Look Where We’re Showing Up: The Kentucky Literary Magazine

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Su Zanne

The Owensboro Writers Group is now listed in the Kentucky Literary Magazine published by Charlie G. Hughes at http://windpub.com/current.htm.  Mr. Hughes publishes a comprehensive list of new books from Kentucky authors, book signings, book groups, bookstores, writer’s blogs, writer’s retreats and all manner of items of interest to writers.  His stated mission is to promote the literary arts in Kentucky.  If you want to receive his Kentucky Literary Newsletter, you can sign up at http://windpub.com/kylit.htm.

 

We’ve already had area writers call for more information about Owensboro Writers Group, and showing up at our meetings since our first appearance on his website and in the newsletter.

 

If you found us through the Kentucky Literary Magazine, post a comment and tell us where you’re from.  You're welcome to join us.

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January Monthly Meeting

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Theresa Jewel

First, let me say, "Welcome" to our three new members — Kristine, Patricia, and Emily. Thank you for joining Shannon, Annabel Bea, Rebecca, and myself at the January 21st meeting!

We had a terrific meeting. We discussed our Writing Goals, holding each other accountable, and what we hope to do in the upcoming year. One of the other ladies asked if I used a "List-Serve" for email (sorry, I don't remember which one). I believe I answered something like "No, and I wouldn't know how." But, I later realized that when I first started this group, I put it on Yahoo Groups! And, it's still there.

Therefore, I hereby request that each member go to…

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OwensboroWriters/ 

…and join my original "list-serve" for your future email from this group. Here, we'll be able to upload writing to be critiqued to the "Files" folder and they will be private! Please post a message to let everyone know that there is a new file to read and/or critique.

In addition to "Files", it has an area for "Links" and even "Photos" (should you want to send any). The message board provides a way for us to send everyone questions or comments without having to copy all of the email addresses for our members. I don't know why I didn't think of this when our Google Group basically died, but I hope you will all forgive me.

For whomever suggested "Drop Box", I looked at it. I didn't like the fact that everyone who wanted to use it would have to download the program. With Yahoo, you just upload to "Files" and tell us about it and you're done.

I'm going to end this with your assignment for next month, but that will also be posted on our Yahoo Group page.

Assignment

Write or re-write something (any form or genre) between 500 (well, poems can be any length) and 3,000 words! It doesn't even have to be a complete story, but be sure to explain whether it is the beginning, middle or end so we'll know to expect more later.

Upload your piece to "Files" OR email it to everyone.  Try to have this done by Feb. 11th. Also, bring one copy to the February 18th meeting. If not finished by the 11th, bring 3 or more copies of your assignment to the meeting.

Bye for now,
Theresa Jewel Pinkston

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Owensboro Writers Group 2011 Milestones: Every Word Counts

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Su Zanne

Owensboro Writers Group members racked up some impressive milestones in 2011.  We’re thrilled to share the good news here.  Congratulations to these writers, and to all our writers, because every word counts.

 

Theresa Jewel Ammons

 

NONFICTION:

“Newburgh Area Petsitters”
Jan. 23, 2011
Evansville Pets Examiner
Published by Examiner.com

 

“Wilma Mankiller”

Submitted to Native Peoples Magazine

[Theresa says she recently received a no-thank-you on this article, but an invitation to submit other proposals.]

 

“Finding Meaning”
1,621 words from about three months of research
Presented on July 31,2011 to Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Owensboro, KY

 

“Finding Your Roots: Part One”
Nov. 3, 2011
Evansville Genealogy Examiner
Published by Examiner.com

http://www.examiner.com/genealogy-in-evansville/finding-your-roots-part-one


“Finding Your Roots: Part Two”
Nov. 16, 2011
Evansville Genealogy Examiner

Published by Examiner.com

http://www.examiner.com/genealogy-in-evansville/finding-your-roots-part-two

 

FICTION:

“We Need To Talk”
Submitted on April 25, 2011
The First Line Literary Journal

Council of Weres – Book One

Chapters 1 – 3  -  First draft of chapters sent to first readers

 

 

Annabel Bea

 

 Addiction Counseling – manual used in teaching correspondence college courses for Harvest Land Ministries in Africa

 

Counseling the Elderly – first draft of manual used in teaching correspondence college courses for Harvest Land Ministries in Africa

 

“The Chicken Plant” – finished short story

 

Finished first draft of memoirs of her missionary experiences.

