Step by Step - the September meeting's Focus Point

There is a simple word that is critical to accomplishing our writing goals. That word is the verb step. 

There are many words to describe our steps. They can be sauntering or hurried; aimless or direct; baby steps or giant steps. Sometimes we step alone, other times with company. At times our steps are fruitless; thankfully, many times they are fruitful.

All steps have these three things in common:

• They move us from one location to another, from here to there. When we step, we move.

• Secondly, steps are subject to our decision. The choice to step or be idle is ours. The direction in which we move is also our choice. Will we take a familiar route or step into an adventure? Will we step forward or will we step back?

• Thirdly, a very basic truth is that every journey begins with a single step. That’s why, when we talk about goals, it's important to define our next step. Even Isaiah’s promise that we will soar like eagles and run w/o weariness, speaks of walking & not fainting (Isa 40:31).

Today’s focus is so basic, I could well have spoken about breathing - we don’t think about taking a breath much more than we think about taking a step. But if we do not take intentional steps, we will not progress in our writing journey. Physical exercise, spiritual growth, intellectual learning... all require a first step - as does our writing.

Take-home thought: My journey is defined by many steps. What is my next step?

A writer's prayer: "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth" (Ps 86:11)... step by step.

Next meeting: October 5, 2013

Summer Success, Fall Focus

September meeting

Saturday, 9/14, 10:00-noon

High Mountain Church

681 High Mountain Road, North Haledon, NJ 07508

Summer Success, Fall Focus

We left our June meeting armed with goals for the summer. Come prepared to share your successes as well as a fresh focus for the fall.

Our meeting topic is Write Tight. Bring materials for writing exercises & note-taking.

NJCWG in the "news" !!

NJCWG is featured at Circles of Faith today! Check out www.circlesoffaith.org. Circles of Faith is a wonderful website that highlights issues of faith, life, and community. 

DEVELOP YOUR WRITING SKILLS THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT AND CRITIQUE

What makes a writer, a writer?

A writer writes. It’s that simple.

It may be for publication or for personal reflection, but putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to express one’s thoughts on a page qualifies.

Because writing tends to be a solitary endeavor, it’s essential for writers to gather together for encouragement and accountability.

The North Jersey Christian Writers Group is “a place where writers come together to encourage each other on their journey to publication, learning and developing their skills along the way.”

As a group, the NJCWG members are at varied levels of accomplishment and skills. Some are published and some are just starting out. We write for children, for women, for believers, and for the secular market, but mostly we write for the Lord. We write because He has called us to write.

The purpose of the NJCWG is twofold:

- to sharpen our skills through writing exercises and monthly focus topics.

- to keep ourselves accountable by sharing goals and critiquing each other's work.

NJCWG meets on the first (usually) Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Our meetings consist of a short writer’s devotion by our facilitator, Barbara Higby, followed by a writing exercise and/or special presentation. The last half hour is dedicated to critiquing our previously submitted work. Personally, I know that I would not be published if it wasn’t for the helpful, constructive, no-holds-barred critique of this group. So consider joining us.

NEXT NORTH JERSEY CHRISTIAN WRITERS GROUP MEETING:

When:         Saturday, September 14

                   10:00 am

Where:       High Mountain Church

                  681 High Mountain Road

                  North Haledon, NJ 07508

For more information, send an email to njcwgroup@gmail.com.

Focus

Thoughts to ponder 

From the June 1, 2013 meeting

Productive, effective writing requires focus. Productivity & effectiveness in any arena requires focus.

A major challenge to maintaining focus is the vast array of choices begging for our attention. Many opportunities are good, but do they define our focus or blur it?

Paul tells Christians to “Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Cor. 9:24). In other words, stay focused, don’t stray from the path. This is true for our faith, but it is also a principle for life in general.

I confess, I lose my writing focus too easily. I get stirred up when I meet with other writers, but I’m making too many choices that draw my focus elsewhere. As writers, with a gift & passion from God, I want us to make choices that will hold our focus on task, on our calling. The first step in making those good choices is to clarify our focus.

Focus will help us make choices that bear fruit. This is true whether we are working on a piece for a publisher or creating a personal blog. So ask yourself, “What is my focus? What has God put on my heart to do now? Next?”

