Charlotte Writers Club January 19, 2021 Meeting Recap:
In Case You Missed it:
We opened our first virtual meeting of 2021 with Kevin Winchester's check list of questions to help us build characters who are corporal beings and who have life outside the page. Kevin is a creator of characters from those in his short story collection Everybody's Gotta Eat (2009) to his first novel, Sunflower Dog: Dancing the Flathead Shuffle (2020).

For pictures and context visit this
President Caroline Kane Kenna welcomed 45 members and guests including first-timers Brian, Lynn, Patricia, Melissa and Kissie.

During our Member Announcements we celebrated news that Sarah's book
The Plus One has been optioned for a TV script!
For more good publishing news from Mary Alice Dixon and Gary Powell and to share yours Check out Member Kudos.
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Dave Collins introduced our speaker and his topic. Angela Haigler led the discussion during the Q&A. Here is Dave's summary:

"Kevin talked about how to move beyond characters adapted from people we've known and ourselves (what he calls "the author's 'dark secrets" to other realms of invention.

His method? Imagine a character's entire life, what takes place before he or she enters your story, what takes place when the story has come to an end. (Assuming, of course, that your character survives!) To help those of us looking to create more interesting and compelling characters, Kevin presented us with a set of 22 questions to ask and answer that will help "to really know your character." 
When you have finished answering the questions, he promised, you'll have a well-rounded character you know intimately. All you have to do then is to pull the slice of your character's life you need for the story at hand. Simple enough, right?"
If you want a copy please contact Axel.

In other business:

  • Caroline thanked Keira Mayock for volunteering to serve the club assisting Debra Wallin with the website.
  • We are putting together a tech team to work with and learn from Debra, Immediate Past President and tech guru."If you want join please contact Debra for a tutorial." 
  • Adrian Calabrese is our new co-contest chair and will add her expertise to the leadership team for the rest of this program year and for 2021-2022. Adrian answered the appeal in this month’s newsletter.
  • For 2021-2022 and beyond we want to add a publicity/marketing team to the advisory board. We also need a new Critique Groups Coordinator. Jennifer Hurlburt, who has done the job for two years is rolling off advisory board in June. Contact Anshu Gupta our Vice President of Nominations or Caroline for more on either of these opportunities to share you talents.

Our Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 16, 2021
6:30 to 8:30 pm via Zoom
No Matter the Genre of Your Novel
Suspense is the Key to Success

Kimmery Martin, Charlotte ER doctor turned author, is our guest speaker. Some novels tell you up front what has happened, inviting you to look back and see how it all happened, surprising you with twists and turns that make you wonder if the up-front declaration wasn't misleading. Other novels tease you along, revealing a little here, a little there, catching you off-guard as revelations mount and the plot turns in new directions. Either way, readers expect suspense and Kimmery Martin's talk at the February meeting will help you create that most necessary ingredient to a successful book.

Martin is the author of The Queen of Hearts and The Antidote for Everything, and knows whereof she speaks. Not a craft talk to be missed!
For more on our presenter visit her ONLINE. For more on her topic check the CWC Calendar of Events Page.

At that same meeting, we will reveal and celebrate the winners of CWC's Nonfiction Contest.Two reasons to join the fun. Hope to see you then!
CWC Poetry and Short Story Contests Are Now Open

There's still time to get that poem finished and entered in our Poetry Contest that closes on February 16, 2021. Ashley Lumpkin is our judge. Winners will be revealed at the April meeting.

The Elizabeth Simpson Smith Short Story Contest is open now until March 16th. The fiction contest is CWC's most prestigious contest.
Club Announcements:

Saturday, February 27 at 2:00 pm
Seats are still available for Act One; Playwriting Basics featuring Elizabeth Searle is hosted by CWC North . To learn more about this workshop via Zoom visit the CWC Workshops Page and Register Here.

Monday, February 8, 7 to 8:30 pm
CWC Virtual Writing Salon & Social Time: write to prompts provided by Tiffany Grantham. If you are a member you will receive an announcement and the zoom link. This is open to the public. Be our guest by clicking on this link to sign up.

Thursday February 4 at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Memoirist Gilda Morina Syverson will interview Rebecca McClanahan about the process of writing her latest book, In the Key of New York City. This virtual event is FREE and co-hosted by CWC North and Main Street Books. For more information and to sign up visit the CWC North Page.

Don't forget Open Mic Night on February 19, 2021. You must be a member to read. You will receive the Zoom link in the event announcement and register ahead of time to read. Register Here.
Don't Forget These





Check out the on going programs Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library offers to writers at CMLibrary.org

Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 12 – 1:00 PM
Poetry In Pajamas meets every other Wednesday at 12:00PM for an hour via Zoom. We typically work on three prompts per meeting and try our best to give everyone time to share their work. Positive feedback is encouraged as this is a safe environment for poets of all experience levels. Please register here.

Thursday, January 28, 2021, 3:00 PM
Indie Author Project Expert Session with Sheri Fink: How to Write, Illustrate, and Publish a Children’s Book
Best-selling author Sheri Fink will be giving tips on the whole process of writing a children’s book – from staying motivated, to focusing your narrative, to how to find and hire an illustrator. Register here.
Or These:

The Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) in partnership with Biblioboard is taking submissions for the 2020 Self-Publishing Literary Award. Each year BCALA honors the best self-published eBooks by an African American author in the United States in the genres of Fiction and Poetry. These awards acknowledge outstanding achievement in the presentation of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.
Each genre prize winner shall receive:
  $500.00 award
  Formal recognition at the Black Caucus of ALA Literary Awards
  BCALA Literary Award Seal to use in marketing. The deadline is February 28, 2021.
Authors, you can learn more and submit at BCALA Ebook Contest.

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A Free Poetry Event
with US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo and former Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey – The Power of Poetry in America on January 26, 2021,


Support CWC Members & Community Partners
Visit the Member Resources Page
Check out the new season of Charlotte Readers Podcast
Click on the image to the right to listen to an episode and learn about Patreon.
You may be surprised at how many CWC members' voices you recognize including Landis Wade who is the producer and host of the podcast.
FEATURED LIT EVENT:
PEN TO PAPER
Join on Tuesdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. for a mini-lesson, writing prompt, writing time, and sharing. Free

Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize open now until January 30, 2021
MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Charlotte Writers Club entitles you to participate in workshops, critique groups, contests, and guest speaker programs. The cost is a modest $35 per year for individuals and $20 for students.

We welcome all writers in all genres and forms to join our Charlotte-area literary community. Your membership in the Charlotte Writers' Club helps support writers, readers, and literacy at a critical time in our nation's and our city's history.

To Join or Renew click this Membership Link and follow the instructions.
Charlotte Writers Club PO Box 220954, Charlotte NC 28222


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writers and keep up with the club offerings.