August meeting

On August 13th, President Janice Brooks and Secretary Vonda Frampton of the El Paso Writers' League will present a variation of the successful June "Musical Chair Author" theme with writing prompts and genre themes geared to stimulate members to write for the annual contest.  Entries are due at the September 10th meeting.  The El Paso Writers' League meets monthly on the second Saturday from January - November from 2PM - 4PM at the Dorris Van Doren Library on Redd Road.  Come join the fun and get those creative juices flowing with other local writers.

Our new logo

The extent of the talents possessed by our members continues to amaze. 

Thanks for all the logo entries from you very talented people, they were excellent and the vote showed it. I am happy to announce the popular winning entry. This is our new El Paso Writers' League Logo: 

Our winner was Mike Grunsten. Congratulations Mike! Your gift certificate will be presented at the August meeting.

Janice Brooks, President, EPWL
Author of "Illusions" & "A Price for Fame"

July meeting

July Meeting Topic — On July 9, 2011 William (Bill) Cummings, author of three stage plays, will be presenting a program on play writing, a new category in the El Paso Writers’ League annual contest. The League meets at the Dorris Van Doren library, 551 Redd Road, at 2:00 P.M. the second Saturday of each month. Visitors are welcome.

The President’s Corner, July 2011

We're in the homestretch for our annual contest.  Beginning in June with the Musical Chair Authors to show our members their creativity extends into all genre's, we will have William (Bill) Cummings give a program in July on play writing, a new category in our contest.  We will conclude in August with another workshop designed to excite and stretch your "muse".  I challenge every member to submit a contest entry in a category for which they have never before written.  My goal is to have one entry in every major category, so, for one day a week, I am setting aside writing on my current novel "Seasons" to write for the contest.  The feedback from professionals who judge our contest is priceless and helps me write better, even when I don't agree with every single point.  As the author, we are the final authority for what ends up in our piece, but, hey, the reader is the real boss!  Get out of the box we put ourselves in.  Join, re-join, and commit to El Paso Writers' League.  We're learning and having fun in the process.

Janice Brooks, Author of "Illusions" & "A Price for Fame"

July meeting

On July 9, 2011 William (Bill) Cummings, author of three stage plays, will be presenting a program on play writing, a new category in the El Paso Writers’ League annual contest. The League meets at the Dorris Van Doren library, 551 Redd Road, at 2:00 P.M. the second Saturday of each month. Visitors are welcome.


President's Corner
We're in the homestretch for our annual contest.  Beginning in June with the Musical Chair Authors to show our members their creativity extends into all genre's, we will have William (Bill) Cummings give a program in July on play writing, a new category in our contest.  We will conclude in August with another workshop designed to excite and stretch your "muse".

I challenge every member to submit a contest entry in a category for which they have never before written.  My goal is to have one entry in every major category, so, for one day a week, I am setting aside writing on my current novel "Seasons" to write for the contest.  The feedback from professionals who judge our contest is priceless and helps me write better, even when I don't agree with every single point.  As the author, we are the final authority for what ends up in our piece, but, hey, the reader is the real boss!  Get out of the box we put ourselves in.  Join, re-join, and commit to El Paso Writers' League.  We're learning and having fun in the process.

June, 2011 meeting minutes

June 11, 2011 EPWL Regular Meeting Minutes

 

CALL TO ORDER:  President, Janice Brooks called the meeting to order.

INTRODUCTIONS (VISITORS/NEW MEMBERS) & BRAGS:  Pam Kogler & Watertiger introduced themselves.  Diane Morgan stated her book was in the 3^rd print & continues to sell well with book signings in Pennsylvania.

MINUTES:  5/14/11Minutes were approved as written.

TREASURER REPORT:  Treasurer’s report will be filed for audit .  No questions. Janice reminded members that dues need to be paid.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

1.  Junior Jotters Chair A. C. Sanders reported schedule is on Tuesdays & Thursdays beginning July 12 for 3 weeks, from 1-3PM.  Cost is $25 per week or $60 for 3 weeks.  He needs volunteers for table monitors.  Applications for students available at Library this week.
2. Contest Chair Mike Grunsten stated contest fees were revised – 5 entries for $20 and $3each additional entry.

OLD BUSINESS

1.  Reminder that all information is available on the blog athttp://EPWL.BLOGSPOT.COM
2. Entries for Logo Contest for EPWL are due 7/7/11 to VP Grunsten by e-mail at grunsten@elprr.com for vote by membership at 7/9/11 meeting.  Ties will be broken by board.

NEW BUSINESS: 

1.  Membership feedback about dues resulted in Board deciding a change should be made to Constitution Article VI.1.- delete word not in third sentence to read.  “Membership fees are pro-rated.  This will be voted on at 7/9/11 meeting.  The Standing Rules will then be modified to read dues of $40 per year or $4 per mo.
2. Southwest Writers from Albuquerque requested a partnership in publicizing one another’s activities which the board agreed to.  BLOG will list info as available.

PROGRAM:  Musical Chair Authors - Each member drew a paper slip upon entrance which gave table assignments for two exercises. President Brooks explained that each table had a posted genre for the participants to use in writing a story.  They had to use the words listed on the inside of the ‘table tent’ which showed the table number and genre.  Participants were given 10 minutes to write then read within their group/table.  The groups then chose 2 persons to read their stories to the entire meeting.  Attendees then changed tables and repeated the process.  The results were a creative and interesting assortment of stories using the same words in 8 different genres from persons who normally would not write Romance, Poetry, Op Ed, Historical, Southwest, Fantasy, Mystery or Journal/Memoir/Diary.  A good time was had by all!  

