Meeting Minutes October 15, 2020

Seven group members met over zoom from 6-7:15 pm.

Contests and Challenges

Something or Other Publishing Short Story Contest. Link found HERE Decription: Short stories, short non-fiction, and flash fiction all eligible. First prize $250. Qualified stories will be included in an anthology. Qualification involves votes by readers - when you submit, they’ll send you a voting page link so that you can shamelessly solicit votes. (So if you enter, be sure to let us all know.) The deadline is midnight on October 31, but looks like the sooner, the better, for vote-gathering purposes. They’ll announce the winners on November 3. At the website, also check under “Publish” for info on submitting a book, story, or anthology idea.

Nanowrimo Info found HERE Begins again this year on November 1. The challenge is to write a novel in a month, with lots of encouraging backup at the website. There’s also a Young Writers version of Nanowrimo that requires less writing – could be a fun project to share with kids.

Workshops

League of Vermont Writers
They don’t have much going on right now, but if you go to “Gatherings” and check under “Workshops,” they’re open for suggestions for workshops. So if you’d like to host a workshop or know someone who might, take a look. Could be a virtual program.

Articles

“How Can We Pay for Creativity in the Digital Age?” For artists, writers, and musicians - how to make a living? Link found HERE

Readers:

Ev Larson read “Albany,” a deadpan, but hilarious, account of attempting to renew a driver’s license in the age of Covid-19.

Michelle Willard read her now titled horror short story "The Breeze of Autumn" which ended in a cemetery. She has been recruited to enter the Swanton Library’s Scary Stories project.

Emmet Matthieu has finished the first draft of his sci-fi novel; read the opening paragraphs of his untitled new project, in which main character Benito Alvarez is about to be framed for murder and will end up fighting for his life.

Discussion:

We’ve got a member hip of 25 or so, of whom very few routinely join the current Zoom meetings. These really are fun and effective - and it’s very simple to join in. If anybody needs help, just contact Becky. She will talk you through the process.

We kicked around possibilities of partial in-person/Zoom meetings at the Swanton Public Library. Due to safety and social distancing requirements, we’d have to limit attendance. Judy suggested charging a minimal fee for in-person slots, Michelle suggested the money be used to fund a prize for a Writers Group contest. (What does everybody think?)

Meetings have moved to the third Thursday of the month starting in November. Meeting date over zoom will be Thursday, November 19th at 6 pm. Becky will email the link a couple days in advance.

Meeting notes September 10, 2020

Notes taken by Becky, Remember to check the Swanton Writing Group FB page for info on contests, events, general chat and more - and our blog, faithfully maintained and updated by Michelle. Upcoming: Scary Story Contest and Zine Due date: October 1 Submit to: circulation@swantonlibrary.com Short piece of original fiction with a focus on the scary or the horrific. Maximum word count: 1500 words. Include your name and contact info on your document. See our FB page for scary story starters! Edwin M. Church Award Due date: October 1 Open to ages 17 up who live, work, or are otherwise involved in Swanton, Submit to jpaxmax@swantonartscouncil.org. Original short story of 1500-3000 words maximum; MUST include a railroad or train mention or reference. Prize of $500 Booksie 2020 Poetry Contest https://www.booksie.com/contest/the-booksie-2020-poetry-contest-20 Due date: November 7 Any type, length, or content of poetry; can submit as many entries as you like. Prize of $1000 National Poetry Competition https://poetrysociety.org.uk/competitions/national-poetry-competition/ Due date: October 31 Submit an unpublished poem of up to 40 lines; open to anyone 18 and over. Ten cash prizes. Boulevard Nonfiction Contest for Emerging Writers https://boulevardmagazine.org/nonfiction-contest Due date: September 30 Entry fee: $16 Open to writers who have not been published with a nationally distributed press. Essays of up to 8000 words. Winning essay gets $1000 and publication in the magazine. Boulevard Short Fiction Contest https://boulevardmagazine.org/short-fiction-contest Due date: December 31 Entry fee: $16 Open to writers who have not been published in a nationally distributed press. Fiction pieces of up to 8000 words. Winner gets $1500 and publication in the magazine. Recommended by SWG members: Masterclass Online Classes https://www.masterclass.com/ For $15/month or $180/year, access to unlimited online video classes. These are available in a number of categories - writing classes are variously taught by Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Brown, Joyce Carol Oates, Billy Collins, and more. Window Swap https://window-swap.com/ Open a new window somewhere in the world. Participants can post short videos or still shots from their windows. The Museum of Four in the Morning https://www.ted.com/talks/rives_the_museum_of_four_in_the_morning Just why is four in the morning so ubiquitous? Find out with this TED talk by poet/storyteller Rives. Mondegreens and the Science of Misheard Lyrics https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/science-misheard-lyrics-mondegreens From tonight's discussion - check this out from the New Yorker. Obit https://www.amazon.com/Obit-Bruce-Weber/dp/B071FN1YW3 A great documentary on the small staff at the NY Times who are responsible for writing the obituaries. Fascinating. (Nancy! Thinking of you!) Who Read What: Emmet read the first part of a piece - possibly a submission for the Scary Stories Zine - involving a kidnapped princess, a fashion-challenged prince, a fearsome blind fairy, and a corset. (By next meeting, Emmet's daughter Ella will have arrived - the SWG's first baby!) Ev read "Mood Swings with Pear" causing the entire group to obsess about paintings of pears. Renee read a piece about an interaction with an infernal fire alarm (at four in the morning; see above) and a poem about a friend's ex-boyfriend titled "Dead Fish." Next meeting: Thursday, October 8, 6-7 PM. Please join in - with recommendations, good books, suggestions, and news - and please bring something to read!