October 2024 Newsletter
Hello Writers!
Welcome back to the newsletter!
We’ve got some exciting events coming up, so be sure to read all the way through!
This month we are featuring Jess Witkins. Jess is the facilitator for the Rewrites critique group and past president of MVWG. She loves the writing community she's found through the guild, midwest writing conferences, and author events. Her favorite thing about her critique group is how she always leaves more energized and inspired by her fellow writers than when she arrived. Jess worked as a freelance writer for several years, and occasionally still does, but shifted into public library work almost eight years ago, where she enjoys ordering and unboxing new books, hosting author events, and of course recommending what you should read next.
Jess is currently working on a memoir, several picture books, poetry, and whatever essay or short story is inspiring her at the moment. You can often find her journaling in coffee shops or listening to audiobooks while walking her rescue dogs.
Send your bio to mvwguild@gmail.com and we will feature you in an upcoming newsletter!
Motivation
Send your motivational memes, tips, tricks, and resources to mvwguild@gmail.com
Victory! News from the Guild
Lots of news this month!
David Nash and Lucas Schwaller, from the ReWrites critique group, have a short story in the new anthology by Dead Birds Publishing, Sasquatch is My Neighbor: A Collection of Hairy Cryptid Lore. eBook available now, Paperback available early October.
Scott Blanke, board member and leader of the Tuesday Edition critique group, was featured at the La Crosse Book Club in September. This club has met monthly since 1938 and currently has 42 members. The evening included a social, then dinner, then a 45 minute presentation of Scott’s novel, Through The Gates Of Hell. The book is a humorous medical murder mystery featuring nine unique murders in 246 pages. All in just a two month period.
Michael J White, from the Thursday Scribblers critique group, created a Substack channel in June after reading many articles by Heather Cox Richardson, Joyce Vance and multiple other writers on Substack. There are calls to action, reviews of articles about the importance of the water cycle. There will be some fiction, triggered by his responses to Writer's Guild prompts. Much of it will be about the science of what's going on and its implications. He is a physician and one article now in the works is about "normal" ... what does it mean to be normal? Normal is not the same as healthy. Normal is being the same as everyone else. In summary, he enjoys writing about the world and thinking about it and hopes he can do so in a way that is interesting to other people. Check it out at https://cthianotes.substack.com/.
Have a victory you want to share? Let us know!
Writing Prompt
Five prompts from Ready, Set, Novel!, by Lindsey Grant, Tavia Stewart-Streit, and Chris Baty:
Describe the worst thing that ever happened to your villain.
Flash forward twenty years into the future and write a scene that involves at least three of your characters.
Relate the dream your villain had last night.
Your protagonist’s mother is interviewed for the local paper about her child’s achievements. Write that article.
Send your protagonist to a psychic. What do they find out?
Guild Events
New Critique Group Social
When: Monday, October 28, 5-7 p.m.
Where: Java Vino
What: We are starting a new evening, in-person critique group! If you’re interested in joining, stop by JavaVino between 5-7 p.m. on October 28 for more information, to sign up, and to meet other possible members.
NaNoWriMo Write-In
When: Saturday, November 2, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Where: Pizza Ranch, 3130 Chestnut Pl, La Crosse
What: This event will be a loosely structured afternoon with tips and motivation to kick off National Novel Writing Month. We will have prompts, quiet writing time, and writing sprints with prizes for the most words written.
Register at: https://forms.gle/rGZB5ArfnM7HAww58
Help us plan more events by completing the member survey!