President's message August 2024

Arizona Professional WritersTyperider NewsletterAugust 2024

Have you taken to writing in the cooler hours of this neon-hot Arizona summer? I have! And I still seem to get more done pushed against a deadline.

The 9th Annual Payson Book Festival was a success although a bit quieter than in 2023. Rim Country Chapter President Connie Cockrell and her team put hundreds of hours into making the event worthwhile for authors and the public. Cue applause!

Next up: (Click here for pdf of flyer - White Mountain Book Festival 8-3-24

SURVEY RESULTS

To the 19 out of 75 members who responded to the survey, my humble THANKS!

I hope this information will assist our chapter presidents when they seek someone to speak at chapter meetings.

If have yet to respond, kindly look for it in your July 17email.

This email and the survey are accomplished via MailChimp, the email services company I have used for more than a decade. I assure you Mail Chimp is a safe company.

Retreats and Online Workshops

“I think of a “writing retreat” as 2-7 days of mostly undistracted writing time at a lovely location that includes a few short writing classes, and optional interaction at other times. I think of a “writing workshop” as an interactive event with classes, writing prompts, panels, etc. These might not be your definitions, but please keep them in mind as you answer the next few questions.

“Are you interested in an overnight writing retreat in 2026?”

12 yes*, 8 no * Note that 14 people answered the next question!

“How many nights for a retreat?”

One Night = 4

Two nights = 8

Three nights = 2

Four nights =1

“Retreat days or weekends?”

Arrive Friday & Leave Sunday = 6

During the week = 9

“Is one season better than another?”

Summer = 1

Fall = 6

Winter = 5

Spring = 2

“Suggest a location:”

"At a resort in the valley."

"anywhere close by."

“Sedona”

One kind member offered her cabin. Sleeps 6.

"The White Mountains' chapter is working towards one next year. But I think 2, one in the early spring and one in the early fall. Covering week day thru a saturday or sunday. We have several retreat centers in Show Low area that would accommodate a lot or a few. "

"I have responsibility for my aged mother, plus, my husband and I are raising a grandchild who is just now starting kindergarten. Unfortunately, that leaves me unable to go on retreats."

"Northern half of Arizona"

"Bisbee or Prescott"

"We tried one in Tucson - perhaps a more central location or White Mtns in the summer might be appealing."

"My husband has Parkinson's and I have medical issues that overnight stays would not be possible. I'd LOVE it if the workshops included ZOOM participants."

“Percent of retreat time writing alone versus instruction? (For instance, 60/40.)”

75/25

50/50 x 4

40/60

70/30 x2

30/70

60/40

"Hmmm, 60/40 or even 50/50"

"50/50 some instruction optional"

"My instruction time is mostly over since I have been writing novels for more than ten years. I "ate up" information via seminars, classes, and instruction books for several years in the beginning. Though I am constantly learning and will never stop, my writing world now is very solo as I read, research, and write in my home office. Sometimes, I do interviews, which I kind of love. I write for Medium, for my blogs, for my online grammar series, and for my bi-monthly newsletter. So... it's 90/10 alone vs. anything else."

"Heavy on the alone. Too many writers I've met recently have little time to write. Maybe have some optional group discussion, or a scheduled time for it but not mandatory. Nothing but letting the cook know if you are going to eat is mandatory."

“Suggest up to 2 topics and speakers.”

"motivation"

"Plot development and character development "

"World Building - Kevin Hearne"

"Exercise(s) to get creative juices flowing. "

"determination and commitment to a writing schedule every day."

"Marketing Ideas Publisher or Self Publish..."

"I'd rather have a panel, or someone who can really speak to structure and plot holes... And conflicts that are not addressed. How to at least bring something of a closure... like happy for now ending rather than a happy ever after."

"Writing 1st person, Best form of advertising/marketing on your own"

"presentation skills- working the audience."

"Memoirs - Carol Baxter

Using social media to market/build brand ??"

"Getting writing groove back. "

"Carol Baxter on Writing Memoirs.

Connie Cockrell on format to get your book ready to publish"

Charlie Seraphin said: "Decision-making. (me :)"

“Online workshop - Weekday or Saturday?”

Weekday (incl. Friday) 15

Saturday 5

“Suggested online workshop themes (no more than 3, please & thank you!):”

"Self-editing (re-writes, when and how often) Finding the right professional editor."

"Boosting each other’s projects as it would be great to review each member’s latest work."

"If I can think of it, I've probably taken it. Wish I could come up with something new. The truth is, I have several saved in my files to take when I have time, but I have yet to find time."

"Life Stories Writing with Humor"

"Firm up your structure Fill that plot hole

"Writing dialogue Entering contests Historical writing"

"What are you writing now? What have you learned that you didn't know before? "

"I'm in a stress funk right now. But would appreciate interacting with others in the group. "

"How to use AI to help in your writing, Finding on-line stores for book sales internationally, Using Canva to help you market."

