Next HSW Meeting 

Saturday May 11 at 10 am at
Raleys ONE Supermarket on Wedge Parkway

Critiques and Writing Exercises

Chapter or Scene Critique – We’ve scheduled a chapter from Matt Bayan’s current project for critique by the group. Since it’s a historical novel, we’ll also have a discussion on using historical elements in any genre.

Scene or Chapter Critique 
If you would like to get feedback on a chapter, send a maximum of six pages, double-spaced with Times New Roman or similar front, 12 point, to the Board (Board@highsierrawriters.org) at least three days before the meeting so copies can be made. The session will be facilitated by Matt and the whole group can comment on the pages.

Second, a discussion on atmosphere and mood.

ATMOSPHERE AND MOOD
A dark and stormy night? Yes, it’s a cliche, but what does it accomplish? How can we write images, sounds, etc. that sneak into a reader’s mind and make the reader scared, or happy, or hesitant. How can atmospherics be used to create suspense, foreboding, or goosebumps? Bring something to write with and on.

* * *

Also on the Agenda, Matt will be doing both First Pages and Critiques. For FIRST PAGES: If you would like to get feedback on the first page of your work from the group, then send it to Matt (MattBayan@aol.com) before 6 pm by Friday, May 10th. The page should be double-spaced in Times New Roman or equivalent 12 point type. Do not include your name on the page, but do include the genre.  

For CHAPTER OR SCENE CRITIQUE: Send a maximum of six pages, double-spaced with Times New Roman or similar front, 12 point to Matt Bayan (mattbayan@aol.com) or the Board (Board@highsierrawriters.org) at least three days before the meeting so copies can be made. The session will be facilitated by Matt and the whole group can comment on the pages.  

GUEST OR TOPIC IDEAS!
If you have a topic area you’d like covered or know of someone you’d like to have as a guest speaker at an upcoming meeting, please drop a line to board@highsierrawriters.org

Google Meet Information:

If we can get the connection working, we will use Google Meet for streaming.

Google Meet joining info:

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/bmx-txbf-nnuOr dial: ‪(US) +1 949-424-7153‬ PIN: ‪995 846 279‬#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/bmx-txbf-nnu?pin=1873220995940

Critique Groups Update

Reminder: You must be a current PAID member of HSW in order to participate in one of our critique groups. 

If you’d like to join a group or have general questions about critiquing, contact Linda Enos at lynda.r.bailey@gmail.com

MYSTERY WRITERS (and more) WANTED!

The Mystery and More group is looking for authors! If you write mystery, or any genre other than romance or children’s, let Linda know. She’ll put you in touch with the group leader, Ron, so you can learn more details.

PLEASE REMEMBER…

If you have a few pages you’d like the HSW members to critique cold, don’t forget to send your submission (max of 6 pages, double spaced with New Times Roman, or similar font, 12pt) to Matt at least 3 days before the monthly meeting so hard copies can be made. This month send them to Matt! MattBayan@aol.com

HSW CRITIQUE GROUP RETURNING TO B&N

President, Matt Bayan, has reestablished the B&N critique group. For more info on how this group works, email Linda.

FYI… NO ATRM Meeting in May!

The After-the-Regular-Meeting (ATRM) critique group will not be gathering in May, but will resuming in-person critiquing in June. 😊

Don’t forget to contact Linda Enos at lynda.r.bailey@gmail.com with any questions or concerns!

Have you paid your 2024 Dues ?

Never has it been so inexpensive to join or renew at High Sierra Writers. Dues are only two dollars for the whole year! Yes, Matt lost his mind and set the renewal low. 

You can pay your dues at a meeting (please bring exact amount $2), Rene has very little cash with her.

Or you can pay by check made payable to High Sierra Writers and handed to Rene (Treasurer) at the meeting or mailed to HSW at HSW Membership, PO Box 12241 Reno, NV 89510 (Please email the Board if your mail it.) Note: Please be sure to include your email address so we can add you to the newsletter mailing list.

Or you can pay via PayPal at paypal.me/Twobucks2024 – Enter the dollar amount you are paying. If you pay for more than one membership, please let us know the names for each and a good email address so we can send you our monthly newsletter.

You asked for it, we’re doing it. Matt is hosting a drop-in critique meeting at the Barnes & Noble cafe on S Virginia Street from 6 PM to 8 PM. Meetings will be held on the FIRST and THIRD Wednesdays of each month, usually hosted by Matt Bayan.

Drop-in means no prep and no homework. Just bring 5 or 6 pages on which you want feedback and read them to the group. If you want, someone else can read your material out loud. If you’re really ambitious, you can bring hard copies, but that starts to look like homework and we really want to avoid work of any sort.

Your material can be a chapter or a passage you want to test, like an action scene, or dialogue, or something you’re just not sure about. Fiction or nonfiction.

You don’t need to be there for the whole meeting. If you can’t make it until 7 PM, no big deal.
You don’t have to bring material. These sessions are a great way to build up your editing muscles by analyzing work of other writers.

See you there.

HSW Writers’ Success Stories

High Sierra Writers has quite a few published writers in the group. We have a page featuring the various books grouped by author under genre. These are under HSW Authors link. As our authors release new books, we’ll feature them here. If you have a release coming up, send me your press release to RPAverett@gmail.com.

HSW Writers’ Success Stories

High Sierra Writers has quite a few published writers in the group. We have a page featuring the various books grouped by author under genre. These are under HSW Authors link. As our authors release new books, we’ll feature them here.

Please support your fellow HSW members by reading and reviewing their books. As we all know, those reviews are keys to getting better recognition and sales.