OREGON COAST WRITERS FOCUS GROUP

Members of OCWFG enjoying another December luncheon.  What’s the secret to a happy life? We know..., focus on what you like to do, learn to do it as well as you’re able, and find kindred souls.  J

 

DECEMBER MEETING NOTICE

DECEMBER FOCUS MEETING:  Sunday, the 29th. 

On the 15th we enjoyed a Christmas Luncheon at Port Dock One on the Bayfront.  A fine time was enjoyed by those present. 

HANK OF TWIN RIVERS, Journey of Change

Happy to help Marge (M.C. Arvanitis)  launch her first YA novel, number one in her HANK OF TWIN RIVERS series. HANK OF TWIN RIVERS is the story of a young Iowa boy who, in 1855, crosses the wide Missouri River with his father and uncle and discovers a... world of strange places where people are either friendly or they aren't. Iowa it's not, and he soon learns--sometimes the hard way--to stand on his own with rugged men and women who are blazing trails to the West and Southwest in the vast plains beyond the Missouri River.Good luck with HANK, Marge..., great work, that's what we're about. 

Another OCWFG member published

 

Congratulations to member Marge Arvanitis, retired pre-school educator.   Her chapter-book for elementary children, The Legend of ELPanda Paws, (e-book edition) is now available on Smashwords, Barns and Noble, and soon Amazon.com.  www.smashwords.com/books/view/120937 and www.barnesandnoble.com  

Also see http://mcarvanitiswriter.blogspot.com/

OCWFG GUIDELINES

 Critiquing the "Focus Way"

1. MEMBERSHIP: The group was founded for the purpose of critiquing and is limited to no more than six members at a session. A prospective member is asked to attend a meeting and present her or his work in progress. Current members discuss this at the next meeting and if all are in agreement, the prospective member is then invited to be an active member of the critiquing group.
2. THE PROJECT: Each member is expected to have a work in progress, which is called the Project. A Project may be removed from the table by its author at any time and a new one submitted. Members who are "between projects" may still attend the meetings and critique.

3. INTENT: There are no membership fees. This is a meeting of friends who understand the need of an author to have his or her work heard and critiqued by compassionate writers within the community.

4. MEETINGS: Meetings are held at a member's house on the last Sunday of each month unless otherwise decided at a previous meeting. Hours, which are amenable to change, are generally from l0:30 AM to 4 PM, with lunch break at noon.  Members bring their lunch. A "kitty" is provided for coffee or tea and snacks.

5. READINGS: Readings begin promptly at 11 AM. Unless otherwise requested, each writer reads his or her own material and everyone is guaranteed a fair amount of time. The Reader may give a brief explanation before, but is asked not to interrupt the story with explanations while reading and to wait for the critiquing to begin before commenting on any part of it.
6. THE CIRCLE: There are no rules as to who reads first. The person to the reader's left begins the critiquing and this continues around the circle until all have had their say, after which the person to the left of the first reader reads, etc. The others listen, taking notes if necessary.
7. CRITIQUING: This is a conversation between the Reader and the person who is critiquing, i.e., the Critiquer. After everyone has had a turn at critiquing, the floor is open for general discussion before moving to the next reader.

8. RIGHTS OF THE CRITIQUER: The Critiquer has the right to ask questions and to make appropriate comments about what's been read – beginning with what he or she likes – and to give an

opinion as to what might improve the work, keeping in mind the genre and potential market, and the witer's style.

9. RIGHTS OF THE READER: In all cases the choice as to whether or not to take the offered advice remains with the Reader. The Reader will try to refrain from making overlong reflections as to "why" her characters do what they do and to accept the critiquing with the same good grace in which it is given.    

10. RESPECT AMONG MEMBERS: The Golden Rule applies. Respect each other's privacy and feelings. If there's a problem that can't be discussed with everyone take it to the Moderator.

CONGRATULATIONS, KARLEENE!

We are proud to announce that talented writer, and member of the OREGON COAST WRITERS FOCUS GROUP, Karleene Morrow, finished her novel DESTINIES and it has been e-published by Agate Beach Press.  Available now at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.  See Karleene's link on this blog.

GOOD NEWS FROM ONE OF OUR MEMBERS

Click on Karleene's webpage   http://www.karleenemorrow.com/  and watch the progress with her novel DESTINIES, which is now e-published by Agate Beach Press.