Meeting Minutes January 18, 2024

 Attendees: Judith, Don, Vickie, Nancy, Becky, Michelle

Contests

Frontier Poetry Ekphrastic Poetry Prize. (Ekphrasis comes from “description” in Greek. Ekphrastic poems seek to vibrantly describe, interpret, or converse with a visual scene or moment, usually a work of art. They often are about the speaker’s encounter with the art, and how viewing or experiencing it has impacted them. Think of Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats. $3,500 prize.  January 28, 2024.  Find more information HERE

Master's Review short story aware for new writers. $3,000 prize.  Deadline January 28, 2024.  More information found HERE

Fractured Lit: Ghosts, Fables and Fractured Fairy Tales contest.  $3,500 first prize. Flash fiction contest, 1,000 words or less. Deadline February 4, 2024.  More information found HERE

Craft Novelette Print Prize: 30-60 pages (7,500-15,000 words) $3,000 prize. Deadline March 17, 2024.  Find more information HERE 

Reading

Vickie read chapter 15 of her novel set during the Covid pandemic; Nancy read a short piece rejecting resolutions, but touting wishes; and Becky read a short essay imaginatively titled "Resolutions."

Michelle and Eileen are zeroing in on publication for their respective books - Michelle's YA novel and Eileen's sequel to The Gosling Bride. (Keep us posted and we'll plan a book launch party!)

We discussed having Bill Schubart back again in the spring - we'll talk about dates at next meeting. I'll invite him!

WRITING PROMPT for the next meeting is anything to do with February. Dismal winter month? Valentine's Day? (Chocolates and roses? Or every kid in the class got a Valentine but you?) Presidential birthdays? The pros and cons of leap year? Seasonal affective disorder?

Next Meeting, February 15, 6 pm at the Swanton Library.

Meeting Minutes January 21, 2021

Six members participated via Zoom: Becky, Judy, George, Ev, Renee, Michelle.  Discussion included writing contests, prompts, and a revamping of our meeting format. Three people read short pieces of poetry/prose. 

Writing Contests

Vocal: “a platform for creators.” They sponsor periodic challenges with cash prizes – a number of these are currently open. “Hometown Feature,” for example, is looking for stories with original photos about what your hometown means to you; “Little Black Book” – which comes with a $20,000 grand prize – is looking for fiction stories about someone who unexpectedly comes into a large sum of money involving a mysterious little black book.

 

Fractured Lit Publishes flash fiction – open year round. Current contest on fractured ghost, fable, and fairy tales, with prize of $3000. Entry fee of $20. Deadline February 16.

Don't forget the 2021 Edwin M. Church Award. Entries must contain a train element. The expected length is 1,500-3,000 words. Proposed deadline is August 1, 2021. The winner will be announced at the Swanton Arts Spectacular, which is traditionally the second Saturday in September.

 

Exhibitions/Community Events: 

The Swanton Public Library is sponsoring a Writers’ Response to "The Hate U Give" this year’s Vermont Reads book, Angie Thomas.  Art or written entries are welcome; written entries can be up to 1500 words. Deadline April 1.  A cash prize picked randomly from all entries may be offered.  The book is available to buy, there is also an audio version and a movie available to stream on various platforms. To borrow a copy contact the Swanton Public Library and for more information contact Judy Paxman: Email1 Email2 

Resources:

Iron Writer Challenge: Facebook group.  Jason Brick is the owner/moderator.  He has been pretty active in the past and is very accessible via messenger.  Been 'in the biz' for quite some time.

Readings:

 

Renee Willard on a broken coffeemaker; Ev Larson – “Air Dry” – involving an ex-husband and a disastrous shower; and George Connelly read “Rain Shine High,” a poem loosely based on John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”

 

Upcoming:

 

Per the suggestion of Ev and after much discussion, we have decided to change up our meeting format for the foreseeable future. The plan is to have our usual period of social gossip and discussion followed by 20 minutes of writing and a post-sharing/discussion. Writers will finish their pieces offline for possible inclusion in a zine. Details at a later date.  Our first series of proposed prompts: the Seven Deadly Sins, starting at the February 18 meeting with LUST.

 

And for those who don’t remember the Seven Deadly Sins, they are: Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth.

Our next meeting via zoom will be February 18 at 6 pm.  Follow this LINK and use the passcode:  289902 Hope to see you all there!

