FFG Spot 2009

The Fiction Focus Group of Cobb County.

Okay, so there are only eight of us.  Darrell, Jeff, Cathi, Jennie, Teresa, Will, Sylvia, and the Stephe.  But we are to writing what Spartans were to Persia—intense, and unpredictable.  It will beg for mercy before we’re done.

Opportunity:  The What We’re Interested In page at Donald Maass Literary is usually updated once every two months.  They’re only one agency, but they are an A-List one that has good insight on what is considered “fresh and new” out there, and what might interest other agencies as well.  So keep an eye on this link.

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December FFG

Holiday Get-together:  Tuesday, 12/29/2009 @ 7PM, at Mrs. O’Tyson’s place.  Particulars and directions have been e-mailed. 

No agenda!  No submissions!  Just a romp in the park.  Eats and drinks will be provided, but if you have favorites of your own, bring them along and share.  Bring your tall tales, writing news and topics, and outright lies, and be there or be a darned square.  See ya.

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November FFG

Critiquefest: 11/24/2009 @ 7 PM, same Bat Time, Bat Channel, and Bat Station, yo.

Agenda:

• “The Persistence of Vision” (short story) — Darrell (emailed).  Darrell warns that this piece has a surreal bent to it, so hold on to your hats.

• Haven’s Grace (dark paranormal romance, novella length) — Stephe

Meeting Note: Sylvia will be out of state and not in attendance.

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October FFG

Critiquefest: 10/27/2009, 7P on the East/West Connector, at Borders Book Store. 

Agenda:

• Across The Cytoplasmic Sea, Chapters 4 & 5 (handed out together) and Chapter 6 (emailed) — Jeff  (Our Mr. Carter has also emailed Chapter 7 now.  Remember, everyone—simply do what you can and don’t worry about the rest… he’s just trying to get the story OUT.)

• “Clear, Blue Skies” (sci-fi short story) — Darrell

• The Raggedy Man (horror, novel prologue) — Darrell

Meeting Note:  I will be bringing copies of the completed Haven’s Grace instead of emailing it at this point, especially with the submissions we have thus far.  Nevermind!  I’ve gone ahead and emailed it instead, to give you all as much time with it as possible before the November meeting.

We’ve got our plates full this meeting, which does NOT worry me in the least because we have had more in the past and we are up to it, without a doubt.  Everyone keep in mind, however, that in order to get it all done, we will have to keep side conversations and all but the most necessary points to a minimum.  (Be generous with your nits and line-editing on your critique, slash that stuff up really good–ha! but be conservative with them at the table, please.  I am speaking to myself as well–I know how longwinded I can be.)

This is going to be a really good meeting.

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September FFG

Critiquefest: 9/29/2009, 7PM @ our home away from home, Borders.  Is that a lot of 9s, or what?  Sort of Da Vinci code-ish, Angels and Demon-ish, planets all in a row-ish, don’t you think?  *shiver*  Nine-Two-Oh… get thee to a convenience store and play the Quick-Pick lotto, fast!

Agenda:

• Across The Cytoplasmic Sea, Chapter 2 (YA) — Jeff

• Long Black Veil, Chapters 1 and 2, (period murder mystery) — Jennie (emailed).  Jen has experimented with both chapters and needs to know which variation works best for you and why— the 1st person or the 3rd person POV.  She is also looking to do a little more work on the Sheriff.

• Across The Cytoplasmic Sea, Chapter 3 (YA) — Jeff (emailed).  If anyone is too short on time to get to this within the next few days, that will be understood.  No problem.  

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August FFG

Critiquefest: 8/25/2009, 7 P until the break of dawn (or 10P, whichever comes first), at our usual haunt, Borders Book Store on the East-West Connector.

Agenda:

•  Across The Cytoplasmic Sea, Chapter 1 (YA novel, fantasy) — Jeff  (emailed)   This is a new version of one of my favorite stories from Jeff’s pen, slanted in a young adult direction.  The two short prologues leading off are somewhat experimental; include them in your critique or not.  Let Jeff know your views on whether either one (or both) belongs with the story…

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July FFG

Critiquefest 7/28/2009, 7PM.  Run for the Border quick, ye scurvy lot!

Agenda: TBD.

Meeting Note: Sylvia will just be getting back from Colorado, and will not be in attendance.   But if we’re lucky… we will be having us a colorful report on Greece, from Cathi O’s point of view, and Jennie’s take on her writer’s conference in Athens.

God only knows what Jeff will be up to.

