Craft Chat: Describing Setting through Character's Eyes

The Chico Writer's Group will be hosting a Craft Chat Saturday, September 12, 2009 on the topic of how to describe a setting through the character's eyes. This is a free event, writers of all walks, all levels of experience, are invited to attend.

Craft Chat and Critique Workshop

Date:	Saturday, September 12, 2009
Time:	1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Location:	Butte County Library, Chico Branch
Address:	1108 Sherman Avenue (cross 1st Ave.)
	Chico, California
	Public Meeting room directly across breezeway from the circulation desk.
What to Bring:	Pen/pencil, writing tablet or a laptop/notebook
	Agenda
1:00 - 1:20 PM	Free write. Using prompts, writers will be given the opportunity to write for fifteen minutes, then share what they've written to the other members of the group.*
1:20 - 1:30 PM	Craft Chat: What are some effective ways to describe the setting in your fiction through different character's eyes that is unique to the character's own voice? We'll explore this question, exchange ideas, and review resources available to add to our writing toolbox.
1:30 - 3:00 PM CLOSED SESSION	Critique Workshop: Members in good standing will be offering critiques to authors of assigned manuscripts which are distributed prior to the meeting. Members: Please attempt to use the critique worksheet, available for download, when reading the manuscript, complete it and bring it with you to the meeting.
About:	Closed sessions are still open to the public, we just ask that anyone interested in this segment enters prior to the session, understands they are only there to observe, and may ask questions, enter into a conversation with the members after the session concludes (however, after session discussions should be conducted outside the meeting room). Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent at all times due to the nature of the conversations that take place. If, however, the authors do not feel comfortable having their manuscript reviewed in the presence of minors, we reserve the right to ask anyone under the age of 18 to please leave the room.
*Sharing written free write work	This portion of our group meeting is not critiqued. Other writers are encouraged to give feedback, provided it's positive. The free write portions of our group meetings is meant to inspire, challenge and bring about new and exciting ideas about the written word to those participating. While you are not required to read your work aloud, this is an invaluable opportunity to hear the differences in points of view and often quite enjoyable both for the writer and the members of the group. Alternatively, provided your writing is reasonably legible, you may always invite another member to read your work out loud to the rest of the group.

Coming Saturday, September 26, 2009: Writing Conference Review. Chico Writer's Group members who have attended writing conferences over the summer will be sharing useful information with us. This is also a free event, open to the public. If you are interested in attending this special presentation, please contact us (you may leave a comment here, just be sure to provide a working email address so we can reply. Email addresses are never published publicly.) as space is limited.

The Chico Writer's Group, is not affiliated with the Meetup Group with a similar name.

Upcoming Meetings

The following is a list of our upcoming meetings (2009). New members and those interested in the group are more than welcome to attend except when noted as "closed session." New and interested members are respectfully asked to contact us prior to attending the meeting so we can provide you with information about the session and about our group.

Except where noted, meetings are held in the meeting room directly across from the circulation desk at the Chico branch of the Butte County Library (1108 Sherman Avenue - cross street 1st Ave. - Chico).

Manuscript Due Date	Manuscript Distribution Date	Meeting Date	Time	Location
Thu., July 9	Fri., July 10	Sat., July 18	1-3 p.m.	Chico Library
Thu., Aug. 13	Fri., Aug. 14	Sat., Aug. 22	1-3 p.m.	Chico Library
Thu., Sept. 3	Fri., Sept. 4	Sat., Sept. 12	1-3 p.m.	Chico Library
Thu., Sept. 17	Fri., Sept. 18	Sat., Sept. 26	1-3 p.m.	Chico Library
Thu., Oct. 1	Fri., Oct. 2	Sat., Oct. 10	1-3 p.m.	CLOSED SESSION*
Thu., Oct. 29	Fri., Oct. 30	Sat., Nov. 7	1-3 p.m.	Chico Library
Thu., Nov. 12	Fri., Nov. 13	Sat., Nov. 21	1-3 p.m.	CLOSED SESSION*
Thu., Nov. 26	Fri., Nov. 27	Sat., Dec. 5	1-3 p.m.	Chico Library

The noted (*) closed session locations will be disclosed to members in good standing prior to the scheduled meeting.

Dates and times are subject to change. We will attempt to update this blog and other web sites where announcements regarding upcoming meetings are located with the corrections. All active members in good standing are automatically notified via email.