 

 

Deb Blanton (writing as Ann Blanton)

 

Winner of the Long Ridge Writers Group submission contest with 120 nonfiction submissions and 3 fiction submissions from September 2010 – September 2011.  [Way to go, Deb!!!  You are an inspiration to a lot of people.]

 

       “Leap of Faith” – http://fitplusmag.com/magazine/fit-for-life/leap-of-faith

 

       “A Champion at 40” – http://fitplusmag.com/magazine/success/a-champion-at-40

 

       “Go Nuts for Pecans” – http://fitplusmag.com/magazine/feature-articles/go-nuts-for-pecans

 

       “Mastering Metabolism” – http://fitplusmag.com/magazine/health-report/mastering-metabolism

 

       “Stop Making Excuses” – http://fitplusmag.com/magazine/feature-articles/stop-making-excuses

      

       One article pending publication

       All published in Fitness Plus Magazine: Arizona’s Largest Active Lifestyle Magazine

 

 

Clayton Galloway

 

Shatters

Chapters 1 – 11  -  First draft of chapters sent to first reader and reworked .

Plus “a couple of new chapters written.”

 

“Sharecropper’s Daughter”

Published in Open 24 Hours annual anthology – 2011 edition

Brescia University, Owensboro, KY

 

 

Suzanne Gochenouer AKA Su Zanne

 

Critiqued and edited two complete first drafts for client.

Critiqued and edited three partial first drafts for clients.

Critiqued and edited close to thirty articles for clients.

 

Book Review – Big Bottom Church by Bill Patterson

Published in Writing Craft - Long Ridge Writers Group eNewsletter – 07/15/11

 

“Spring Tonic”

Runner-up – Stella Cameron Scarlet Boa 2011 Contest – all-dialogue scene

http://www.stellacameron.com/scarletboa11/scene1.html

 

“Forward Gratitude”

“The Gift of Hours”

Both published in The Gratitude Book Project: Celebrating 365 days of Gratitude, 2012 Edition

 

 

Shannon McKeever

 

Shannon reports that she wrote “a bit” over 30,000 words in her National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) manuscript.

 

 

Katie Tillwick

 

Dr. Carver: Healer of the Dead

Completed manuscript and submitted query to agent.

 

“Welder’s Rebellion”

Published in Aoife’s Kiss – September 2011 edition

 

 

Mary Zimmer

 

            POETRY:  

          “From New Castle”

          “Today’s Ozymandias”

          To be published Spring of 2012 by The Single Hound Literary Journal

 

          “Everyday Eschatology”

          “Suburban Dominion”

          “Clean Air Act”

          To be published Spring of 2012 by The Heartland Review

 

          “Invisible”

          To be published Spring of 2012 in No Longer Silent (a compilation of women’s writing on abuse)

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December Monthly Meeting

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Theresa Jewel

This is being posted late because of my computer crash after which I couldn’t find Theresa’s email.  Su Zanne

 

Hello, everybody. Here are notes from the December meeting and below that is our January assignment:


December Meeting

Suzanne, Mary Zimmer, Annabel, Bill Patterson and I (Theresa Jewel) met on Dec. 17, 2011 at the Daviess County Public Library. Suzanne and I talked about the Christmas stories she's publishing on our website before anyone else came in.

The whole group discussed Suzanne's contributions to a new book called The Gratitude Book Project: Celebrating 365 Days of Gratitude, 2012 Edition and one of Mary Zimmer's publications, Sister Images. Annabel announced that she has finished her short story that was assigned back in June, but hasn't submitted it yet. Bill Patterson came in late, but he had good news, too. He will have at least three short pieces in an upcoming Henderson County publication.

Writing wasn't the only thing we discussed, however. Suzanne brought a cake to celebrate the holiday season. Everyone had a piece except me. I discovered it had pecans in it and can't eat any nut except the very soft walnut. When I explained, we started talking about allergies and allergens. Luckily, I had brought some Pretzel M&M's and enjoyed them instead.

Near the end of the meeting, we talked about writing again and set up our assignment for next month, January 2012.

January Assignment

2012 Writing Goals:  Make a reasonable list of writing goals you hope to reach in 2012!


Suzanne suggested splitting them into First Half and Second Half (or Jan-June & July-Dec). Most of us agree that each writer should come up with your own minimum number of submissions. After all, you must submit your writing if you hope to ever be published!

Start making your list as soon as possible, if you haven't already done so. After all, you probably want to start working on fulfilling the goals on January 1st. Just be sure to bring a copy of the list to our next meeting on January 21, 2012.

