Don’t forget the book raffle PAWS is having. Sharon Sala has donated an autographed hardback edition of Nora Roberts’ romance novel HOMEPORT. Tickets are $1.00 each, and members need to help us take this opportunity to raise some money for the club. The drawing will be held at the November PAWS meeting, so that only gives us another month to sell tickets.
      Also, please bring or mail your ticket stubs and money in time for the November meeting.  If that is not possible, you can call me with the names on your stubs and we will make sure they get in the drawing.
    Congratulations to Janet Imel!  She received 1st Special Honorable Mention in the Byline Magazine's contest for first chapter of a Novel for her book The Zoo Keepers.  She says I: “have to credit PAWS for all the valuable information and contacts and encouragement, and, Peggy Fielding for her excellent guidance.  This is the book I started when I took her two classes a year ago.”
    Karen Anderson, head of the Nominating Committee, informs me that the following is the list of candidates for PAWS Officers for 1999.  All positions are unopposed.
 
 

PRESIDENT---Linda Goodnight VICE PRESIDENT---Pat Millette SECRETARY---Doris Novotny TREASURER---Karen Anderson HISTORIAN/NEWS REPORTER ---Elaine Wells NEWSLETTER EDITOR---Kelli McBride 1ST  OWFI REP.---Linda Goodnight 2nd  OWFI REP.---Kelli McBride RESEARCH CONSULTANT---Lorraine Stone (Honorary position)

    When writing fiction, one of the most challenging aspects is to come up with compelling characters that both interest the reader and fit the story. On the surface, fitting the story might seem like the lesser of the two considerations, but it really isn't. No matter how interesting a character may be, they have to somehow be the type of person who will respond to your plot. Whatever the action of your story is, it needs to matter to these characters. You have to care about why these things are happening to this character, and take great interest in what the character will do, or will fail to do, about it.

    The November PAWS meeting promises to be busy, busy, busy. Number one, we will be electing officers. Also, don't forget to write and bring your story based on the magazine picture you chose at the October meeting. If you weren't there, just choose a picture from a magazine, write about 4 or 5 pages on it, and bring those things with you. We will spend time reading and judging these works, so you might win the $10 prize. Your work may be in any form, poetry, short story, the beginnings of a novel, an article, whatever.
    Also, Linda Goodnight has consented to share with us some of the knowledge she has gained in the last couple of years. Obviously she has learned much, since she now has an agent and one book being considered by Silhouette. She says her part of the program won't be long, but I would love to hear every word she has to say.
    We also need to talk about our December meeting, which consists of fun, door prizes, food, fellowship, games, and more fun.
    See you November 16!

    Action implies movement ... people in motion, doing something ... expending energy. PHYSICAL energy, rather than mental or emotional energy. Writing action scenes can be troublesome --especially for romance writers, who are accustomed to thinking in terms of emotions and relationships-- because as a rule action scenes don't include much if any introspection or exposition.

    The critique group is back on.  Starting next Monday, we will meet every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month at Doris Novotny’s home.  Meetings will start at 7:00.  Participants can bring up to 10 pages (1 scene) to the meeting.  To make sure the everyone has a chance to be critiqued and keep the meetings at a reasonable length, we will alternate authors.  The authors bringing manuscripts to the first meeting will not bring material to the second.  Of course, if there is an opening at the second meeting, authors are welcomed to read their material.
We will also continue sharing work via e-mail for those who cannot make it to the meetings.
     Critique groups can be an amazing help if done properly.  That means that people consistently attend and contribute – not just material but helpful, critical comments.  If you need a brush up on critique style, check out the PAW Prints  issue on critique groups.
     For more information, e-mail or talk to one of the officers.
     This month we’ll be planning the Christmas party.  If you can’t make it to the meeting, make sure you contact an officer if you plan to attend the party.  We’ll have sign up sheets for food.  Last year’s party was fantastic.  You won’t want to miss this one.
     Just a reminder, the OWFI Writing Contest will be coming up soon.  Look for your copy of instructions and entry form in the upcoming OWFI Report.  In the past, PAWS has done very well in the contest.  Let’s keep up that tradition.  I challenge every member to submit at least one entry this year.  I personally plan to place in the Contemporary Romance Novel this year – I’m giving you notice, Linda!

    Every new manuscript that comes into an editor's office is fighting an uphill battle. Visualize salmon heading upstream to spawn, and you'll have a pretty fair idea of the way the process works. Most editors get at least fifty manuscripts in the mail for every book they buy. At the top of the heap, those numbers get even more discouraging.