Stonepile Writers

A great article discussing exposition in speculative fiction to prep for Friday. Provided by John Scott.

 Finessing the Infodump

Rather than print these out for everyone, using up ink, electricity, and paper, I’m passing along some links for you to look at. This is in prep for Friday’s meeting.

Fantasy Worldbuilding Questions (I didn’t know there were sooo many questions.)

World-Building Resources (lots and lots of good stuff!)

Medieval Demographics (a little number crunching for populations)

Constructed Human Languages

Creating Fantasy and Science Fiction Worlds

World Builder Projects (has not been updated in 4 years, but still good stuff)

In preparing for our upcoming meeting in May, you might like to find out just which sciFi or fantasy character you identify with. So try out the link below and let us know via a comment to this post.

http://www.tk421.net/character/

Saturday, April 26, 2008 – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 27, 2008 – 2:00 p.m. matinee
Sautee Nacoochee Center Theater (www.snca.org)
Performances by the Sautee Stars (Youth Theater group)

July 18-19, 2008
Georgia Center for Continuing Education
Conference Center & Hotel
Athens, Georgia

Manuscript evaluations from top literary professionals with one-on-one consultations.

Polish your writing with help from experts and award-winning writers.

http://harrietteaustin.org/

September 26-28, 2008
Columbus Public Library
Columbus, Georgia

http://www.chattwriters.org   

Asheville Word Fest
April 24-27, 2008
Asheville, NC
Featuring acclaimed writers Simon Ortiz, Marijo Moore, and other nationally known Native writers.
http://ashevillewordfest.com/default.aspx

Notes on 4 April 2008 Meeting of the Writers Group.

Attendees:  Tommye Scanlin, Anita Roush, Barbara Seaton, Marilyn Oberhausen, Alice Sampson, Jonathan Green, Carol Chester, John Scott, B.J. Robinson, Tonette Long

Anita Roush volunteered to make name tags for the group members.

B.J. reported on “The Unfettered Muse.com”—an e-zine (electronic magazine) as a way to share creative work.  Some students are interested in helping with the project. Electronic maintenance is the major task.  Groundwork has been done—mission statement completed; web posting service in place.  Need is for an editorial board and calendar indicating frequency of updates.  Carol Chester agreed to head up this initiative.  Anita Roush and Barbara Seaton also volunteered to serve as technical advisers.  B.J. emphasized the importance today of multi-media exposure for creative work.

Alice Sampson reported on the recent Appalachian Studies Association conference and announced that the 2010 ASA Conference will be held at North Georgia College and State University.  Some 750 attendees are expected—sharing stories is the theme.

Instead of forming subgroups to address the different genres represented by the members, the group’s monthly meetings will focus on a specific genre with a presentation by a member followed by discussion/critique session of creative work brought to the meeting by members.  B.J., John Scott, and Barbara will lead off the 2 May meeting with a presentation on the fantasy theme, embracing fiction, poetry, and painting.

The group discussed briefly the critique element of a group meeting.  B.J. voiced a preference for descriptive responses and responses to specific questions posed by the member about her/his work.  Note from B. J.:  we do not need to convince each other of the accuracy, relevance, or even significance of our responses and interpretations.  We just need to let the author know how his/her work is read so that he/she can determine how effectively the intention was achieved (thus giving direction for possible necessary revisions—that only the author can decide to make or not to make).

Members were requested to suggest a name for the group, which will continue meeting on the first Friday of every month.  Send names to B.J.

The next meeting will take place upstairs in the Crimson Moon on Friday, 2 May, at 12 noon.

Notes prepared by Tonette Long
9 April 2008

Friday, May 2nd.  12:00 p.m., Crimson Moon (upstairs)

We will have a short presentation from B.J. Robinson, Barbara Seaton, and John Scott on fantasy writing.  Before the meeting, B.J. will send out notes and suggestions on fantasy writing so that those of you who are interested in experimenting in this genre can test it out, perhaps with the piece you share with the group for workshopping at our next meeting.