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.