Next Meeting: Thursday, 29 January, at 6:30 p.m.
at the Tustin Marketplace Corner Bakery (13652 Jamboree Road, Irvine)
John Vorhaus: The Practice of Writing
Maddie brought in a printed version of this blog post from Writerunboxed.com (thanks!). It relates to how a writer prictices the art of writing. In Vorhaus’ words:
So how does one practice practice? How can we constantly be closing the gap between the writer’s life we have and the writer’s life we want? Here are some strategies and tactics you can try…
In case you didn’t get it or want a link to the original article, here it is.
RIP Jeff Sherratt
Author Jeff Sherratt, a friend to PFL andspeaker at one of our holiday parties, has just passed away. In addition to publishing five mystery novels, he was a past board member of Sisters in Crime/LA, and a member of Mystery Writers of America. Please visit his website or Amazon author’s page for more information about his life and works.
Our sympathies go out to his family and friends.
9 Aug meeting notes; 16 Aug reading list
9 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey, JoAnne (read a revised opening to her untitled novella), Jonathan (read a revised chapter from Bummin’ It), Lance, Maddie, Rosie, Shari (read a chapter from Lost in Dance) and Stace.
News & Notes
Jonathan mentioned that NLA agent Sara Megibow (@SaraMegibow) tweets her responses to ten queries from her inbox on Thursday nights. The hashtag is #10queriesin10tweets.
16 AUGUST 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 (7/19)
Burt (8/9)
Glenda (7/26)
Rosie (8/9)
Stace (8/9)
Maddie (8/9)
Jo (8/2)
Casey (8/9)
Lance (8/9)
JoAnne (8/9)
Shari (8/9)
Jonathan (8/9)
Julia (5/10)
Melodye (5/3)
2 Aug meeting notes; 9 Aug reading list
2 AUGUST MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from Francine Stein), Jo (read a reworked chapter from Moonspell), JoAnne, Jonathan, Lance (read the penultimate chapter from Identity), Maddie, Shari and Stace.
9 AUGUST READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
JoAnne (8/2)
Marianna (7/19)
Burt (8/2)
Glenda (7/26)
Rosie (7/19)
Stace (8/2)
Shari (8/2)
Jonathan (8/2)
Maddie (8/2)
Jo (8/2)
Casey (8/2)
Lance (8/2)
Julia (5/10)
Melodye (5/3)
26 July meeting notes; 2 Aug reading list
26 JULY MEETING NOTES
Seven people attended and six brought readings (a new record!): Casey, Glenda, Jonathan (read a revised chapter from Bummin’ It), Lance, Maddie (read a treatment for a new book, Numbers Don’t Lie), Shari (read two chapters of Lost in Dance) and Stace (read a treatment for False Queen).
News & Notes
Maddie mentioned the Writer’s Digest Conference West, coming up in October. Look for the event post.
2 AUGUST READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
JoAnne (7/19)
Jo (7/19)
Marianna (7/19)
Burt (7/19)
Glenda (7/26)
Rosie (7/19)
Casey (7/26)
Lance (7/26)
Stace (7/26)
Shari (7/26)
Jonathan (7/26)
Maddie (7/26)
Julia (5/10)
Melodye (5/3)
19 July meeting notes; 26 July reading list
19 JULY MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey, Jo, JoAnne, Lance (read two half-chapters from Identity), Maddie, Marianna, Rosie and Stace.
News & Notes
Rosie will attend the Romance Writers of America convention in Anaheim next week and will bring back a trip report when she returns.
26 JULY READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
JoAnne (7/19)
Jo (7/19)
Marianna (7/19)
Burt (7/19)
Glenda (7/12)
Stace (7/19)
Shari (7/12)
Jonathan (6/28)
Rosie (7/19)
Maddie (7/19)
Casey (7/19)
Lance (7/19)
Julia (5/10)
Melodye (5/3)
12 July meeting notes; 19 July reading list
12 JULY MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from Francine Stein), Glenda, JoAnne, Lance, Maddie (read a reworked chapter from Hit Me), Rosie (read a chapter from On Thin Ice), Shari and Stace.
