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News & Happenings
Blowing in the wind!
by Marcia Gaye
January '12 Speaker Panel
Saturday Writers’ January meeting was a whirlwind of information and opportunities.
Lots of things are blowing in fast, so be prepared. Submit your idea for a logo. Read your works-in-progress an hour before February’s meeting, check out the guidelines. Enter monthly contests for cash and publication. Remember, the contest topics are not literal, nor genre specific, but more like prompts, so let your imagination go wild! Just tie the theme in and keep to submission guidelines.
Consider lending a hand for the annual children’s contest. SW sponsors it with the goal of encouraging students to enjoy writing, and it is very popular. Offer your assistance to Debbie Hedges.
A huge round of thanks to the January speakers’ panel. We were treated to tons of expertise, tips and advice by some of our own successful mentors. It is very inspiring to know how Saturday Writers has proved to be a valuable resource over the years. With members like these, it will continue to be so. Each of us can realize our aspirations by applying what we learn right here.
Lots of things are blowing in fast, so be prepared. Submit your idea for a logo. Read your works-in-progress an hour before February’s meeting, check out the guidelines. Enter monthly contests for cash and publication. Remember, the contest topics are not literal, nor genre specific, but more like prompts, so let your imagination go wild! Just tie the theme in and keep to submission guidelines.
Consider lending a hand for the annual children’s contest. SW sponsors it with the goal of encouraging students to enjoy writing, and it is very popular. Offer your assistance to Debbie Hedges.
A huge round of thanks to the January speakers’ panel. We were treated to tons of expertise, tips and advice by some of our own successful mentors. It is very inspiring to know how Saturday Writers has proved to be a valuable resource over the years. With members like these, it will continue to be so. Each of us can realize our aspirations by applying what we learn right here.
The Basket Wars are on!
Our theme for the auction to be held for Missouri Writers’ Guild Conference is “Around the World in 80 Days.” Please consider a donation of travel type items, or a monetary donation which can be pooled to purchase such items. Think travel magazines or subscriptions, photo books of popular locales, exotic postcards, stationary & stamps, journals, a calendar, fancy pens, photo album, a neck pillow, face mask, mints. Imported edibles can be accepted if in original wrapping and non-perishable. We hold the trophy for raising the most money last year, and want to keep it! Ask Becky Povich for more ideas and bring items in by the March 24th meeting.
Member Kudos!
Your successes inspire all of us! Click here to share them with us!
SW Member Stephen Thompson, Ph.D. will be participating in a booksigning on March 3 from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Calisa Home Decor, 3354 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Saint Peters, MO 63376. Stephen will be signing copies of his book Coma Story along with two other local authors, Chef Carl McConnell - Owner of Stone Soup Cottage, Cottleville (author of Stone Soup Cottage: A Vignette of Seasonal Recipes) and Sheryl Kay Guffey (Spellmann) - Owner of Cottleville Crafts Etc (author of Cottleville: Where History Never Grows Old). For more information please contact Marie Roark, 636-970-0069 marie@calisahomedecor.com
W.E. (Bill) Mueller won 2nd place in Writers' Digest's short story contest, Crime category. "Howell Island" was one of 1700 entries. The names of all winners will be in the April/May issue.
Donna Volkenannt placed 3rd in the Dorothy Mueller contest at MWG, Fiction category. She also wrote an essay on writing tips which is online at Walrus publishing.
SW Member Stephen Thompson, Ph.D. will be participating in a booksigning on March 3 from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Calisa Home Decor, 3354 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Saint Peters, MO 63376. Stephen will be signing copies of his book Coma Story along with two other local authors, Chef Carl McConnell - Owner of Stone Soup Cottage, Cottleville (author of Stone Soup Cottage: A Vignette of Seasonal Recipes) and Sheryl Kay Guffey (Spellmann) - Owner of Cottleville Crafts Etc (author of Cottleville: Where History Never Grows Old). For more information please contact Marie Roark, 636-970-0069 marie@calisahomedecor.com
W.E. (Bill) Mueller won 2nd place in Writers' Digest's short story contest, Crime category. "Howell Island" was one of 1700 entries. The names of all winners will be in the April/May issue.
