Here is an email I got from the coordinator of the San Diego Poetry Annual.
It is, as you would guess, an annual publication that publishes the best local poetry. They welcome contributions from Temecula. I contacted Mr. Harding to find out about submission guidelines. This was his reply.
Bethany --There are no taboos, no limitations. We'd like the poems to be written this year and previously unpublished, but we do make exceptions on that. Since we'd like to publish as many poets as possible, we do ask for poems that are not overly long, but we do publish those, too. Whatever is really good will make the grade, regardless of subject or length.We'll shut down submissions in December, so have your poets submit directly to this e-mail address by then to be considered. Many thanks, Bill Harding
Direct submissions to: gardenoakpress@earthlink.net. We hope to make this the largest and best edition yet. More info is available on our website http://www.sandiegopoetryannual.com/.
I am excited to see some of our Temecula writers in this publication.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Hello Writers,
It is embarassing to see the last time I updated this blog. I am sorry. The waves of economic distress, family complications, and the careening real-estate market conspired together to knock me down flat.
I appreciate the patience of those of you who are involved in the Temecula Writers Cafe. I hope all is going well for all of you. I will be updating and cleaning up the links on this site, and hopefully your patience will be rewarded with a place online that Southwest Riverside County writers can come together for inspiration, information, and support.
Happy writing
Bethany
It is embarassing to see the last time I updated this blog. I am sorry. The waves of economic distress, family complications, and the careening real-estate market conspired together to knock me down flat.
I appreciate the patience of those of you who are involved in the Temecula Writers Cafe. I hope all is going well for all of you. I will be updating and cleaning up the links on this site, and hopefully your patience will be rewarded with a place online that Southwest Riverside County writers can come together for inspiration, information, and support.
Happy writing
Bethany
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Novel Group
Mary Ames will be facilitating the Novelists Group. Please let me know if you would like to join. It will be limited to five members. If there are more than five interested, we will create two groups.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Post Meeting Wrap-up
I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter. ~James Michener
Hello Writers,
As always, I return from Writer's Cafe refreshed and inspired! We had a small group today. Benjamin, Mary, and a new member, a young woman who recently graduated college named Devyn.
Mary brought her novel in progress about an African-American pilot in the 1940's. She is refining it, and a beautiful structure is shining through. Devyn is also working on a historical fiction piece set in the 1600's about a young women forced by circumstance to turn to prostitution. The chapter she read us was full of vibrant well thought out characters. I am excited to see where this goes. Benjamin had a busy month and just came to connect. I brought a first draft of a first chapter of a novel I am working on. In the words of Anne Lamott, a truly "**itty first draft". I received some tough love, and am excited to get back to it and input some suggestions.
Mary Ames has graciously offered to facilitate the "Novelist's Cafe". If you have a longer piece of fiction, 50,000 words or more, and would like to meet in a smaller group, let me know, and I will forward your email to Mary. I will be part of this group. I would like to remind you that if you cannot make it to Writer's Cafe on the second Saturday of the month, and have things you would like critiqued, remember there is an online critique group. If you have any questions or comments please email me, or click on the "comments" button directly under this post. I love hearing from my writers. Let me know what you are doing, contests you have entered, pieces that have been published, or anything you are proud of.
Bethany
Hello Writers,
As always, I return from Writer's Cafe refreshed and inspired! We had a small group today. Benjamin, Mary, and a new member, a young woman who recently graduated college named Devyn.
Mary brought her novel in progress about an African-American pilot in the 1940's. She is refining it, and a beautiful structure is shining through. Devyn is also working on a historical fiction piece set in the 1600's about a young women forced by circumstance to turn to prostitution. The chapter she read us was full of vibrant well thought out characters. I am excited to see where this goes. Benjamin had a busy month and just came to connect. I brought a first draft of a first chapter of a novel I am working on. In the words of Anne Lamott, a truly "**itty first draft". I received some tough love, and am excited to get back to it and input some suggestions.
