Past Meetings

The Following is a list of our past meetings and topics of conversation:

2019 Meetings

  • 04 December 2019: ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: What did you accomplish this year / hope to accomplish next year?
  • November 2019: NaNoWriMo ~ we hosted 4x Write-Ins
    • 07 November: Bexley Public Library ~ 11 Participants
    • 14 November: Bexley Public Library ~ 6 Participants
    • 21 November: Bexley Public Library ~ 3 Participants
    • 30 November: Bexley Public Library ~ 3 Participants
  • 03 October 2019:  ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: Planning your draft / how to begin, and hook, the reader (or potential publisher).
  • 06 September 2019: ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street. Discussed: Genre markers tips and resources.
  • 01 August 2019:  Bexley Public Library, Main Street.  Discussed: Feedback and critiques.
  • 04 July 2019:  Cancelled due to Holiday.
  • 06 June 2018:  Bexley Public Library, Main Street.  Discussed: Novel writing with lessons from Blake Snyder’s “Save the Cat!”.
  • 02 May 2018:  ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: Writer Feedback.
  • 04 April 2018: Bexley Public Library, Main Street.  Discussed: Reading short pieces from March’s meeting.
  • 07 March 2018: ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: Short / flash fiction and entering online contests.
  • 01 February 2018: Bexley Public Library, Main Street.  Discussed: Working with an editor: Editing lessons learned (2/2).
  • 04 January 2018: ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: Working with an editor: Editing lessons learned (1/2).

2018 Meetings

  • 06 December 2018: ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: What did you accomplish this year / hope to accomplish next year?
  • November 2018: NaNoWriMo ~ we hosted 4x Write-Ins
    • 01 November: Bexley Public Library ~ 8 Participants
    • 08 November: CML – Main Branch ~ 6 Participants
    • 15 November: UAPL – Main Branch (Tremont) ~ 4 Participants
    • 29 November: CML – Main Branch ~ 4 Participants
  • 04 October 2018:  ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: preparing to write your (NaNoWriMo) novel.
  • 06 September 2018: Upper Arlington Public Library, Tremont Avenue: GUEST VISIT from UAPL Reference Librarian Megan Sheeran.
  • 02 August 2018:  Bexley Public Library, Main Street.  Discussed: the fine art of “Showing, not Telling” in your writing.
  • 05 July 2018:  ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: psychology of goals / goal setting techniques and their application to your writing.
  • 07 June 2018:  Bexley Public Library, Main Street.  Discussed: Place as ‘character’ in your writing.
  • 03 May 2018:  ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: Character development workshop.
  • 05 April 2018: ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: Of Muses and Motivation! Writing when you don’t want to.
  • 01 March 2018: ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: The many resources for writers online (Vlogs, blogs, podcasts, and favorite websites).
  • 01 February 2018: Bexley Public Library, Main Street.  Discussed: Pilot “share readings before meeting” program.
  • 04 January 2018: ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: Tools for revision ~ Whipping your draft into shape.

2017 Meetings

  • 07 December 2017: ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: Tales from the keyboard / notebook ~ Post-NaNoWriMo war stories.
  • November 2017: NaNoWriMo ~ we hosted 4 Write-Ins:
    • 02 November: Bexley Public Library ~ 5 participants
    • 10 November: Bexley Public Library ~ 12 participants
    • 16 November: CML – Main Branch ~ 3 participants
    • 30 November: UAPL – Main (Tremont) Branch ~ 3 participants
  • 05 October 2017:  ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed: how to prepare for NaNoWriMo (or any novel) ~ From a kernel of an idea to a solid foundation for writing.
  • 07 September 2017: ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed:  Writer With a Day Job ~ how to find time to write & practice your craft while still living your life.
  • 03 August 2017: Bexley Public Library, Main Street.  AUTHOR VISIT from USA Today Best Seller list author Rosemary Laurey.
  • 06 July 2017: ZenCha Café & Tea, Main Street.  Discussed:  Character Development ~ How can you ensure your characters aren’t as flat as a paper doll?  Adding interest and depth to more than just your main character / protagonist.
  • 01 June 2017: ZenCha Café & Tea – Main Street.  Discussed:  Plotting ~ You have an idea, now what’s “story” and what’s “plot”?  How can you start to plot your characters’ journeys?
  • 04 May 2017: Bexley Public Library – Main Street.  Discussed:  Tools for writers ~ computer programs, podcasts, self-publishing tools, favorite pens / notebooks / paper organization techniques, etc.
  • 06 April 2017: Gramercy Books – Main Street.  Discussed:  Open forum to discuss current work / issues / plans.
  • 02 March 2017: Zen-Cha Café and Tea – Main Street.  Discussed: A Writer’s Muse is a Fickle Critter ~ how to keep writing when you may not want to.
  • 02 February 2017: Zen-Cha Café and Tea – Main Street.  Discussed: Self-Editing Resources for Writers.
  • 05 January 2017: Zen-Cha Café and Tea – Main Street.  Discussed: You’ve finished your first draft of a novel – now what?

2016 Meetings

  • 01 December 2016: Zen-Cha Café and Tea – Main Street.  Informal discussion on past / current projects.
  • November 2016: NaNoWriMo so we hosted 4 Write-Ins:
    • 03 November: Bexley Public Library ~ 6 participants
    • 10 November: CML – Livingston Branch ~ 2 participants
    • 17 November: UAPL – Main (Tremont) Branch ~ 3 participants
    • 30 November: CML – Main Branch ~ 1 participant
  • 06 October 2016: Zen-Cha Café and Tea – Main Street.  Discussed “Plotting or Pantsing or ‘Plantsing’?  Preparing to start your NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) novel in November and resources for planning a novel.”
  • 01 September 2016: Zen-Cha Café and Tea – Main Street.  Discussed: Planning for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month).
  • 05 August 2016:  Zen-Cha Café and Tea – Main Street.  Discussed: Resources for writers ~ what’s your favorite for research, composition, editing, and publishing?
  • 07 July 2016:  Zen-Cha Café and Tea – Main Street. Discussed “How do I know where to start my story ~ What is the ‘beginning’ and what is unnecessary backstory?”
  • June 2016: Zen-Cha Café & Tea – Main Street.  Discussed the sources of inspiration for characters from archetypes and mythology.
  • May 2016: Starbucks – Main Street.  Discussed story prompts and other topics.
  • April 2016: Starbucks – Main Street.  Discussed current works and a member’s experience being published in an anthology by the Thurber House.
  • March 2016: Starbucks – Main Street.  Discussed writing software options.
  • February 2016: Starbucks – Main Street.  First meeting!  Get to know you types of stuff / experience writing / NaNoWriMo stories.