The Write Stuff
The Official Newsletter of Mobile Writers Guild
June 7, 2011, Volume 2 Issue 1
ñ From the President:
Dear Fellow Guild Members (and those whose support MWG),
I hope everyone is surviving the summer heat. Have you been hiding in air-conditioned spaces the past week? Being part of a supportive community is important to feeling we are not alone because writing can be physically isolating. You’ll read below about our summer social events, but don’t forget about technology as a means to reach out to other members.
Social media on the Internet creates a fast and effective way to spur conversations along and the MWG is using its website, blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages to encourage networking among members beyond our scheduled meetings. Please take the time to stop by one of our pages and introduce yourself.
And be sure to keep a glass of cold liquid nearby—just not too close to the keyboard.
Look forward to meeting more of you!
Carrie Cox
2011-2012 MWG President
ñ Where to find us:
The last administration did an excellent job in expanding the public recognition of MWG. The new board members want to make sure that we continue to reach out to the Mobile community. Always feel free to pass along our newsletters, websites, blogs, etc. to those you think would be interested.
You can now find us at:
www.facebook.com/pages/Mobile-Writers-Guild/132422949536?ref=hnav
On Twitter: @MobileWriters
Email: [email protected]
The bios of our new board members President: Carrie Cox, Vice President: Stephanie Lawton, Treasurer: April Higgenbotham, and Secretary: Dawn Steadham can be found at: www.mobilewritersguild.com/2011/05/10/may-meeting-recap-meet-the-new-officers/
While you are at the website, be sure to check out our other recent blogs. And be sure to vote on a new logo for Mobile Writers Guild.
There is an events page, as well. http://www.mobilewritersguild.com/events-2/
You will find information on our summer Drink N Scrawls as well as other happenings. The first one is coming up June 18th 4-6 PM at Mellow Mushroom at the Loop. At least one slice of pizza will be provided for writers in attendance but drinks and extras will be up to the individuals.
ñ MWG Needs:
We have a wealth of talent within the guild and we’d like to help you share your abilities. If it’s possible, we’d like each member to volunteer for one “committee.” Please don’t run away screaming—the committees will be as painless as possible. In most cases, it will not even require you to attend additional meetings. (Most efforts can be coordinated via email.) Time, energy, and effort is up to you. We’d like you to choose the area you have the most interest in, that works best with your schedule, and that’s the easiest for you to accomplish amid your busy life.
ñ Drink N Scrawl Committee (You would help with any planning details for these events and do your best to be there. Excellent for people working Monday-Fridays who want to socialize with other writers on a few Saturday afternoons.)
ñ Open Mic Committee (Do you love Open Mic? Help us keep this tradition going! We need a person/people to host/MC, coordinate the speakers, run the Internet radio aspect of it, and just be the audience. Let us know if you can help in any of these areas.)
ñ Web Committee (We need your IT skills. Are you able to help with trouble shooting, web radio set-up, web design, etc.? Then you are perfect for this committee!)
ñ Refreshment Committee (This can be as simple as volunteering to bring chips and dip to one meeting or as involved as scheduling the refreshments for the meetings held September-May. It’s up to you.)
ñ Scavenger Hunt Committee (This will be for helping prepare and carry out the Ghost Hunters of the South Scavenger Hunt we will be holding with GHOTS in October—tentative date October 8th. There is a possibility that if you help out DURING the writing hunt, that you will not be able to play for prizes. But there will be several opportunities to help before hand, allowing you to still participate the evening of the event. This night alone will make your yearly dues worth the money!)
ñ Tracy Hurley Memorial Writing Contest Committee (We will need help judging the entries this November for the first annual contest for young writers. We are already receiving submissions! Details at http://www.mobilewritersguild.com/writing-contests/ )
ñ Young Writers Mentoring Committee (This is in preliminary planning stages. We want to run quarterly mini-workshops for young writers. Details will be announced as soon as possible.)
ñ Workshop Committee (Help out with coordinating the spring workshop—which is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 3, 2012. More details to come.)
ñ Mobicon Committee (Help needed for planning the event, judging the writing contest, and actually working the table at the convention, which is May 18-20, 2012. Be sure to say which of those three things you are able to do.)
Please email, Tweet, Facebook, etc. your area of volunteerism. Thank you!
ñ Last, but not least, our first meeting of the 2011-2012 season will be September 1, 2011 at the West Regional Library.
We want writers—both established and aspiring—in Mobile to know they are welcome. Times are tough and budgets tight, but plan now to pay the $15 dues at one of the first few meetings. We are planning an interactive and inspiring year and your voting membership and dedication makes all the difference.
Comments, suggestions, and questions are great—both online and in the meetings. The MWG is here to help, and hopefully, members and prospective members will catch the spirit of being a community. Looking forward to seeing you online, at one of the Drink n Scrawls, or at the very least on September first.
I will help mc the open mic and take care of organizing it. However, I’ll need a helper to do the electronic part of it. I’ll also help with the spring conference, and I’ll sign up to bring food to some of the meetings.
Excited about all the new and continuing events!
In addition to serving on the workshop committee, I will bring coffee again for all the MWG meetings next year.
You’re the best, ladies!