MTCW February 2012 Meeting–Learn from the Masters (a.k.a., Critical Reading)

When?
Saturday, February 11, 2012
9:00 a.m. — noon*
Feel free to bring your own coffee as beverages will no longer be provided.

Where?
Belmont United Methodist Church
Room 122
2007 Acklen Avenue
(Corner of 21st Avenue South and Acklen Avenue)
Nashville, Tennessee

What?
Learn from the Masters (Critical Reading)
Led by MTCW President Kaye Dacus

How many times have you heard agents/editors on panels at conferences say that the best piece of advice they can give to aspiring writers is “read, read, read”? But you do read all the time, and you’re still no closer to being published. Well, that’s because you probably aren’t reading critically. It’s more than just reading a book and saying, “I liked it,” or “I didn’t like it.” It’s about probing into the whys and hows. Once you learn to analyze your reactions to what you’re reading, you’ll begin to understand the principles of writing better than you ever have before—and you’ll have every published author of all time as your own personal mentor. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to read published novels critically through a step-by-step process.

You’ll learn to analyze:
–Cover copy
–Opening lines
–First chapters
–Chapter hooks/story momentum
–Characters, plots, and themes
–Voice, tone, and general writing techniques
–Figurative language and literary devices
–Endings
–Much, much more

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*Fellowship time from 9:00 to 9:30. Workshop begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and should end by 11:30, with a time for introductions from 11:30 to noon.

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To learn more about how to join MTCW, click on “Joining MTCW” here or at the top of the page.

January 2012 Meeting–Dreams vs. Goals

When?
Saturday, January 14, 2012
9:00 a.m. — noon*
Feel free to bring your own coffee as beverages will no longer be provided.

Where?
Belmont United Methodist Church
Room 122
2007 Acklen Avenue
(Corner of 21st Avenue South and Acklen Avenue)
Nashville, Tennessee

What?
Dreams vs. Goals
Led by MTCW President Kaye Dacus

Is there a difference between dreams and goals? Does it matter if we speak in terms of “dreams” or “goals” when it comes to our writing? In other words, is it your dream to be a published author (or to finish a manuscript or to start/finish a second…third…fourth manuscript, whatever it is) or have you set realizable goals to accomplish it?

Another way of putting it, which I see writers blog about all the time, is:

Do you want to be a writer or do you want to write?

Come prepared to participate in this open-discussion format workshop.

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*Fellowship time from 9:00 to 9:30. Workshop begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and should end by 11:30, with a time for introductions from 11:30 to noon.

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To learn more about how to join MTCW, click on “Joining MTCW” here or at the top of the page.

See you in 2012!

There will be no public meeting in December, so MTCW would like to wish you and yours a

And we hope to see you on Saturday, January 14, 2012.

MTCW November 2011 Meeting: Beyond the First Draft

When?
Saturday, November 12, 2011
9:00 a.m. — noon*
Bring your favorite coffee cup—because coffee is provided!
(And we have disposable cups and hot water for other beverages, too.)

Where?
Belmont United Methodist Church
Room 122
2007 Acklen Avenue
(Corner of 21st Avenue South and Acklen Avenue)
Nashville, Tennessee

What?
Beyond the First Draft
Led by MTCW President Kaye Dacus

You’ve finished your first draft. Great! Now what?

The revision process—both starting, doing, and completing it—can seem like one of the most intimidating parts of the writing process to those who’ve never done it before, or who haven’t done it often. But the revision process can actually be one of the most rewarding tasks in the novel-writing process. And it’s something every writer not only needs to know how to do but needs to become familiar and comfortable with if one is serious about pursuing publication.

Topics covered will include (time permitting):

A Down-and-Dirty Guide to Critiquing

Reviewing, Revising, Readjusting

The Four Secrets of Revision

Gaining Clarity

Starting the Revision Process

One Revision or Multiple Passes?

The Cutting Room Floor

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Feedback during this workshop is not only welcome, it’s vital—as we all have different experiences and ways of doing this.

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*Fellowship time from 9:00 to 9:30. Workshop begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and should end by 11:30, with a time for introductions from 11:30 to noon.

