Writers’ Mill saw 8 attendees in-person and 7 online in March, for a total of 15 people. The topic was dramedy, and the meeting was structured like a writers’ room creating a comedy drama from a newspaper article. Conversation was lively and exciting, and full of invaluable lessons for all writers—fiction, memoir, even poetry as well as drama. I will try to convey what we learned in these minutes for the benefit of those who missed out. But more important than the details of discussion was the chance to see and hear feedback directly from our fellow writers, readers, and audience members. An invaluable session—thank you Ria.
Continue reading Minutes March 2025Dramedy with Ria Russell, March 2025
Ria Russell attended a dramedy class given by two Hollywood writers at a writing conference, and brought the experience to us all through a news article (ironically an NBC (peacock) article about a “therapy peacock” and it’s owner being refused permission to fly). We all had access to the article before the meeting and everyone had read it, so we were able to go straight into the “writers’ room” to plan our script.
Continue reading Dramedy with Ria Russell, March 2025Minutes Feb 2025
Writers’ Mill Minutes, February 16, 2025
Cedar Mill Library, Beaverton and online Zoom
Fourteen participants attended online, and five were present in the library meeting room, for a total of nineteen. Zita led the meeting, and Sheila was an assistant host from her perch (with puppies) in Oklahoma. Matthew assisted with technology, which proved necessary when the Zoom screen in the library went dark at least five times during the meeting (our librarians will try to have this fixed before the next meeting). Jean took Minutes. Zita made announcements and introduced Judy to announce this month’s contest/ezine awards.
Continue reading Minutes Feb 2025Protected: Minnette Meador on Point of View, Character Creation, Plotters vs Pantsers, Writing Tools, Images, AI and more! Feb 2025
Two Writing Classes with Ruth Leibowitz
Ruth gave a talk on Writing Prompts https://www.portlandwritersmill.org/17/the-world-abounds-in-prompts-using-prompts-to-stimulate-and-deepen-your-writing-by-ruth-leibowitz/ back in 2023. She is a very active member of the Writers’ Mill, and also of the writing community at large. This February she will be leading two writing classes over zoom. Highly recommended:
Cats Who Write, with Ruth Leibowitz
Continue reading Two Writing Classes with Ruth LeibowitzMinutes Jan 2025
Eleven participants attended online, and eight were present in the library meeting room, for a total of nineteen (our thanks to our librarian for the total). Nora Perry led the meeting in Sheila’s absence (although Sheila was present online from England.) Librarian Christine Wong managed the technology with assistance from Matthew McAyeal and Nora. Jean Harkin, Sheila, and Nora took Minutes. Nora made announcements and introduced Judy Beaston to speak about the website and this month’s contest/ezine.
Continue reading Minutes Jan 2025How to Check the recommended reading age
During the meeting in Jan 2025, Sheila read from “A Win for a Child and His Cat” and asked if the story would be suitable for children but also enjoyable for adults. The group seemed to think middle grade readers over age 9 would be right. Readability checkers online were recommended, but some of these require you to create an account or pay after a certain number of uses. They also have lots of banner ads, so users should be careful where they click. :
Continue reading How to Check the recommended reading ageErika Giles on Memoir, Research, Publishing and more – Jan 2025
Nora introduced our speaker, Erika Giles, who is a Writers’ Mill member and author of Becoming Hungarian, a Memoir. Amazon described this book as “a fascinating story of resilience and discovery that will inspire anyone who has struggled with their identity and tried to come to terms with the past.”
Continue reading Erika Giles on Memoir, Research, Publishing and more – Jan 2025Writers’ Mill Minutes December 2024
Twelve people attended December’s Writers’ Mill meeting—perhaps the number was low due to Holiday commitments. But those who missed it missed a fun time.
The meeting began with the usual reminders: Online members can use headphones, captions, speaker view, and chat to better hear what’s going on, and should mute their microphones when it’s noisy. In person members should face the microphone, avoid chatting, and remember the microphone is always listening!
Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes December 2024Minutes 2024 11
We had 5 in-person and 11 on-line members at Novembers “UPLOAD” meeting, and we did eventually get the technology to work. Apologies to anyone who had to wait to join – the library computer decided it needed to update, then it wouldn’t run zoom, then the spare machine… then… You get the picture. But the book was uploaded and will hopefully be released in the next day or so, ready for your Holiday purchasing.
Continue reading Minutes 2024 11