Dear writing friends,
Today is Wednesday March 5. In the Christian calendar, it’s the first day of Lent, the beginning of a period of sacrifice and reflection.
Sacrifice and reflection are good practices for writers throughout the year. When I turn my mind inward, my writing grows keener. When I tune out noise, my concentration sharpens. Discipline is a major requirement in the writer’s life. And it’s a difficult one to manage with so many tempting distractions.
Last Saturday, March 1, was a beautiful day for readers and writers. The 35th annual Reading Festival at the downtown Fort Myers public library brought best-selling authors and avid readers together in an inspiring outdoor fair. At the Gulf Coast Writers Association tent, our own authors attracted an endless stream of Festival visitors.
GCWA members Jeanne Meeks, Ed Donlin, Ginger Wakem, Patti Walsh, Sarah Fisher Pointer, Pauline Hayton and Andrew Conlin comprised a packed morning tent, while Curt Ayers, Amy Pontius, Lori Swick and Jeanelle [for DL Havlin’s books] commanded the afternoon. Claudia Geagan organized our participation and made it all seem effortless. And each year we learn new ways to make our tent inviting. Ginger created an eye-catching sign with a provocative message and a QR code for more GCWA information. Next year our authors will remind ourselves to stay on the perimeter of the tent so that visitors can move easily around the inside. It’s a Learning Festival too.
Join us on Saturday March 15 at 10 am for our monthly meeting, when member Charley Valera will share his knowledge about book marketing. He’ll start with an overview of how to prepare and conduct a book signing. Then he’ll offer his experience with getting on TV, radio, in newspapers, magazines, and online media blogs. This time we’re meeting at 17783 Port Boca Circle, Fort Myers 33908. Take Island Park Road to the signs for Island Park Village. Turn right by the flags and gazebo. The clubhouse is at the end of the main street.
It’s a great time to be a writer. We live in such interesting times. The “what if” questions arise with each day’s news. Is it fiction, is it nonfiction, is it sci-fi or thriller or espionage or poetry? What do we make of today’s world? Dickens made the “best of times, worst of times” observation nearly 200 years ago. We writers have infinite story fodder today.
Do you have a piece up to 2500 words to submit for critique at this month’s meeting? Send your Word or Word-compatible document to https://forms.gle/pNqvzjFEN2vpwN698 by this weekend to give reviewers time to read and respond. And here’s the Google Drive link to download submissions and prepare your critique: https://forms.gle/JJiPtULTrYA98Jz4A.
Last month’s critique session was helpful for both writers and reviewers. Everyone learned something in a positive exchange of thoughts, and that’s the definition of a successful meeting. Thank you to all who participated. Let’s do it again. See you Saturday March 15.
