line crashed into several other lines as it plowed across. And so on.

No line was perfect. Many lines left snow behind. 

Messy plot lines are far more interesting to read. They keep readers curious and involved in the story.

Messy lines are also more fun to shovel.