PLEASE NOTE 

THE JUNE MEETING IS CANCELLED. 

Next meeting 

will be July 10. 

See you then. 

Keep writing!

Join the Lakeland Writers’ Connection for the June meeting.

Revitalize your writing. 

Awww....the best place to write!

Review the process.

Come with your favorite style of writing

or choice of article.

Only 500 words – (10 copies, please.)

Critiquing.

Discussion.

Debriefing from past two authors’ visits.

Let’s step it up a notch!

See you June 12 – 6:30 PM.

Rik Feeney

Guest Speaker for May 8 Meeting

Rik Feeney started PublishingSuccessOnline.com because he believes everyone has some special talent, knowledge, or thoughts on a particular subject that many other people would like to learn about. He also believes you have a story to tell. He says we live in a perfect place and time to publish books, booklets, special reports, novels, or a short story thanks to current technologies.

Whether you prefer traditional books made from paper with hard covers or paperback covers, or you have grown up in the digital age and are used to reading from your phone, computer screen, or an e-reader; now is a great time to be published.

The problem is choosing how and even where to get published: so you don’t spend a fortune, your book is taken seriously; and, you receive some value from the publication whether it be fun, fame, or fortune.

PublishingSuccessOnline.com is like a concierge publishing service. He works directly with you to make sure your book is published according to your requirements.

About Rik

He states: In my first career, I was a women’s gymnastics coach; my area of expertise. After having my first book traditionally published, I turned to independent publishing. I now have more than sixty different publishing products on my web site: www.GymnasticsTrainingTips.com, which brings in a nice little revenue stream.

After publishing several books, I was asked by other writers to help them get published. I started working with individual clients to help them get published and to train some to become independent publishers. PublishingSuccessOnline.com was born.

I am currently the leader of the Florida Writer’s Association Orlando Writer’s Group, as well as a speaker on many book writing and publishing topics at writer’s groups and writer’s conferences around the country. And, oh yes, from time to time I continue to write and publish my own work.

Check out Rik's website: publishingsuccessonline.com

April 10 Meeting - Debora M. Coty

SPECIAL SPEAKER - Debora Coty, humorist, columnist, speaker, writing workshop instructor and award-winning author of over 100 internationally published articles and ten inspirational books. She has also contributed short stories and devotionals to numerous anthologies. Debora’s passion is sharing her offbeat blend of humor and hope, wit and near-wisdom with women of all ages. As a piano teacher for twenty years, she acquired the skill of auditory long-suffering and has helped countless people as an occupational therapist specializing in orthopedics for over three decades. Mother of two grown children, Debora currently lives and loves in central Florida with her husband and desperately wicked pooch, Fenway. Visit with Debora online at www.DeboraCoty.com

Exercises for March 13 Meeting!

Each meeting consists of valuable information for novice and experienced writers. While every writer has a particular interest they choose to write about, here are simple exercises to help expand your thinking and skills. There is something for everyone, no matter what genre you prefer.

Here’s the plan: Between now and the next meeting, do each day’s writing exercise. Then before the next meeting, (a) choose an exercise you will share with the group and (b) be prepared to elaborate on your thoughts and the writing process.

For the meeting, you pick one of the 10 to share! Have fun.

The 12-Day Plan of Simple Writing Exercises

Day 1: Write 10 potential book titles of books you’d like to write.

Day 2: Create a character with personality traits of someone you love, but the physical characteristics of someone you don’t care for.

Day 3: Write a setting based on the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen.

Day 4: Write a letter to an agent telling her how wonderful you are.

Day 5: Write a 20-line poem about a memorable moment in your life.

Day 6: Select a book on your shelf and pick two chapters at random. Take the first line of one chapter and the last line of the other chapter and write a short story (no more than 1000 words) using those as bookends to your story.

Day 7: Write a letter to yourself telling you what you need to improve in the coming 6 months.

Day 8: Rewrite a fairy tale from the bad guy’s point of view.

Day 9: Turn on your TV. Write down the first line that you hear and write a story based on it.