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Writers Setting Goals = Writers Selling Words

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Su Zanne

It’s time for the first Owensboro Writers Group meeting of 2012.  Come on over to the Daviess County Public Library on Saturday, January 21 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.  We’ll save you a seat in the second floor meeting room.

 

And you know what the January meeting means – time to get serious about your writing goals for the coming year.  (I heard those groans!)  Let’s make this process easier.

 

Start with something small, something you know for sure you can accomplish.  Maybe that’s a daily or even a weekly goal.

 

Once you’ve moved that far out of your comfort zone, tiptoe a little closer to the edge and figure out something you can do on a monthly basis.

 

Whoohoo!  You’re hanging over the edge, feeling the wind in your hair, and guess what!  You arrived there in such small steps that you didn’t even think about fearing what you are about to face.

 

So go for it.  Go big.  Make a six-month goal.  Really think about this one.  What can you write, learn, accomplish in a six-month period?  Take a hard look at your weekly and monthly goals.  How do those goals work together to build a first draft, a series of articles, a chapbook of very personal poetry?

 

Okay, deep breath. And one, two, three – go for the one-year goal.  What will you have accomplished in one year’s time when you fold all your weekly and monthly accomplishments together?

 

There, that wasn’t so scary was it?  It’s one day at a time, until it’s one week at a time.  All those weeks will blend together into months of work, and suddenly you’ve reached that one-year goal that was shining so far in the distance in January of 2012.  In December, you’ll be taking your bow for that new manuscript, that series of articles sold, that writer you’ve become.  And we’ll be the ones applauding.

 

Bring your 2012 Writing Goals with you to the meeting and share with the group.

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In The Spirit of Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Su Zanne

 

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Christmas Gift # 6: JINGLE Three

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Su Zanne

 

Just at the edge of town, someone set up an old shed.

 

Inside, cows and donkeys placidly grazed on the grass overflowing the wooden grain crib.

 

No one knew, or would admit, who placed the star-light garland on the fences leading to and from the scene.

 

Gaily wrapped trees appeared within a few days, with no one the wiser to the identity of the person who wrapped each trunk with wide red ribbons finished with huge bows.

 

Later, in the dead of one snowy night, came the shepherds and angels – townspeople taking their turn to stand in the cold and complete the holy scene.

 

Even years later no one knew who set that lonely open shed along the side of the road, nor who added to it day by day, until Christmas was born in the hearts of all who passed by.

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Christmas Gift # 5: JINGLE Two

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Su Zanne

 

Just one hoof catching on a chimney top was all it took to bring the sleigh spiraling earthward.

 

Intense shouting and rein-pulling by the driver was the only thing that prevented a ground-shaking crash.

 

Now the problem was getting the damaged sleigh airborne from inside the narrow, dead-end alley where it rested.

 

Galloping straight at the wall, Rudolph’s nose scraped the bricks as, with a stupendous effort, he and his teammates hurled themselves skyward.

 

Luckily, there was no overhang on the roof of the tenement.

 

Elves were already sniggering over his red nose, it was a good thing he hadn’t bent his antlers as well.

 

 

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Christmas Gift # 4: Coming Back

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Mary Zimmer

Coming Back

 

You’re coming back, aren’t You?

One more time.

 

One more time

Angel voices will sing.

Bells will ring out in the land.

 

You’re coming back

while soldiers still work to

defend peace with their bodies.

 

One more time

While the Beast still

Works to obliterate life’s pulse.

 

You’re coming back to us.

Humble infant gazing

Up into our weary eyes.

 

We reach for you,

make our heart’s promise,

one more time

 

To wait, to watch, to listen

for the cry of your new life

and your claim on ours.

 

You’re coming back, aren’t You?

One more time.

 

                                                                        1995

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Christmas Gift # 3: JINGLE One

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Su Zanne

Just about everyone in town showed up for the Christmas parade.

 

Inside an hour, the temperature dropped like a rocket plummeting to earth.

 

No one remembered the weather forecaster calling for a blizzard, but everyone was soon covered with an inch of ‘partly cloudy’.

 

Grandparents and parents bundled the young folk into cars and vans along the route, hushing the whining with promises to stay until the grand finale.

 

Lights from the vehicles shone eerily through the storm, until Santa’s float popped out of the blowing snow like the Ghost of Christmas Next Week.

 

Everyone agreed it was the best parade since Barney down at the gas station lit flares too near his pumps while lining out the parade route for last year’s Fourth of July.

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