Mary Ames has graciously offered to facilitate the "Novelist's Cafe". If you have a longer piece of fiction, 50,000 words or more, and would like to meet in a smaller group, let me know, and I will forward your email to Mary. I will be part of this group. I would like to remind you that if you cannot make it to Writer's Cafe on the second Saturday of the month, and have things you would like critiqued, remember there is an online critique group. If you have any questions or comments please email me, or click on the "comments" button directly under this post. I love hearing from my writers. Let me know what you are doing, contests you have entered, pieces that have been published, or anything you are proud of.
Bethany
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Pain and joy blend perfectly. Finally
Hello Writers,
The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.
~Anaïs Nin
I hope all is well. Business first. I will not be at the June 14th meeting. Please contact me if you are willing to facilitate.
I am trying to make progress on our non-profit status. I am not sure yet whether we will be strictly a writing group or whether we will get under someone else's umbrella.
Now for fun... I found this website and thought it was so cool. The challenge is to write your life story in six words. I used mine as the title of this blog. The examples posted are sometime funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always fascinating. I know how busy we all are, but if you do this, will you let me know so I can post it? I thought this was a great exercise in paring down our writing to it's most essential. I will continue to post websites I find interesting or helpful. Please, if you have a favorite writing website let me know.
I think of you all the time and I hope you are content and I hope you are writing.
The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.
~Anaïs Nin
I hope all is well. Business first. I will not be at the June 14th meeting. Please contact me if you are willing to facilitate.
I am trying to make progress on our non-profit status. I am not sure yet whether we will be strictly a writing group or whether we will get under someone else's umbrella.
Now for fun... I found this website and thought it was so cool. The challenge is to write your life story in six words. I used mine as the title of this blog. The examples posted are sometime funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always fascinating. I know how busy we all are, but if you do this, will you let me know so I can post it? I thought this was a great exercise in paring down our writing to it's most essential. I will continue to post websites I find interesting or helpful. Please, if you have a favorite writing website let me know.
I think of you all the time and I hope you are content and I hope you are writing.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Another Message about Online Critique
We have a total of ten people in "Online Cafe" our online critique group. If you would like to be a part, please let me know.
May Meeting
Hello Writers,
Saturday's meeting was very nice. George is hard at work on his humor book. Janet brought a piece she is submitting in a contest. Pat is working on a a companion book for a CD of songs. Mary is read a chapter from a fact based historical fiction. All the writings were well done and enjoyable. Notes and advice were given.
I am not 100% happy with where we are meeting right now. It is lovely, but a little small. It has no easily accessible restroom, and can fit no more than five comfortably. We are limited by having to choose free spaces. If we become a non-profit group, our options open up quite a bit. We could meet at the library free of charge.
If we became a non-profit, there would be a small fee charged annually. I am thinking, depending on how many people are interested, about $25 a year. I want to know what all of you at the Writer's Cafe think of this. Please click on the comment button and let me know if you are in.
Saturday's meeting was very nice. George is hard at work on his humor book. Janet brought a piece she is submitting in a contest. Pat is working on a a companion book for a CD of songs. Mary is read a chapter from a fact based historical fiction. All the writings were well done and enjoyable. Notes and advice were given.
I am not 100% happy with where we are meeting right now. It is lovely, but a little small. It has no easily accessible restroom, and can fit no more than five comfortably. We are limited by having to choose free spaces. If we become a non-profit group, our options open up quite a bit. We could meet at the library free of charge.
If we became a non-profit, there would be a small fee charged annually. I am thinking, depending on how many people are interested, about $25 a year. I want to know what all of you at the Writer's Cafe think of this. Please click on the comment button and let me know if you are in.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Online Critique
This is the permanent place for our Online Cafe guidelines. once again, let me know if you would like your address added to the list.
1) Send the piece you want critiqued only to 3 to 5 members. Any more than that and you may have too many opinions to effectively improve your piece.
2) If there is a deadline on the piece, include that in your email message. Also include a word count limit if it is relevant.
3)If you receive a piece to give notes on and you cannot do it in timely manner, or do not care to do it, let the author know so he/she can send it to someone else.
4) Be equally honest and kind! We have friends and family members to tell us how brilliant we are, we need honesty from our fellow writers! At the same time, let us never forget that these written pieces are our precious creations. No one wants to be told that their baby is ugly and stupid and should go to an institution.
