Next Meeting: Thursday, 29 January, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
6 Dec meeting notes; 3 Jan reading list
6 DECEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended our final meeting of 2012: Casey, Glenda, Jo, JoAnne, Jonathan, Lance, Maddie (read a chapter from Hit Me), Richard, Rosie (read 1.5 chapters from On Thin Ice), Shari (read two chapters from Lost in Dance) and Stace.
News & Notes
Our next regular PFL meeting will be on 3 January 2013.
Our annual holiday party is scheduled for 7PM on 13 December at Shari’s house in Fountain Valley. Shari distributed maps during the meeting. Remember to bring the food you signed up for.
Reminder: our craft-related reading selection this winter is James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. Please read the assigned chapters and be ready to discuss the material. The schedule for the rest of the discussions is as follows:
- 31 Jan – Chp. 10-12 (Casey)
- 28 Feb – Chp. 13-14, Appendix B (Jonathan)
3 JANUARY READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Stace (12/6)
Marcia (11/29)
Richard (12/6)
Elena (11/29)
Casey (12/6)
Burt (11/29)
Jonathan (12/6)
Lance (12/6)
Jo (12/6)
Glenda (12/6)
JoAnne (12/6)
Maddie (12/6)
Rosie (12/6)
Shari (12/6)
29 Nov meeting notes; 6 Dec reading list
29 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt, Elena, Glenda (read an essay, “Washing the Consequences”), Jo, JoAnne (read a chapter from Figment), Lance, Maddie, Marcia, Richard, Shari and Stace. Marcia and Richard moderated our discussion of Chapters 7-9 of Plot & Structure.
News & Notes
Our annual holiday party is scheduled for 7PM on 13 December at Shari’s house in Fountain Valley. Shari distributed maps during the meeting. The food sign-up list will return next meeting.
Reminder: our craft-related reading selection this fall and winter is James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. Please read the assigned chapters and be ready to discuss the material. The schedule for the rest of the discussions is as follows:
- 31 Jan – Chp. 10-12 (Casey)
- 28 Feb – Chp. 13-14, Appendix B (Jonathan)
6 DECEMBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Stace (11/29)
Marcia (11/29)
Richard (11/29)
Elena (11/29)
Maddie (11/29)
Rosie (11/15)
Shari (11/29)
Casey (11/15)
Burt (11/29)
Jonathan (11/15)
Lance (11/29)
Jo (11/29)
Glenda (11/29)
JoAnne (11/29)
15 Nov meeting list; 29 Nov reading list
15 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt (read three chapters from a new memoir Jocks), Casey, Elena, JoAnne, Jonathan (read the conclusion of “Piccolo’s,” a short story), Lance (read a chapter from South), Marcia, Richard, Rosie, Shari and Stace.
News & Notes
Our annual holiday party is scheduled for 7PM on 13 December at Shari’s house in Fountain Valley. Shari distributed maps during the meeting, and a food sign-up list went around; both of these should return next meeting.
Reminder: our craft-related reading selection this fall and winter is James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. Please read the assigned chapters and be ready to discuss the material. The schedule for the rest of the discussions is as follows:
- 29 Nov – Chp. 7-9 (Richard & Marcia) (change)
- 31 Jan – Chp. 10-12 (Casey) (change)
- 28 Feb – Chp. 13-14, Appendix B (Jonathan)
Please note: for the next discussion session (29 Nov), Richard & Marcia ask everyone to come prepared to discuss how the reading will help us in our critiques.
Lance created a Facebook author’s page. If any other members also have author pages (not FB profiles), let him know and we can link to them on the PFL site as we do blogs and Twitter feeds.
29 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Glenda (11/8)
Stace (11/15)
JoAnne (11/15)
Marcia (11/15)
Richard (11/15)
Elena (11/15)
Maddie (11/1)
Rosie (11/15)
Shari (11/15)
Casey (11/15)
Burt (11/15)
Jonathan (11/15)
Lance (11/15)
Jo (10/11)
Marianna (10/18)
8 Nov meeting notes; 15 Nov reading list
8 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from Francine Stein), Elena, Glenda, Lance, Rosie (read two chapters from On Thin Ice), Shari (read four partial chapters from Lost in Dance) and Stace.
News & Notes
Our annual holiday party is scheduled for the evening of 13 December at Shari’s house in Fountain Valley. More details to come in the next couple of meetings.
