Melanie Dobson (https://melaniedobson.com/) who has been writing historical/contemporary novels for 25 years, published for 20 years, and is on the Sherwood library board. If you missed her talk, you missed a lively tour of history, research, and literary inspiration.
Continue reading Melanie Dobson on where historical novels come from and how they get to you, the readerCategory Archives: Research
Writers’ Mill Minutes March 2022
Our librarian Alice couldn’t make this month’s meeting, but thank you Christine for looking after us. Around 15 members attended and enjoyed a really productive meeting.
Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes March 2022Writers’ Mill Minutes 202110
Minutes from Oct 17th 2021
Between 12 and 15 members attended Sunday’s Writers’ Mill meeting. Some were unable to attend because they had problems finding the email link. It seems rather unproductive to ask you to please email me if you don’t get this email but… if you do get this email, but don’t get the one with the email link for the next meeting, please email me during the morning, so I can resend the link to you before the meeting starts. Our next meeting will be on Sunday November 21st, and we plan to upload the anthology and create the cover “before your very eyes.”
Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes 202110Research, a talk by Maryka Biaggio
Historical research
Maryka writes historical fiction based on real characters, so her talk began with the world of historical research. First, how do you prepare to write your historical novel? You’ll need to delve into the past, perhaps using:
Continue reading Research, a talk by Maryka BiaggioWriters’ Mill Minutes 202002
Writers’ Mill Minutes, Feb 16th 2020
18 members attended our “3 checkmark” meeting, allowing the organizers to learn a bit more about whether emails are getting through, and whether we’re fulfilling our goal of being “writers helping writers.” But far more important than checkmarks on clipboard was the talk from Maryka Biaggio, author of Parlor Games, published by a serious, BIG 5 publisher, and a seriously helpful speaker. You’ll find notes from her talk at the end of these minutes. Meanwhile, thank you Maryka!
Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes 202002Protected: Writers’ Mill Anthology PLEASE READ
What happens when you try to tell that story, with Zita Podany
What Happens when you have a Story to Tell, with Zita Podany
First step:
Zita had a story to tell. But life, as it does, kept getting in the way. Then she read the back of an Arcadia book where it said “Write for Arcadia.” She looked on the website and decided to contact them with her ideas.
Continue reading What happens when you try to tell that story, with Zita Podany
Writers’ Mill Minutes 201708
Writers’ Mill Minutes August 20th 2017
Despite the approaching eclipse, August’s Writers’ Mill meeting was well attended with 16 people present to learn about research, photographs, permissions and publishing specs from Zita Podany, author of VanPort in the Images of America series. Notes from Zita’s talk can be below. And our thanks to Zita and the library staff for the excellent use of technology. (One day I’ll have to learn how it’s all done!)
Walt, who will be speaking and using technology in October and December, handed around a “reading assignment” for us all. In case you weren’t there, Walt very highly recommends “To Sell is Human” by Daniel H. Pink; also “How to Publish your Book” by Jane Friedman. We should all try to read Pink’s book, or at least to look at it, before October’s meeting (which gives us lots of time).
How To Choose A Publisher/Agent/Self-Publishing Site with Jim Elstad
Taken from Jim Elstad’s talk, May 21st 2017
For anyone using editorsandpreditors.com to check up on publishers, don’t. The site is going/has gone down. Other sites you might use are:
- http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/
- http://www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/
- http://absolutewrite.com/recommended-resources/ and
- http://critters.org/index.php
Continue reading How To Choose A Publisher/Agent/Self-Publishing Site with Jim Elstad
Writers’ Mill Minutes 201705
Writers’ Mill Minutes 5/21/2017
Numbers were down at this month’s meeting, with only 14 people present, but the sudden onset of summer was a likely cause. Please mark your calendars for next month—Father’s Day—when Sara Hall will give her much-anticipated multimedia presentation on the DIY book launch. Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes 201705