A note about write-ins…

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Jen Lynn Anderson

Hello, fellow word warriors!

In honor of fostering and supporting spaces for creative people to get their creativity on, and because another National Novel-Writing Month is nearly upon us, I’ve decided to try hosting a regular weekly write-in at Mocha Monkey (downtown Waconia). Regular, as in: every Wednesday for the foreseeable future. As in: WWG Write-In Wednesday! (Don’t you love alliteration? I love alliteration.)

These meet-ups have been added to our Events page, but just a quick rundown on the general idea of a write-in:

  • Bring your WIPs (works-in-progress) to each session
  • Work independently in the company of other writers
  • Utilize each other for advice, feedback, moral support, etc.
  • Casual… come if/when you can, no RSVP required, and stay as long as you want to.

For me, sometimes getting out of the house and into a neutral location helps me minimize distraction, boost productivity, and (especially when other writers are present) keep myself accountable for my work.

National Novel Writing Month is November 1-30, and there will be a flurry of prep activities and materials thrown out into the writerverse over the next several weeks! If you have not participated in a NaNoWriMo before, get more information here. If you want to get going, get started here. Starting in November, the Wednesday write-ins will provide an opportunity for NaNo participants to have a space to focus and boost their word counts.

Next write-in (and first “official” WWG Write-In Wednesday) will be September 5th!

Happy writing,

Jen

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Wednesday Write-In Happening Now!

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Jen Lynn Anderson

Hi there, intrepid writers!

If you’re in the Waconia area tonight, between 7 and 9 p.m., stop on by our local coffee spot, Mocha Monkey, on Olive Street! If you’re needing a change of scenery and want to bring some writing projects to work on, do so!

This is an opportunity (especially for those of us who enjoy working independently in the company of others) to share a space with our writer peers, and hopefully share some creativity!

Come when you can, stay as long as you like! Find me on the 2nd floor, on the “orange” side (top of the stairs, take a left).

~Jen

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Reminder: Writers Group Meeting Tomorrow

Posted on August 18, 2018 by waconiawriters

We meet tomorrow, Sunday, August 19th, at 4:30 at The Crossings in Waconia. Please see the Home Page for location. The Crossings is a secure building but a sign will be posted for the code to enter.
The prompt is write about a perfect autumn day.
Hope to see you there.

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WWG Meeting Recap (Saturday, Aug. 4)

Posted on August 5, 2018 by Jen Lynn Anderson

RECAP: We were eleven strong at yesterday’s meeting at Waconia Library! Due to the increase in attendance (and please keep coming, we love seeing old friends and new members alike!), we have been given the go-ahead to use the Waconia Library’s Meeting Room/Activity Space (just next door to our usual cozy fireplace meeting spot), which can comfortably seat a group in the double digits.

We also received some information about interesting and relevant upcoming classes and workshops, hosted by the Carver County Library System. A class from The Loft is coming to Waconia Library October 13th, and a series of workshops around business skills for artists is being taught by Springboard for the Arts over the next few months (locations and times vary). Please check out the Events Page for a listing of classes, and links to register.

At our meeting, we had a great discussion about how we attempt to organize our writing, especially when we’re writing “analog” in notebooks and on loose-leaf paper. Helpful tips included creating a color-coded tab system and/or keeping a running index starting on the back page of the notebook with page numbers and brief descriptions, all serving as tools for quick access to the contents within (which always seem to be infinite levels of difficult to find again).

We also touched briefly on the topic of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing. Some of our members shared their experiences with both. We also added to our list of Self-Publishing Resources on our Writer Resources Page.

NEXT WWG MEETING: Sunday, August 19, 4:30pm at The Crossings Apartments.

PROMPT FOR NEXT MEETING: Write about the perfect autumn day.

ADDITIONAL GROUP MEETING OPPORTUNITIES: Jen would like to host a couple of casual write-ins at Mocha Monkey (115 S. Olive St., Waconia) in August. These write-ins are informal drop-in sessions where you can come and work on projects in the company of others. We can also have conversations about ongoing or upcoming writer-related topics, but the idea is to provide a space and time for writing. Check the Events Page for those August dates.

Happy Writing!

 

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Meeting Reminder for Saturday, August 4th

Posted on August 3, 2018 by waconiawriters

We will meet at the Waconia Library Saturday, August 4th at 10:30 in the Fireplace area.

The prompt is to write a piece incorporating these words: feather, blank, moped, shrinking, darkness, deity, tree.

Hope to see you there.

 

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July 7th Meeting Recap

Posted on July 8, 2018 by Jen Lynn Anderson

Here are the highlights from the WWG Meeting this past Saturday at Waconia library! Happy writing!

Writer’s Block happens to us all!

At the request of one of our members, the group shared some of our tips on how to get unstuck:

  • Try stream-of-consciousness writing! Write down the first thought that comes to your mind. Then the next thought. Wherever your mind takes you, write it down. Don’t worry about whether it makes sense, or if it relates to the project you were trying to work on before you got stuck, just let your brain develop its muscle memory for the ACT of getting words onto paper. Then, when you’re ready, head back to your project.
  • Find a new place to write for a while… a change of scene can help, especially if you’re used to writing in a particular room/area of your home.
  • Pick a random object within your line of sight, and start describing it. See where it goes.
  • Frame your writing goals differently. Instead of saying “I need to write for an hour,” or, “I need to write 3 pages,” try: “I’m going to write something” … take the pressure of expectations off yourself. At the end of your writing session, did you write one sentence? GOOD JOB! That’s one sentence you didn’t have before.
  • Watch out for that pesky inner editor! Tell him/her to hush for a while while you get the first draft written. We’re all guilty of this. Inner Editor is really good at reinforcing the idea bottleneck, where you have the idea in your head but you’re so focused on finding the right words right away, that none of the words come. Keep in mind that you will be able to go back and pick the “right” words later, but you can’t do that if you have don’t have any words written down in the first place.
  • Book recommendations: Check out a few inspirational books on writing, written by authors for authors! You can find them on WWG’s Writer Resources page.