Meetings typically begin with a "free write" segment (time allotted is voted on by participants) typically with a prompt that leads into the prearranged craft chat portion of the meeting. Writers are encouraged to bring paper and pen/pencil or a laptop for this portion. Afterwards, everyone is encouraged to share what they wrote as this portion is not a "critique."

The Craft Chat is about a variety of topics (character development, how to name your piece, worldbuilding, adding red herrings, etc.) all pertaining to the craft of writing.  Handouts covering the topic are typically distributed at the end of this segment.

We conclude our session with a critique of (typically) two submitted manuscripts.

Workshop Saturday, February 21, 2009

Chico Writer's Group Craft and Critique Workshop
Date: Saturday, February 21, 2009
Time: 4:30 to 6:30 pm
Place: Meeting Room (across from Circulation Desk) 
          Butte County Library, Chico Branch
Address: 1108 Sherman Avenue, Chico, CA

Agenda

4:30 - 5:00 PM Craft Chat

Naming Characters - Given names, chosen names, and nicknames are a part of who we are. How do we find the right names for our characters? What do the characters' names mean for the story? Or does finding just the right name even matter?

5:00 - 6:30 PM Critiques

Members have been sent the manuscripts for critiquing.  This is a closed session.  Persons interested in attending our workshop may attend the first portion (Craft Chat) but will be asked to leave for our critique portion. 

Synopsis Workshop Announcement

The Chico Writer's Group is looking to host a synopsis workshop/seminar.  If you are a published author, an editor and/or an agent and are interested in presenting, please leave a comment below (your name and working email address are required, we never sell, share or publish your email address) and someone will be in touch with you.

Craft Chat and Critique Workshop Feb. 7th

Location: Butte County Library - Chico Branch 
                Public Meeting Room (across from circulation desk)
Address:  1108 Sherman Avenue (cross First Avenue)
Date:       Saturday, February 7, 2009
Times:      4:00 - 7:00 P.M.

Agenda

4:00 - 5:00 PM  Craft Chat and Exercise
Topic: Punctuation

As always, we have a great time with the creative, insightful, thought-provoking writing exercises.  Be sure to bring your laptop or a pad of paper and pen and write on the topic assigned.

5:00 - 7:00 PM  Critique Workshop

Members-in-Good-Standing will critique manuscripts already distributed to the membership.

Next meeting: Saturday, February 21, 2009 4-7pm at the Chico Branch, Butte County Library.

Upcoming events: Synopsis workshop and lecture series.  The Chico Writer's Group is preparing to present a workshop on how to write an industry acceptable synopsis.  Currently we are seeking published authors of fiction, preferably individuals whose first work has been published within the past 5-7 years, who are able to speak about the process of writing a synopsis.  We are also interested in agents, editors and publishing representatives to address the group.  If you are interested, please contact Kathie Leung at kathie dot blog at gmail dot com.  Be sure to include in the subject line: Synopsis Workshop Interest. 

Craft Chat, Critique Workshop and End of NaNoWriMo Celebration

Whether or not you even participated in the tenth anniversary of National Novel Writing Month or won the challenge of writing 50,000 words in 30 days, it's time to celebrate this momentous event!  We'll be having a pot luck this coming Sunday, November 30th from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Chico branch of the Butte County Library.  RSVPs are required.  Please leave a comment below if you haven't already received an email invitation and would like to attend.

We'll be writing more flash fiction as a writing exercise on Sunday after our last experience went quite well.  Our topic for the craft chat will be the use of a metaphor to convey a theme.  Be sure to bring your laptop and/or a pad of paper and pen along with you as we'll be writing!

We also have 4 pieces to critique, a short story that came from a writing exercise and 3 poems.  Chico Writer's Group members have already received their copies and are expected to have read them, commented upon them and bring the printed out copy to our meeting to discuss and then return, with comments, to the original author.  If you did not receive a copy but would like to attend, leave a comment here (be sure to use a working, valid email address) and we'll confirm your reservation.

Craft and Critique Workshop Sunday, Nov. 2nd

This workshop promises to be exciting as we'll be using our first half of the workshop trying our hand (or for those who've done this before, dazzling us) at flash fiction!  Mark your calendars now, this is one not to miss!

