posted by admin on July 16, 2009 20:00 as General
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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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 ... >> full
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posted by admin on June 08, 2009 18:15 as Literature
First, a good story. That's the reason they picked up the book in the first place--even if a teacher or mom made them do it. They are expecting or at least hoping, whether they know it or not, to be charmed out of themselves and their gated existence for the time it takes to finish the book. A good story is the vehicle to get out of Dodge, for those too young to drive; characters and plot mechanics and style are vital, but the story is what moves. There are all kinds of stories, with their own pacing, coloring and character, but the best of them should do three things: delight the reader, delineate the world she lives in, and awaken desire. Delight makes her turn the page, delineation makes her think, and desire makes her human.
Secondly, we owe them a certain degree of wisdom (NOT indoctrination). Every ... >> full
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posted by admin on June 05, 2009 17:30 as General
Several months ago I attended my first meeting with the OWAIC group. I had been writing nearly all of my adult life but I never joined or even attended a critique group or any other writers group. I had self-published a book years ago, written articles for professional magazines, and written text for web sites I designed but writing children's literature was something entirely new. I was really nervous that first meeting and went simply to determine if there was any benefit for me. I was the only guy there, which added to my anxiety. I was warmly received and quickly realized the benefit of attending and sharing. I have attended for nearly a year and I'm well on my way toward completing a novel for young adult male readers. I have a published work being released this September and another children's book started. The value of community is priceless.
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