Pittsburgh East Writer's

Ellen Spain, is the Coordinator of Pittsburgh East Writer's, which is a group of not-so novice writers, that meets the second Saturday, January thru December, 10:00 AM to 12:45 PM, at the Monroeville Public Library.

In January 2004, Ellen Spain, active in PennWriters' since 1991, in Area 3 (SW PA). started the Pittsburgh East Writer's as a (pro bono) support and educational group for PennWriters' members in all genres, residing in Pittsburgh's eastern suburbs to Greensburg. Later, Ellen opened membership into the Pittsburgh East Writers to the public. In addition to the monthly group critique sessions, Ellen has been offering free writers' workshops at the library to the public for the past six years. Workshop details are posted to this site.

PITTSBURGH EAST WRITER'S GUIDELINES:

Critiquing:

All fiction manuscripts that you want critiqued should be works in progress, not published works. You should first proof your own manuscript for spelling and punctuation errors before presenting it to the group. If you want your manuscript to be line edited, check the Yellow Pages for Proofreaders and Editorial Services. The members review your manuscript during the round-table meeting on the above Critique Elements. Please state your writing’s title, chapter number, and a one minute synopsis about your manuscript before reading your manuscript to the group. It is recommended that you let someone else read it and you listen to what is read as another method for you to self-edit. A piece is reviewed no more than twice by the group, but members are completely free to review each other’s work in depth outside the monthly sessions. Reviewing services are expected to be reciprocal. A writer who wants work reviewed must also review work presented by other writers.

You should make six copies, up to ten double-spaced pages, for the group to critique. These are passed out to members who review them according to the Critique Elements and return comments in writing if possible at the end of the author’s reading. Each person at the table gives comments without interruption, first stating what was positive about the story before critiquing on the nine points. The author then discusses the comments and a general discussion can follow if time permits. To join the Pittsburgh East Writer's critique group, send your name, telephone number, writing experience including memberships in other writer's groups, your current genre interests, and your publications, to Ellen Spain at DuckIslandMaine@aol.com You will be notified of your membership application.

FOLLOW THESE POINTS IN CRITIQUING FICTION:

1. IMAGERY (Does the story use the five or six senses?):
2. PREMISE (Does story idea work? How is it unique from what is already published?):
3. PLOT (Is there logical order/transitions?):
4. CONFLICT (What are the internal and external conflicts of each main character?):
5. SETTING (Are the time, place and environment clearly identified?):
6. CHARACTER (Are they realistic/believable and how are they affected by the events):
7. POINTOF VIEW (The story is shown from whose eyes?):
8. STYLE (Whose voice is telling the story: the characters or the author? Is the voice unique?:
9. TONE (Is the reading consistent and easy to follow? Listen to what you have written.):

Pittsburgh East Writer’s Meeting format:

• Business of writing, discussion of current writing events, self-promotion of your most recent publication, and “hot” writing topics.
• Workshop if scheduled
• Critique period

Meetings are held the second Saturday of each month at the Monroeville Public Library and begin at 10:00 AM and end before 1:00 PM. Schedule is posted below.

There are no dues to belong to the Pittsburgh East Writer's and being a member of PennWriters' is not mandatory but highly suggested or a membership into a professional writer's group like RWA, Sisters in Crime, PARSEC or HWA, EPIC, MUSE, and others. Thus far, Ellen has underwritten all costs involved in presenting the workshops and reimbursing guest speakers. Please note that tuition will be included in future workshops. Ellen shares information on writing and the publishing field electronically with the regularly attending members via the "PW Pgh East Writer's E-BULLET newsletter".

If the weather is bad, use your judgment about the safety of traveling to the library. Certainly staying safe is more important than attending a meeting. When in doubt play it safe.

PennWriters' Inc. www.pennwriters.org is a 501(c)3 organization and is established to :

1. Promote excellence in writing;
2. Help aspiring authors learn how to become published via traditional, professional venues;
3. Advance the careers of published writers;
4. Facilitate professional networking between members and traditional publishers; and
5. Act as a liaison between authors and booksellers.

PITTSBURGH EAST WRITER’S SCHEDULE for 2010

LOCATION:

Monroeville Public Library’s first floor conference room

TIME:

Second Saturday morning of each month: 10:00 AM to 12:45 PM.

AGENDA:

The group will be critiquing as planned and working on the two volume anthology: Moment After Death that Ellen Spain is editing. On selected months in 2010 (to be announced) a mini workshop or author presentation free and opened to patrons of the Monroeville Public Library will be conducted in the first hour followed by the Pittsburgh East Writer’s critique session.

MONTHLY PROGRAMS:

Click here for 2009 programs and 2010 programs