Calendar of Events

Scheduled Guest Speakers

• Lebanon Area Writers welcomes award winning Children’s book author, Sally Derby to its meeting on Wednesday, June 4. Derby will discuss how to complete a picture book from start to finish. Derby, the author of 7 picture books will add to her award winning selection with the publication of No Mush Today due in stores in 2008. Other titles include A Mouse who Owned the Sun, Taiko on a Windy Night, and Hannah’s Bookmobile Christmas. Sally Derby resides in Cincinnati with her husband, Karl Miller. Together they share 6 grown children, 15 grandchildren and have been foster parents to 6 children.

• May 21, we have a Mini Writing Workshop planned with Miami University's Creative Writing Professor, Dr. Eric Melbye.

• Our guest speaker April 16 will be Linore Rose Burkard, author of Before the Season Ends, with a presentation on "Marketing Yourself and Your Book" giving tips for writers or online business owners.
  
  
• The Lebanon Area Writers will host guest speaker, Susan DeBow, April 2 at the Countryside YMCA. DeBow, author of Cleaning Closets and a chapbook Strip-Searched, will discuss her journey to becoming a published writer.
  
  DeBow’s work has appeared in Family Circle, The Christian Science Monitor, the Chicago Tribune, The Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine, The Baltimore Sun, The Cincinnati Post and The Western Star. She has a degree in Communications from Ohio University and resides in Maineville.
  
  The Lebanon Area Writers meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 9-11 a.m. at the Countryside YMCA in Lebanon. Attendance is free and open to anyone who enjoys writing.
  
  
• The Lebanon Area Writers welcome Julie Florence to their March 19, 2008 meeting. Julie is the co-author of the cookbook Apple Betty & Sloppy Joe. She will share her experience (and hopefully some recipes) about writing and publishing her family cookbook.
  
  From Lemon Meringue Pie to Tomato Soup Cake, Julie Florence and her three sisters show not only recipes but anecdotes, memories and period photos from her Mom and Grandma’s kitchen, circa 1950.
  
  Julie’s work has also appeared in Literature Art Projects. She is a resident of Lebanon and has a degree in English from Lawrence University. Julie currently serves at the Director of the Lebanon Public Library.
  
  The Lebanon Area Writers meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month from 9am-11am at the Countryside YMCA, Lebanon. Anyone with a love of writing is encouraged to attend.
  

Inclement Weather Policy for Meetings

We have decided to follow the Lebanon Schools' determination on when to call for a cancellation. In other words, if there's school, we'll meet; if not, we won't meet. If there's a delay, then we won't meet, since we only have use of the north board room from 9-11.

Please check out the school website tomorrow morning: http://www.lebanon.k12.oh.us/
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New Meeting Place!

We now meet at the Lebanon Y in the North Board Room.

Directions: Click HERE.

Enter the Y from the large parking lot on the right, adjacent to the canopy. The North Board Room is on your left just as you enter. Bring your own coffee, tea, etc., or you may purchase a drink at the Full Cup Cafe, located in the front of the Y by the competition swimming pool. We will have other refreshments for you. If you decide to purchase a drink there, please arrive early enough to do that and still get to the meeting promptly at 9.

Our commitees:

Events -- Lindy Taylor
Refreshments -- Cindy Schaefer
PR -- Rebecca Case and Heidi Oliver

If you'd like to help out on any of the committees listed (we will be adding more committees as appropriate), please let these people know. In addition, we invite others to moderate our meetings.
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The Art of Critique

Carol Horst prepared an excellent presentation on "The Art of Critique." Click HERE to read. Thanks, Carol!
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Update

Greetings, writers!

The first meeting of every month, we will have writing prompts for those who would like a nudge. Of course, if you are working on something else and want to bring that in for critique, you are free to do that.

The first 15-20 minutes of each meeting will be a pre-assigned writing topic for one of our members to deliver. We are working on a topics and presenters list. Please bring your suggestions to our meetings.
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First Annual L.A.W. Picnic in the Park

Notes for Our Next Meeting

Welcome to our Blog Site if you are a new member! If you are an old member, thank you kindly for checking back with us. This is where our notes for previous and upcoming meetings can be found.