5) Give a brief description of what is to be critiqued in your email message, so the following can take place.
6) Only critique what is comfortable for you. If you don't feel comfortable critiquing poetry, send it back with an explanation. If you are not comfortable with violence, let the author know you would prefer not to get graphic crime stories.
It will take a little while to get to know each other in this way. We will learn which members are proficient at critiquing poetry, who is an excellent copy editor, and groups of people who really understand each others style. In the meantime, let's be patient and allow this to blossom. On Word documents, there is a 'Review' button at the top of the document. Use this button to insert your notes into the piece. If you have any questions about the mechanics of sending your pieces, or giving notes, or any of the above suggestions, let me know. If I missed a suggestion that should be on the list, please send it to me. Going on those of you that I have met, and the thoughtful intelligent feedback I have received, I am confidant that this is going to be a wonderful addition to our Writer's Cafe.
1) Send the piece you want critiqued only to 3 to 5 members. Any more than that and you may have too many opinions to effectively improve your piece.
2) If there is a deadline on the piece, include that in your email message. Also include a word count limit if it is relevant.
3)If you receive a piece to give notes on and you cannot do it in timely manner, or do not care to do it, let the author know so he/she can send it to someone else.
4) Be equally honest and kind! We have friends and family members to tell us how brilliant we are, we need honesty from our fellow writers! At the same time, let us never forget that these written pieces are our precious creations. No one wants to be told that their baby is ugly and stupid and should go to an institution.
5) Give a brief description of what is to be critiqued in your email message, so the following can take place.
6) Only critique what is comfortable for you. If you don't feel comfortable critiquing poetry, send it back with an explanation. If you are not comfortable with violence, let the author know you would prefer not to get graphic crime stories.
It will take a little while to get to know each other in this way. We will learn which members are proficient at critiquing poetry, who is an excellent copy editor, and groups of people who really understand each others style. In the meantime, let's be patient and allow this to blossom. On Word documents, there is a 'Review' button at the top of the document. Use this button to insert your notes into the piece. If you have any questions about the mechanics of sending your pieces, or giving notes, or any of the above suggestions, let me know. If I missed a suggestion that should be on the list, please send it to me. Going on those of you that I have met, and the thoughtful intelligent feedback I have received, I am confidant that this is going to be a wonderful addition to our Writer's Cafe.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Writer's Cafe Meeting Information
Writer's Cafe meets on the second Saturday of every month unless you are otherwise notified.
We meet at Cafe Bravo in Old Town Temecula.
The meeting starts at 1:00pm and ends at 3:00pm.
You are welcomed to bring whatever you are working on, either one copy or several, to pass out to other members. We have poets, and memoirists, fiction and non-fiction. There are playwrights and songwriters. If I have missed a category, like cook book author, well, we have one of those too.
We give each other notes. Some notes will seem like a revelation from the heavens, some don't seem to apply at all. Use what you like, don't use what doesn't fit. The atmosphere is warm, honest, and intimate. We hope to see you there.
We meet at Cafe Bravo in Old Town Temecula.
The meeting starts at 1:00pm and ends at 3:00pm.
You are welcomed to bring whatever you are working on, either one copy or several, to pass out to other members. We have poets, and memoirists, fiction and non-fiction. There are playwrights and songwriters. If I have missed a category, like cook book author, well, we have one of those too.
We give each other notes. Some notes will seem like a revelation from the heavens, some don't seem to apply at all. Use what you like, don't use what doesn't fit. The atmosphere is warm, honest, and intimate. We hope to see you there.
Welcome Writers!
Here is a central, neutral place for us to find out what is going on with our community. I will post announcements and events in our area for writers. I would like to invite any/all of you to post original work here, either to have critiqued or just to share. This may actually be a great venue for the Online Cafe. Let's give this a try. If you would like to post on this site, let me know and I will invite you as an author. I will also let people know our good news, as a group, such as who is being published where, or art festivals, and things. If there is a link you think we should have on this site, let me know. This website belongs to all of us!
Welcome, Writers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