Reminder: our craft-related reading selection this fall and winter is James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. Please read the assigned chapters and be ready to discuss the material. The schedule for the rest of the discussions is as follows:
- 29 Nov – Chp. 7-9 (Richard & Marcia) (change)
- 31 Jan – Chp. 10-12 (Casey) (change)
- 28 Feb – Chp. 13-14, Appendix B (Jonathan)
Please note: for the next discussion session (29 Nov), Richard & Marcia ask everyone to come prepared to discuss how the reading will help us in our critiques.
15 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Marianna (10/18)
Glenda (11/8)
Stace (11/8)
JoAnne (10/25)
Jo (10/11)
Marcia (11/1)
Richard (11/1)
Burt (11/8)
Elena (11/8)
Maddie (11/1)
Jonathan (11/1)
Lance (11/8)
Rosie (11/8)
Shari (11/8)
Casey (11/8)
1 Nov meeting notes; 8 Nov reading list
1 NOVEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Casey (read a chapter from Francine Stein), Elena, Glenda, Jonathan (read most of a short story, “Piccolo’s”), Lance (read three chapters from South), Maddie, Marcia, Richard, Rosie, Shari and Stace.
News & Notes
Reminder: our craft-related reading selection this fall and winter is James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. Please read the assigned chapters and be ready to discuss the material. The schedule for the rest of the discussions is as follows:
- 29 Nov – Chp. 7-9 (Richard & Marcia) (change)
- 31 Jan – Chp. 10-12 (Casey) (change)
- 28 Feb – Chp. 13-14, Appendix B (Jonathan)
Please note: for the next discussion session (29 Nov), Richard & Marcia ask everyone to come prepared to discuss how the reading will help us in our critiques.
Jonathan recommends Post Secret, a website/community/book series that encourages people to share their innermost secrets anonymously through postcards. New secrets are posted every Sunday. Over 500 million people have viewed the more than 500,000 postcards posted so far.
8 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Marianna (10/18)
Glenda (11/1)
Stace (11/1)
JoAnne (10/25)
Jo (10/11)
Marcia (11/1)
Richard (11/1)
Rosie (11/1)
Burt (10/25)
Elena (11/1)
Maddie (11/1)
Shari (11/1)
Jonathan (11/1)
Casey (11/1)
Lance (11/1)
25 Oct meeting notes; 1 Nov reading list
25 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Ten people attended: Glenda, JoAnne, Marcia, Richard, Rosie, Burt, Jonathan, Elena, Shari (read a chapter from Lost in Dance) and Maddie.
News & Notes
Reminder: our craft-related reading selection this fall and winter is James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. Please read the assigned chapters and be ready to discuss the material. The schedule for the rest of the discussions is as follows:
- 29 Nov – Chp. 7-9 (Casey)
- 31 Jan – Chp. 10-12 (Richard & Marcia)
- 28 Feb – Chp. 13-14, Appendix B (Jonathan)
Please note: for the next discussion session (29 Nov), Richard & Marcia ask everyone to come prepared to discuss how everything will help us in our critiques.
1 NOVEMBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Marianna (10/18)
Glenda (10/25)
Stace (10/18)
JoAnne (10/25)
Jo (10/11)
Marcia (10/25)
Richard (10/25)
Rosie (10/25)
Burt (10/25)
Jonathan (10/25)
Casey (10/18)
Elena (10/25)
Lance (10/18)
Maddie (10/25)
Shari (10/25)
18 Oct meeting notes; 25 Oct reading list
18 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt, Casey, Glenda, Irina, JoAnne, Lance (read the first three chapters of a new work, South), Maddie (read a chapter from Hit Me), Marianna, Rosie, Shari (read three chapters from Lost in Dance) and Stace.
News & Notes
Reminder: our craft-related reading selection this fall and winter is James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. Please read the assigned chapters and be ready to discuss the material. The schedule for the rest of the discussions is as follows:
- 25 Oct – Chp. 4-6 (Rosie & Maddie)
- 29 Nov – Chp. 7-9 (Casey)
- 31 Jan – Chp. 10-12 (Richard & Marcia)
- 28 Feb – Chp. 13-14, Appendix B (Jonathan)
Please note: for the next discussion session (25 Oct), Rosie and Maddie ask everyone to complete any one of the exercises at the ends of Chapters 4, 5 or 6, and come prepared to discuss whether or not it helped them with their current WIP.