This is our last meeting until September. How fruitful will our writing be over the summer? Will we actually submit that magazine article, short story or book proposal? Will we create, re-create or tweak our blog?

Prayerfully choose a summer writing focus. This may be a project, a genre, an area of  research, the submission you've been putting off. Then get specific, flesh out your focus with attainable goals. Make this summer fruitful. 

Take-home thought: Write in such a way to get the prize -- sharing truth & offering hope -- whether published or not.

NJCWG Meeting: Saturday, June 1st - YOUR SUMMER FOCUS

Meeting: Saturday, June 1st

10:00 am - 12:00 noon

(optional Blogging Workshop: 12:00 - 1:00 pm)

High Mountain Church

681 High Mountain Rd.

North Haledon, NJ

Productive, effective writing requires focus. This is true whether we are working on a piece for a publisher or creating a personal blog. So what is your focus? How fruitful will your writing be over the summer? Will you actually submit that magazine article, short story or book proposal? Will you create, re-create or tweak your blog? Discuss your goals & options with fellow writers at Saturday’s writers’ gathering. Be prepared to participate in our writing exercise by choosing one of the following topics:

     

•      Miracles
•      Multitasking Mom's Survival Guide
•      O Canada The Wonders of Winter
•      Overcoming Challenges
•      Stories about Cats or Dogs
•      The Dating Game
•      Reboot Your Life
•      Think Positive For Kids

                           -Future topics from Chicken Soup for the Soul

Saturday special: Pack a lunch and stay for a one hour blogging workshop. One of our own, Susan Panzica, will offer blogging tips and guidelines. 

Next meeting - Saturday, May 4

We have a special guest presenting at this Saturday's meeting. Penny Musco, a successful writer for magazines, will share from her experience. If you wonder where to find markets for articles, want to know how to approach a magazine editor, or would like tips on conducting research, you won't want to miss this meeting. Not interested in writing articles? You will still be able to pick up writing pointers that will enhance your craft.

Hope to see you in the cafe at 10 am.

You're A Writer

http://kmweiland.com/images/Manifesto.jpg

Next meeting - April 6, 2013

It's a "do-over" day! Since last month was hampered by illness and activities, we will cover our topic from March.

Please note that we will meet in the upstairs conference room, not the Cafe as had been announced.

FocusWriters write but, unless you've made a name for yourself, it takes more than writing to get published.

Come with a proposal or piece you want published and at least two possible publishers. If you have a copy of The Christian Writers' Guide (or a writing guide of preference), bring that as well. Our discussion will endeavor to fine tune our focus and bring us closer to publication.
Reminder, pieces to critique should be submitted by Friday morning. Please limit yourself to two pages, double spaced.

Write for Him,
Barbara

Next Meeting - March 2 - 10 am

Focus

Writers write but, unless you've made a name for yourself, it takes more than writing to get published.

Come with a proposal or piece you want published and at least two possible publishers. If you have a copy of The Christian Writers' Guide (or a writing guide of preference), bring that as well. Our discussion will endeavor to fine tune our focus and bring us closer to publication.

Reminder, pieces to critique should be submitted by Friday morning. Please limit yourself to two pages, double spaced.

Write for Him,
Barbara

Feb. 2 meeting: THE RULES

The next meeting of NJCWG is:
Saturday, Feb. 2
10:00 - 12:00.

Our topic will be the CRAFT of writing.
Are there set "rules" to follow?
Or are there just "guidelines?"

• WHAT are they?
• WHO should use them?
• WHEN do you use them? 
• WHY is it important to follow them?
• HOW do you apply them to your writing? 

High Mountain Church
681 High Mountain Rd.
North Haledon, NJ 07508
[upstairs conference room]

Next meeting - Jan. 5

Correction!
The correct date for Saturday's meeting is Jan. 5th.

Hope to see you there!


Sat. Jan. 5th
10:00 - 12:00

upstairs in the conference room at:
High Mountain Church
681 High Mountain Rd.
No. Haledon, NJ

January Meeting

Happy New Year, Writers! May many uplifting words find their way to publication for the NJCWG in 2013.

Our next meeting is this Saturday, January 7,10-12:00, in the upstairs conference room.

We are privileged to welcome screenwriter Kevin Caruso as our guest speaker. He is best known to us as the son of Maude Pych, a longtime member of NJCWG, but he is known to others by his accomplishments in the bio below.

