Abilene Writers Guild Meeting Minutes
Center for Contemporary Arts Building
September 24, 2003
President Rollins called the meeting to order.
Guests and new members were introduced.
Minutes as posted on the website were approved as posted.
Treasurer Gail McMillan reported a balance of $2,887.56, $104.00 received for the platter given away by Millie Sayre, and 99 members at the present time.
Members shared their brags and sags.
President Rollins reminded the membership of the West Texas Book & Author Festival. Proceedings begin Friday, September 25 at Noon and run through Saturday the 26th. Events include free writers' workshops.
Temy Teel reminded everyone to sign up to provide refreshments at least one month, and asked that everyone put their phone numbers and e-mail addresses on the list for reminders.
President Rollins announced Thanksgiving dinner will be the third Thursday of November at 1st Baptist Church. Mervan Craig will provide the turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce and dressing, and everyone else will bring potluck. We will take donations at the dinner to pay for the meal. Rosetta Moore will provide the musical entertainment. Food should be delivered by 5:45, and dinner will begin at 6:00.
Steve Neubauer announced that he is accepting submissions for his book, Noble Generation II.
Nancy Masters reminded everyone to enter the monthly contests. October is dialogue only.
Phil Truman brought the program on humor writing. Phil has been writing humor professionally for 15 years. To successfully write humor, he says, we must: 1) write every day; 2) develop a sense of humor; 3) create a writer's tool box, or accumulation of reference materials; and 4) build a looney bin, a collection of funny material. To locate types of humor and where to sell it, he suggested subscriptions to Writer's Market Online, Writing for Dollars, and other databases. There are markets for anecdotes, jokes, parodies, greeting cards, cartoons, columns and op-ed pieces. He gave us most of his 12 Rules for Writing Humor. All the rules may be found in his current book.
Nancy Masters announced winners of the September contest, centered around scissors or pliers.
Tie for 3rd - Pat Johnson, Depression Dentistry
Stan Johnson - Poppa Johnson's Bullnosed Wire Pliers
2nd - Mary Wynn Craig, Goodbye Mr. Holland
1st - Temy Teel, A Cut Above The Rest
The 100th member joined AWG during the meeting. With much jubilation, the members adjourned to refreshments brought by the Sweetwater group.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Wynn Craig, Secretary
October 21, 2003