MEWS – Montclair Editors and Writers

Montclair Editors & Writers

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Write Group New Year’s Update

The Write Group is a Montclair-based group of writers who hold regular workshops, readings, and events.  Among their upcoming and regularly-scheduled get-togethers are:

– “Critiques for Novelists” Group – EVERY THURSDAY MORNING: 10 am -1 pm, Montclair Library Conf. Room.  Critiques for novelists and would-be novelists.  To add your name to the waiting list, please contact Eveline Speedie at espeedie@msn.com.

–  “Free-For-All (FFA) for Writers” - EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT: 7-8:45 pm, Montclair Library Conference Room.  

— 1/12 - Poetry & Poetic Prose – Led by Mirela Trofin & Howard Gardner.  It was suggested at our last meeting in December that we try the following prompt: “Locks.”  Please bring 6 copies of a poem using the prompt, or of any poem you would like to share and receive comments.
— 1/19 – Young Adult (YA) & Middle Grade (MG) – Mackenzie Reide looks at the strange & fascinating worlds of YA and MG: what are they, where are they going, & opportunities both genres present to today’s writer.
— 1/26 – Getting organized! – Carl Selinger will lead a workshop about getting better organized for your writing … and organizing your life as well.  We’ll share challenges & tips to get your act together so you can focus on the hard stuff: writing!
— 2/2 All-genre Critique Group – Led by Harriet Halpern.  Bring 6 copies of whatever piece you're working on and we'll share constructive feedback. 
-- “Free Write” Workshop - EVERY SATURDAY MORNING: 10:15 am–noon - this week at Harriet Halpern’s place (5 Roosevelt Place, Apt. 4P).  Last week 7 of us—Joe, Carl, Mirela, Candi, Steve, Danyelle and Jeanne—wrote to prompts: An afternoon of stupidity; Weight allowance; and Back in the fray.  Free Writes are held at participant’s homes; contact Carl if you will need a ride or can give a ride.
 
- – Penny University – 3RD MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH: next on Monday, 1/16, MLK holiday, 10-noon – Joe DelPriore lead a “Free Writing Workshop” as we’ll write to various “prompts.”  At the Fine Grind Coffee Bar, 101 Route 23, Little Falls, south of Willowbrook Mall, www.thefinegrindcoffeebar.com.
 
- – Support Group - EVERY TUESDAY MORNING: 10:15-11+ am, Montclair Library Conference Room.  Share your progress in writing and discuss writing topics.

- – Write Group Open Mic! - EVERY MONTH: Tuesday, 1/17, 6:45-8:30 pm, Montclair Library Auditorium – Sign-up starts at 6:30 pm.  Read a polished piece up to 8 minutes long … or just listen!  Info from emcee Jeanne Margolskee at jpmar@usa.net

-- Memoir Group - EVERY TWO WEEKS: Wednesday, 1/18, 10am-noon, Montclair Library Conference Room.  No “drop ins” are allowed.  New members are asked to make a several-month commitment to participate.  Contact Marie Shukaitis at marie.shukaitis@gmail.com if you wish to “observe.”

– Reading Like a Writer, EVERY six weeks or so, next meeting Sunday, 1/22, 7 pm, at Harriet’s apt. – The selection is “Mrs. Manstey’s View” by Edith Wharton. Download at www.classicreader.com/book/1972/1.  Note: Reading Like a Writer is full; to get on wait list, contact Harriet at surewhynot4p@yahoo.com.
 
– “High Noon” Short Story Group - EVERY MONTH: next Tuesday, 1/24, noon-2 pm, at Harriet’s apt.  Email Harriet at surewhynot4p@yahoo.com if details are needed.
– NEW GROUP!!!  Script Writing Group – every other Wednesday, starting 1/25, 10-noon, Montclair Library Conference Room - First meeting to discuss screenwriting, playwriting, dialogue, etc.  Join Katinka Neuhof, Joe DelPriore and others to share writings and critique and plan for the group’s future activities.  Bring something to read.

–Write Group web pages hosted at scribbulations.com.  Go to www.scribbulations.com and click the Write Group logo, or go straight to www.scribbulations.com/The_Write_Group.htm.  Any WG member who has a website and would like a link on the LINKS page, send the details to Ed.
Write Group organizer Carl Selinger can be contacted at:    Phone/cell: 973-953-0937   selinger99@aol.com    www.carlselinger.com

Introduction to Internet Marketing, 9/20

Learn what it takes to be found online and how search engine behavior affects your rankings. Learn best practice Search Marketing strategies to grow your business. Discover social media marketing and how you can impact your web presence across major search engines. Be found through the use of Web 2.0 properties like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and more!

