May 2010

Volume 1, Number 5
Chico Writers Group If you write it, they will read it

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Dear Writer,

May. May Day. I can't help it, but when I hear someone say May Day, I think of the distress signal used on ships - both seafaring and aeronautical. It seems like such an old term with May Poles (I always thought that was just the Canadian way of pronouncing maples and then hungered for pancakes laden in rich Vermont maple syrup) and girls dressed up in frilly dresses singing the song Ring-a-Ring-a-Roses. Did you know that the song is said to have come about during the Black Plague? It appears my word associations are a bit dark and dank. Yet sometimes, playing this game allows you to free your mind and excise some really great material. If you aren't already keeping a writing journal, reconsider that especially if you've hit a roadblock with your writing. Learn more with our article on The Writer's Journal [here]. 

Some find that along with or aside from critique partners and groups, hiring a professional editor helps promote their writing by providing clarity, exploring new ideas and thoughts. We have for you this month an article with just that type of person, too! A professional editor, Erin Brown, of www.erinedits.com shares with us a bit about herself, what she does as an editor, and also offers up some sage advice for anyone involved in a writing group. Read our interview with Erin [here].

Recently one of our own Chico Writers Group members, MaryRose Lovgren, presented a Craft Chat topic on Writer's Block after doing a lot of research on the topic when she experienced a bit of problems moving ahead with her novel. She wrote a nice article with pointers and suggestions and shares it [here] with us.

Perhaps it's the fear of success that's holding you back - or even the fear of failure. Another member of the Chico Writers Group, Donna Hole, guest author's a moving piece she's titled Aspiring Author which you can read [here].

Last year I attended my first writing conference in Seattle, the Pacific Northwest Writing Conference hosted by the Pacific Northwest Writing Association (PNWA). I had the opportunity to meet up with Christina Arbini, who lives in the area, and helped me prepare some pitches for the following day. Being a newb, I was completely unaware of the importance of pitching and how to properly fashion one and present it to the agents I had appointments with the following morning. As you may be preparing to go to a conference, learning how to pitch and the importance of pitching your book is very important. Christina shares with us some key points in making that perfect pitch [here].

But before you pitch, you better know if it's to who or whom you'll be presenting your work to and who's or whose going to benefit from it. Check out this month's regular feature in Get it Write Right! [here].

Enjoy those May flowers that are bursting all over the place after our torrential April showers but keep on writing, too! Oh, and for you fellow allergy sufferers, don't forget the Zyrtec, either.

Happy May!

Kathie Leung, FOAM
(Founder, Organizer and Moderator)
Chico Writers Group

May Newsletter Home - Editor Interview: Erin Brown - Article: Pitching Your Novel
Article: Writer's Journal - Guest Author: MaryRose Lovgren - Guest Author: Donna Hole
Regular Feature: Get It /Write/ Right - Regular Feature: Writing Prompts
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