JULY 2009

JUL 16

OWAIC children's writers workshop by Janie Cheaney

posted by admin on July 16, 2009 20:15 as General

Our first OWAIC children's writers workshop went swimmingly. Vicki Grove got us off to a inspirational start in her inimitable style with her ideas of what Writing Is: wrestling an alligator, three-ball juggling, making soup, the archaeology of a stratified heart, the world's best laminating material . . . and much more. If you're wondering about all those designations, you shoulda been there! Going from the philosophical to the practical, she shared some of the tools she uses for developing ideas, plot points and characters. Along the way we shared a lot of laughs and fell in love with our craft all over again.

The Lebanon-LaClede library provided the perfect facility for us and (literary) flowers and bonbons go to the Lebanon Pen Masters, who showed us Ozarks hospitality at its finest--and most delicious. They laid out quite a morning spread for us, and Maria's Deli provided an excellent ...

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JUL 16

Our first workshop by Naomi Shaw

posted by admin on July 16, 2009 20:10 as General

I'm still pumped from the overall success of our first workshop as OWAIC. EVERY person surveyed answered YES to the question, Was the workshop beneficial?

Here are a few excerpts from those surveys:

About the workshop in general...

"It made me think of writing in ways I hadn't thought about before."

"Lots of info and great advice."

"Always good to be with other writers. I liked the variety & that it was geared for not just beginners."

"Quite a varied menu--I am not a beginner & I enjoyed the program very much, but I think the beginners did, too."

About "Coffee with Vicki Grove and One Writer's (Messy) Toolbox"...

"Charming as always--very helpful--entertaining & left having come away with a few ideas I will try-- "

"Coffee with Vicki was superb! Great, great information--personal! Very good 2nd session gave insight into another's method."

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JUL 16

Wonderful Job by Lisha Cauthen

posted by admin on July 16, 2009 20:00 as General

The Imaginal Realm

I think you guys did a wonderful job! The day ran so smoothly, the speakers were superb, the facilities were very nice and easy to find. And prizes, too!

I feel like my critique was professional and quite useful. And what a bargain!

The program you put together focused on craft rather than the business. Very wise, considering that your attendees seemed to be mostly beginners. I really liked the tone: professional, yet friendly. And I do think there were plenty of pointers sprinkled throughout for writers who have been around the block. I certainly came away with some new things to try.

I also like the fact that everyone was welcome to attend the dinner afterward. It seems to me that OWAIC is the perfect addition to the Missouri writing community, and I'm glad I could come to your first summer hoot-nanny.

Congratulations! Job well-done!
Lisha Cauthen

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JUL 9

HOW I LEARNED TO DRAW TREES by Janie Cheaney

posted by admin on July 09, 2009 23:10 as Literature

This is the philosophy behind my breakout session at the 2009 summer workshop: "Sweatin' the Small Stuff.

The picture was an unremarkable watercolor that hung above the couch in our living room ever since I could remember. The focus was a red barn with a road leading to it, flanked by tall trunks with generic leaves feathering the branches. Deciduous trees is all I can say about them; at the time I couldn't even have said that much. The scene probably reminded my mother or dad of someplace special to them; otherwise I don't know why it had pride of place in our living room for so many years. I never even asked.

But I remember noticing one day that the artist had not rendered the trunk in solid brown, as I (and everybody else in fourth-grade art class) was accustomed to doing. There wasn't much brown in ...

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