NEXT MEETING: July 19

Novel Writing -- with special guest Hazel Hart
1:30-4:00 PM, Rockwell Library [map]

Have you ever written a scene that didn't live up to your vision, but you couldn't figure out what was missing? At KWA's Scene of the Crime conference in April, Nancy Pickard, bestselling mystery writer, described a method she developed for revising scenes she calls CASTS. At our July meeting, author Hazel Hart will lead us through this method in depth and show us how to apply it to our own scenes.

Bring a scene from two to ten pages in length for review. If you don't have a scene, don't let that stop you from learning more. We will have a practice scene available.

Hazel Hart is an adjunct English instructor and has developed an online composition course, which she teaches for Butler Community College. She is a member of Kansas Writers Association and Kansas Authors Club. For five years, she co-edited a small literary magazine, Array. She has one published suspense novel, The Night Before Christmas, and one book of short stories, The Nancy Nolan Show. She also has co-authored a book of horror stories, The Dark Side of the Rainbow, with B.J. Myrick. All three books are available on lulu.com. Hart is preparing a second suspense novel, Family History, for publication. She has also won awards for her short fiction. Her short story, “Amanda Marie,” was published in Kansas Voices. Another short story, "Confessions," was published in KWA's Words out of the Flatlands 2008 anthology.
• Hazel's blog is Steps on the Journey
• Visit Hazel's storefront on Lulu.com

Aug. 16

Screenwriting -- with special guest Elizabeth Stevens

Do you aspire to see your stories played out on the silver screen? Join us in August as we welcome Elizabeth (E.A.) Stevens, a freelance feature film story analyst, script consultant, and writer newly transplanted to Lawrence.

Elizabeth has evaluated more than 1,500 scripts and books for clients including Sandra Bullock's Fortis Films, Lifetime Television, Interscope, the Final Draft International Screenwriting Competition, just to name a few. She loves dissecting screenplays and films for what works, what doesn't, and why, and she is passionate about scripts and films that embody "smart art with heart."
• Visit Elizabeth Stevens' website and her tips for writers

CALENDAR

Sept. 20 - All about agents & editors
Oct. 18 - Freelance writing
Nov. 15 - Children's literature
Dec. 14 - Christmas Party and Awards Banquet at the Shadow

SHORT STORIES

KWA member Vicki Hermes-Bond gave some great tips for jump-starting a short story at our March meeting. Check out the exercises she suggested on our blog. You can leave your own comments there about the workshop or anything else you want to know about KWA, writing, publishing -- you name it.

DO'S AND DON'T'S OF AUTHOR WEBSITES

Our January workshop focused on building your own website. Check out our panel's tips and find links to sites mentioned at the workshop.