Late notes from the recent Virginia Writers Club (VWC) conference and Board of Directors meeting at Mary Washington – The guest speaker, in fielding a question from an audience member …noted, “You just gave me the theme for another chapter.”
I met a charming retired Navy vet, with a baseball cap noting participation in WWII, Korean and Vietnam wars. I asked where in Nam he served. It was off the coast on a cruiser, so no common experiences surfaced. LCDR Edgar E. “Ed” DeLong, USN Ret gave me his business card, which was printed on both sides. I’m not sure if the double sided printing is effective. It did, however, allowed one full side of testimonials from Navy vets or those into Naval History.
I have revisited and revised my beezness card several times along the way, incorporating a photo with the words. My son said to remove extraneous ideas, so that was done, plus I shrank the photo and incorporated the blog link and G-mail address. I also reversed the photo image; it is still not good, as the figures’ eyes still looks off the card in the wrong direction.
RWG meeting of 12 February 2011 – Here are my notes from the RWG meeting and presentation by guest speaker and author, Pamela K. Kinney pamelakkiney@verizon.net
Old business, funds report, then new business – all with appropriate moves, seconds and affirmative votes. The Executive Committee will put together and present a budget. Love those Roberts Rules of Order. I passed on buying a copy of the offered anthology.
There was extensive discussion of guest speakers and plans for their participation.
New business included meeting new members. One had been a previous member; Rob was a retired US Navy SEAL, and writer. He specializes in Security issues and some new (old) ideas to foster peace in the world. Another new member is a local doctor who writes medical articles from the local Free Lance Star newspaper. After these introductions other members gave updates on their marketing of poetry and short articles. I signed up to provide September snacks.
The Festival of the Book is coming up in Charlottesville, VA, with many authors, publishers expected. It will be a good place for networking. It will fill an entire week, with Saturday (at the Omni Hotel) the big day.
Notable quotes to remember, and ideas for books – “My mind is gone and my memory is shot!” “I can’t go, I’ve been screwed!”
I provide one RWG member with advise on setting up a blog, and advised members how to incorporate copyright wording into the “Properties” of WORD documents. It seemed a new thing.
Guest speaker – Pamela K. Kinney, author and writer of ghost, paranormal, even erotic paranormal books, was the speaker. She was fascinating and the questions proved without a doubt that most RWG members are computer challenged. Among her titles are “Haunted Richmond” and many titles on poetry, horror, fantasy, science fiction, and writes under a pen name, Sapphire Phelan, on erotic fantasy. She says erotic works still require believable characters, plot, and flow.
She publishes via Kindle and Nook, Barnes and Nobles’ e-publishing device. One of the interesting aspects was that e-authors apparently get higher royalties, as there is less investment in presses, et cetera. The royalty she mentioned was 45 percent, which sounds great. She says each publisher has guidelines on what they publish, want, size of drafts wanted, et cetera.
Pamela noted a big e-publishing event happening in Williamsburg, VA next month. It is called Epicon 2011 and is the second weekend of the month (corresponds to RWG meeting). She suggested checking the Epicon 2011 website or Googling “Epicon.” It will include workshops, and numbers of those involved in e-publishing and writing. Cost is $25.00 for one day, $45.00 for two days – prices at the door. EPIC (Electronically Published Internet Connection) is apparently a non-profit group associated with all aspects of e-publishing. http://www.epic-conference.com/
Pamela advised of another writers meeting, at the Chesterfield County library; it will include workshops and an e-book workshop, and will convene in March. Chesterfield County is just South of Richmond.
Pamela mentioned Knight Agency in Georgia as a reputable organization, with no known negative feedback from authors. Sawhame (??SP) was another publisher mentioned. Dorchester was mentioned as a troubled publisher, with allegations that authors weren’t being paid. She advised checking (Googling) “Predators and editors” to identify and avoid troublesome publishers. She noted that membership in writing groups, and associated marketing/publishing costs are tax deductible (for three years).
Pamela said that e-publishers use the same process of reviewing drafts, but said contracts are sent electronically for signature. Some may include subsequent or later paper printing. One of her publishers is Schiffer publishing, and she uses separate websites, names, and publishers for erotic works.
Pamela provided a number of invaluable e-publishing tips.
1) Note e-publisher quirks, if any
2) Most publishers require drafts submission in WORD
3) Send your query along with any draft or draft segment (per their guidelines)
4) Websites equal blogs for efficiency
5) If you post a work on blog or website, advise readers it is copyrighted and not to change
7) Google Fiction Writers of America for ideas on marketing
8) E books are promoted the same way as printed books
9) Twitter and Facebook help in advertising (as do blogs)
10) Different e-publishers require varying draft sizes; check ahead
Pamela is available at pamelakkineey@verizon.net
RWG readings –
A vote was discussed and consensus reached to not split into separate poetry and prose review groups. Short pieces will be reviewed and critiqued first, followed by longer (prose) ones.
“A red bone” is black vernacular for a white or fair skinned person.
“Less REM than before.”
Negro Motorist Dream Book (Green book) – early guide on how to avoid
discrimination in days of segregation and Jim Crow
“Daddy, tell her we don’t want niggers. We want hamburgers!”
“Endless”
“Pity”
“My Secret Garden”
I suggested that one prose article included something I was familiar with (and responsible for) – run on sentences. One of my college Profs even suggested I might be responsible for the concept, as my sentences rambled on, on, and on.
As the day wore on my five page (2.5 pages double spaced) of Golden Gate seemed further and further from possible review. RWG is poetry focused, and the RWG Anthology sees to dominate much of their business. I was told that if I go to the Monday night Barnes and Nobles reading session … I’d get first chance. I plan to do that.
My to do list (getting bigger and more complex)
Check back to try, after second attempt (and failure) to get a response from the UMW Director of the Writing Center (is there courtesy still at UMW). If I don’t get the courtesy of a response I guess I should note that in response to the UMW query of UMW graduates and what they think of the University. The first request for comments, incidentally, had a link that didn’t work.
Check out writing forums … Check Copy Blogger … Check out UMW blogs…
Check out Epicon and EPIC websites
A new suggestion from a reviewer - work to develop seques … a more evident flow from one chapter to the next …
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