Donna Volkenannt placed 3rd in the Dorothy Mueller contest at MWG, Fiction category. She also wrote an essay on writing tips which is online at Walrus publishing.
Missouri Writers' Guild Official Conference Blog
Sarah Whitney, MWG Conf. Blogger
Write Time! Write Place! Write Now!
Take a new look at the MWG conference Blog for some really great giveaways and the latest updates. There are still discounted rooms available but the great thing about this year’s venue is that most of you are close enough to drive home overnight, saving the cost of a room if you prefer.
Take a new look at the MWG conference Blog for some really great giveaways and the latest updates. There are still discounted rooms available but the great thing about this year’s venue is that most of you are close enough to drive home overnight, saving the cost of a room if you prefer.
Missouri Writers Guild
Write Time! Write Place! Write Now! Conference
April 20-22, 2012
Doubletree Hotel and Conference
Center of St. Louis
16625 Swingley Ridge RoadChesterfield, Missouri 63017
Tel: 636-532-5000
Click here for more information
Write Time! Write Place! Write Now! Conference
April 20-22, 2012
Doubletree Hotel and Conference
Center of St. Louis
16625 Swingley Ridge RoadChesterfield, Missouri 63017
Tel: 636-532-5000
Click here for more information
Tips & Tricks
By Marcia Gaye
I before Me, except when we’re We …
Or as in Us or They – Too many rules to obey!
Yes, some rules of writing the English language can get so convoluted they don’t even seem correct. One of the most commonly mis-used is I vs Me. Should Sally squeal “Harry and me got married” or “Harry and I got married”?
We hear it said both ways. But no matter how happy Sally is, that is no excuse for bad grammar.
Flip it to either, “Me and Harry got married” or “I and Harry got married,” and there is still a problem.
But there is also a very simple way to decide which is proper. Just get rid of Harry. End of problem.
No, the marriage does not have to be called off because the bride can’t express herself. She just needs to remain single long enough to re-phrase.
Without Harry in the mix, it is easy to decide that “I got married” sounds better than “Me got married.” So instead of putting pressure on hapless Harry, just excuse him for a minute.
By making any plural into singular the confusion is instantly gone.
If Diane wants to come with you to next Saturday Writers meeting, don’t tell her she is not invited because you don’t know how to tell your co-writers she is coming. Think it through. Without her you would say, “I am coming,” not “Me is coming.” So bring her, and say, “Diane and I are coming.”
Now, Diane herself would say, “Sheila is bringing me and Arthur,” not “Sheila is bringing Arthur and I.” And they are both welcome.
I before Me, except when we’re We …
Or as in Us or They – Too many rules to obey!
Yes, some rules of writing the English language can get so convoluted they don’t even seem correct. One of the most commonly mis-used is I vs Me. Should Sally squeal “Harry and me got married” or “Harry and I got married”?
We hear it said both ways. But no matter how happy Sally is, that is no excuse for bad grammar.
Flip it to either, “Me and Harry got married” or “I and Harry got married,” and there is still a problem.
But there is also a very simple way to decide which is proper. Just get rid of Harry. End of problem.
No, the marriage does not have to be called off because the bride can’t express herself. She just needs to remain single long enough to re-phrase.
Without Harry in the mix, it is easy to decide that “I got married” sounds better than “Me got married.” So instead of putting pressure on hapless Harry, just excuse him for a minute.
By making any plural into singular the confusion is instantly gone.
If Diane wants to come with you to next Saturday Writers meeting, don’t tell her she is not invited because you don’t know how to tell your co-writers she is coming. Think it through. Without her you would say, “I am coming,” not “Me is coming.” So bring her, and say, “Diane and I are coming.”
Now, Diane herself would say, “Sheila is bringing me and Arthur,” not “Sheila is bringing Arthur and I.” And they are both welcome.