may 2017 - District 5 Meeting Minutes
Dear KAC District 5 Members,
Here's a summary of May's District 5 meeting.
Minutes May 13, 2017
A short business meeting revealed a treasury report of $7,374.23. The treat list was posted with the sign-in sheets and people were asked to volunteer where there are vacancies. We would like for two members to share bringing of treats each month. Members are advised to make their entries to State Contest before June 15 on the Kansas Authors Club website where rules and instructions for submissions are posted. Also, members are advised that the monthly minutes are posted on the KAC District 5 website for reading and reference. Gretchen Eick, Vice President, also noted that the District 5 program list is posted on the District 5 website, so we can know what programs are coming up.
Our speaker was Kim Stanley, PhD, on Memoir – A Window on Your Past. Dr. Stanley received her BA and MA in English and Spanish and her PhD in Literature. She has enjoyed writing for “most of her life”. She encouraged us to practice writing “flash memoirs” of 500-700 words, and to write “Creative non-fiction” using fiction tricks to write nonfiction that will keep the reader reading. For instance: Begin the story in the middle and bring in back story later. Use favorite family stories because those storied become “our stories”, whether they are positive or negative. Incorporate suspense and dialogue in memoir as we would in fiction. Use objective clauses, action verbs. Incorporate “stuff” that lets the reader share your feelings. Cut the excess words; use well-crafted sentences. Don’t write exposition; begin the memoir in the middle of the action. Dr. Stanley suggests writing memoir like oral literature by simply telling your stories just as if you would tell it to entertain a friend – skip unnecessary details (exposition) and go for the punch lines. Stories told continuously in families become very concise. If you bore your reader, they will stop reading. She advises to never write something just once. You may prefer the first time, but if you only write it once, you may “lose” a better version.
Just think about what makes you stop reading a story: (These responses came from the audience) Repetition, too much random detail, no challenge (no suspense, no conflict). Remember to “show me”, not just “tell”.
Remember that in memoir, I am the main character. Let the theme of the memoir emerge from my descriptions and the details. When you write flash memoirs, each a concise picture, then these can be woven into a complete story, each a dynamic chapter. For example of flash memoirs, Dr. Stanley suggested the writings of Bailey White such as “Mama Makes Up Her Mind”, which is a collection of flash memoirs.
The meeting adjourned at 3:30. Our next meeting will be June 10 at 1:30 (come early for fellowship) in the meeting room just off the dining room at Larksfield Place. Grant Overstake will be speaking on Telling Your Story. Gretchen Eick and Connie White will be responsible for treats. Hope to see all of you there.
Connie White, Secretary
Here's a summary of May's District 5 meeting.
Minutes May 13, 2017
A short business meeting revealed a treasury report of $7,374.23. The treat list was posted with the sign-in sheets and people were asked to volunteer where there are vacancies. We would like for two members to share bringing of treats each month. Members are advised to make their entries to State Contest before June 15 on the Kansas Authors Club website where rules and instructions for submissions are posted. Also, members are advised that the monthly minutes are posted on the KAC District 5 website for reading and reference. Gretchen Eick, Vice President, also noted that the District 5 program list is posted on the District 5 website, so we can know what programs are coming up.
Our speaker was Kim Stanley, PhD, on Memoir – A Window on Your Past. Dr. Stanley received her BA and MA in English and Spanish and her PhD in Literature. She has enjoyed writing for “most of her life”. She encouraged us to practice writing “flash memoirs” of 500-700 words, and to write “Creative non-fiction” using fiction tricks to write nonfiction that will keep the reader reading. For instance: Begin the story in the middle and bring in back story later. Use favorite family stories because those storied become “our stories”, whether they are positive or negative. Incorporate suspense and dialogue in memoir as we would in fiction. Use objective clauses, action verbs. Incorporate “stuff” that lets the reader share your feelings. Cut the excess words; use well-crafted sentences. Don’t write exposition; begin the memoir in the middle of the action. Dr. Stanley suggests writing memoir like oral literature by simply telling your stories just as if you would tell it to entertain a friend – skip unnecessary details (exposition) and go for the punch lines. Stories told continuously in families become very concise. If you bore your reader, they will stop reading. She advises to never write something just once. You may prefer the first time, but if you only write it once, you may “lose” a better version.
Just think about what makes you stop reading a story: (These responses came from the audience) Repetition, too much random detail, no challenge (no suspense, no conflict). Remember to “show me”, not just “tell”.
Remember that in memoir, I am the main character. Let the theme of the memoir emerge from my descriptions and the details. When you write flash memoirs, each a concise picture, then these can be woven into a complete story, each a dynamic chapter. For example of flash memoirs, Dr. Stanley suggested the writings of Bailey White such as “Mama Makes Up Her Mind”, which is a collection of flash memoirs.
The meeting adjourned at 3:30. Our next meeting will be June 10 at 1:30 (come early for fellowship) in the meeting room just off the dining room at Larksfield Place. Grant Overstake will be speaking on Telling Your Story. Gretchen Eick and Connie White will be responsible for treats. Hope to see all of you there.
Connie White, Secretary