We discussed a few points of business that would be of interest to those of you who missed our last meeting, and they are as follows:

We encourage our members to arrive a few minutes before 9:00 am in order to prepare themselves for the meeting, whether that means getting your coffee or catching up with fellow members before the meeting starts. We will begin to start the meetings promptly at 9:00 am in order to ensure that there is enough time for each writer's piece to be read and critiqued.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the next meeting!

Linda McCoy - Artist

One example of the beautiful artwork by Linda McCoy.

Click HERE to see more!

About L.A.W.

The Lebanon Area Writers group gets together regularly to encourage one another and share information.

• Are you an emerging or established author?
• Would you like to learn more about the writing business and your options for getting published?
• How about getting constructive criticism and helpful suggestions from other writers, some of whom are already published?

MEETINGS:

Every first and third Wednesday at 9:00 AM
Lebanon YMCA

Have you carried an inclination to write, but have no real idea or clues and are, perhaps, a little anxious about how to begin?

If you answered “Yes,” to any of these questions, the Lebanon Area Writers group may be just right for you.

MORE INFORMATION: Call Mary Busha (513) 228-1205 or Carol Horst (513) 932-3636

PURPOSE
We come together to encourage, educate, critique and support each other with respect and consideration with the goal of advancing our individual abilities toward becoming good writers and published authors.

BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION
There are many reasons to associate with people with similar interests and pursuits. Lebanon Area Writers’ experience says there will be opportunity for...

- Peer Accountability - Holding one another to reasonable expectations
- Regular Encouragement - Affirmation, exhortation, inspiration and support
- New Perspectives - Personal growth through unanticipated points of view
- Information and education - Expanding your awareness
- Instructors and Speakers - Presentations about writing and publishing

MEETING FORMATS

9:00 - 9:30 Gathering and Updates
9:30 - 11:00 Critique Groups

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Critiquing Guidelines

Presenting is voluntary, not mandatory, for participation in this writers’ group. Writers offer up to two pages (no more) of double-spaced copy for constructive criticism with the option of reading their work aloud to their small group. Writers shall always expect from their group these standards for effectiveness.

1. Reasonable Expectations. The purpose of a critique session is to offer a positive opinion, a different point of view or a helpful suggestion for the writer.

2. Consistent Goal. The goal of critiquing is to encourage each other to keep writing, keep trying, and/or to possibly attempt something new and different.

3. Nothing Personal. Constructive criticism should never focus on the individual writer, but give inspiration for their work.

4. More to Learn. Every writer and every person who critiques has permission to be imperfect, as an individual work in progress.

5. Tact and Sensitivity. Comments from your critique group will be gentle, but honest; never harsh or personal.

6. Written Words. After reading your two pages of copy (and reading them out loud - your choice), group members will write their constructive criticisms on a standard critique form and return them to you for your edification.

7. Friendly Listeners. An oral reading to a group may be a high-risk venture for the writer. If you make that decision, you can be assured that you are always among friends.

8. Receiving Criticism. Generally, writers should not defend or respond with explanations about their presentations from critique group members. However, it may be appropriate to answer a few direct questions from the group.

9. After the critique: Unless you have a special working relationship with other members or have made arrangements in advance, please do not send out items for group members to critique and/or edit between meetings.

Good Press for Topsy Turvy Land

Topsy Turvy Land is mentioned in World Magazine. It's an issue highlighting children's books. I'm very flattered to be included!

Here's a link (the cover is in left sidebar):
http://www.worldmag.com/articles/12466

Since I don't have a subscription, all I've seen is what's on the website, but even that's exciting! I'm on the same page as Dr. Seuss and Charlotte's Web. What a thrill!

Fun Find!

I went to the Mall and picked up the latest book I contributed to called Anytime Prayers for Everyday Moms. My devotional prayers are the first 30 in the book.

It turned out really nice - a hardback with a cute cover of a mom with a little boy. Here's the Barnes & Noble link: Click HERE.

I think the cover will be appealing to moms, don't you?

Product Details:
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Faith Words (November 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN: 0446579351

Cecil Murphey Scholarship

At Mary's urging, I'm sharing my good news. I'm honored to be a recipient of a full scholarship courtesy of Cecil Murphey (90 Minutes in Heaven) to the Mount Hermon Writing Conference. I will be headed to the Spring Christian Writers Conference in California next March 30-April 3, 2007.

My conference fees, housing, and meals are all covered. I'm so excited! Who would have thought I'd be awarded a sholarship at my age?

Donna