Date: Sunday, November 2, 2008
Time: Noon to 3:00PM (Note the time change)
Place: Chico Branch of the Butte County Library
Addy: 1108 Sherman Avenue (cross of First Ave.), Chico 
NOTE: The off ramp at First Avenue may be CLOSED.  Please use the links to the maps below if you need directions using an alternate route.
Maps:   Google  |  MapQuest  |  Microsoft  |  Yahoo

12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM Craft Workshop
We'll be trying out a workshop using flash fiction where writers are given a topic to write on for a few minutes and then discuss. This should be a very fun activity!
     After the exercise, we'll discuss the focus of the writing exercise, a specific element of the craft of writing. A sure winner for all genres of fiction!

1:00 - 3:00 PM Critique Workshop
Manuscripts need to be submitted to [kathie dot blog at gmail dot com] on or before noon Saturday October 25, 2008 and will be distributed to members who have attended meetings consistently and are in good standing. If you plan on attending but have not done so previously, you may request a copy be available to you when you arrive, however, we will not be distributing manuscripts to non-members for privacy and copyright purposes.
For more information, contact the organizer, Kathie Leung (pronounced Lee-young) at 521-4264 or [kathie dot blog at gmail dot com].

RSVPs requested! (You may use the "comment" link below to RSVP.  Just please be sure to provide a valid email address.  RSVP comments and general inquiry comments are not published and email addresses are never published.)

Critique Workshop

Our next Critique Workshop will be held Sunday, October 5th, 2008, at 2:00 PM.  The location has yet to be announced.  For more information, contact Kathie at kathie dot blog at gmail dot com or call 521-4264.

Manuscripts are due no later than noon Saturday, September 27, 2008. Once received, we will assign the critique leader and email out the manuscripts by 5:00 PM that day. Documents should be sent to Kathie for distribution to the entire group in the following format (listed in order of preference): *.doc, *.txt/*.rtf or *.pdf  If you are unable to open any of the preceding formats, please notify Kathie immediately and provide a list of formats you are able to open.

Remember, we want to make sure everyone has had ample opportunity to read your work at least twice as this is the best way to receive the best constructive critiquing and must keep in mind everyone's hectic schedules. 

Lead critiquers will be assigned with the distribution of the manuscripts.  If you won't be making our Sunday, October 5th, 2008, meeting at 2:00 p.m. (location TBA), please let Kathie know  so that you are not assigned a lead critique position. 

If you'd like to know more about critiquing, formating your manuscript for critiquing purposes, etc. please leave a comment and we'll be happy to bring you up to speed and answer your questions!

Craft Chat: Setting

You're invited to the Chico Writer's Group
Craft and Critique Workshop

Event Info
Host: Chico Writer's Group (Link leads to our Facebook Club page where members can RSVP. *)
Time and Place
Date: Sunday, September 7, 2008
Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Note: New members please join us for the meet and greet an hour prior to the workshop.  More information is [here]. 
Location: Empire Coffee Shop
Street: 434 Orange Street
City/Town: Chico, CA
View Map
     Google
     MapQuest
     Microsoft
     Yahoo

Contact Info
Please use the comment form below and be certain to use a valid address so that we may respond.  Your email address will not be published.

Meeting Info
If you're new to the group, please come by at 1:00 p.m. where you can have the chance to meet us, ask any questions you might have and share with us a bit about you.

2:00 PM Share and discuss writing exercise 
     From The Writer's Idea Book, by Jack Heffron
"Describe two places and compare them to each other. Choose places that are very different. For example, compare the Vatican to a laundromat, the Oregon Coast to a strip mall. You may find this impossible to do, but keep trying. Look for ways to connect these places, if only in the most peripheral ways. The point is to see beyond the surface, to avoid the easy detail, the most obvious modifiers. Anyone can talk about the awesome splendor of the Grand Canyon; only you will find it as eternal as an all-night gas station."

Note: Writing exercise from our meeting 8/16 may be worked on, but for time and space considerations, if you'd like to share and discuss, please do so via email or after the meeting Sunday.

2:30 PM Craft Chat: Topic is Place and Setting
     We know that the setting of a story is place, time and social context. We know a successful story is rooted in place. Our characters must be in a landscape such as a forest, a bedroom or some other land imagined for the reader to experience the sense of place. If the story can be moved from let's say, 1950's Nebraska to 2000's New York without affect, the story is most likely not working. The interconnections with setting and character cannot be separated as a character is shaped by his or her environment. So how does a writer use setting to reveal character and feeling? Come to the craft chat where we'll explore the importance of setting.

