The Power of Emotive Conflict

April 6th Writers on the Storm had the privilege of welcoming DiAnn Mills.

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn’s first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books published.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader’s Choice awards. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and 2011.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn taught on the power of emotive conflict in our fiction and as you can see from the photo, had our group of writers completely engaged.

DiAnn's non-fiction The Dance of Character and Plot will be released next month in June and will be a great asset to your craft library. She is also planning a fiction mentor clinic in the fall of this year and we will share details as soon as they are available.

Craft Book Show, Tell & Exchange

Members Stacey Zink, Christie Lee, Joanne Hillman, and Alice Thomas

Our March 2nd meeting turned out to be an intimate crowd and a very different dynamic than our normal meeting. Membership present included chapter photographer Kathrese McKee, President Nancy Kimball, Vice President Bethany Macmanus, members Mary Hamilton, Lisa Godfrees, Janice Thompson, Stacey Zink, Christie Lee, Joanne Hillman, Alice Thomas, and Bob Stewart. Discussion centered around the best and worst of resources out there, why we write, to whom we write, and the importance of learning and growing no matter where you are in the author journey.

Twice gifted and much discussed was Rivet Your Readers with Deep POV by Jill Elizabeth Nelson, Other craft books of note that generated the most discussion from among the list of recommendations compiled were:

• Writing for the Soul by Jerry B. Jenkins
• Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maas
• The Art of War for Writers by James Scott Bell

Member Bob Stewart examines the definitive style guide, The Chicago Manual of Style 16th Edition.

The drawing winner for the Chicago Manual of Style 16th Edition was member Alice Thomas. Above Nancy Kimball shares her copy, already flagged and highlighted in the locations she uses the reference book most often. The doorprize drawing winner was member Stacey Zink who chose to play the boxes and picked box 2 which had the "good" prize--a copy of the Scrivener Software for Writers.

Vice President Bethany Macmanus with members Mary Hamilton and Lisa Godfrees

President Nancy Kimball and Vice President Bethany Macmanus explored the willingness and availability of contest judging for the potential 2013 Category Five Contest with the results they were hoping for. Our members are anxious to give back to other authors and planning on the contest can now proceed.

And no one present will ever forget member Bob Stewart's epic announcement regarding  his contributed book, The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel. Thank you for the memories, Bob!

Saturday April 6th, Writers on the Storm hosts award-winning and best-selling author DiAnn Mills who will be presenting "The Power of Emotive Conflict"

Saturday May 11th, (2nd Saturday), Writers on the Storm hosts Love Inspired author Noelle Marchand will present "Non-verbal Communication in Fiction"

Lessons Learned from All Three Types of Publishing

In February, author and poet Donn Taylor brought us lessons learned through all three types of publishing--self, small press and national. Highlights were factors to consider when choosing an avenue to pursue, the benefits and challenges of each, and an in-depth view of the editorial and production process for each.

www.donntaylor.com

Members Lisa Godfrees, Linda Kozar and guests Momma Rose and Mrs. Mildred Taylor

Chapter President Nancy Kimball and Treasurer Annette O'Hare facilitating check-in

Upcoming Speakers:

Saturday April 6, 2013 - Author DiAnn Mills presents The Power of Emotive Conflict

Saturday May 11, 2013 - Author Noelle Marchand presents Non-Verbal Communication in Fiction

Saturday June 1, 2013 - Author Laurie Alice Eaks presents Writing From the Heart While Writing For the Market

Reader Rewards and the New Reader

Writers on the Storm started the new year strong at the January 5th, 2013 meeting. President Nancy Kimball presented Philosophy of Romance author Vince Mooney's Reader Rewards Per Page and discussed the new reader and why both are more important than ever. WOTS welcomed several new and returning writers to the chapter and enjoyed record attendance.

Membership and visitors present included Annette O'Hare (Treasurer), Alice Thomas, Bethany MacManus (Vice President), Bob Stewart, Carla Hoch (Secretary) Carol Johnson, Charlotte Holt, Christy Lee, David Martindale, Gerri Wood, Janetta Messmer, Janice Thompson, Joanne Hillman, Kathrese McKee (Photographer), Kim Roy, Linda Kozar, Martha Rogers, Mary Foster, Mary Hamilton, Nancy Kimball (President), Susan Cottrell, and Stacey Zink.

The coming calendar months were discussed and the workshop in planning were discussed as well as the new website and member page. After introductions by each present and the presentation during lunch, members and guests enjoyed small group and one on one conversation.

Our next meeting of Writers on the Storm is Saturday, February 2nd where author Donn Taylor will be presenting Lessons Learned from All Three Types of Publishing. We hope to see you there.

What's new with WOTS?

Everything you love is staying the same, such as craft and industry learning, face to face time with other writers and industry professionals, etc. and a few things will look new, such as the new website and a paypal option for dues and speaker fees.

If I'm already a member, what should I do now?

• (No Change) If you prefer to pay your 2013 dues ($10) at the first chapter meeting you attend and the  speaker fee ($5) in cash at the meetings you attend, then you do nothing different except check the meeting schedule page and RSVP to those you are attending like before.
• (Pay Once for the Year) If you prefer to pay once for the year online and be done ($50 which includes dues, and speaker fees with two months free) and are familiar with PAYPAL, you may do so in the sidebar. PAYPAL automatically send us your e-mail address and confirmation and we can take care of the form via e-mail or at your first meeting. This is a great option if you regularly attend.
• (Pay Online or in Cash as You Go) If you prefer to pay your yearly dues online and then speaker fees as you RSVP to attend individual meetings, either online beforehand or in cash at the meeting, choose the $10 dues only option in the PAYPAL drop-down. You can then pay the speaker fee in cash when you attend or online with the $5 speaker fee PAYPAL option.

Help us build our Members tab!

• Once you have your PAYPAL receipt e-mail confirmation in your inbox for dues or the dues/speaker fee combo, forward it to Nancy Kimball at wots.acfw (at) gmail.com together with your headshot, author bio (250 words or less please), up to three links (such as your official website, blog, facebook page, etc.) or if you don't yet have those, your e-mail address if you would like to include it so other members and site visitors can contact you.
• Very important: If you are willing to be available as a resource to other WOTS members for specific areas of interest, please include a few craft or research topics that you are well-versed in. These topics can be medical, historical, fiction craft, etc. Specific examples would be auto racing in the early 1900's, contemporary physical therapy, period dress in Edwardian-era England, etc.
• This will feel like double work for those who participated in member Linda Kozar's  e-mail list from November, and we apologize for that, but this gives us an opportunity to consolidate that into a central location and include your photo & bio. And if you are pre-published and have never written a bio, there are a ton of great examples on our earlier blog (just click the picture to your right.)

Door-prizes

• The bad news. Instead of three door-prizes, there will now be only one awarded.
• The exciting news. The single door prize awarded will be a ten-page critique from the officer of the winners choice, currently Nancy Kimball or Bethany Macmanus, OR the doorprize winner can choose to play the boxes.
• What is play the boxes? There are two small boxes, Box #1 and Box #2. Inside one of the boxes, is a white elephant/booby prize whose only value is in the laughs it creates. Inside the other box, is a certificate for a much, much nicer prize any fiction writer will be thrilled to have.
• How do I win the door-prize? Each meeting attendee is given a ticket. If you have RSVP'd ahead of time for the meeting, you receive two tickets. The chapter treasurer will draw the winning ticket and the winner selects their critique certificate or plays the boxes.

In the Works:
The return of the WOTS Category Five Writing Contest, the all-day writing workshop with an editor, agent, or industry professional, and encouraging the formation of new chapters.

Stay tuned and write on!