FREE September 13 Writing Workshop

How to Make Your Reader Care

When: Monday, September 13, 6:30 p.m.- 8.p.m.
Where: Stone Chapel, 280 East Woodmen Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Description: If you have a wonderful story to share but can’t engage your reader emotionally, your story has fallen short of its potential. This workshop will discuss techniques for drawing your reader in and keeping them involved, whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction.
Speaker: Renee Gray-Wilburn: After five years of writing for publication, Renee has accumulated over 125 published pieces, including numerous articles for Focus on the Family’s children’s and parenting magazines; several short stories and devotionals in anthologies such as the Cup of Comfort series, Life Savors, and Guideposts Incredible Prayers; and magazines such as Grand, KidZone, Christian Communicator, Quiet Hour, and Devotionals. In addition, she has co-authored eight children’s curriculum books for David C. Cook and Group Publishing, and writes regularly for several organizations. Her company, A Way With Words, has provided editorial services for publishers, independent authors, and businesses for over ten years. These services include basic proofreading to content editing for any industry or genre of writing. In addition to writing and editing, Renee endeavors to teach and inspire others in their writing journey through writing workshops, her blog, and  and her online picture book critique group--Picture This

June 14, 2010: Paulette Harris: Finding Your Voice: Make Your Writing Sound Like You

Time: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Place: Stone Chapel, 280 East Woodmen Road

Description: Would you mistake Brad Pitt’s voice for Bill O’Reilly’s? What about a gangsta rapper with Carrie Underwood? Why do you read certain authors? It’s called “voice,” often referred to as “tone” or “mood" or “style.” Your writing personality, original thoughts, personal feelings, worldview, and how you interpret life distinguishes your writing from other writers. Paulette Harris provides insights on allowing your voice to shine through your writing.

Speaker: Inspirational writer and speaker Paulette Harris founded “The Writer’s Gathering” at Woodmen Valley Chapel, which became Springs Writers. Her writing represents a new and distinct voice in the genre of inspirational literature. Crafting her stories in both fable and fantasy, she’s written four novels: Inca Gold, Vapors, Tentacles, and Mara's Challenge. Drawing the reader into other worlds as well as today's milieu, she underpins her novels with deep spiritual truths. Paulette contributed to Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives. Visit Paulette’s website.

May Workshop: Off the Beaten Path Markets

May 10, 2010: Off the Beaten Path Markets

Description: With book publishers shortening their purchasing lists and many traditional magazines folding, writers need to adapt by looking beyond the mainstream writing markets. This workshop looks at some lesser known and perhaps never thought of ways to get your words in print.

Speaker: Renee Gray-Wilburn: After five years of writing for publication, Renee has accumulated over 125 published pieces, including numerous articles for Focus on the Family’s children’s and parenting magazines; several short stories and devotionals in anthologies such as the Cup of Comfort series, Life Savors, and Guideposts Incredible Prayers; and magazines such as Grand, KidZone, Christian Communicator, Quiet Hour, and Devotionals. In addition, she has co-authored eight children’s curriculum books for David C. Cook and Group Publishing, and writes regularly for several organizations. Her company, A Way With Words, has provided editorial services for publishers, independent authors, and  businesses for over ten years. These services include basic proofreading to content editing for any industry or genre of writing. In addition to writing and editing, Renee endeavors to teach and inspire others in their writing journey through writing workshops, her blog, and her online picture book critique group--Picture This

Springs Writers May Critique Group Meets This Saturday

Someone related an interesting perception regarding who attends our critique groups. Is the Springs Writers critique group only for people who write books?

Nope.

It’s for any writer—whether you blog, write web content, pen 100 word articles or 100,000 word books or family memoirs.

Do you …

• * want to brainstorm a book idea in a confidential, creative setting?
• * wonder how to get rid of passive verbs, adjectives and adverbs but don’t know how change empty words into an active, powerful statement or question?
• * question how to apply writing skills pointed out by the speakers to your writing?
• * have your book written, but need to figure out chapter formatting or write a query or book proposal?
• * want to improve your writing and editorial skills to be a compelling communicator?

A critique group bolsters your confidence to put your thoughts, feelings, ideas, and stories swirling in your head and heart onto paper. Springs Writers fiction and nonfiction critique groups focus on encouragement, support, insight, feedback, and editorial and marketing input to turn writing dreams into polished, marketable writing skills.
Feeling too scared, insecure or intimidated to attend?

