14 members attended July’s Writers’ Mill meeting, and if you missed it, you missed a fantastic presentation from Erick Mertz. His topic—Self-Publishing Success: What Worked, What Didn’t, & What I Would Do Differently—was particularly timely as we approach the release of our next anthology, and included excellent advice and inspiration for all of us. Notes from his presentation will be posted online shortly, with the current password—which you will find in your emails.
Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes Sunday July 16th 2023Category Archives: networking
Self-Publishing Success: What Worked, What Didn’t, & What I Would Do Differently, with Erick Mertz
Self-publishing used to be somewhat frowned on and considered less legitimate than “really” getting published, but that is changing, as Erick showed us in his presentation.
Continue reading Self-Publishing Success: What Worked, What Didn’t, & What I Would Do Differently, with Erick MertzPublish or Perish, or just Put your words out there?
Publish or Perish is a common phrase in British academia. If you don’t publish papers you’ll never advance your career. Guessing that we’re more interested in just putting our words out there, even if we never achieve that great writing career, Sheila offered a few ways we might use to let others see our words. You can find her presentation online at https://www.portlandwritersmill.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230319-publishing-presentation.pdf (pdf file) or https://www.portlandwritersmill.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230319-publishing-presentation.pptx (powerpoint presentation file).
Continue reading Publish or Perish, or just Put your words out there?Writers’ Mill Minutes 2023 03 19
Writers’ Mill March Minutes, March 19th 2023
March’s meeting was well-attended, with some new in person members, and lots of members online. Sheila had intended to be present in person, but COVID intervened, so her “Publish or Perish, or just Put your words out there” presentation was given via zoom instead. Afterward, members were invited to introduce themselves, both online and in person, and there was lots of lively discussion, leading to various unresolved questions. Please contact admin with your thoughts on:
Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes 2023 03 19The Story of a Bilingual Picture Book in a Time of Covid, from Jim Mockford’s talk, 02/21/21
Sheila met Jim Mockford at a Willamette Writers’ virtual coffee morning, and was fascinated by all the ways he was planning to advertise his book, so she and Jean invited him to speak to us and were delighted when he accepted. We were even more delighted when he joined our group as a new member a few months back!
Continue reading The Story of a Bilingual Picture Book in a Time of Covid, from Jim Mockford’s talk, 02/21/21Writers’ Mill Minutes 202102
Writers’ Mill Minutes Feb 21st 2021
We tried out a new Zoom meeting format this month, with a ten-minute snack-and-get-to-know-you break in the middle, to emulate those delicious snack breaks we used to have in real life. Matthew reminded us that this was the one-year anniversary of our last real-world meeting, so a good date for reinstituting snacks. Also we have lots of knew people who we’d love to get to know. In fact, we had so many members at the meeting, there were too many for a single Zoom screen for while! A great achievement, and we hope you all enjoyed the meeting.
Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes 202102Writers’ Mill Minutes 20190915
Writers’ Mill Minutes September 15th 2019
Only 12 people attended Sunday’s meeting – perhaps we need to encourage more new member to join us and stay with us, or else we need to encourage you to brave the weather. If you weren’t at the meeting and feel we’re not addressing your needs, please reply to this email and let me know what you would like us to do differently. We are WRITERS HELPING WRITERS and this is YOUR group. Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes 20190915
Writers’ Mill Minutes 20190721
Thanks to Ria for leading July’s meeting and taking these excellent minutes. Wish I hadn’t missed the meeting!
Writers’ Mill Minutes, July 2019
The meeting came to order timely at 1:00pm. In attendance were two guest speakers, Mollie Hunt and Jason Brick. Both came early to the conference room to set up displays of their books and brand, and meet and greet our writers as they arrived. Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes 20190721
Itty Bitty Writing Space, anthologies, queries, promotion: Jason Brick July 2019
How Jason Brick Got Started:
He is a martial artist and ended up writing a piece for a premier martial arts magazine. Admittedly, he will write for anyone within pretty much any venue, but Jason has a special enthusiasm and natural affinity for martial arts, since he himself is a martial arts specialist and he has two sons who are also involved in martial arts. He told me prior to the start of our meeting that he traveled to Malaysia in 2016 to write a piece for a travel magazine, but also so he and his sons would have the unique opportunity of visiting a country with a completely different lifestyle and culture very different from living here in the United States. He said it was an amazing experience for him and his sons, one which he will always treasure, plus he got paid to be there! Continue reading Itty Bitty Writing Space, anthologies, queries, promotion: Jason Brick July 2019
Book Marketing for the Bewildered, with Walt Socha
Book Marketing for the Bewildered, with Walt Socha
Walt will continue his presentation in December. Meanwhile here are notes from his talk on October 15th Continue reading Book Marketing for the Bewildered, with Walt Socha