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To learn more about how to join MTCW, click on “Joining MTCW” here or at the top of the page.

MTCW October 2011 Meeting: Clarifying Ideas and Organizing Your Writing

When?
Saturday, October 8, 2011
9:00 a.m. — noon*
Bring your favorite coffee cup—because coffee is provided!
(And we have disposable cups and hot water for other beverages, too.)

Where?
Belmont United Methodist Church
Room 122
2007 Acklen Avenue
(Corner of 21st Avenue South and Acklen Avenue)
Nashville, Tennessee

What?
Clarifying Ideas and Organizing Your Writing
Led by MTCW President Kaye Dacus

I know, I know, it sounds like I’m trying to cover two workshops in one . . . but these two are entwined and cannot be talked about without each other. One of the hardest things about getting our first drafts finished, especially for those of use who tend to reside on the Seat-of-the-Pants end of the writing-planning spectrum, is that we get to points at which we don’t know exactly what our story is about or where it’s going, what we’ve already written, or what we wanted to write. That’s what this meeting will be about—easy ways to clarify our ideas and organize our writing so that when it comes time to write, we’re not at a loss for words.

Topics covered will include (time permitting):

What, exactly, are you writing?

Genre expectations/structures are good things.

Learning to “What If…?”

Organizing Your Ideas—notebooks, software, One Note, Scrivener, etc.

Creating a Road Map

Scene Cards—card files, Post-it Notes, PowerPoint, etc.

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Feedback during this workshop is not only welcome, it’s vital—as we all have different experiences and ways of doing this.

.

*Fellowship time from 9:00 to 9:30. Workshop begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and should end by 11:30, with a time for introductions from 11:30 to noon.

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To learn more about how to join MTCW, click on “Joining MTCW” here or at the top of the page.

MTCW September 2011 Meeting: Imagination, Inspiration, Innovation

When?
Saturday, September 10, 2011
9:00 a.m. — noon*
Bring your favorite coffee cup—because coffee is provided!
(And we have disposable cups and hot water for other beverages, too.)

Where?
Belmont United Methodist Church
Room 122
2007 Acklen Avenue
(Corner of 21st Avenue South and Acklen Avenue)
Nashville, Tennessee

What?
Imagination, Inspiration, Innovation
Led by MTCW President Kaye Dacus

Where do stories come from? Where do we get ideas? How can we tap into our creativity and learn to silence the analytical side of the brain so that we can do what we really want to do—write our stories?

Most adults have lost the ability to “make believe” or to live in the world of imagination—even those of us who write fiction. We should consider the ability to create stories not just a gift, but a reflection of the Infinite. It is the thumbprint of God on us. It is a tiny glimpse into the power behind the creation of the universe and the infinite diversity of what surrounds us. Inspiration, imagination, and innovation are all aspects of the storytelling
ability and are all vital to each other and to us as writers—and we’ll see how these three strands weave together to allow us to create imaginative and inspired fiction.

Topics covered will include (time permitting):

What is imagination?

How can we tap into our imaginations?

What is inspiration?

Where/how do we find inspiration?

How do we innovate and parlay imagination and inspiration into a story?

Why do we call it creative writing?

Creative vs. Analytical writing activities

Priming the Pump to Keep Imagination, Inspiration, and Innovation Flowing

. . . .

*Workshop begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and should end by 11:30, with a time for introductions from 11:30 to noon.

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To learn more about how to join MTCW, click on “Joining MTCW” here or at the top of the page.

MTCW August 2011 Meeting: Pulling the Pieces Together–Synopses, Query Letters, Proposals, and One-Sheets

When?
Saturday, August 13, 2011
9:00 a.m. — noon*
Bring your favorite coffee cup—because coffee is provided!
(And we have disposable cups and hot water for other beverages, too.)

Where?
Belmont United Methodist Church
Room 122
2007 Acklen Avenue
(Corner of 21st Avenue South and Acklen Avenue)
Nashville, Tennessee

What?
Pulling the Pieces Together–Synopses, Query Letters, Proposals, and One-Sheets
Led by MTCW President Kaye Dacus

Even if you’re not yet to the point at which you’re ready to start sending queries to editors and agents, it’s never too early to learn how to put together the peripheral materials that are required to become a professional (published) author. This month, we’ll be looking at those different pieces and discussing how to pull them together so you’re not left scrambling, or scratching your head, at the last minute.

