Events
We meet the second Tuesday of each month from 7-9 p.m. at Threadgills North (on Lamar between Airport and Koenig). Join us for soup and salad or order off the menu and enjoy our two hour program. There is no fee for the monthly meeting. Hope you can join us!
February Meeting
Enneagrams are a different way of looking at character creation. Akin to archetypes, they define major personality types within real people – not just fictional ones – and can help add depth and reality to your work. Come join us as our own Kate Williams helps explain the psychology and creativity of this ancient symbol.
January 12, 2010 @ 7-9 PM
DATE: January 12, 2010
TIME: 7 – 9 p.m.
LOCATION: NEW LOCATION: Threadgill’s North
2009 Fall Retreat – Reserve Your Spot Now!
Austin RWA’s Annual Fall Retreat has become a tradition deeply beloved by our members, both for the fantastic writing-time, critiquing and learning, and also for the opportunity to get to know each other better. New members, members who’ve been part of RWA for years and potential-members-to-be all enjoy the inspiring lovely Hill Country views and peace of the McKinney Roughs Nature Park and the expansive dining hall where we all gather to write.
All events throughout the weekend are optional. The retreat is primarily a time for you to get away from your “regular” lives and write in peace, among others who share that desire. More details to come on the Jane Myer Perrine’s “In The Beginning – Start Your Story With a BIG BANG!” Workshop, as well on the Pain-free Critiquing sessions where you’ll have a chance to read fellow retreater’s work as well as hear their thoughts on your own.
This year, we are offering two options for those with busy schedules. If you would prefer to pay with something other than PayPal, or have any questions, please email Michelle at special-projects@austinrwa.org.
Where: McKinney Roughs Nature Park
1884 W Highway 71, Cedar Creek, TX 78612 (Map)
(512) 303-5073
When: Saturday and Sunday, November 7th and 8th, 2009
What: Writing, Workshop, Critiquing! Meet wonderful writers, make new friends.
Cost: Please see below.
This is the Austin RWA event of the year. (Check out some raves from members who have previously attended!)
We look forward to seeing you there!
Saturday and Sunday – $95
Includes:
- Brilliant Beginnings Workshop
- Pain-free Critiquing
- Use of Park facilities (writing time!) all day Saturday
- Saturday Lunch
- Saturday Happy Hour (BYO beverage of choice, sodas and juice supplied)
- Saturday Dinner
- Overnight Stay
- Use of Park facilities (writing time!) all day Sunday
- Sunday Breakfast
- Sunday Lunch
Saturday Only – $50
Includes:
- Brilliant Beginnings Workshop
- Pain-free Critiquing
- Use of Park facilities (writing time!) all day Saturday
- Saturday Lunch
- Saturday Happy Hour (BYO beverage of choice, sodas and juice supplied)
- Saturday Dinner
Some Raves from Previous Retreat Attendees
If you can swing it at all, I highly recommend coming. Honestly, it was the best money I spent on my writing career last year. It’s such a great chance to connect with the group and get to know one another. Plus the creative energy in the group is just. phenomenal. It’ll recharge your batteries and spur your creativity. And at a mere $80, it’s a real bargain.
Emily
I didn’t really feel “part” of ARWA until I went to the first Fall Retreat and got to spend non-meeting time chatting with people. Now you couldn’t pry me loose.
Michelle
I am SO happy I was able to go on this retreat! What a blast! And a wonderful time to get in some writing.
Lori
I joined ARWA in January 06 and this retreat last fall was a GREAT experience for me. I really got to know a lot of people and it made me feel so much more a part of the “family”. If you’re new and are nervous about coming out for this, I’d really like to encourage you to take the plunge. You’ll get a ton of writing time, plus make some new friends.
Emma
Workshop and Critique Day – August 29
Join us on Saturday, August 29 for a writing workshop led by Sherry Thomas called
Hot and Memorable: A quick and non-dirty guide to writing great love scenes.
About the Workshop:
Sex sells. But sex isn’t easy to write. Even in this age of the erotic boom there are plenty of writers, both published and unpublished, who cringe at the thought of the love scene.
But from a writer’s point of view, a sex scene isn’t about sex any more than a lightning bug is about lightning. It is all about the story. In this hands-on, audience-participation workshop, Sherry Thomas demonstrates exactly that—using context, conflict, and complexity rather than anatomical descriptions of sex to arrive at a love scene that is both searing and suspenseful.
