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Happy Memorial Day! Although we had a full house on this big holiday weekend, we were mindful of and grateful for the sacrifice made by so many patriotic Americans for the safety and security of our beloved country.

 

Thanks to Guild Treasurer Marj Charlier for a brief but informative explanation of Guild finances. You make it look easy.

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Writing Tips

Thanks to Sandra Schuster-Hubbard, who subbed for Jim Hitt in presenting our Writing Tips segment. This is a brief (5-10 minute) preso about good craft practice. Sandy spoke about how to decide on a book title. She provided this helpful handout to assist that process. Click on the link to download and print, if you didn’t receive one at the meeting.

Creating Book Titles that Sell

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Renee Cassese, a member of the guild but also a board member of the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony invited us to check out–and even consider teaching–workshops at the Colony. For more information, please click here.

Her colleague Don Smith reminded us that Dorland’s Table Manners will have another reading on Saturday, June 16, 2018, from 1 – 3pm. If you’d like more information, either to attend, read, or have your excerpt read aloud, click here to see the flyer.

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Choosing Your Path to Success: Keys to Self-Publication

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Marj’s talk, “Choosing Your Path to Success: Keys to Self-Publication,” covered the myriad decisions indie/self-publishers must deal with. As an author, publisher, and instructor, Marj had the skills to share a vast amount of complex information in a short time. She was so organized and comfortable with the topic that we were riveted. People came up to me afterward and said how great she was.

It was very generous of Marj to prepare and share the following materials, which you can access by clicking on the following links:

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Her entire slide presentation (!)

Publishing Options for Print Books

Comparing Ingram Spark and CreateSpace

Jane Friedman on Editing

List of Editors Available for Hire

Editing Tips from Pocket Advice

Components of Your Author Platform

As always, there was a lot of back-and-forth between Marj and the audience, which is the whole point of our meetings. Afterward, folks hung around, buying books, talking to Marj, and just visiting. We eventually adjourned to Emilio’s restaurant in San Jacinto for lunch.

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Next Month’s Meeting:

Planning and Plotting for Productivity

with Greta Boris and Joe De Ladurantey

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Flying by the seat of your pants is the most inefficient way to write. Authors of both nonfiction and what he likes to call “nonfiction fiction,” Joe De Ladurantey, retired Police Chief, will share:

• How to organize your ideas into chapters
• How to include real situations and people without getting sued.
• When you need to get permission to publish material and how to get it.

Greta Boris, Amazon bestselling author of the first three books in the Seven Deadly Sins, a series of psychological thrillers, will share the Plot Menu. This unique method of planning your story utilizes the 9 Enneagram Personality types and a basic three-act structure to keep your story on track. It’s a great tool for both plotters and pantsers.

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This blog post was prepared by Lynne Spreen, President of the DVWG. Lynne writes midlife fiction, because she believes we learn 

and grow continuously throughout our lives. You may access her website here and her books here.