That’s normal.

From concept to written word to publication, a critique group provides a mini-focus group of readers to inspire you. Writing doesn’t have to be a solitary journey. Do you want someone cheer you on to express your voice and God-given talent? Join others pursuing the passion to write. Springs Writers is here to serve you.

Springs Writers Fiction and Nonfiction Critique Groups

When: Saturday, May 1, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM

Where: 5209 Del Paz Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918

Get Driving Directions

Questions? Call or text: 719-209-9066

The fiction and nonfiction critique group meets this Saturday, May 1. Haven’t already emailed your manuscript for feedback? Bring copies to hand out. Those who submit by the two-week-before-the-meeting deadline are critiqued first. 

April: Springs Writers Critique Group

When: April 17, 2010, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Where: 5209 Del Paz Drive, Colorado Springs CO 80918

If you don’t have the courage to submit a manuscript, we encourage you to come and observe. Never participated in a critique group? Post a comment below, provide your email and we will send you a fiction and nonfiction critique checklist to review.

There are two groups—fiction and nonfiction. The current participants agreed:

• Each person e-mails their group (fiction or nonfiction) their submission.
• If you are new, bring five copies of your manuscript for a read through critique.
• You have two weeks to get your submission in to your group (fiction or non-fiction) and then you have two weeks to critique others' submissions.
• Bring copies of your critiques with you to give to the author—either "hard" copies, i.e. printed out, or on your laptop.
• Bring one printed copy of your submission, just in case someone new joins.

Springs Writers 2010 Critique Group Meetings and Submission Deadlines

Starting in May, our critique group will meet the first Monday of the month. We changed from the second Saturday of the month, because we don’t want to conflict with ACFW’s monthly meeting.

Below are the dates for submissions and the critique group meeting. Submissions are sent two weeks before the critique group meeting. If you want to send your manuscript to the group sooner, that’s gives critiquer’s even more time.

Summer critique groups and vacations often clash. Please note that the regular critique group attendees will decide whether or not to meet in June and July.  

• April Meeting: April 17, 2010, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM Submission deadline: ASAP

• May Meeting: May 1, 2010, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM Submission deadline: April 17, 2010

• June Meeting: June 5, 2010, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM Submission deadline: May 22, 2010

• July Meeting: July 3, 2010, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM Submission deadline: June 19, 2010

• August Meeting: August 7, 2010, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM Submission deadline: July 24, 2010

• September Meeting: September 4, 2010, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM Submission deadline: August 21, 2010

• October Meeting: October 2, 2010, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM Submission deadline: September 18, 2010

• November Meeting: November 6, 2010, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM Submission deadline: October 23, 2010

• December Meeting: December 4, 2010, 9:30 AM-11:30 AM Submission deadline: November 20, 2010

Springs Writers Critique Group Manuscript Format

Please submit your manuscript in a Word document 97-2004 in the format listed below. This format reflects the professional guidelines required by most publishers.  If submitting to a particular magazine or publisher, please include the writer's guidelines. That way critiquers can provide feedback based upon the target audience and publisher's guidelines.

 

Header

Flush left

• Last name (or your pseudonym's last name)
• Book title or key word, if the title is long.

Flush right

• Page number

Margins

• 1-inch on all sides

Paragraph indent

• .5

Font:

• Times New Roman
• Font style: regular
• Size: 12

Spacing:

• Double space

First page format

• Upper left hand corner:
• Name
• E-mail
• Word count
• Middle of page:
• Chapter 1 (for fiction)
• Title
• Byline (only for articles)

 Springs Writers Critique Group Submission Guidelines

• Spell check before submitting your manuscript.
• Submit two weeks before the group meets.
• Send the entire article or chapter, however, members are only required to critique five pages.

Critique Comment Boxes and Highlight Colors

Highlight words, sentences or passages, then highlight with the appropriate color. Of course, every writer loves to see green.

Use Comment Boxes

• Highlight word, sentence, or paragraph
• Click on ‘Insert’
• Click on ‘Comment’
• Type your critique in comment box.

Use Highlighting

• Highlight word(s)
• Click on ^ABC on toolbar.
• Choose highlight color

Critique Highlighting Colors

Highlight words, sentences or passages, then highlight with the appropriate color. Of course, every writer loves to see green.

• Blue (rework)
• Yellow (passive)
• Fuchsia (repetitive)
• Green (love it)
• Red (adverbs/unnecessary words)
• Grey (delete)