About the Critiquing:
After the workshop, those who have submitted material in advance will be splitting into groups for critique sessions (see below for details). If you don’t choose to participate in the critique, we encourage you to stick around and write!
Where: Milwood Branch of the Austin Public Library
12500 Amherst Dr. Austin, Texas 78727
(512) 974-9880
When: 10:15am – 4:30pm, Saturday August 29th
To Bring: Please bring a sack lunch and printouts of any material you’re critiquing
Suggested Donation: $10
Critique Information:
If you’d like to participate in the critique portion of the August 29th writing day, you need to send in your pages by Monday, August 17th WEDNESDAY AUGUST 19th. Send them to: special-projects@austinrwa.org.
You should send in one scene, up to 10 pages. Please make sure the scene breaks at a natural point—don’t cut or extend mid-scene to get exactly 10 pages. If you need to go over by one or two pages, that’s fine, and it’s also fine if you only want to send in 2 or 3 pages total.
The scene can be from anywhere in your manuscript or short story. If it’s any scene other than the opening scene, please include a brief set-up paragraph explaining where we are in the story. Optionally, you can include specific questions or aspects of the writing you’d like critiqued. (”I’m looking for general feedback on the character of Mary – do you find her motivation in this scene believable” for instance.)
Please use standard submission-style formatting, which is how you’d send your work to an editor or agent. Standard submission format is double-spaced, in a readable font like Times New Roman our Courier. Remember to put page numbers, your name and the working title of the work in the header or footer.
April Kihlstrom’s Book in a Week August 15th
April Kihlstrom will be giving an all day presentation to the New Jersey Romance Writers on Book in a Week on August 15.
Unofficial July meeting
While the lucky RWA National Conference attendees are in DC, we will be meeting (or is it un-meeting?) on July 14th @ 7 PM at Marie Callender’s.
Workshop and Critique Day – May 30
Join us on May 30 for a writing workshop led by Jan Hudson, covering Scene and Sequel. Many published authors say that scene & sequel was the last thing they learned before they sold!
After the workshop, those who have submitted material in advance will be splitting into groups for critique sessions (see below for details). If you don’t choose to participate in the critique, you’re welcome to stick around and write!
Where: Twin Oaks Branch of the Austin Public Library
Please contact special-projects at austinrwa dot org for the new location.
When: 10:15am – 4:30pm, Saturday May 30th
To Bring: Please bring a sack lunch and printouts of any material you’re critiquing
Cost: $10
Please pay now to confirm your space:
If you’d like to participate in the critique portion of the May 30th writing day, you need to send in your pages by May 18th – that’s this coming Monday. Send them to: special-projects@austinrwa.org.
You should send in one scene, up to 10 pages. Please make sure the scene breaks at a natural point – don’t cut or extend mid-scene to get exactly 10 pages. If you need to go over by one or two pages, that’s fine, and it’s also fine if you only want to send in 2 or 3 pages total.
The scene can be from anywhere in your manuscript or short story. If it’s any scene other than the opening scene, please include a brief set-up paragraph explaining where we are in the story. Optionally, you can include specific questions or aspects of the writing you’d like critiqued. (”I’m looking for general feedback on the character of Mary – do you find her motivation in this scene believable” for instance.)
Note that this time we’re asking for standard submission-style formatting. Standard submission format is double-spaced, in a readable font like Times New Roman our Courier. Remember to put page numbers, your name and the working title of the work in the header or footer. By using standard formatting rules, we ensure that everyone gets to read and critique roughly the same amount of material. Plus, material’s a lot easier to read this way!
PRO Pitch Session – June 13
We will have a special practice pitch session for our PRO members who have editor/agent appointments at National Conference in Washington, DC. Stay tuned for more details or contact pro-liaison@austinrwa.org.
Fall Writing Retreat – November 7-8
SAVE THE DATE! Join us for dedicated writing time at the peaceful McKinney Roughs Park. Full details, including price and agenda, will be posted here.
Tracy Wolff Booksigning – March 28
Join Austin RWA author Tracy Wolff for a booksigning at Barnes and Noble at La Frontera in Round Rock from 1- 3 PM.