The Newsletter of West Texas Writers, Inc.
MAY 2009
NEXT MEETING WILL BE AUGUST 29, 2009
AT
2:00pm
First Presbyterian Church - 800 West Texas Avenue, Midland TX.
Please enter the Church at the A street entrance (parking across the street or around corner on Illinois) and follow the signs upstairs to room 211. (Elevator available)
MEETING MINUTES FOR:
May 2, 2009
2-3:30 pm, First Presbyterian Church, Room 211
Midland, Texas
Regular Meeting
President James Woods presided.
Announcements and Business:
· Approval of minutes.
· Approval of Treasurer’s Report ($935 at Celebration of Writers, $730 at the time of meeting).
· Tom Panks at the United Universalist Church is looking for local writers. Deadline is June 1.
· There will be a symposium on the first Sunday in August – writers will read their works from anthology.
· Announcement of free comics day.
· WTW meetings are on break for the summer, but Debbie will continue the newsletter through the summer.
· Lubbock will host the Panhandle Professional Writers conference in June, with writers, publishers, and other professionals.
Writing Exercise:
After business was concluded, we took part in a writing exercise, showing the different directions various writers can take a beginning sentence.
Submitted by Shonda Folsom
OPEN MIC HEBDOMADAL - SATURDAY, MAY 23rd EDITION by Rita and Kat (after the
fact)
DEDICATED TO MANDY AND HER FAMILY
UPCOMING EVENTS: SPREADING VERSE - YOUR VOICE COUNTS!!! POETRY READINGS AT
THE GLOBE OF THE SOUTHWEST - ODESSA, TEXAS - Need Poet's Name and length of
poem. More detail when available.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13TH - 2 P.M. DR. JIM WILSON - Everyday poetry - HANDS-ON
WORKSHOP on "How to Get in the Zone" sponsored by
The Permian Basin Poetry Society (PBPS) @ - The PRESIDENTIAL MUSEUM,
ODESSA, TEXAS 2 P.M. PUBLIC WELCOME - Donations accepted.
SATURDAY, JULY 11TH - SLAM POETRY CONTEST - WI FI JAVA - ODESSA COLLEGE -
SIGN UP WITH DANIEL RAMOS OR KAT
What a great time at COA the middle of May - Downtown Midland - had student
poetry contest winners and OPEN MIC & PBPS readers! PBPS' booth
well-received and covered with volunteers - THANK YOU to Brad and Daniel for
handing out cards to EVERYONE there! Spreading verse and word in the Basin!
Hello to All! What a terrific evening we had at OPEN MIC on Tuesday, May
19th at Barnes & Noble (B&N)- newcomers and regulars everywhere, even
holding up B&N's bookshelves!
Morris Burns and his mouth harp doin' it again to the tune of "Blackberry
Blossom." Attendee in wonder over Morris's ability to play that "thang"
fast as greased lightning.
Rick Holstead, the wonderful truck drivin' country style poet!
Poet Daniel Ramos with emotional intensity "Ziplock Bag" on love and
self-preservation. He's an award winning Slam Poet!
Connie from Lamesa and her dynamic poem, "Prodigal Heart" with
thoughtfulness, making every word count. Also, "West Texas Sandstorm" which
was spoken with "true grit."
Welcome to husband and wife team, Joi and Jason Rhode's "I Almost Died."
Love does conquer all!
Amazing Brad whose inspiration is in the evening, graced us with his
prayerful poem in honor of his mother, "I'll Praise You if You Do, I'll
Praise You if You Don't."
Comedic poet Julia Welker - you are a joy! Thanks for "What a Combination,"
starring Frankenstein and Bozo the Clown. What a creative spirit!
Tom T. Hall's "Faster Horses" was recited by Glen Walton. Glen's "Guadalupe
Pass" with evocative imagery - solitude, coyotes howling, yellow moon,
lonesome mountain pass, especially for those who have lived in West Texas
for over forty years and have memories of camping out, with a cold breeze
brushing one's face. And, Glen shared "June 1904."
Ron Eckert, who speaks with music, excites and calms the heart with his
guitar and vocals. Could listen for hours: "Down the Road," "Southbound
Train," "Walk Away," "Preacher Man," his tearful "Safe in the Arms of
Jesus."
Then, "heaven help us" Rita Kellogg with her true story of "The Incident" -
way "too cool."
Mandy's mother was laid to rest on Monday, reason for the dedication. Mandy
has a beautiful voice and sang with Ron. And, welcome her friend, Tessa.
Kat has autographed, latest edition of Aurelio Sanchez's book, "Of a Dream
Catcher." Coffee was grand at Albuquerque airport restaurant.
Song, Poetry and Prose
TUESDAY NITES 7 - 9 pm
NEW LOCATION @ BARNES & NOBLE
GARFIELD & LOOP 250
MIDLAND, TEXAS
- Kat @ 432-697-4205
Demystifying Writers’ Demons©
One by One
Sit & set confusion
Confusion between these different verbs occurs because they use the same or similar words in different tenses (as does “lie/ lay”). Getting the principle parts straight should help.
• To sit means “to lower yourself to a sitting position.” It takes no object (in other words, it’s an intransitive verb).
Principle Parts: sit, sat, sat - “Now I sit in a chair.” “Yesterday I sat there.” “I have sat in many different chairs.”
“When I tell my dog to ‘sit,’ I expect him to also ‘stay’ until I call him.”
• To set means “to place” and requires an object (transitive verb).
Principle Parts: set, set, set - “Now I set the plate down.” “Yesterday I set it down.” “I have set flowers on the table as well.”
Also: “He set his story in ancient Rome.” (meaning “located”; with “setting” meaning “location”)
Memory tip: Think of it this way. To sit is usually something you do with your rear. To set an object somewhere is something you do with your hands.
Then those inanimate objects continue to sit (stay) where you set them as in:
“I couldn’t remember where I set my keys down.”
“Then I found them sitting on the credenza right where I’d set them.”
Do demons bedevil your writing? Similar, confusing words? Grammar, punctuation, or capitalization rules? “The Demystifier” will clear up the mystery (primary reference unless otherwise noted: Garner, Bryan A. Dictionary of Modern American Usage. N.Y.: Oxford University Press). Address questions and comments to freelance editor, Joan Upton Hall at: . More problems like the one above are demystified in the booklet, 50 Writers’ Tips. Find more at http://www.JoanUptonHall.com/books.htm.
West Texas Writers (www.westtexaswriters.org)
Editor: Debbie Pelham 432-634-0139
President: James Woods –
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