Glenda’s essay on Jack London was published in the literary magazine First Line. She shared the published essay with the group on 11 Oct. Congrats!
Glenda recommends The Writer’s Guide to Psychology by Carolyn Kaufman. It describes various psychological disorders, their presentation and their treatment in layman’s terms.
25 OCTOBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Marianna (10/18)
Glenda (10/18)
Stace (10/18)
JoAnne (10/18)
Jo (10/11)
Marcia (9/27)
Richard (9/27)
Rosie (10/18)
Burt (10/18)
Jonathan (10/4)
Casey (10/18)
Irina (10/18)
Lance (10/18)
Shari (10/18)
Maddie (10/18)
11 Oct Meeting Notes, 18 Oct Reading List
11 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Ten people attended: Burt, Casey (read a short screenplay, Cat & Rooster), Glenda, Maddie (read one chapter of Hit Me), Rosie, Shari, Stace, JoAnn, Marianna, Jo and new member Irina.
News & Notes
Reminder: our craft-related reading selection this fall and winter is James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. Please read the assigned chapters and be ready to discuss the material. The schedule for the rest of the discussions is as follows:
- 25 Oct – Chp. 4-6 (Rosie & Maddie)
- 29 Nov – Chp. 7-9 (Burt)
- 31 Jan – Chp. 10-12 (Richard & Marcia)
- 28 Feb – Chp. 13-14, Appendix B (Jonathan)
Please note: for the next discussion session (Oct 25), Rosie and Maddie have asked everyone to complete one of the exercises in the assigned reading, and come prepared to discuss whether or not it helped them on their current WIP.
Glenda’s essay on Jack London was published in the magazine First Line. She read shared the published essay with the group. Congrats!
18 OCTOBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Marianna (10/11)
Glenda (10/11)
Stace (10/11)
JoAnne (10/11)
Jo (10/11)
Lance (9/27)
Marcia (9/27)
Richard (9/27)
Rosie (10/11)
Shari (10/11)
Burt (10/11)
Jonathan (10/4)
Maddie (10/11)
Casey (10/11)
Irina (10/11)
4 Oct Meeting Notes, 11 Oct Reading List
4 OCTOBER MEETING NOTES
Ten people attended: Burt, Casey (read one chapter of Francine Stein), Glenda, Jonathan (presented 13 story hooks for consideration), Maddie, Rosie, Shari, Stace, JoAnn and Marianna.
News & Notes
Reminder: our craft-related reading selection this fall and winter is James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. Please read the assigned chapters and be ready to discuss the material. The schedule for the rest of the discussions is as follows:
- 25 Oct – Chp. 4-6 (Rosie & Maddie)
- 29 Nov – Chp. 7-9 (Burt)
- 31 Jan – Chp. 10-12 (Richard & Marcia)
- 28 Feb – Chp. 13-14, Appendix B (Jonathan)
11 OCTOBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Glenda (10/4)
Stace (10/4))
JoAnne (10/4)
Jo (9/27)
Lance (9/27)
Marcia (9/27)
Richard (9/27)
Rosie (10/4)
Jonathan (10/4)
Maddie (10/4)
Shari (10/4)
Burt (10/4)
Jonathan (10/4)
Casey (10/4)
27 Sep meeting notes; 4 Oct reading list
27 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Twelve people attended: Burt (read three revised chapters from On the Dead Run), Casey, Glenda, Jo, Jonathan, Lance, Maddie, Marcia, Richard, Rosie, Shari and Stace. Stace ably moderated a lively discussion of chapters 1-3 of Plot & Structure; thanks to all who read the homework and participated.
News & Notes
Reminder: our craft-related reading selection this fall and winter is James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. Please read the assigned chapters and be ready to discuss the material. The schedule for the rest of the discussions is as follows:
- 25 Oct – Chp. 4-6 (Rosie & Maddie)
- 29 Nov – Chp. 7-9 (Burt)
- 31 Jan – Chp. 10-12 (Richard & Marcia)
- 28 Feb – Chp. 13-14, Appendix B (Jonathan)
4 OCTOBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Marianna (8/30)
Glenda (9/27)
Stace (9/27)
JoAnne (9/20)
Jo (9/27)
Lance (9/27)
Marcia (9/27)
Richard (9/27)
Rosie (9/27)
Jonathan (9/27)
Maddie (9/27)
Casey (9/27)
Shari (9/27)
Burt (9/27)
20 Sep meeting notes; 27 Sep reading list
20 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Casey (read a chapter from Francine Stein), Glenda, JoAnne, Jonathan, Lance, Maddie (read a chapter from Hit Me), Marcia, Richard and Shari (read a revised chapter from Lost in Dance).