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1.  Deen Underwood broke a hip and is in rehab.
2. 50/50 drawing paid $12 with additional drawings for 3 paperback books..

Next month’s program will be Play Writing by W. C. Cummings on July 9, 2011.

 

 -- Janice Brooks for Secretary Vonda Frampton

2011 Writing Contest Guidelines

The El Paso Writer’s League

2011 Writing Contest Guidelines

ELIGIBILITY

The contest is exclusive to EPWL members who have paid their annual dues in full before the contest deadline.

CRITERIA

• Submissions must be original and unpublished.
• Submissions may not have been awarded prizes in either an EPWL or any other literary contest.
• Manuscripts being considered, but not under contract, by publishers are eligible for submission in this contest.
• All entries must follow the rules written down anywhere in this document.

CONTEST CATEGORIES

POETRY: ANY TOPIC (Nature, Southwest, Humorous, or whatever inspires you.)

1. Traditional: Poetry distinguished by the prosody of historic structures of meter, rhythm, rhyme, and versification, (including Blank Verse).
2. Closed Form: Poetry in specific and traditional patterns recognizable by their structure, e.g. couplets, ballad, sonnet, villanelle, limerick, sestina, among others.
3. Open Form (Free Verse): Poetry that does not conform to any established or historic meter, rhyme, or stanza structure. Such poetry derives its poetic qualities from the repetition of words, phrases, grammatical structures, arrangement of words or lines on the printed page, or any other innovative means of expression.
4. Haiku, Tanka, Senryu, Ghazal, and other forms of international poetic expression.
5. Children’s: Poetry that consists of whimsical, lyrical, laughable, loveable expressions of wit and wisdom. ANY FORM.

PROSE, NON-FICTION (2,000 words MAX.)

1. Inspirational: Think Chicken Soup stories. What are the words of wisdom that have guided you along your life’s path? What inspiring message or insights would you like share with others?
2. Personal Essay/Op-Ed/Feature Article: Discussion of a single subject from a personal point of view. Think newspaper Editorial Page or Living Section. Challenge others to think about, act upon, or appreciate your perspective on issues of common interest or concern.
3. Character Profile: Description of the qualities and characteristics that contribute to a particular person or pet’s unique personality.
4. Southwest / Travel: An article or essay describing and detailing the cultural, geographic, or historical significance and/or current events impacting an interesting local, national, or international location you have experienced.
5. Reminiscence: An account of your personal reflections about a memorable time or event that had a significant impact upon you and your life.

PROSE, FICTION

1. Adult Short Story: 3000 words MAX.
2. Adult FLASH Fiction: 500 words MAX.
3. Children/ YA Story: 1500 words MAX. Please specify appropriate age group.
4. Book Chapter: Please specify fiction or non-fiction.
5. Theater/Screen Play: A one-act play, or the first ten pages of a longer play.

Submitting entries

A member may enter any or all categories, but no more than two entries per category .

Submit two copies of each entry along with an official Entry Form to Mike Grunsten by the deadline: Sept. 11, 2010.

Entry fees

$20 for 1-5 submissions and $3 for each additional entry. If a contest entrant brings in a sponsor of $60 or more, the $20 entry fee will be waived.

Minimum entries

Categories with fewer than five entries will be absorbed into a Mainstream category.

How to submit

• All submissions are to be submitted anonymously, enclosed in a manila envelope at least 10x14, with the name and telephone number of the author on the outside of the envelope.
• Use standard size, plain white paper. Do not staple the pages of your entry. Instead, hold the pages together with a removable clip.
• All contest entries must be typed, and with the exception of poetry, double-spaced. Use one-inch margins all around. Indent each paragraph 5 to 7 spaces. Entries must be typed according to appropriate, professional form. See attached example of format.
• Contest entries must be clean and neat. Misspellings, strikeovers, hard-to-read, and old or yellowed manuscripts are not acceptable.
• Do not use fancy or script fonts for your text, except when stating character’s thoughts. Those go in italics. Stick to Times New Roman or one of the other fonts that most publishers use. Use 12 point size.
• The category and subject matter of each entry must appear in the left hand margin of the first page. (Example: Fiction: Romance or Book Length: Nonfiction or Poetry: Children’s, etc.) Word count of prose entries needs to appear on the right. Word count for poetry is unnecessary. On the following pages, type a key word from the title of the contest entry in the upper left-hand corner and page number in the upper right-hand corner. Do not put your name on any page of the manuscript.
• Do not include a cover page, illustrations, or pictures in the manuscript.
• Please sign your official Entry Form (to be given out at the August meeting) with your name, the titles of your entries, and the amount of money you submitted with the entries.
• Any deviation from these rules could be basis for disqualification.

Deadline

The contest deadline is Saturday, September 10, 2011. If you want to submit prior to the contest deadline, please send the completed Entry Form (August meeting), two copies of each entry, and the entry fee to:

El Paso Writers’ League

P.O.Box 13567

El Paso, Texas 70013

Attn: Mike Grunsten, Contest Chair

No entries will be accepted after the close of the EPWL business meeting on Saturday, September 10.

Need help?

If you have questions, feel free to call Mike Grunsten at 915-731-1318, or send an email to grunsten@elp.rr.com.