Please be encouraged to invite guests to this special meeting. We will begin promptly at 10.

Kevin Caruso’s screenplay THE RUT was a Nicholl Fellowship semifinalist and won the Cinestory Screenwriting Competition.  THE RUT is currently being packaged with director Karyn Kusama (GIRLFIGHT, JENNIFER'S BODY) with actress CHLOE GRACE MORETZ (CARRIE (2013), KICK ASS, HUGO), JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN (Starz Channel's MAGIC CITY, THE WATCHMEN, THE LOSERS) and RAY LIOTTA (GOODFELLAS) attached. 

He co-wrote the film I TRIED, featuring Hip Hip luminaries Bone Thugs N Harmony, for CodeBlack Entertainment.  The DVD went platinum, selling over 250 thousand units.

His screenplay EXPOSURES OF WAR received a perfect score and the highest monetary award ever from the New Jersey Council of the Arts.

In 2010, his “Southland” spec was the First Place winner in the Scriptapalooza TV Competition. 

Kevin is a graduate of William Paterson University in Wayne, NJ. 

Kevin is currently repped by Joanne Wiles at ICM and managed by Scooty Woop Entertainment.

November Meeting Cancelled

Hello friends,

Some of us have power. Some do not. The church does have power and is available for anyone in need to sleep or to warm up. 

Since most of us are struggling to find gas, we think it best to not expend gas driving to the meeting. 

The next meeting will be our annual Christmas brunch on Dec. 1st at 10:00 am. We'll work out the details through emails to come. Until then, stay safe and warm! And use the "found" time to write!! 

Blessings,

Susan

Next Meeting - Saturday Nov. 2nd

Hi all! 

Hope you all weather the storm without incident! Right now, my house is among a few in my area who still have power. Thanking God for His ultimate power than calms storms! 

The next meeting of the NJCWG is this Saturday at 10:00- 12:00 at the newly renovated High Mountain Church. We are out of the gym and back upstairs! We'll be meeting in the upstairs conference room. Enter  through the side entrance. Proceed up the stairs, and go straight ahead. Conference room is last door on the right. 

The topic for this meeting is: Expanding on our Expertise.

Hope to see you all then! 

Susan

Rules of Writing

Seen on facebook, this brought a smile to my face and conviction to my heart! 

Susan

Note new meeting time this Saturday

Saturday, October 6 we will begin our new meeting time

10:00 am - noon

Clare will lead a discussion about writing techniques.

Please remember to submit pages for critique before Friday.
Kudos to you S. Jane, for your early submission!

1000 words

Can you relate? LOL

A bit of humor... and meeting reminder

Wish I didn't identify with this so much! Hope you are all having a blessed and restful Labor Day. Looking forward to getting together this Saturday after our summer hiatus. 

Reminder from Barbara's last post:

Our September 8 meeting will focus on Revision & Self-Editing. We will meet from 2-4:00. Please be prepared to share your summer progress and new goals for the fall. Submissions for critiques should be submitted no later than the Thursday before we meet. They will be reviewed in the order they were received. (See guidelines.)

 

September is coming

June's Take-home Thought from Psalm 139 was this:
Part of what God wove into us when he created us are the gifts he chose to give us. His expectation is that we will cultivate and develop these gifts and use them to bless others.

I hope you cultivated and developed your writing gift as you pursued your summer goals. We shared some lofty aspirations at our June meeting -- I am feverishly working to complete mine before we meet in September. Clare and Anne both had their articles about teachers accepted for publication, using their gifts to bless others.

You may recall that we decided to meet on September 8, rather than on Labor Day weekend. I hope that still works for everyone. I believe that Sr. Jane and Sr. Mary Jude are unable to attend on the 8th so we look forward to seeing them on October 6.

Our September 8 meeting will focus on Revision & Self-Editing. We will continue to meet from 2-4:00. Please be prepared to share your summer progress and new goals for the fall. Submissions for critiques should be submitted no later than the Thursday before we meet. They will be reviewed in the order they were received. (See guidelines.)

Write for Him,
Barbara

Congratulations Clare!

Congratulations to Clare Cartagena!
Her "teacher short story" was accepted for publication at Write Integrity Press.
Kudos Clare, and keep pursuing that dream ;D