The group shared writing prompt pieces:

We had a wide variety of genres (humor, poetry, YA fiction, and memoir) and inspiration from this meeting’s prompt! Everything seems different at night, indeed!

Call for WWG Anthology contributions and meeting plans:

  • We confirmed our first anthology-focused group meeting, planned for this Tuesday, July 10, at 6:30pm, in The Crossings Apartments’ first floor community space. Signs will be posted for building access.
  • We have several wonderful contributions so far and are excited to highlight more beautiful writing from our members!
  • Jen will resend the emailed link to the anthology brainstorming Google Doc, if members want to add potential titles to the running “Table of Contents” at the end of the document.

Writing Prompt for Sunday July 22nd meeting:

Find the sinister in something ordinary.

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WWG Meeting tomorrow!

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Jen Lynn Anderson

Where:

Waconia Library, fireplace area.

When:

Saturday, July 7th, at 10:30 a.m.

Writing Prompt(s):

Everything looks/feels/sounds/seems different at night.

Procrastinator/pantser in need of some inspiration? Here are some royalty-free photos, courtesy of Pixabay (click to enlarge):

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WWG Meeting NEXT Sunday, June 24th

Posted on June 16, 2018 by Jen Lynn Anderson

Where:

The Crossings Apartments, 200 S. Olive St., Waconia (kitty corner from Mocha Monkey).
This is a secure building. Signs are posted regarding entry.

When:

Sunday, June 24th, at 4:30 p.m. (NOTE: WWG is not meeting this Sunday, June 17th, due to Dad’s Day).

Writing Prompt(s):

Write a piece about hot dogs and clowns.

OR Check out our Prompts page for inspiration! There have been a few recent prompts we’d love to hear more about!

CALLING ALL WWG MEMBERS: We want your lovely words!

Waconia Writers’ Group Anthology Project

We have asked members to bring their pieces (finished or in progress) to our June 24th meeting. They can be pieces you’re personally proud of or excited about, or pieces you’ve gotten positive feedback on. They can be pieces you’ve written for the WWG writing prompts, or that you’ve written independently. Bring the pieces you see promise in but aren’t sure are there yet. We’re going to devote some time during our next few meetings to go through this treasure trove of writing as a group. No pressure, no critique, but we’d use this as an exercise to see how many pieces we’d have in total, what type of pieces (poetry, prose, essay, etc.), and COULD provide feedback IF requested!

What we want to create: An anthology of Waconia Writers’ Group work! We would allot some time for people to edit their work, and then organize them into a book to print.

Why we want to create this anthology: We have some amazing wordsmiths in our group; every single member has brought something beautiful and powerful to our meetings by sharing their writing. That said, we don’t currently have a collection to feature our members’ work! This project would allow us to showcase our writers and possibly provide a funding stream for WWG to use for special events, hiring speakers, writing workshops, etc.

What we need to do next: We need to select the pieces for the anthology, but there are a lot of other things to think about! Jen has created a Google Doc for brainstorming; WWG members can contribute to the Google Doc (ask Jen for the link, via the WWG email chain) if they have ideas or want to volunteer for certain tasks.

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WWG Meeting today (Sunday, May 20th)

Posted on May 20, 2018 by Jen Lynn Anderson

Where:

The Crossings Apartments, 200 S. Olive St., Waconia (kitty corner from Mocha Monkey).
This is a secure building. Signs are posted regarding entry.

When:

Sunday, May 20th, at 4:30 p.m.

Writing Prompt(s):

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever found in your car trunk? (Fact or Fiction!)

UPDATE: Waconia Writers’ Group Anthology Project

What we want to create: An anthology of Waconia Writers’ Group work! We are encouraging our fellow WWG members to contribute any pieces we have written for the group prompts (or pieces we’ve worked on independently, and would like featured). We would allot some time for people to edit their work, and then organize them into a book to print.

Why we want to create this anthology: We have some amazing wordsmiths in our group; every single member has brought something beautiful and powerful to our meetings by sharing their writing. That said, we don’t currently have a collection to feature our members’ work! This project would allow us to showcase our writers and possibly provide a funding stream for WWG to use for special events, hiring speakers, writing workshops, etc.

How to compile the pieces: We’re thinking of devoting some time during our next few meetings to have everyone go through their writing as a group. During the months of May, June, and July, bring everything you’ve written for WWG meetings. Bring stuff you’ve written on your own and would like to contribute. Bring pieces you’ve written and love but would maybe like to polish and edit before including. Bring pieces in progress! No pressure, no critique, but we’d use this as an exercise to see how many pieces we’d have in total, what type of pieces (poetry, prose, essay, etc.), and COULD provide feedback IF requested!

More information to come!

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WWG Meeting tomorrow!

Posted on May 4, 2018 by Jen Lynn Anderson

Where:

Waconia Library, fireplace area.

When:

Saturday, May 5th, at 10:30 a.m.

(Feeling creative and inspired in social settings? Join Jen at Mocha Monkey post-meeting, for a write-in around noonish. Bring your projects! Eat some lunch! Enjoy some extra writing time in the company of your author peers!)

Writing Prompt(s):

Write a piece with a spring theme. 

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