Meeting Announcement: Our February meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the Fiesta Room of the Hallmark Apartments in Alpine.
Program: Diane Brown will talk about her book, “Life Instead,” and how it came to be. I can guarantee it will be a fascinating presentation. Diane survived a plane crash and bravely wrote about her experience then went on an unexpected adventure to publication and beyond.
Writing “Opportunity”:
- A Snowy Night
- Valentines
- A Matter of the Heart
Choose one or incorporate one or more of the topics into one story (or poem)–use your vast and endless imagination. Limit is 500 words. Go wild! At the meeting, you may read your work or not, as you prefer. Just enjoy doing it.
President Ramblings
How do you write? Do you set measurable goals or decide to wing it? Do you slave over each word or let it flow as it comes? Do you have a different writing style for different types of writing?
I recently read and enjoyed, The Sea, by John Banville. It is a literary work, full of gorgeous words, which won the Mann Booker prize in 2005. Mr. Banville, under the pseudonym of Benjamin Black, is also the writer of mystery novels. Here is what he says about his writing:
“With Benjamin Black, it comes from the top of the head. With John Banville, from somewhere between the chest and the groin. The way of thinking is different too. John Banville might spend a few days coming up with a couple of sentences. Benjamin Black may manage 2000 words in a morning. Writing as Black, I let the thing happen. Spontaneity is the key. With John Banville, concentration is the key.”
I thought this was very interesting. I’m trying to plan the novel I’m writing right now, rather than fly by the seat of an idea, but I’m still writing in the same way. Perhaps I ought to get a pseudonym? For sure, I’m going to order and read a Benjamin Black mystery and see what I think.
Don’t forget to check out all the information on our upcoming Writer’s Retreat, April 27-29. You do not want to miss this conference. Our presenters are going to be dynamite, and the price of the conference has not changed since last year, still $115 for those early bird members who register by April 6, 2012.
Happy Valentine’s Day! May the words come sweetly to you.
Jackie
2012 TMTW Spring Retreat
!!Save the Date!!
Mark Your New Calendar Now
Texas Mountain Trail Writers’
21st Spring Retreat
April 27, 28, 29, 2012
The Texas Mountain Trail Writers welcome you to their
21st annual retreat in the Davis Mountains of West Texas.
New Location! Mountain Trail Lodge & Outdoor Learning Center-between Fort Davis and Alpine
www.dmectexas.org — Check out the beauty!
More information here:
http://texasmountaintrailwriters.org/writers-retreat/
Weekend Overview:
http://www.texasmountaintrailwriters.org/pdfs/2012_TMTW_Conference_Overview.pdf
Registration Form:
http://www.texasmountaintrailwriters.org/pdfs/2012_TMTW_Registration_Form.pdf
!!Save the Date!!
Minutes from January Meeting
Please read the minutes before attending the next meeting. Let us know at the next meeting if there are any corrections. Thanks!
Be sure you have the latest version of Adobe Reader! To download, go here: www.adobe.com
If you are unable to open the minutes, please email us and we will send you a copy via email.
Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering is proud to present
Doris Daley
Cowboy Poet Extraordinaire from Calgary Canada
Presenting a Cowboy Poetry Writing Workshop
Wednesday, February 22, 2012, from 2:00 ¡V 4:00 pm
West Texas National Bank Community Room
$5.00 per person, free to Sul Ross and area students
Participants will talk about:
- Likes/dislikes about poetry
- Traps to avoid
- Editing tips
- Metaphors and verbs, etc.
It’s always fun, non-threatening, good for any level of writer.
In 2004 Doris was named Best Female Cowboy Poet in North America by the Academy of Western Artists. In 2007, 2008 and 2009 she was named one of the Top 5 cowgirl poets in North America by the Western Music Association, with other Top 5 nominations for best collaboration and best cowboy poetry CD. At the November, 2009 WMA Awards Show, Doris won top honors for Best Female Cowboy Poet and best cowboy poetry CD.
For more information on Doris visit her website at www.dorisdaley.com. For questions regarding the workshop contact Ida Hoelscher at 432-386-6404.
Final Note from the Editor:
Have news? Toot your horn, clang your bell, raise your roof! Tell us your news and stories – or writing news in general, such as publications you would recommend, contests, book events, etc. Send your Braggin’ Rights and Trail Bits to gro.s1524610225retir1524610225wliar1524610225tniat1524610225nuoms1524610225axet@1524610225wtmtk1524610225sa1524610225.