Abilene Writers Guild Meeting Minutes
February 23, 2006
Center for Contemporary Arts Building
Barbara Rollins called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and visitors were introduced.
Financial Report:
Current balance is $2,518.48. We have 97 members.
Brags and Sags
- Karen Witemeyer has received her contributor's copy of Cup of Comfort for Christians. The book is scheduled for release in March. Karen is one of only three authors featured on the back cover. Also, Karen will have a book signing event on Saturday, March 18th from 2-4 pm in Books-A-Million in the Mall of Abilene.
- Sharon Ellison submitted a play to a Christian publisher and is waiting to here back from them.
- Lynford Sharp has completed a manuscript on Roland Smith's life's story. He will self-publish this volume.
- Barbara Rollins and Barbara Darnall traveled to the visit Baylor's library to research the special collections there.
- Nancy Masters brought her newest release, Cotton Gin, published by Scholastic. It looks wonderful.
- Barbara Rollins has signed her contract for Syncopated Summer, a royalty book with WordWright publishers.
- Becky Haigler and Jan Carrington both have stories included in a publication called "Magic Realism."
New Business
- The Bean Counter will be hosting a new "open mic" poetry night. Contact them for more information (437-1858).
- The Writers Guild of Texas is offering a novel contest. Deadline for entering is May 12, 2006. Cost is $50 per entry.
- The new guidelines for the AWG annual contest will be in next month's newsletter and will soon be posted on the Web site.
- February's monthly contest for poetry was judged by the Region 14 lunch bunch. We had 33 entries. Honorable Mentions were awarded to Jim Johnson for The Salesman's Blues and to Jim Wilson for Fishing for Exercise. Joanne Horn Burks won 3rd place with Tomorrow, Sally Jadlow took 2nd place for Daddy's Things, and Jim Wilson grabbed top honors with Nirvana. Next month's contest category will be children's stories.
Program
Evanell Davis presented a program on making poetry snappy, not sappy. She explained that good poetry is not sentimental or overtly religious. Good poetry alludes to these feelings and beliefs without saying them directly. Always use a minimum on words. If you can omit words-do it. Focus on imagery and universal themes. Show the emotion with descriptive verbs. Don't tell. Use humor for a lighter tone. Read your poems aloud to hear the rhythm. Make sure your title grabs the reader's attention.
As a group project, the members in attendance created the following poem:
Dreams of Green in Abilene
You might come here to go to school
Or serve your country.
It's warmer than in the north,
And the girls are pretty, too.
The weather is fickle
From 80 to 10
And watch out for that wicked wind.
A church on every corner,
The Writers Guild calls you near.
People rich in culture and belief
Smile as you walk by.
Evanell concluded the program by reading a few of her own poems.
Minutes respectfully submitted by:
Karen Witemeyer
AWG Secretary