Hear from Jacob Peck, Internet Marketing & SEO Expert and Pat Ferdinandi, Business Social Video & Social Media Strategist (and author of 9 books) on the following topics to help your business:

• Search Engine Behavior
• Consumer Behavior
• What it takes to get found online
• How to drive increased traffic to your Web site through Video & Social Media
• The best way to attract qualified customers
• The factors that affect your search engine rankings • Organic Search Strategy
• Social Media Marketing
• Video Strategy
• Video Implementation
• How Video improves Google Rank
• Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube
• Paid Advertising on Facebook
• Web marketing trends
• Putting it all together
Where: New Jersey Center for Healthy Living
292 Bloomfield Ave. -Second Floor
Montclair, NJ 07042

When: September 20th, 1:00 – 3:30 pm

Fee: $40

Register for Introduction to Internet Marketing http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2161336616

For more information contact: Jacob@seowebmechanics.com

Professionals In Media (PIM) a LinkedIn group is having their annual summer party and you’re invited.  It’s Friday, July 22nd from 7 pm to 9 pm at Les Saisons, 304 Elmwood Avenue, Maplewood 07040.

The party will include a panel on blogging, featuring Montclair’s own Janice Harayda of “One-Minute Book Reviews,” recently named one of the best bloggers in the state by N J Monthly, Karen Faxio a blogger for NJ.com/pets and a contributing writer for the Star-Ledger.  The panel will be moderated by Michelle C. Hollow, of “Pet News and Views.”

You’ll learn what makes a blog popular, how to grow it and how to make it profitable.  And you’ll get to eat, drink, network and have a good time in a beautiful Queen Anne bed and breakfast.

Cost $10,  Bring a food item or beverage to share.  RSVP to Jacqueline Herships at 973-763-7555, jacqueline@jacquelineherships.com or Michelle Hollow at michele@petnewsandviews.com.

Patch Looking for New Bloggers

Are you passionate about something in Montclair? Contact us! Whether it’s food, family, schools, government, business, social issues, exercise, fashion or business—if it’s your thing, we’d like you to consider blogging for Patch. Anyone may apply.

I am specifically interested in talking with:

* Musicians, Live Music Fans, Audiophiles and Artists
* Parents, High School Students, Teachers and Professors
* Fashion Experts, Stylists and Crafters
* Volunteers and Nonprofit Workers
* Health and Fitness Experts
* Local Sports Fans

Don’t be shy! Montclair Patch is on a mission to recruit fresh voices, and this is a great opportunity to make your voice heard. We want to hear what you have to say.

Patch bloggers are not paid and will own their blogs, so if you are already blogging and want to share with our readers, too, let us know. This is a chance to share your expertise and opinions with a fast-growing and wider audience!

Contact editor Shelley Emling at Shelley@patch.com if you are interested in being a part of the conversation.

It all begins May 4—when Montclair Patch will be making room for local bloggers on the site.

WordPress Workshop April 30th

New York Webgrrls is sponsoring a full-day workshop on how to use wordpress to set up your blog and/or run the content management system for your website.  This is the workshop you need if you want to move your writing online and don’t know how to manage the technical side.  Here’s more on the workshop: https://www.webgrrls.com/events/:367

Bloomfield Public Library is in an ongoing Facebook contest to win over 1600 books. The library with the most likes, on April 30 wins a copy of every “For Dummies” book in print. These books will be available to libraries throughout NJ via the BCCLS, Open Borrowing and JerseyCat interlibrary loan systems.

There is a library in MI that is ahead of us by 40 likes. Please help us catch up and take the lead by liking this page and asking your friends to as well:

http://www.tinyurl.com/BPLnjFacebook

IndieReader is looking for columnists and book reviewers who have access to e-readers (Kindle or Nook). Applicants must have prior writing experience. This is a paid position. If you’re interested, please send a short writing sample to amy@indiereader.com.

MEWSie Mike Laser is reaching out for ideas and possibly a partner. His growing website, News-Basics.com, needs a knowledgeable marketer to take it to the next level. If you’re curious, go to the site – http://news-basics.com – and consider what it would take to turn News-Basics.com into a thriving enterprise. Then, if you have ideas, and/or want to partner with Mike, contact him at MikeLaser@comcast.net.

Technical Help Wanted

MEWSie LITTLE STAR writes: The webmistress at the http://womenwhowrite.org/ was unable to format the two poems at the bottom of my blog post. Can anyone tell me how she can fix it.  Contact theopencaptioners@gmail.com Thanks.

MEWSie AMY EDELMAN, creator of IndieReader, writes: Are you tired of discussing the same three books written by the same two or three authors (ie Stieg Larsson, the Tiger Mom and…Snooki)? Isn’t it time to take your book selections up a notch? To discover a title that’s special and unique (before it’s picked up by a big New York publisher)?

How about limited edition arts books featuring works by Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and John Curran–from New York galleries like Gagosian, Hirschl Adler and Sperone Westwater? New titles from respected authors like John Edgar Wideman, Dave Eggers and Seth Godin? Hot new authors including Zachary German and Shane Jones and five star novels, romances, mysteries and some chick-lit?

You can find them all and more at IndieReader (www.indiereader.com), the essential guide to indie books and the people who write them. IR’s original content is a mix of Gawker-type commentary and Rolling Stone-type profile stories combined with news, reviews, best-of rankings and more.

The site also features a Library of reviewed books (IR reviews indie books at NO CHARGE), linked to Amazon for easy purchase.

IndieReader is the only place for book-loving consumers to find the best and most talked about indie authors and books (without actually having to read them all themselves).