Meeting Minutes January 31st 2019

Attendees: Don LeFebvre, Nancy Fuller, Joy Choquette, Richard Jervis, Annie Matthieu, Emmet Matthieu, Gerhard Andres, Scott Martell, Kylie Fauth, Judy Paxman, Becky Rupp (Minutes taken by Beck)

Upcoming items of interest:

Friday, February 1
Vermont Writes Day Seven minutes of writing on one of seven topics; all ages can participate. For topics list, see https://youngwritersproject.org/node/26496.

February is National Letter Writing Month
See International Correspondence Month (InCoWriMo) HERE or Letter Month HERE. The challenge: write a letter or card a day for 28 days. Options for artwork and penpals.

April is National Poetry Writing Month
We'll be doing the Great Poetry Read again at the Swanton Library, to be filmed by NW Access TV in March and shown on Channel 15 during April.
Everybody welcome - can read your own poetry or that of a favorite poet. Get in touch with me if you're interested in participating.

Burlington Writers Workshop (see the link on the right side of the blog)
Free workshops in poetry, songwriting, creative nonfiction, and fiction, plus book discussion groups. Ongoing - see their winter calendar online. Burlington EVENTS. There are workshops and retreats in Montpelier and Middlebury, as well.

League of Vermont Writers
Next program slated for April 13; no info published yet.

Interest in another author's panel?
Sounds like a yes. Possible participants include Bill Schubart, Stephen Payne, Chris Bojahlian, Chloe Viner, Joy Choquette, Jo Knowles. Send suggestions and I'll sent requests.

Who's interested in a book-to-movie discussion group at the library? The plan would be to choose a couple of possibilities in advance, such that participants would have time to read/watch before meetings.

Meeting structure:

It was suggested that it's best to send out announcements/items of interest in a pre-meeting email, rather than present during the meeting. Becky will do her best.

It was also re-affirmed that we'll try to keep readings to 1000 words or so (about four double-spaced pages, with waffle room).

We discussed the fact that simply reading, without comment or input, doesn't help anyone hone their work - but it's difficult to come up with helpful comments off-the-cuff after hearing a single reading. For those who are comfortable - if you send me a copy of a work you plan to read in advance of the meeting, I'll forward to all SWG members so that they can put together some thoughts in advance.

Readings this meeting: Annie Matthieu, Emmet Matthieu, Nancy Fuller, Scott Martell, Richard Jervis, Kylie Fauth.

WRITING PROMPTS for next meeting, should you decide to accept them: see below. (Scientific discovery and skunks. I'm sure you can do something with that.)

Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 21, 6 PM, at the Swanton Library.

There's been interest in having a meeting every two weeks - what do you think? Vote!

And, if you haven't already, please like our Facebook PAGE

Meeting Minutes December 27th 2018

Our last meeting of 2018 commenced at 6:05.  We shared some refreshments and then welcomed some potential new members by going around the table and introducing ourselves.

Several possibilities for keeping our writing group fresh were discussed. Regular writing prompts, (there is one for January posted below) and a group writing project: story, play or screenplay were suggested as possible genres.  We discussed upcoming workshops and events, which are listed below, and Becky reminded us of National Poetry Month, which is April.

Writing Trivia: Merriam Webster's top words for 2018.  And some of the newest words added to the dictionary including: airplane mode, hangry, bougie and adorbs

Contests

Don't forget Hunger Mountain. Five contests to appeal to a variety of writers. Deadline for all entries is March 1st. Information can be found HERE. Get writing folks!

Resources and Workshops

Young Writer's Project offers a variety of workshops geared to youth.  There is a list of writing prompts on the site to get the creative juices flowing.  They are sponsors of the annual Vermont Writer's Day. Find more information HERE

Burlington Writer's Workshops: Monthly meetings on a variety of topics.  More information HERE

Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, August 14-24, 2019  "founded in 1926 and boasting a rich literary and intellectual tradition, gathers together emerging writers to work closely with a diverse and talented faculty. For 10 days in August, conference attendees experience the intensity—and challenge—of working under the guidance of notable writers, including MacArthur Fellows, U.S. poets laureate, and recipients of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award". More information about the conference's itinerary, cost and scholarships can be found HERE  Application deadline is February 15, 2019

Anne and Michelle read short pieces: Anne a nonfiction memory of childhood. Michelle a fluffy Christmas piece.

January writing prompt if you wish to participate. The challenge is to write a short work using either the phrase or picture shown here, or a combination of the two.

Phrase: "The day the clock stopped"

The meeting adjourned at 7:35. Our next meeting is January 24th at 6 pm at the Swanton Library.