3:00 PM Critiques 
     All critiques for this workshop have been assigned.  Regular attending members have been provided their copy of the material.  Please be certain to bring your copy!  
     Members wishing to have their work critiqued must email it to Kathie by Sunday, August 31st. The earlier, the better as this allows members ample time to read and make notes for the discussion. If you require more information regarding our guidelines, please refer to the following articles:

• About the Chico Writer's Group
• Critiquing Tips, Hints and Guidelines
• The Ten Commandments of Critiquing

Also, please refer to the links in the navigation column  on our main website, http://ejourn.net/cwg for useful information.

*About Facebook Club Page:  If you aren't a member of Facebook, consider joining.  It's free and a great way to keep abreast of upcoming events, activities and other features of the Chico Writer's Group.  There are two Chico Writer's Group pages online at Facebook.  Make sure you are adding to the CLUB and not the FAN page as the FAN page will most likely be closed down in the very near future.  Once you've added the club page, navigate to the Administrator (Kathie) and add yourself as a friend (maybe add a comment you're a new member of the writer's group) so that you are receiving invitations. 

Technorati Tags: writer's group,meeting,Sunday,September 7,2008,place,setting,fiction,all genres,all types of writers,Facebook,critique,RSVP,deadline,August 31,updated

Workshop Saturday, June 14th

Location: Empire Coffee Shop, Orange Street
Time: 9:30-11:30A.M.
Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2008
RSVP: kathie dot blog at gmail dot com or 530-521-4264 by Thursday, June 12th, 2008
Guests: Open to anyone in the Chico/Paradise/Oroville/Hamilton City/Orland area (or those who can make it to our meeting place!)
Facebook: We’re on Facebook!

New Format!

9:30 - 10:00 AM
Share and Discuss Assigned Writing Exercise: (Either email a copy to everyone, be prepared to read outloud or bring enough copies for everyone.  Contact Kathie for further information and instructions.)

“Create a narrative voice that is distinctly different from your own by changing a key element of the character. If you’re a woman, write in a man’s voice. If you’re under thirty, create the voice of a character over sixty. Make a change in appearance or education or background.”

10:00 - 10:30 AM Craft Chat: Voice

Each writer has a distinct personality. Hemingway, for example, would never write like Mark Twain. How does a writer develop her/his voice? What is the difference between voice and style? A writer must master narrative voice. How is it done, and what exactly is it? A story’s voice is created by some fundamental tools a writer must have in their “writer’s toolbox.” We will discuss these and look at how this all works.

10:30 - 11:30 AM Manuscript Critique: Piece by Kathie Leung [download copy here].  Critique will be lead by N. D. Austin whom will use the following Critique Worksheet (please use this sheet to help guide the critique):

Author Name / Title of Piece
Concept (Scope/Originality)
Plot (Conflict/Crisis/Resolution)
Characterization (Action/Appearance/Thought)
Dialog (Tension/Rhythm/Diction)
Setting (Time and Place/Concrete Detail)
Tone (Language/Style)
Additional Comments

 

 

Technorati Tags: 2008,9:30-11:30am,Chico,contact,edit,Empire Coffee Shop,June 14,manuscript,proof,RSVP required,Saturday,writer's group

Critique Workshop

Critique Group Sat. May 17th

Chico Writer’s Group Critique Workshop

Location: Empire Coffee Shop, Orange Street
Time: 9:30-11:30A.M.
Date: Saturday, May 17th, 2008
RSVP: kathie dot blog at gmail dot com or 530-521-4264 by Monday, May 12th, 2008
Guests: Open to anyone in the Chico/Paradise/Oroville/Hamilton City/Orland area (or those who can make it to our meeting place!)
Facebook: We’re on Facebook!

Manuscripts are due on or before midnight, Saturday, May 10th. Email your manuscript, 20 pages or less with title, your name, and preferably with page numbers in one of the following formats (.rtf, .txt, .doc, .pdf) to kathie dot blog at gmail dot com. If there is anything specific you wish to have reviewed, please include that with your email.

New Rule: We’re finding we have to tighten our deadlines out of fairness to all participants. If your piece is not in by the group established deadline, it may not be critiqued in depth during our next meeting. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us or simply click on the “comment” link and leave your question here.

Please take time to read the information provided on this site regarding critiquing, editing and proofing. While we are fairly casual, having a good understanding of these areas will make the experience that much more enjoyable and rewarding.