Meeting Format

Michael et al,

In response to your requests yesterday for comments on last night's (5/14) meeting, I characterized it as "lackadaisical." The meeting limped along for one and a half hours until someone mercifully suggested we wrap it up. I attributed our pace mostly to the lack of your stimulating presence and the introverted nature of many of our members. But, on second thought, I don't think the topic warranted a two hour discussion. I told the guest I brought with me to last night's meeting, that this session was atypical. And I think it was.

I find the "critique" nights to be much more useful to me. But I realize our members may not be producing enough new stuff to do that every week. Whereas I have a large backlog of "old" stuff, or even my many children's picture book manuscripts, that I can roll out for comments. Might I suggest that on the intervening nights between our critique sessions, when we have a topic (such as "contests"), we consider doing some writing prompts or other exercises which could engage our minds and talents if and when we run out of anything more to say on the "topic." Which means, of course, we should bring something to write with, and on, to each meeting. I welcome other thoughts on this!

Jerry

I agree with Jerry. "Limp along" hits it exactly. Good thing Jerry was there... I'll take my share of responsibility for the limping - but I also agree about the topic's maybe not warrenting so much time.

I also find the critique nights more interesting and useful. I like Jerry's idea about keeping some exercises in our back pocket, so to speak.

Maybe we could even look a month or two ahead to discuss what we'll be discussing and/or doing (exercises) on the alternate Wedsdays - develop a list of topics/exercises with the understanding that we'll only go to the next one when everyone agrees we've exhausted the current one. (Of course, maybe this list already exists & I just don't know about it.)

Or - what if this list of exercises/topics we'd generate was something we'd turn to only if there weren't enough pieces posted that Wednesday to discuss? Rather than a topic/exercise being sheduled every other week?

Karl

I think it's a great idea to have a few writing prompts or other exercises in our back pockets for when a meeting topic flames out early.

I didn't mention to anyone that this might be the case this past week...HOWEVER, some may recall I did say (the week before) that people could come prepared to turn the second half of the Contest Discussion into a Flaming Fragments Session. That is one where writers discuss ideas, concepts, characters...fragments...of stories that they need help fanning into flames.

I thought with the contests discussed that evening specifically in mind.

But another however, if people do not have fragments or are not ready to share them yet, then that exercise too would flame out quickly.

So...the upshot is, yes, we will, like a good teacher, attempt to over-prepare. If follks have a favorite or useful exercise/prompt they would like to add to the kitty - please share it with me.

Thanks all!

That is,