News & Notes
The RWA Orange County Chapter’s anthology Romancing the Pages is finally available for $2.99 on Amazon for Kindle. The romance anthology includes Rosie’s “Melting the Ice,” a short story based on her YA romance novel On Thin Ice.
Reminder: our first craft-related reading discussion will take place on 27 September. Stace will lead a discussion of chapters 1-3 of James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure. Please read the assigned chapters and be ready to discuss the material. The craft-related reading is our way to improve both our writing and our critiques by way of providing a common knowledge base and vocabulary.
27 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Marianna (8/30)
Glenda (8/20)
Stace (9/13)
JoAnne (9/20)
Jo (9/13)
Burt (9/13)
Lance (9/20)
Marcia (9/20)
Richard (9/20)
Rosie (9/13)
Jonathan (9/20)
Maddie (9/20)
Casey (9/20)
Shari (9/20)
13 Sep meeting notes; 20 Sep reading list
13 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey, Jo, JoAnne, Jonathan (read a revised chapter from Bummin’ It), Lance, Rosie, Shari (read two chapters from Lost in Dance) and Stace.
News & Notes
The RWA Orange County Chapter’s anthology Romancing the Pages is finally available for $2.99 on Amazon for Kindle. The romance anthology includes Rosie’s “Melting the Ice,” a short story based on her YA romance novel On Thin Ice.
Reminder: our first craft-related reading discussion will take place on 27 September. Stace will lead a discussion of chapters 1-3 of James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure.
20 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Marianna (8/30)
Glenda (8/30)
Stace (9/13)
JoAnne (9/13)
Jo (9/13)
Burt (9/13)
Lance (9/13)
Marsha (9/6)
Richard (9/6)
Maddie (9/6)
Rosie (9/13)
Casey (9/13)
Shari (9/13)
Jonathan (9/13)
Author Website Content Checklist
If you are planning an author website, or have one already but want to see if it wants additional content, you can download a one-page Author Website Checklist put together by Duolit, a marketing consultancy for self-published authors. The Duolit blog also features regular posts regarding book marketing that may be helpful to both self-published and traditionally-published authors.
6 Sep meeting notes; 13 Sep reading list
6 SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt, Casey (read half a chapter from Francine Stein), JoAnne, Jonathan (read a query letter for Bummin’ It), Lance, Maddie, Marsha, Richard, Rosie (read a query letter for On Thin Ice), Shari and Stace.
News & Notes
Reminder: we selected James Scott Bell’s Plot & Structure to be our craft-related reading for fall. The discussion sessions, readings and moderators are as follows:
- 27 Sep – Chp. 1-3 (Stace)
- 25 Oct – Chp. 4-6 (Rosie & Maddie)
- 29 Nov – Chp. 7-9 (Burt)
- 31 Jan – Chp. 10-12 (Richard & Marsha)
- 28 Feb – Chp. 13-14, Appendix B (Jonathan)
Thanks to everyone who volunteered.
13 SEPTEMBER READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
Marianna (8/30)
Glenda (8/30)
Stace (9/6)
JoAnne (9/6)
Jo (8/30)
Burt (9/6)
Lance (9/6)
Marsha (9/6)
Richard (9/6)
Maddie (9/6)
Shari (9/6)
Rosie (9/6)
Jonathan (9/6)
Casey (9/6)
Janet Reid’s Chum Bucket
Agent Janet Reid of Fine Print Literary runs an experiment in querying called the Chum Bucket: any submissions she receives on Saturday between 4-5PM Pacific time, she will respond to personally. Read this post for the rules. These are real queries, must follow her usual submission guidelines and be for genres she represents. This is an opportunity to get real feedback on your query or sample pages from a real agent.
Check her blog to make sure she’s emptying the Chum Bucket on any particular Saturday.
Pure Fiction League 