Category Archives for Writing Journey

Great kick-off meeting – January 23, 2016

With many thanks to Patti Naisbitt, Public Relations and Program Coordinator at Woodridge Public Library, the Writing Journey held its first meeting of 2016 in the beautifully renovated upstairs meeting room at the Woodridge Public Library. Twenty one people showed up and participated in the round table introduction and information sharing that took a bit more than the first hour.

I led, with help from Sam M. (samcadams), Sarah (anobi), Awnna (AwnnaMarie), Catherine (Cee-Bee), Ed (Fred Duck), and Jenny (Uniasus), the first workshop that defined the Journey, how it operated via member-led Paths, our shared internet resources, and the known Paths for 2016. These include:

  • a Writer’s Voice workshop, June 4th, at Woodridge Public Library
  • our 2016 short story and poetry anthology, themed to classic tales reimagined (edited by Awnna Marie Evans and Ellie Roth)
  • our fun-filled Shakespeare Reader’s Theatre event, March 5th, at Glen Ellyn Public Library’s beautiful upstairs space
  • monthly MiniWriMo events (write 10K words in 7 days), complete with small prizes (led by Sarah (anobi))
  • book swaps, led by Sarah (anobi)
  • Ed’s Japanesey and Asian paths that explore fine food and introduction to the cultures of Japan and Asia at unique restaurants, shops and other destinations around the area
  • an outing to go see Heathers the Musical
  • a writers workshop group, led by Catherine (Cee-Bee) (in-person critiquing of stories)
  • the return of the popular Accountability Path, led by Todd (writertodd07)
  • the 2016 Editing Path to help people edit a novel in a month (and perhaps beyond), led by Sam M.
  • monthly Story Walls
  • the Book-A-Month club, a book discussion Path led by Katherine (squiddish)

Thanks to our sponsors Woodridge Public Library and Glen Ellyn Public Library, all of our activities are free (beyond any costs people might incur themselves for meals or shows), as is membership in the Journey.

After this introductory presentation, Sam M. led a nice workshop on novel editing.

Afterwards, Sam M. went through his novel in the Story Wall process. Our talented Sam Brown illustrated this on the beautiful whiteboard:

Next month (February 27, 11:30 AM-3:30 PM at the Glen Ellyn Public Library), Jenny (Uniasus) will lead a workshop on querying and submitting work to magazines; and Sarah (anobi) will lead a workshop on character personalities (an aid to developing better characters). Sam B. and Ellie have volunteered for Story Walls (and we have room for 1-2 more).

Voices from the Dark: Available Now!

Out now!

voices_from_the_dark

Voices from the Dark, The Writing Journey’s sixth anthology, was unleashed upon an unsuspecting world on 10 December, 2015 (just in time for the holidays!).

Eleven members contributed original works to this book, the theme of which is “Darkness.” We each approached the topic in our own ways and bam, an anthology was born. So, what have we got? Lots of stuff! Among other things, there’s a graveyard, evil magic, some slight murder, and of course, unexplained horrors. What more could you ask for?

If you were curious who these “eleven members” are, here is a list of names in no particular order:
Eleanor Roth, K. C. Swier, Tim Yao, Catherine Brennan, Elaine Fisher, Todd Hogan, Phoenix Autumn, Diana Jean, Ana Koulouris, Sara Marschand, and Edison Pongklub.

Find us on GoodReads!

What is The Writing Journey, you ask? It’s a writing group affiliated with the Naperville region of National Novel Writing Month. We have an entire website right here for you to look at. Why not take a peek? Come on, everyone’s doing it.

If you prefer eBooks, we’ve got you covered! I mean, we WILL have you covered. The eBook versions of Voices from the Dark shall be available February 1 (just in time for Valentine’s Day!) from such retailers as:

Pro tip! You can sample the eBook RIGHT NOW, exactly where you are, yes, even dressed like that! You can enjoy the entire first story and part of the second*, all for the low cost of free!

*As well as the copyright information and table of contents, if you’re into those things.

We are officially out of exclamation points. 🙁

The 2016 Writing Journey

The 2016 Writing Journey is shaping up. We have about fifty active members and the framework for a strong year in 2016, having gained in November two new sponsors: the Woodridge Public Library and the Glen Ellyn Public Library. They will provide us with room resources for our workshops and events, all of which continue to be free and open to the public.

Woodridge Name Logogepl191

Our general meetings:

Date Time Library What
January 23, 2016 Noon-4 pm Woodridge General meeting
February 27, 2016 11:30 am-3:30 pm Glen Ellyn General meeting
March 5, 2016 1-4 pm Glen Ellyn Shakespeare Reader’s  Theatre
March 19, 2016 Noon-4 pm Woodridge General meeting
April 23, 2016 Noon-4 pm Woodridge General meeting
May 21, 2016 11:30 am-3:30 pm Glen Ellyn General meeting
June 4, 2016 1:30-4:30 pm Woodridge Writer’s Voice Workshop (requires registration; limited to 18 participants)
June 18, 2016 11:30 am-3:30 pm Glen Ellyn General meeting
September 17, 2016 11:30 am-3:30 pm Glen Ellyn General meeting

It looks like we will do another short story anthology project (the Journey’s seventh) in 2016. Current front runner anthology themes are heroes and legends or fairy tales.

Sam McAdams will be leading our third annual Editing Path.