Meeting Update:  A hearty thanks to Kevin Howard and his sister-in-law, Ana (of Barcelona, Spain) for visiting and sharing their love of writing.  We’ve met Kevin before, last year I believe, but haven’t seen him since, so it was good seeing what all he’d been up to.  Ana is penning an epic fantasy; we wish her all the best with the project!

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June FFG

Critiquefest 6/30/2009, 7P in our usual Bat Cave.  Be there, or be Δ.  (It was the closest I could get to a square.  Sue me.)

Agenda:  TBD.

Meeting Update:  It sure is nice every now and then to have NO critiques on the table!  We had a rollicking good time, as usual, and jaw-jacked on many subjects, such as: suggesting authors for a critique-ee to study, where to get ideas for structure, who was working on what projects, and flash fiction.  We also helped Sylvia with the final paragraph of her short story, and asked the question “Are our blogs and other creative outlets successfully building to where we’re all trying to go?”  And of course, there was the spinning of tall tales, crude jokes, and outright lies.

We eagerly await Cathi’s return from her Grecian vacation, and the ensuing verbal report.  She’s supposed to be bringing me back a Greek tycoon. We’ll see how that goes.

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May FFG

Critiquefest 5/26/2009, 7P @ our Borders on the Connector.

Agenda:  TBD.  No submissions at this time.  If no submissions are emailed for this month, the meeting still goes on as a networkfest, hobnobfest, and general storytelling/advice/anecdote fest.  You know the drill.

Jennie has questions about synopsis writing, in anticipation of a conference she’ll be attending.   Sylvia is requesting more advice on marketing platform.  I have some revelations I need to share about my latest story, and if there’s time, I’d like to see what y’all think about what writers of color are experiencing these days (it scares me).  Anything you’d like to discuss, mull over, or think through in your writing life?  Bring it.

Meeting Update: Darrell and Cathi will not be in attendance.

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April FFG

Critiquefest 4/28/2009, 7P @ Borders Book Store.

Agenda:

• Marvel and The Homecoming Queen, pgs. 1-11 (section 4, YA novel) — Cathi O.

• Haven’s Grace, pgs. 60-81 (dark paranormal novella) — Stephe T.

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March FFG

Critiquefest 3/31/2009, 7P @ our Borders.

Agenda:

• Marvel and The Homecoming Queen, pgs. 29-52 (YA) — Cathi

• Haven’s Grace, pgs. 34-59 (dark paranormal) — Stephe

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February FFG

Critiquefest 2/24/2009, 7 P.  Same Bat time, same Bat channel.  Capes optional.

Agenda:

• Marvel and The Homecoming Queen, 2nd installment (YA) — Mrs. O. (e-mailed)

• Haven’s Grace, pgs. 1-33 (novella, dark paranormal) — Miz T.

• “Reflections in a Lunch Pail” (essay) — Mrs. K. (e-mailed)

***Meeting Note: Those who wish to do so may give Mrs. R. their views and sundry on her answer to Sylvia’s writing challenge last month, appropriately titled “Mild-Mannered Mook and the Regency Goddess,” a lovely gem of a story that immortalizes true love, Portals of the Behind, roaring beasts, and massive WordCountFail.  When I finally found out what event spawned said story (as you most assuredly will), I was in stitches, to say the least.

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January FFG

Critiquefest 1/27/2009, 7 P @ Borders Book Store on the East/West Connector and Austell Road.

Agenda:

• “Consequentially” (short story) — Will

• Playing Possum, Chapter 1  (YA novel) — Cathi

• Marvel and The Homecoming Queen (YA novel, unformatted) — Cathi (e-mailed)

Cathi is quite undecided as to which novel to work on first and which to save for later, thus she has given us the openings to both, and wants everyone’s vote.  During your normal critiquing, give her feedback on which character and story intrigues you the most.

***Meeting Note: Don’t forget, everyone—at the holiday soiree at Sylvia’s house last month, she issued a story challenge to those brave enough to attempt it.  How did that red party bra (swim suit top, skimpy scarlet stringy number, whatever you choose to call it) end up by Syl and Ed’s mailbox, particularly in December? Other pieces of clothing they found with it: red tights, a knit cap, an unidentifiable red something (the stringy bottom, maybe?), and a man’s jacket.  The order in which these things were found, and the distance the entire mess covered, is up to you.

250 words max, with an appropriate title.

Go forth and write.

(Sounds to me like Rudolph got a little drunk and depressed, broke away from the sleigh, and did a little cross-dressing.  Issues have a way of coming out around the holidays.)