Day 10: Go sit in a public place and eavesdrop on a conversation. Turn what you hear into a short love story (no matter how much you have to twist what they say).

Day 11: Write the acknowledgments page that will be placed in your first (next?) published book, thanking all the people who have helped you along the way.

Day 12: Gather everything you’ve written over the previous 11 days. Pick your favorite. Edit it, polish it and either try to get it published or post it on the Web to share with the world. Be proud of yourself and your work.

Reposted from Writers Digest

December 9, 2011 | Brian A. Klems

Date Change for February Meeting

Lakeland Writers’ Connection usually meets the second Tuesday of each month. However, for the month of February, the group will meet on Tuesday, February 21. If you are looking for a writers’ group, you are welcome to join us!

ASSIGNMENT TO BRING:

Writing of your choice - article, poem, or short story (or part of a story).

• Double spaced
• Name at the top
• Word count listed
• 10 copies to share
• 1000 words or less

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It is a New Year. It is the first Monday of this year! I am excited as I look back at what Lakeland Writers Connection has accomplished over the past several months of the old year. It was our beginning but now I look ahead and anticipate each of you being involved in the pursuit of writing.

Here’s a challenge for the January meeting. Your assignment: Decide on a resolution for this year - not one that you know will be easily broken or forgotten. One that will challenge you. (It can be in any area.)

1. Write the resolution in the following format.

a. State in a complete sentence a specific resolution. ex. For the year 2012, I will....

b. Tell why you want to make that resolution. ex. By making this resolution, I want to...

c. Detail why this resolution is important to you and the significance. ex. For this past year, I have....but this year I will....because....

d. Explain how the outcome would affect you and those around you. ex. My resolution will benefit me and my family (or whomever)...

2. Format your writing by using Times Roman 12 font, double space.

3. Make sure your name is at the top.

4. Article should not be more than 300 words.

Set goals for yourself. Write to express your thoughts. Write to inform. Write to entertain and add humor to our lives!

Writing with the Right Connection.

Vivian Dippold

December Meeting

Next meeting is Tuesday, December 13. The focus will be holiday themed. Each person is asked to bring a short story, poem, or inspirational writing with Christmas emphasis to be critiqued. Writings are voluntary but all are asked to attend. Whether you submit a writing to be read or just participate in the process, valuable lessons are learned through these critiques.

Criteria for writings:

• 10 copies
• 300-500 words
• Double spaced
• Times Roman Font

See you at the December meeting. Questions? Email me at vdippold2@gmail.com.

November Meeting - Carolyn S. Hennecy, Author/Speaker

Meeting - November 8 - 6:30 PM

Meet Carolyn S. Hennecy, author of "Orange Blossom Wishes," former director of Polk Writers Group and public speaker. She will be sharing tools and techniques on creative writing, blogging and communicating through the written word, as well as identifying your market and how best to reach it successfully. Carolyn will also be available to answer questions regarding establishing a presence with media.

View additional information on her website: http://www.orangeblossomwishes.com/

Tuesday Night Meeting

Tuesday Night

6:30 PM

You don’t want to miss this meeting.

These are beginning times for many of you

or continuing steps for others.

We will work together.

We will write together.

We will encourage each other to success!

See you Tuesday evening.

ASSIGNMENT: Bring 300 word article/story/poem with 10 copies.

POLK AUTHOR and ILLUSTRATOR'S FESTIVAL

All day Saturday, authors and illustrators lined Kentucky Avenue. It was an exciting day to network with publishers and other authors. Next year....could one of you have a book here?

Pictured are:

Otto Dippold, author of How to Make a Wet Plate Camera and How to Make Accessories for a Wet Plate Camera. These books have sold around the world!

Melissa Dippold-Brady, author of Florida Fossils for Kids. This book was a huge hit for educators and kids. Melissa's expertise and insight into fossils kept parents and kids at her table!

Congratulations to Otto and Melissa!

E X C I T E M E N T

by Vivian Dippold

Last night was the first meeting for the newly formed Lakeland Writers Connection. I was so pleased with the attendance. From published novelists to novice writers, we forged a bond to see success in writing.

