Hi, O.C.
Writers!
We've had
several new members sign up recently, so I think it's a good time for an update.
* We are
now up to 80 members on Facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/ocwriters), and a
dozen more on the OCWriters.org mailing list!
* We have at least three member-run write-ins --
two in Santa Ana, one in Lake Forest-- scheduled every week. In November, to help members participating in Nanowrimo (www.nanowrimo.org), a Friday night write-in in Orange will be added to the lineup. Details on all this and more can be found at http://www.meetup.com/OC-Writers. Also, we're happy to help anyone who wants to organize other write-ins. If you don't see something that is convenient for you, there's a good
chance you're not alone. Pick a time and a spot, and I'll be happy to help you
get the word out among other O.C. Writers.
* We have a critique group that meets from 5 to
8 p.m. at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Santa Ana. It's run by Nyx. And
again, I'm happy to help anyone who wants to get another critique group going.
Let's talk!
* The
anthology of member-written stories that Jennifer Levine has been spearheading
is entering the editing phase, and may even be completed and ready in time for
holiday gift-giving. Hurray!
* Twelve
members attended our first-ever Plotting Workshop, which was held at Kas's
house on September 21. Kas & I shared information and handouts on several
plotting methods, and then did a viewing and story analysis of "Pretty
Woman" based on the notes I took in a workshop with the excellent writing
coach and screenplay consultant Michael Hague. It was great, and we could
certainly do this kind of thing again, if members want it.
* The June
22 bonfire write-in Nyx organized at Newport Beach was such a success that
Jennifer is planning a follow-up full moon write-in at her home in Dana Point
THIS SATURDAY! All are welcome. You can get details and RSVP at http://www.meetup.com/OC-Writers/events/138571782/.
Finally, I
have two things I'd like to get your feedback on:
1. Would
you be interested in participating in a holiday get-together? And if so, what
times do (or absolutely do not) work for you?
2. Since
we now have so many members who are published and so many more who are very
close, I'd like to find out how many of you would be interested in doing a book-signing
at the L.A. Times Festival of Books in April. An O.C. Writers booth could feature
book-signings by one or two members at a time, and we could divide the time (and
cost) among the authors who want to participate.
Here's an
example: Featuring two authors each hour, we'd have 30 spots available. Booths
cost about $1,500, so that would cost $50 per hour to be one of two featured
authors, or $100 for a solo author spot. It's steep, I realize. That's why I'd
like to get the ball rolling on this if it is something you'd like to do. I'll
provide an O.C. Writers banner and extra table, and probably anything else we
might need.
Please
feel free to comment here, or to send me a private message at ocwritersnetwork
at gmail dot com.
I think that's
it for now.
Thanks!
DeAnna
Hiya! First of all, as one of those new members - can I just say - what a dynamic and exciting group this seems to be! So excited to become part of it.
ReplyDeleteA holiday get together sound awesome but might I suggest one toward the middle of the month? Many of us do NaNo and the first 8 days of December are usually a blur.
;-} Also - for me personally, that weekend of the 9th and 10th is out as I will be up in the Bay Area for Dickens Fest. All other weekends or eves are cool with me.
I think the LATFoB is also a great idea. Could I suggest a further category for the authors that are in the anthology, but do not yet have a stand-alone book. That would mean maybe 3 authors at the table at a time. Perhaps they can all chip in at a lower rate and then bear the collective responsibility of being at the table - maybe in 2 hour stints. Basically this would spread the cost out, and allow us to keep the table 'staffed' at all times. Not sure quite how to work that, but we could figure it out I'm sure!
Great ideas, Eddie Louise -- and again, we're so glad to have you as part of OC Writers!
ReplyDeleteI've made notes about your holiday get-together ideas, and as for the Book Festival, I like your thinking. Honestly, I think we're going to have to see how many people will commit and then divvy up the cost. So far there doesn't seem to be much interest, so the cost will probably go up, not down, for those who want to participate. But! Fewer authors also means more featured time and exposure for those do participate. For now, I'll count you as an "in" :)