April’s IFWA meeting began with critiques for two members’ stories. The prompt for the Friday Night Readings at When Words Collide will be “Widgets of Death.” May 3 is the deadline for speculative stories for “In Places Between,” the Robin Herrington Short Story Contest (details on the IFWA site); Pampered Chef will be our fundraiser for the contest prize money–bring your orders to the May meeting to have your name entered in a draw. IFWA has given up its Saturday night party slot at When Words Collide so that Edge Press can hold a party instead. Our semi-annual writers’ retreat is April 7-10. Aurora Nominations will be announced Friday, April 13: be sure to vote! The meeting ended with a skills session on how to give and receive critique.

Write-Off (IFWA writers retreat)

IFWA’s spring write-off is just around the corner.

Can’t seem to put a chunk of time together to write in?

Here’s an opportunity to write off a weekend!

The write-off will be held on April 6-9.

At the Richmond Meadows Recreation Hall: 4940, 39 Ave. S.W.

Join fellow IFWITS as we sit at tables and, to the sound of pencils and keyboards, write for the entire weekend in an atmosphere free of distractions. Security is very good if you’re thinking of bringing a computer. Banquet tables and chairs are provided. Please bring an extension cord if you are writing electrically. The lighting is sometimes inadequate so you may want to bring a lamp. Bus service is quite good with several routes coming directly from downtown. A small “coffee break” area will be set up for conversation.

 

NOTE:There is no parking in the complex. Please Park behind COOP   

 

Schedule is as follows: (very much subject to change except for opening times)

 

Friday 8:00 am hall opens and is available for set-up and to start writing till whatever time you’d like to quit that evening.

 

Saturday 8:00 am the hall opens.

5:00 pm break for pizza.

6:00 – 8:00 pm some writerly discussion

8:00 pm hall is available for as long as you’d like to stay and write that evening.  

 

Sunday 8:00 am the hall opens.

6:00 – 8:00 pm some writerly discussion or other activity TBA

8:00 pm hall is available for as long as you’d like to stay and write that evening.

 

Monday 8:00 am the hall opens.

5:00 pm pack up, clean up, and be amazed at how much you’ve accomplished.   

                            

NOTE:There is no parking in the complex.    Please Park behind COOP                   

 

You will be responsible for your own food and drink except for Sat. evening pizza. There is a COOP store a block away and several restaurants and fast food places only two blocks away.

The hall has fridge, stove, and kettle. We will arrange for coffee makers.

March 2012 meeting

The March meeting was an opportunity to catch up on business. Members were encouraged to nominate valued works for the Aurora Awards, volunteer for When Words Collide and attend the April writers’ retreat. Panel topics for the conference were generated, and IFWA decided to hold a party on the Saturday night of the convention. Ideas were generated for the Friday Night Readings prompt, and fundraising ideas to support the Robyn Herrington Short Story Contest prize money were debated. We now have a coordinator for the Jack Whyte workshop and the new website will go live. Next month’s skills: How to critique. May skills: Report form the Rainforest Writers’ Retreat.

February 2012 meeting

The skills session on Dealing With Amazon by Craig DiLouie was fantastic. I really hope he will reprise this presentation at When Words Collide, this summer. Two stories were critiqued and two items of business were covered: our library must be moved out of the Sentry Box due to a cleanup of the gaming room so it will go to a member’s house and people can email that member to take out a book or magazine. Second, the Jack Whyte workshop offered this summer is now full with twelve participants, and others interested will be added to a waiting list.

January 2012 meeting summary

In the January meeting, we learned about the use of poetic language in fiction, presented by guest, Bob Stallworthy. We critiqued one story and heard about multiple authors’ sales, reviews and writing goals met. Please note: the Prix Aurora Awards are now open for nominations for any story published by a Canadian in 2011. IFWA’s first summer workshop has been filled, but we are planning a second, so every member can have the opportunity to attend. We plan to update the website, run a fundraising barbecue to raise prize money for the short story contest and have an IFWA table at the When Words Collideconference this summer. Next month’s skills session will be: Dealing with Amazon.