Inspiration and Libation

After the latest Wino Writers’ meeting, we’ve decided two things…one is that we need some inspiration this spring in the form of a conference. We’re looking into Savannah since we like the beautiful trees and courtyards and the close proximity to Atlanta. We’ll keep you posted on that…

The other thing we decided was that we like Ménage à Trois. Not that!! Keep your pants on, we’re talking about the wine. We just tried Ménage à Trois White and it is some kinda good with a light fragrant taste that is, dare I say, silky and flowery. It almost seemed low on the alcohol content. BUT it is not, so don’t go swilling it like it’s water. Enjoy and let us know your thoughts!

Blahg Blahg Blahg

While perusing the good ole internet for some words of wisdom to inspire me to write, I stumbled on 6 Must-Read Writing Blogs listed on Scribophile. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Afterall, “Reading usually precedes writing and the impulse to write is almost always fired by reading. Reading, the love of reading, is what makes you dream of becoming a writer.”
- Susan Sontag

Ain’t that the truth? I’m currently reading The Time Travaler’s Wife and it is fabulous! It’s got me hooked and it’s dragging me by the hair all the way through. Best of all, it is definetly firing me up to finish my dusty old (emphasis on old) novel.

Secrets of Submitting Your Manuscript

Wino Writers is taking a road trip to Kennesaw State University to hear Chris Roerden, author of Don’t Sabotage Your Submission,  share the secrets of submitting a manuscript on Saturday, February 14, 2009 from 10AM – 12PM. The event is free and open to the public.

We’ll be doing lunch afterwards and discussing the keys to getting published. Come join us!

A Nearby Writing Retreat

Wino Writer Beth recently did something that we all wish we could do when we’re near the end of a project or when our writing begins to stagnate like long forgotten produce in the back of our refrigerator – she took a writer’s retreat.

She did not, however, go to the beach or even more than fifteen miles from home. She went to a Marriott in downtown Atlanta. Not just any Marriott though. She went to one that did not have a lot of action nearby, but did have the most valuable asset to a writer seeking solitude: room service.

W.W.Beth said that she was not tempted in the slightest to leave her room and she got more writing done than she has in months (okay, years). She reports that the drawback of this setup is that you do get a small case of cabin fever and she felt completely burned out in the end, which caused her to occasionally flip on the TV, which was, according to her own self-imposed rules, illegal.

Nearby Retreat verdict: bring a friend and bring a bottle (and only one!) of vino.

Doubts Are Traitors

I was recently reading a blog post about Aaron Patzer, found of Mint, and felt that the words he spoke about starting a business mirrored my own feelings about writing my first novel.  Patzer said:

“(I) oscillated day to day between thinking “This is the greatest idea ever!” and “This will never work.  Who am I to take on Intuit and Microsoft?  If this was a good idea, someone would have done it before.” It’s very emotional, and I don’t think people ever tell you about that.  You see your net worth quickly draining, you have no idea what’s going to happen next, and you’re sitting alone in a room with no help, no resources, just your brain and sheer will-power.  When ever I got down, I would listen to “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra, or think about a Shakespeare quote I liked as a kid: “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we might oft win, by fearing to attempt.”

I think this is what most writers go through at some point and I think he’s got it right – when the doubts creep in, stay positive, pick yourself up and move on.

Welcome Wino Writers!

Well, I think I’ve appropriately named our group. Write Club was taken already and after thinking about who we are and what we do, this is what I came up with. We can change it by a two thirds majority, but I like it. Let’s post our work, put new opportunities, thoughts and ideas on here and the occassional late night rant.

Have at it!