Elmore Leonard 's 10 Rules of Writing

I came across this today and thought anybody who writes, poets or fiction writers, would find something useful in the crime and western writer's rules toward writing (even some things we've covered in our Fiction Writers group, like overuse of adverbs and extra long paragraphs):

http://www.elmoreleonardliteraryartsandfilmfestival.com/10rules.html

Cheryl at the Westland Borders

Local author/instructor Cheryl Vatcher-Martin is having a book signing at the Westland Border's this Sunday , 8/29, starting at 1 p.m. Stop by and say hi to Cheryl, if you get a chance (she will be leading our new Writers Club, so this will be a good opportunity for newcomers to get a feel for her and her style).

I will not be able to make it as I am taking my way to Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids to see a Dale Chihuly (glass artist) exhibit for her birthday (i'm not saying which one). Enjoy your weekend!

Members publishing books

One of our poetry group members, Julie Moffitt, put together a book on blurb.com If you get a chance, check it out- it's gorgeous. It's called Winter Song (click the title to see the book).

I also recently saw that John Smolinski published a book at Jafansta press based on his favorite poetic form, the pantoun. It is called We Fight to Remember.

Great to see so many of our poets publishing their work (not to mention our Fiction Group, with John Capraro publishing many of his Science Fiction stories recently, as well as getting his YA book looked at by St. Martin's Press).

We've got some talented writers here!

August BBQ

We had a small but engaged turn-out for our 2nd annual Writers BBQ (we included the fiction writers even though they tend to be a little long-winded- just kidding, ladies and germs). Pat once more manned the BBQ, spray-bottling and turning the chicken and the corn into a succulent mass of food. Everyone was beyond satisfied and satiated. Andy brought deserts (popsicles and fudge-pops) and the rest of the crew brought poems to read and share. In all, Cheryl and her husband, Gerry, Julie and her husband, Diana and a friend, Jesse (our fiction group representative), Pat, and myself were in attendance.

After sharing poems, I discussed the new writing groups for the fall (replacing our Fiction and Poetry Groups) with more/less critique oriented groups:

Writer's Club (a more casual, come when you can, bring what you have group led by Cheryl)

Writer's Workshop (more comprehensive critiques for improving your writing led by Andy)

Check the library or email me for updated schedules and times for each of the groups.