Kansas Writers Association

Because of Covid 19 and cold weather (it is winter, for sure), our next KWA meeting will be held via Zoom on December 19 at 1:30. I believe we are restricted to a 45 minute time frame, but we are still working out the details. We will do another email to the entire recorded membership closer to the date when we have the link to the Zoom.  We will also post the meeting information on the website and Facebook pages.

The agenda for the meeting will primarily be to elect a slate of officers. We have some volunteers for the slots, but if you want to step up to fill a slot, we will gladly accept it. The positions we need to fill are: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and 2 members at large. Wendell has volunteered to remain as secretary unless someone else comes forward. If any of you have tech expertise and would like to serve as advisors to any of the tech-challenged officers, we would appreciate it. 

If you have ideas for programs you’d like to see or programs you could present, let us know at the meeting. Or if you have resources for speakers appropriate to writing. Also, a quick rundown of your accomplishments for the year or plans for next. And of course, any sales. Our December meeting is traditionally a celebration of our accomplishments. We’ll all miss the potluck part of it. Hard to taste chocolates via Zoom, no matter how realistic it is.
As I loaded the emails for this message, I found a few missing the @ suffix and a few I questioned as to accuracy. If you notice that I have anyone’s email wrong, please let me know.

We will likely have to continue on zoom for the next few months, depending on whether we can find a meeting room large enough to social distance and cheap enough we can afford it or until the weather allows for outdoor meetings. Meeting under the trees at the library can be pleasant or uncomfortable, depending on the capricious Kansas weather. A covered outdoor shelter might be an alternative. I know there is one in Goddard with water and restrooms and movable walls that can provide shelter from wind and rain. There are probably other suitable ones in Wichita. Let us know if you have any ideas.

Covid 19 has caused all aspects of life to be reimagined and rearranged. But writers are more imaginative and adaptable than regular people, so I am sure we will prevail and come out of this with a stronger, more cohesive organization.

Katherine Pritchett

Currently because of the Covid-19 situation the meetings are on the third Saturday of every month by Zoom at 7 pm. Watch the KWA Facebook page for the URL connection.

Focus: Election of 2021 officers, discussion of KWA future outlook and how to handle the immediate temporary meeting situation

Discussion of Dec 19 Meeting: Party and recognition time – how to handle it and make the Zoom meeting fun

If there is time – Program Topic for discussion: Query letters and synopsis – members’ experience with and suggestions

Click on the links for the Word handouts

Dialogue

Internalization

Narration

At this time, we are still planning on meeting outside the Rockwell Library at 1:30 pm. And there will be a Zoom meeting at 7 pm.

The programs and schedule for the rest of 2020 are as follows:

Sept 19 – Program: Dialogue, internalization, and narration

Oct 17 – Program: Editing

Nov 21 – Program: Query letters and synopsis

Dec 19 – KWA’s holiday party and recognitions

PROMPTS for the September 19th meeting:

1. Imagine finding a box. Write about opening it and what is inside.
2. Poem: Write a poem about a brick wall – liberal or figurative.
3. WORDS: fan – green – sour – banana – seal

Click here to get the Word file

Hook Presentation for KWA 8-15-2020

We will be meeting Saturday, August 15th, outside the Rockwell Library at 1:30 pm. Like the last couple of meetings, bring a lawn chair or a blanket to sit on in the shade. Bring a mask and be prepared to social distance. Also bring a drink to keep hydrated.

There will also be a Zoom Room meeting at 7 pm. Watch for instructions on the Facebook page later today.

It is important for our members and guests to meet however they are comfortable doing. Writers need to support each other the best we can. This is our time to share our news, network, and discuss a writing-related topic.

Today, Kathy Pritchett will give a program on hooks and inciting incidents. As always, followed by everyone having a chance to offer their thoughts and experiences.

We will be meeting this month, July 18th, (1:30-4:00) outside the Rockwell Library. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and join us in the shade under some trees. We will have extra chairs available. Also, bring a drink to stay hydrated. If you feel the need, wear a mask, too.

The program will be about writing children’s books. If you can help this program, please let us know. We have a number of published children’s book authors who can share insight on their experience in creation, publishing, and marketing.

If you want to try doing a writing exercise and sharing it, here are some possible prompts:

WORDS: warehouse – watermelon – lizard – sled – brown

PROMPTS:

1. Write about being inside an old abandoned warehouse.
2. Write about being an abandoned dog hoping to find a new home.
3. Write about being a big, old tree in a park and what you have observed over the years.

As of May 26 there is limited services at the Rockwell Library and NO groups or meetings allowed until a later date. So… we are going to try a meeting outside (weather permitting) somewhere on the park’s grass. We’ll give more details later.

The program will be on Understanding Goal, Motivation, and Conflict, which was postponed from an earlier date. All writers need occasional reminders about the importance of these key parts of writing anything. And If you’re a new writer, you definitely need to learn about this matter. Plus, it is a great topic for discussion by all writers to share their experience.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on, a drink, and a snack if you want to have a personal picnic during the meeting. We’ll have extra chairs available too.

There will also be another Zoom meeting for anyone not interested doing the outside meeting but wanting to attend in another way. The link is: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74615665674…

KWA will not be meeting May 16 at the Rockwell Library due to the Covid-19 issues. At this point, we have been told it won’t be until another possible two weeks that they will even allow people inside the library.

The June 20 meeting is probably going to be restricted. The library informed us that they think the Health Department will require 50 sq. ft. per person. That would severely limit the number of people allowed to attend. They will call us for sure about June at a later date.

Reminder: The deadline for the 2020 KWA Anthology has been extended to August 30, 2020.