"Plotting, Growing a newsletter"

"Do we need an agent? Self-publishing/niche publishing--the how to and why."

"Some details of middle-school kids lit."

"Creating graphics like you did for the Festival Social media- making an impact without spending too much time. Ones on various software that writers find useful - find a user to give it"

Skills to Learn and Share

“Think about your current writing project and what motivates your writing goals ... Is there a skill you want to learn?”

"Retrieving information from a foggy old brain."

"Promoting my books.”

"Yes! Perseverance! Writing every day without fail."

"I've been at this quite a while. It's just part of my life."

"I want to learn more about marketing tools. It's one thing to publish a book...then what? What services are needed to write a book? Developmental editing, book packaging, and marketing are just a few. Listing the average cost would be helpful as well."

"I'm writing memoir and struggling with theme. I have several themes I'm trying to braid: losing and finding love; reopening to love and life through travel, and regaining spirituality through the process. I'd be interested to hear how others may have dealt with seemingly disparate story lines. "

"How to write my novels with screenplay in mind. "

"I would love workshops on sooooo many areas. I'd love you to give one on memoirs. I would also love a workshop on putting my book in the format that is ready to publish to publish. I'd love to have a chance to read some of my stories from the book and get ideas.

"I want to always improve."

"Writing dialogue Entering writing contests"

"Opportunities for self-publishing authors."

"I would like to be writing but have nothing to write about. I am no longer RVing so it doesn't feel like I have anything important to share."

"Marketing better, probably to specific markets"

"to stop the 'wordy' and tell either before or after the show."

"Any skill that keeps me focused and not distracted."

"How to finish"

"I’m a novice so I need to learn more than to share!"

"I've been a writer since 1967, and have kept up with my skills—so no."

"I am very self-motivated to finish projects. As I work on my eighth novel, I find that my motivation to finish it and tie together all the plot points grows stronger with every chapter I write. This is my fifth historical fiction book (three of my novels are YA contemporary), and, naturally, the research required to write in my favorite period (mid-twentieth century) has a lot to do with WWII and the effect it had on people and places worldwide. Historical writing vacillates between being three-quarters research and one-quarter storytelling, and then, it switches to the opposite. In other words, sometimes, the author is mostly fleshing out her story and her fictional people. Other times, she must research extensively to merely add one fact, one sentence, or one paragraph. After heavy research for any fact or facts, I get excited to put my characters into "the what, where, or how" of what I have just learned. It is truly a process requiring the utmost patience and motivation. "

“Is there a skill you want to share with APW members?”

"How I have created all my 9 books when I can’t sleep." Jody Sharpe

"I am a retired high school Drama teacher. I have taken many playwriting courses." Sandy Carver

"If anyone is interested, I could teach people how to properly conduct an interview. " Charlie Seraphin

"I'm always up for communicating and sharing. I have trouble putting a finger on my particular skills." Brenda Whiteside

"The significance of providing a thorough review after finishing a book is crucial." Bobbie Bennett

"I've learned a lot the past decade in the process of writing my novels and building my brand. I'm active on several social media platforms, coordinate a monthly newsletter, and write scripts for short videos on YouTube using my avatar to explain grammar and punctuation for everyday writing. So far, I have four videos posted on commas and, most recently, one of three pertaining to common sense about using ellipses was posted. Anything I have learned, I am always willing to share, mostly in writing, or in short interviews." Jodi Stewart

"I have done a program on writing history for the group. Not feeling up to doing another program now. " (unknown)

"I am a medical intuitive and would enjoy talking about healing in a holistic language. "

"I've always like Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones writing exercises. I'd be willing to lead a session doing them as part of larger event. (Pop-up - saying yes if I had something I was working on!)" Jaimie Bruzenak

"Just this: read your own manuscript out loud several times--to yourself or others. You will find flaws that spell-check and quiet reading don't catch. Then you can improve your project." Nancy Marshall

"I've already made a presentation on trends in the publishing industry. I could share what i learned from my Kickstarter campaign for best selling book, The Guatemala Reader." (unknown)

"Newsletters. Grants. Art." Carol Baxter

“No.” Marion Gold

“Are you interested in a pop-up Zoom to discuss your writing project(s) with other APW members? (“Pop-up” because I’d probably host it at different days/times each month starting in September.)”

14 yes, 3 no

APW STATS

Membership:

27.6% Rim Country

48.7% Valley

5.2% White Mountains

9.2% Tucson

9.2% other

The professions of our members:

4 Non-fic writers

3 Marketing

6 Children's story writers

11 Freelancers

9 Editors

6 Journalists

5 Public Speakers

1 Poet

1 Coach

2 Digital

7 Published authors (mostly self) - I bet this number is higher than the membership roster indicates.