Kansas Writers Association

The monthly KWA meeting by Zoom on December 19th went fairly well, with 17 attendees (I believe). There were a few awkward moments with some members having difficulty connecting. But, hopefully, this will get easier for everyone.

A new slate of officers was nominated and approved by those in attendance. The new board/officers are:

President: Katherine Pritchett

Vice President: Ben Sutherland

Secretary: Wendell Skinner

Treasurer: Angela Largent

Members at Large: Mike Freed and Dustin Boettcher

The members in attendance shared their personal writing news/status on current projects. In addition, Mike Freed provided a poll that members were able to respond to in the meeting. From the poll of those attending members, fiction. writing is the biggest interest.

Due to the continuing issues with the Covid situation and the library being closed, the meetings will be held online via Zoom at least in January and probably in February.

We have a link to the Zoom meeting for Saturday at 1:30. We can go as long as 3 hours for this one:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3293973396?pwd=dTZ4QUNYWVBNMERLZ2FDTm5aa2liZz09

Meeting ID: 329 397 3396
Passcode: KWA121920
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,3293973396#,,,,,,0#,,596571701# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,3293973396#,,,,,,0#,,596571701# US (Houston)

This will get you into the meeting, but if for some reason this link won’t work for your tech setup, you can use this:

Dial by your location
        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 329 397 3396
Passcode: 596571701

We will be voting on a slate of officers for next year. Those who have volunteered:

President: Katherine Pritchett

Vice President: Ben Sutherland

Secretary: Wendell Skinner

Treasurer: Angela Largent

Members at Large: Mike Freed and Dustin Boettcher

If anyone else would like to step up to serve, we can have an election. Otherwise, if the majority of the membership approves, these will be your officers for 2021. If you have tech expertise, you can volunteer to assist with the Zoom or the website and not have to be an officer.

Also, during the meeting, toot your own horns as to what you have accomplished this year. Just surviving a pandemic thus far should be on everyone’s list. Starla has already posted publishing credits on our website, but if you were missed, let us know.

Be thinking of what you want to learn from this group next year. Basics of formatting? How to do deep POV? Dialog? Queries? Plotting? Someone in the group can help with almost anything; is there something you’d like to present? You wouldn’t have to do it alone. We could do a panel presentation or have a partner. Do you have an expert in your hip pocket who would be willing to present a subject? We have greatly benefitted from our County Attorney talks. Who else would you like to hear? What are your goals going to be for 2021? Let’s hear them.

And let’s congratulate our last year’s officers for navigating a whole new world to keep the group going under difficult circumstances: David Heffelfinger, President; Starla Criser, Vice-President; Wendell & Clystia Skinner, Secretary; Chris Davies, Treasurer; and Dustin Boettcher and Nicole Valek, members at large. They need medals for having to deal with the twists and turns of 2020. I suspect 2020 will serve as inspiration for lots of writing to come. Once we are through it. And don’t forget that dues are payable this month or next.

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.