Not only is November National Novel Writing Month, it's a great time to get reconnected with that voice in your head that keeps telling you to sit down and write. Perhaps you thought you were suffering from multiple personality disorder, when it was only your conscience reminding you it had been too many days since you wrote a page.
If you need some motivation, come to one of these six FWA groups meeting this month.
- River City Writers meets Tuesday, November 8 at 7PM at the SE Branch Library. Gregg Golson has details.
- Amelia Island Writers meets Tuesday, November 15 at 6:15PM at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach. Guest speaker is Mary Bright who co-authore Whistle for the Wind with her father, Proctor Bright. Mary also penned It's Your Story, Write It! a guide to help others write their memoirs. Contact Maggie de Vries for more information.
- Clay County Writers meet Wednesday, November 16 at 6:15PM at the Fleming Island Library. The meeting will be devoted to setting writing goals for the new year, and working on building a platform. Maureen Jung has details.
- Award-winning authors Jeff Swesky and Nancy Quatrano present a program on ghostwriting memoirs at the Ancient City Chapter meeting, Saturday, November 19 at 10:15AM at St. Augustine's Main Library. Contact the group at accfwa@gmail.com.
- A scheduling conflict due to the Thanksgiving holidays provides you with another choice for Saturday, November 19 as the Ponte Vedra Writers meeting will be held that day at 10:30AM at the Ponte Vedra Library. Instead of a speaker this month, you can take the stage as we'll have an Open Mic date coupled with a $1 book sale to raise money for the chapter. If you're interested in reading from your published or WIP, contact me at vicdig@mac.com to be put on the list. You'll have 5 minutes in the spotlight. Also bring any of your gently read books to add to the collection along with a few dollar bills to purchase any books of interest. More details will follow.
- First Coast Christian Writers, an affiliate of FWA, meets each Thursday evening at 6:45PM at the West Regional Library on S. Chaffee Road. The guest speaker for the Nov. 10 meeting is author Merrillee Whren. Tracy Redman has more info.
Congratulations to all the winners in the Royal Palm Literary Awards competition announced at the banquet last month. Among the winners from our NE Region were (and let me know if I've omitted you):
Mark Reasoner – First Place, General Book Length Fiction Category, Unpublished
Mary Ann Bator-Gray – First Place, Romance, Unpublished
Richard Hebert – First Place, Novella, Published
Judy Weber – Third Place, Flash Fiction, Unpublished
Hardy Jones – Third Place, Autobiography/Memoir, Published
Diane Mutolo – First Place, Short Story, Unpublished
Heather Nickodem – Third Place, Short Story, Unpublished
Melissa Kosciuszko – Third Place, Women's Fiction
Melissa Kosciuszko – Third Place, Women's Fiction
Look What Else Is Happening:
- Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Bruce Thomason is the author of two police procedurals and the guest speaker at tomorrow's (Saturday, November 5) Sisters in Crime meeting, 10:30AM at the SE Branch Library.
- Also Saturday at the Renaissance Center at World Golf Village, USF journalism professor Dr. Rick Wilbur presents a workshop on turning article ideas into novels. Workshop begins at 1PM and it's free for Florida Press Club members, $5 for non-members.
- First Coast Romance Writers host a "Super Saturday Master Class with Margie Lawson", Saturday, November 29 from 9AM to 5PM at Arlington Congregational Church. Advance registration required. Click here for more info and to register.
- The deadline for submissions to the Florida Book Awards is December 1. These may be submitted by publishers, authors, agents or members of the general public. Nominations may be made in multiple categories. Visit Florida Book Awards for complete details.
- The Melrose Library, with the support of the Florida Humanities Council, is sponsoring a free contest for writers and poets. Create a poem or prose around the theme, "Tales of Florida." Max 1,200 words or 21 lines of poetry, deadline is November 15. Submission by flash drive only (to be returned). For details call the Melrose Public Library, Tuesday - Friday, 352-475-3382, or check the website.
- The Nimrod International Journal has put out a call for submissions for the Spring 2012 issue. The theme is The View from Here, and they're looking for a variety of interpretations of that theme, including poetry, fiction and essays. Themed manuscripts accepted through December. Write them at nimrod@utulsa.edu for more information.
FWA member; —Let me know If you have a new book or an award to share with the world and I'll add it to my next post.
Until next time, enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and keep writing.
Vic
Victor DiGenti
FWA Regional Director
