2005 Writer Workshop Speakers
December meeting was cancelled due to icy roads.
November 19
Exploring Markets for Traditional Poetry
Shelley Richter
Richter illustrated what it takes to write a humorous poem, find the markets that buy traditional poetry, and entertained us with an Outhouse Annie recital.
The Privy Promenade, one of her six chapbooks of poetry, won Best Book of Poetry of 1999 in the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. writing contest. Penning a poem about an incident in her grandmother’s life with an outhouse and a stranger launched thirty-six more outhouse poems and Richter’s career as a professional storyteller.“Enter contests and keep writing,” Richter advises. “If someone would have told me twenty years ago I’d be a successful screenwriter, songwriter, and author, I never would have believed it. If you love writing—don’t give into rejection.”
October 15
Setting the Stage for a Mystery
Kent Anderson
Just a murder or two and you have a mystery, right? If only it were that simple.
As a writer, Anderson immersed himself in different genres before returning to mystery, suspense, and espionage, which are his favorites to read. Five novels completed over fourteen years and over 300 rejections came before publication.
Anderson’s first novel, Department Thirty, written under pen name David Kent, debuted on July 1, 2003. The Mesa Conspiracy followed in January, 2005, and The Blackjack Conspiracy arrives in December, 2005. All three thrillers are set in Oklahoma and published by Pocket Star Books.
“…I only ever wanted to do two things with my life: to write, and to be on the radio.
“…[Oklahoma] shaped me as a person and as a writer,” which influenced him to set his current series in the state.
September 17
Writing Genre Fiction (Western, Mystery, Romance)
Alma Blair
So Many Ideas...Which Genre?
Alma Blair’s eleven novels in several genres give her a taut edge in Writing Genre Fiction.
Mysteries, romances, and westerns are her specialties. She is going to contrast the three genres, and demonstrate the difference in plotting. She gave descriptive handouts.
Seduced by the love of writing early, she continued to write and enter contests through out her school years. A writing class in Tulsa given by Jack Bickham crystallized Blair's love of fiction. Blair was married to attorney and author, Clifford Blair. When Clifford Blair unexpectedly died, she finished his latest book in the Peacemaker series as a final tribute to him. Additional research material found in his files led her to write and publish two more novels in the series, all under Clifford Blair’s name.
August 20
Tighten It Up and Make Your Writing Sing
Dr. Terry M. Clark
Fiction and non-fiction writing require flare to grab readers. Dr. Terry M. Clark explained how to tighten up your writing. The results, he says, will make your writing sing.
Dr. Clark teaches feature writing, editing, ethics, and photography at the University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, where he is chairman of the Journalism Department.
"Secrets to writing tight include using verbs, verbs, and more verbs," said Dr. Clark, "and accenting short words, short sentences, and short paragraphs."
Lessons learned from his pastime, watercolor painting, were used in his workshop.
July 16
INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES
M. J. Van Deventer
How to Talk to Anybody About Anything is easy after you’ve spent time with M. J. Van Deventer, Director of Publications for the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and Editor of Persimmon Hill magazine, also published by the museum.
Van Deventer did her first interview at the age of 12 and since then has perfected techniques for structuring an interview, which she will share with writers at the July 16 meeting of the Oklahoma City Writes, Inc.
A graduate of Northeastern State University with a Master’s Degree in Communications from Oklahoma State University, Van Deventer did post graduate work at Syracuse University on a Wall Street Journal fellowship.
During twenty years as a newspaper reporter and editor, she edited three magazines and served on the editorial staffs of five newspapers including the Tulsa Tribune, which nominated her for a Pulitzer Prize in 1977 for public service reporting. Her articles have been published in more than seventy-five national publications and she has authored five interior design books: Western Design, Native American Style, Charles Faudree’s French Country Signature, Charles Faudree’s Country French Style (October 2005), and Modern Country (Spring, 2006). Her most recent anthology is entitled Wild Women of the Old West.
June 18
Using Fiction Techniques on Non-Fiction
Peggy Fielding
Oklahoma native, author, and writing instructor Peggy Moss Fielding imparted her well-honed secrets at the June 18 meeting of Oklahoma City Writers, Inc.
Fielding is a member of several writers’ groups including the Tulsa Nightwriters, the Oklahoma Mystery Writers, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America. She also serves as a delegate to the state organization, the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. Her current titles include: Barbara: The Story of a UFO Investigator, by Barbara Bartholic as told to Peggy Fielding; Confessing for Money, a book on writing for the confessions market; contemporary romance A Stadium Kind of Love; historical novel Sally; and The Complete Guide to Writing & Selling Magazine Articles, co-authored with Dan Case.
See her web site at
Peggy Fielding for more details.
Contact Peggy Fielding by Email
May 21
Writing Your Own Monologue
Glenda Carlile gave a stimulating demonstration of presenting a costumed monologue. Characterizations included Kate Barnard, Theresa Hunt, the first woman dentist in Oklahoma, and others. Carlisle's informed history of Pioneer women, "who won the West were anything but the stereotaped image usually presented. They were stalwart, strong hearted, bonneted, tanned women with a purpose. Carrie Nation, and the well-educated Indian women were included.
Carlisle handed out guidelines, answered questions and reminded listeners of other historical venues that need character monologues.
April 16
Secret Formula for Selling Inspirationals
Louise Tucker Jones, an award-winning author, shared her writing expertise for successful submission to GUIDEPOSTS Magazine.
Jones shared the joys and challenges of parenting a child with special needs, overcoming depression, and coping with the death of a child.
March 19
A Random Act
Cindi Broaddus has co-authored a book entitled, "
A Random Act", which will be released in April.
Broaddus, who was injured when someone threw acid through her car windshield, talked a little about her experience and how she got together with her ghost-writer and what it was like co-authoring a book.
One of the constants that carried Broaddus through the ordeal was remembering what her brother-in-law, Dr. Phil, repeated in his seminars, "Life is a series of choices."
She chose to forgive, to go on with life and make it the best she could.
"Be the beauty in ugliness", said Broaddus.
February 19
Writing Prize Winning Essays
Gordon Greene, longtime member and former president of both OKC Writers and OWFI, has won many awards and much recognition for his writing and speaking talent.
January 15
Writing Humor
Carol Dean Schreiner
"Laughter is one of the most needed commodities today," Schreiner said, "Humor produces a twinkle in the eye, is non-fattening, and has no bad side effects."
Buy her books and get more information about this informative, and talented speaker.
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