Topics covered will include (time permitting):

Are you ready to start submitting?

Writing the Dreaded Synopsis: A Seven-Point Structure

Writing the Query Letter

Preparing the Perfect Proposal

One-Sheets and Pitch-Sheets

. . . .

*Workshop begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and should end by 11:30, with a time for introductions from 11:30 to noon.

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To learn more about how to join MTCW, click on “Joining MTCW” here or at the top of the page.

MTCW July 2011 Meeting–Make a Scene!

When?
Saturday, July 9, 2011
9:00 a.m. — noon*
Bring your favorite coffee cup—because coffee is provided!
(And we have disposable cups and hot water for other beverages, too.)

Where?
Belmont United Methodist Church
Room 122
2007 Acklen Avenue
(Corner of 21st Avenue South and Acklen Avenue)
Nashville, Tennessee

What?
Make a Scene!
Led by MTCW President Kaye Dacus

A sign of a novice writer is that
he begins scenes too early
and ends them too late.
~Writing Proverb

How do we structure scenes? When should a scene begin? End? How long should a scene be? Because scenes are the building blocks with which we build our stories, learning how to create, mold, and structure a scene to capture and retain readers’ attention is one of the most important aspects of the craft of writing.

Topics covered will include (time permitting):

The Function of the Scene

Crafting a Powerful Scene Opening

Tension and Pacing in the Middle of a Scene

Scene-ending Hooks–Keep Readers Reading

Types of Scenes

Scenes vs. Vignettes

Consequences and “Sequels”

Working with Multiple Viewpoint Characters

. . . .

*Workshop begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and should end by 11:30, with a time for introductions from 11:30 to noon.

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To learn more about how to join MTCW, click on “Joining MTCW” here or at the top of the page.

MTCW June 2011 Meeting: Showing vs. Telling

When?
Saturday, June 11, 2011
9:00 a.m. — noon*
(coffee provided!)

Where?
Belmont United Methodist Church
Room 122
2007 Acklen Avenue
(Corner of 21st Avenue South and Acklen Avenue)
Nashville, Tennessee

What?
Showing vs. Telling
Led by MTCW President Kaye Dacus
As fiction authors, we’re always instructed to SHOW rather than TELL in our writing, but what does that really mean? In this workshop, we’ll look at the three main areas that are most vulnerable to telling (backstory, character descriptions, and senses/feelings) and learn how to incorporate this information into our writing by showing it.

Topics covered will include (time permitting):

Backstory

Character Descriptions

Character Emotions

The Five Senses

The “Sixth” Sense (thoughts, internal dialogue)

Active Verbs

When to Tell

. . . .

*Fellowship time from 9:00 to 9:30. Workshop begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and should end by 11:30, but may run long.

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To learn more about how to join MTCW, click on “Joining MTCW” here or at the top of the page.

MTCW May 2011 Meeting: “I’m Ready for My Closeup” Part 2: Deep Point of View

When?
Saturday, May 14, 2011
9:00 a.m. — noon*
(coffee provided!)

Where?
Belmont United Methodist Church
Room 122
2007 Acklen Avenue
(Corner of 21st Avenue South and Acklen Avenue)
Nashville, Tennessee

What?
“I’m Ready for my Close-up” Part 2: Deep POV
Led by MTCW President Kaye Dacus

We hear all the time about Limited viewpoint, about Deep Point of View (POV). But what does that mean? How do we achieve it? Is it something that comes naturally, or can it be learned?

Topics covered will include (time permitting):

• Point of View begins with character–Whose story is this?
• How many POV characters should I have?
• Genre considerations
• Three degrees of POV
• Avoiding head-hopping
• Character vocabulary
• Unreliable narrators
• Character descriptions
• Showing vs. telling to take the reader deeper

*Fellowship time from 9:00 to 9:30. Meeting begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. and should end by 11:30, but may run long.

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To learn more about how to join MTCW, click on “Joining MTCW” here or at the top of the page.