Next Writer's Meeting

Don't Update Your Author Page When You're Sick

When you're stuck inside due to illness, there really isn't much you're interested in doing. The laundry, dusting, vacuuming, and scrubbing of bathrooms is so far down on your list of desired tasks that it may never see daylight. Such is my plight today.

Since I get bored easily, I decided I would spend my quiet time between naps and doses of Advil and alternating cups of hot tea and cranberry juice to catch up some work on my author page on Amazon. Many don't know it, but they may have unpopulated fields waiting for content.

As diligent as we try to be in filling in all fields for consumers to browse, there are some that don't seem to work well and don't cross over from where they were added to the information pages. Don't rush out and try to do them right now, though.

I don't think it was the fever inhibiting my efforts to update that necessary content on my page, but rather it was a glitch in Amazon's author page system. I filled them in, clicked preview, clicked save changes, and . . . nothing. I closed the browser and restarted, and that helped on a couple, but then even it didn't work after a while. So, I sent them an email that said, "Hey! This isn't working for me. Fix it." I'm sure they'll get right on that, because I am their only author.

They've been very good about responding to my previous requests to fix stuff. And, I hope they do get it fixed, because it is essential in making your books turn up in those all important searches on their site, and we all want to have our books show up in those, often. So, you might go to your Amazon author page in a day or two, especially if you haven't visited it in a while, sign in, click on the "books" tab, and then go through your books to make sure you have filled in all the sections that you can. But, be forewarned, it might not have been fixed in the last ten minutes. It might take them a little time. You may just want to drink a hot cup of tea and eat some cookies while you're waiting.

Critique Night - Redux

At the January meeting of the Maryville Chapter, many writers brought portions of their works in progress to share. In fact, due to time constraints, we were unable to critique all of the submissions. Therefore, we will be holding a second critique session at March, and we hope that those authors whose work wasn't reviewed at the January meeting will submit it again at that time. And any new writer's wishing to participate will bring submissions as well. We will get to as many people at time allows.

There were many new writers in attendance and we're so pleased to have been able to welcome them and to learn something about them and about their work. We certainly hope they will decide to return and to become regular members. 

It has been a while since we posted information about the Maryville Chapter's purpose and about annual membership dues.

The group's purpose, put simply, is to inspire writers in all genres; to provide information, through speakers, about writing as both an art and a skill; to provide information about the business aspects related to writing and publishing; to share and provide positive feedback to help group members hone their skill; and to encourage those who have stories to tell, memories or poetry to share, and knowledge to impart to get it down on paper and to make it available through publication. 

The Maryville Chapter members are actively writing and publishing and have a wealth of information and insight that may be helpful to published and unpublished writers alike. 

We hope that local writers, whether previously published or not, will consider joining the group, in person or online, and contribute their knowledge, their skill, their insights, and their suggestions or  questions. 

The Maryville Chapter of the Missouri Writer's Guild meets every two months, on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Membership dues are $5.00 per year and are payable in January. 

The Next Meeting

The Maryville writer's group will next meet on January 23, 2018, on the 3rd floor of the United Methodist Church, First and Main in Maryville. (Use the northwest doors to access the elevator.)

The evening will be open for the critique of members' works in progress. Members may bring a poem, essay, article, or book excerpt for comment. The length of the submission should be 1,000 words or less. We will make an effort to get through as many as possible in the allotted time. If you wish to submit them ahead of time to give members a chance to read and think about them, please do. That will allow more time for discussion during the meeting time.

When critiquing a work, here are a few things to consider:

1. Be objective and forthright, but considerate.
2. Provide constructive suggestions for improvement.
3. Think about the construction, flow, technical aspects of the work being considered.
4. Give input on any emotions, if any, the piece elicits.
5. Is there a working title and does it fit the work?
6. Did it hold your attentions?
7. Based on the provided sample, would you read more?
8. Are there any word choices or phrases that might be improved?

Congratulations to Our Local Readers!

Congratulations to all those who participated in the Summer Reading Program at the Maryville Public Library, Maryville, MO this summer. Wow, more than 10,000 books read. That's impressive. A special congratulations to the winners of the program awards.🏅We're proud of you all.

And a special thanks to the entire staff at the library that works so hard to make this program a success every year. We don't always say it, but you make the library a great place to be.

Keep turning those pages, readers, and we authors will keep writing so that you will have new stuff to read when you're ready.

#amwriting #fiction #nonfiction #authors #writers #library #readingchallenge#poetry

Maryville Daily Forum

Library names summer reading winners

MARYVILLE, Mo. — The Maryville Public Library’s Summer Reading Challenge drew more than 330 participants this year.

MARYVILLEDAILYFORUM.COM

Amy Houts Featured on KQ2

Author Amy Houts was recently interviewed by KQ2 television of St. Joseph. In her interview, Amy talks about what encouraged her toward a life of writing, and now publishing. She released her first cooperative board game titled Find My Heart, in May of 2016. She has her own publishing imprint, Houts & Home Publications, LLC., and her own website, Houts & Home. Take a moment to watch her interview and read the article. You can find her books available on her website and on Amazon.

Amy Houts Featured in Daily Forum Article

A very nice article recently appeared in the Maryville Daily Forum about member author Amy Houts. Take a few moments to peruse it. What a talented and creative author.