The comment: “There’s excitement here!” made me smile. Once you know me, you’ll realize I do get excited! Not just for my interest, but for success, achievements, and recognitions of others. I can be a cheerleader. I can jump for joy and turn summersaults for others (well, at least figuratively!). I look forward to “cheering” on your behalf.

The questionnaire of personal goals offered a gamut of aspirations. I ambitiously look forward to the fulfillment of each of these goals.

“Lifetime career. Encourage women and children through fiction.”

To be published.

To publish novels.

To publish inspirational books.

To share experiences with others.

To instruct others in areas of my expertise.

Help others learn the craft of writing.

To be a better communicator.

To be able to focus my ideas in one direction.

To grow as a writer.

To make people smile, cry, or be encouraged through my stories.”

To my fellow writers: We will write. We will grow. We will focus. We will…succeed.

Plan now!

We’re meeting the second Tuesday of September at 6:30 PM.

Mark your calendar!

I can’t wait to get started. Books are waiting to be written.

Articles are gearing up to be published.

Don’t miss this premier meeting.

This is it!

See you there. - Vivian

It's all about the HAT you wear!

Vivian Dippold

You have waited and waited. Finally, the time has arrived! Change has happened. Graduation is over, a job awaits. Nine months have passed, the baby is about to be born. It’s the first day of school and that kindergarten child gets to ride the school bus with the older sibling. And, the list can go on. Those anticipated opportunities creep up on us and before we know it, they are here…and gone. But when the waiting started, it seemed like forever.

But, the HAT. What about the HAT?

I’ll get to that. First, Joyce Meyer says:

We spend a lot of time in our lives waiting because change is a process. Many people want change, but they don't want to go through the waiting process. But the truth is, waiting is a given—we are going to wait. The question is, are we going to wait the wrong or right way? If we wait the wrong way, we'll be miserable; but if we decide to wait God's way, we can become patient and enjoy the wait. It takes practice…we develop patience, which is one of the most important Christian virtues.

You must understand that a key factor to this waiting situation is how you wait. Mark Twain wrote: “All good things arrive unto them that wait - and don't die in the meantime.” That’s it! Don’t die in the meantime.

Okay, but I still don’t get it. What does a HAT have to do with this!

Listen, it is all about the HAT…the HAT. You wear it on your head to protect you from the elements - or just to look nice. You know – Hope, Anticipation, Trust!

Welcome to LWC!

My name is Vivian and I am a writer. I am a Group Leader for the Florida Writers Association. I have recently been transplanted from Pennsylvania into warm, sunny Florida. It is a happy day for me.

While I have enjoyed a life of teaching and school administration, I love to write. I write short inspirational stories, poems, educational support materials, but the dearest to me is a conception of historical based young adult novels. One novel is almost complete; the other complete in my mind!

I want to encourage you to write, to find your niche. I want you to feel comfortable in your voice. This blog will give you updates, insights, and articles to guide you in your process.

I pray for a long, eventful journey! - Vivian

A Place of Refuge - Vivian Dippold

There’s nothing like floating in warm clear waters looking up at the billowing clouds on a background of the clearest blue. There is the white sandy beach with only a few multi-colored umbrellas with no one under them. It has to be my Euphoria. It is the place I crave the most.

It has been over three years since my husband of 44 years and I began the cancer journey. In that time he has had two bouts of cancer – prostate and rectal. And due to the cancers, he has suffered through the anxiety of an early retirement which brought about lingering emotional distress. It has been a tough, arduous journey. And, it still continues.

My refuge is that serene place of quiet contemplation where the clouds meet the horizon, where the sun shines brightly and warms the water. I place my head back and sing songs of praise to my Creator. I relax knowing that the One who made all of this surely knows my name and He cares about me.

In all of our distress, there has to be a Place of Refuge, a place where all is well. Not only is my refuge cradled in an empty beach, clear warm water, and a sky of white billowing clouds but it is more so in the strong enveloping arms of the One who created all that beauty. This is where I know all is well.