19 JULY READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
JoAnne (7/12)
Jo (7/5)
Marianna (7/5)
Burt (7/12)
Glenda (7/12)
Stace (7/12)
Shari (7/12)
Jonathan (6/28)
Lance (7/12)
Rosie (7/12)
Maddie (7/12)
Casey (7/12)
Julia (5/10)
Melodye (5/3)
5 July meeting notes; 12 July reading list
5 JULY MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey, Glenda, Jo, JoAnne, Lance (read half a chapter from Identity), Maddie, Marianna and Stace.
12 JULY READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
JoAnne (7/5)
Jo (7/5)
Marianna (7/5)
Rosie (6/28)
Burt (7/5)
Glenda (7/5)
Stace (7/5)
Maddie (7/5)
Casey (7/5)
Shari (6/28)
Jonathan (6/28)
Lance (7/5)
Julia (5/10)
Melodye (5/3)
28 June meeting notes; 5 July reading list
28 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from Francine Stein), Glenda, Jonathan (read 1.5 chapters from Bummin’ It (or Feeling for the Air)), Lance, Maddie, Rosie, Shari (read two chapters from Lost in Dance) and Stace.
News & Notes
Maddie gave us a trip report concerning the 23 June San Diego Writers workshop “The Comic Toolbox” featuring comedy guru John Vorhaus.
5 JULY READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
JoAnne (6/21)
Jo (6/21)
Marianna (6/7)
Rosie (6/28)
Burt (6/28)
Glenda (6/28)
Stace (6/28)
Maddie (6/28)
Lance (6/28)
Casey (6/28)
Shari (6/28)
Jonathan (6/28)
Julia (5/10)
Melodye (5/3)
21 June meeting notes; 28 June reading list
21 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Eleven people attended: Burt, Glenda, Jo, JoAnne, Jonathan (read a chapter from Bummin’ It), Lance (read two chapters from Identity), Maddie (read a chapter from Hit Me), Rosie, Shari, Stace and potential new member Peggy, a professional editor (!), lyricist and writer of historical fiction.
News & Notes
Glenda told us about the SCWA program on 16 June featuring ghostwriter Claudia Suzanne.
Maddie will be attending the 23 June San Diego Writers workshop “The Comic Toolbox” featuring comedy guru John Vorhaus. She promises to bring back any materials for show-and-tell next week.
Burt was featured in a University of Idaho alumni newsletter for publishing Madness of March. His novel, available through the Kindle Bookshop, has sold ~1500 copies since 12 May. Congratulations, Burt!
Peggy mentioned the 26 June Women Who Write lecture by Carl Reiner somewhere in Los Angeles (the website doesn’t have much detail).
28 JUNE READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
JoAnne (6/21)
Jo (6/21)
Marianna (6/7)
Casey (6/7)
Shari (6/21)
Rosie (6/21)
Burt (6/21)
Glenda (6/21)
Stace (6/21)
Jonathan (6/21)
Maddie (6/21)
Lance (6/21)
Julia (5/10)
Melodye (5/3)
14 June meeting notes; 21 June reading list
14 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Eight people attended: Burt (read a revised second half of “Worry Man”), Glenda (read a revision to her short story “Visitor Obscura”), Jo, JoAnne, Lance, Maddie, Rosie (read a revised partial chapter from On Thin Ice) and Shari.
21 JUNE READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
JoAnne (6/14)
Jo (6/14)
Jonathan (5/31)
Marianna (6/7)
Maddie (6/14)
Casey (6/7)
Shari (6/14)
Lance (6/14)
Rosie (6/14)
Burt (6/14)
Glenda (6/14)
Stace (5/10)
Julia (5/10)
Melodye (5/3)
7 June meeting notes; 14 June reading list
7 JUNE MEETING NOTES
Nine people attended: Burt, Casey (read a chapter from Francine Stein), Glenda, Jo, JoAnne, Lance (read a chapter from Identity), Marianna, Rosie and Shari (read three chapters from Lost in Dance).
News & Notes
Burt’s mystery novel Madness of March is available on Kindle through Amazon. Watch for upcoming promotions through KDP Select. Congratulations, Burt!
14 JUNE READING LIST
Please review this list for accuracy. If you discover any mistakes or omissions, please let us know in advance of the meeting.
JoAnne (6/7)
Jo (6/7)
Rosie (6/7)
Burt (6/7)
Jonathan (5/31)
Glenda (6/7)
Marianna (6/7)
Maddie (5/31)
Casey (6/7)
Shari (6/7)
Lance (6/7)
Stace (5/10)
Julia (5/10)
Melodye (5/3)
Pure Fiction League 