I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

1 Featured Speaker

2 DAWG Upcoming

Events

5 Mindful Moment

6 Writer’s Spotlight

7 Local Happenings

11 About Us

2019/July Issue www.dallaswriters.org

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@DAWGCedarHill

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Tuesday, July 9, 7PM to 8:30PM

“Enter Stage Right: Playwriting Basics”

Join playwright and Stage Writers founder, David Douglas, to learn the basics of playwriting, the differences between stage plays and other forms of writing, the proper formatting of scripts, the role of the playwright in theatre-making, and a variety of other helpful resources that will cue your entrance into writing for the stage.

David Douglas is a playwright and award-winning short story author. With a penchant for combining romance and mystery, he often writes of central love stories affected (for better or worse) by murder, secrets, or past transgressions. David has served multi-year terms on three Boards of Directors and is the founder of Stage Writers — a Dallas-based playwright group. His full-length play RAILBIRD has been featured in the First Impressions Festival by Imprint Theatreworks (Dallas) and the Play Readers Club by Our Productions Theatre Co. (Lewisville). Currently, David is working on two new full-length plays. One is a dystopian fantasy involving a sort of pilgrimage through a rural landscape. The other is a mystery/thriller, akin to the movie Charade, but with the enigmatic cool factor found in Le Samouraï.

Featured Speaker:

David Douglas

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2019 DAWG Summer Writing Workshop Series

Presented by the Dallas Area Writers Group

All workshops are held 9AM-12 noon at the Meadows Conference Center,

2900 Live Oak, Dallas, TX 75204

Register now at www.dallaswriters.org

Each session is $35 ($25 for DAWG members). Limited to 60 seats per session.

June 22, 2019 – It was GREAT! "MAKING IT REAL” presented by Rachel Caine Writing a book seems like an overwhelming job. How do you go from "wanting" to "doing"? Let a New York Times, USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of more than 50 novels walk you through steps and strategies on how to make your book go from concept to chapters. You'll leave this 3-hour session ready to create compelling characters, stress-test your plot, and set up a plan for how to make your book happen, one scene at a time.

July 20, 2019 -- "WRITING and PUBLISHING YOUR CHRISTIAN BOOK" presented by Michelle Stimpson

Are you tired of feeling guilty about not answering the call to write? Ready to share your testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness to you? Inspired to share a message that will impact people’s lives? If you answered "yes" to these questions, you'll want to attend this workshop designed to help you move past procrastination, craft your content, and then share it with a specific audience desperate to hear from you.

August 17, 2019 – "WANT TO WRITE A CHILDREN'S BOOK?" presented by Janee Trasler

Want to write a children's book--but don't know how to start? Come learn about the elements of writing that make a great children's book. How to get started. How to tell a story without being "preachy"--the voice the story should use. Discover the various levels of children's stories from board books, picture books, easy readers, chapter books, MG (middle grade), and YA (young adult).

Michelle Stimpson michellestimpson.com

Rachel Caine rachelcaine.com

DAWG Upcoming Events

Janee Trasler trasler.com

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The Dallas Area Writers Group Short Story Contest is back!

The Dallas Area Writers Group held its first short story contest in 2017. Three cash prizes were awarded to the first, second, and third place winners. Thirty of the contestants were given the opportunity to have their stories published in DAWG’s first anthology of short stories, Texas Shorts, Volume I, published in 2018. Zoie Montoya won first place for “Was ich Leide, What I Suffer”. L.K. Simonds won second place for “Big Women”. Tayla Lindsey won third place for “A Touch of Rogue”. Congratulations again to the winners of the 2017 DAWG Short Story Contest! Congratulations to those published in the 2018 DAWG anthology.

The excitement and opportunity to let your writerly light shine isn’t over yet. The DAWG Short Story Contest is back and ready to select its next winners. Can you write a winning story in 3,000 words or less? The contest is open to all genres and the word count must be no less than 500 words and no more than 3,000 words. Can you handle that in this summer heat? Let’s allow the 2019 DAWG Short Story Contest be the judge. Grab writing supplies, a cool drink, and a little shade out of the sun and let the words flow. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three stories and plans are to publish the top thirty highest scoring stories in Texas Shorts, Volume II in 2020!

The 2019 DAWG Short Story Contest opens for submissions on July 22nd and closes on September 22nd. Watch for instructions on how to enter, payment methods, updates and for a complete list of the rules on www.dallaswriter.org. Please email questions to dallaswriters.org@gmail.com.

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Texas Shorts, Volume I contains a rich tapestry of tales— both nonfiction and fiction—skillfully told by talented Texas authors from every walk of life. The range and depth of their stories offer complex insight into the lives of unique and interesting characters, exploring many of life’s major themes, using vividly described settings, strong voice, and engaging dialogue. We hope you enjoy reading these wonderful stories as much as we’ve enjoyed bringing them to you.

1. Selected stories from the 2017 Dallas Area Writers Group Short Story Contest are featured in Texas Shorts, Volume I. To read the stories and bios of the North Texas locals who supported DAWG in its first short story anthology publication go to www.dallaswriters.org or find a copy by going to Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Abebooks, Book Depository, Alibris, Indigo, Better World Books and IndieBound. OR you can buy a copy (copies) at the next DAWG meeting—July 9th at the Zula B. Wylie Public Library in Cedar Hill. Price is $15 (or $10 to the authors whose work appears in Texas Shorts!) We can only accept cash or check at the meetings.

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Taking Care Within

The quality of your digestion is the biggest key to your overall health and well-being. Here are some pointers to get your digestion back on track. Arguably, the most important part of digestion begins in the mouth. Be sure to chew your food well! Notice the consistency of your bite of food before swallowing it. If it isn’t a smooth, pasty, porridge-like consistency, keep chewing! Incomplete chewing is a serious drag on the complex process of digestion and can lead to bloating, acid reflux, and – hark! – indigestion.

Eat the protein on your plate before anything else. Protein needs hydrochloric acid to break down, and since your stomach only produces a certain amount of it, it’s necessary to eat proteins first so that all the hydrochloric acid is dedicated to the proteins you’re consuming.

Except for papaya, mango, and pineapple, you should never eat fruit after a meal. Fruits digest faster than other foods, which means your body will focus on breaking them down first—and might not do as complete a job breaking down other foods that take longer to digest. (Especially if it is food that was incompletely chewed; it will have to work even harder to break it down!) Kick ice to the curb. Drinking cold water – especially during a meal – is bad news for your digestive fire. Instead, sip warm water during your meal, which aids digestion.

After meals, lie on your left side for 10 minutes. Because the liver and gall bladder are on your right side, lying on your left side allows gravity to draw the bile down into the stomach, where it can help digest the food you’ve just eaten.

Incorporating spices such as cumin, fennel seeds, coriander, and turmeric, as well as consuming ginger or cumin tea daily, will aid the process of digestion. If your digestive system is running smoothly, you’ve got the best shot at staving off disease, feeling your best, and being most productive in your creative endeavors

Mindful Moment

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Writer’s spotlight DAWG is shining the WRITER’S SPOTLIGHT on

Michelle Stimpson is an award-winning and national bestselling author of more than 50 books and short stories. A former public-school teacher, Michelle uses her enjoyment of a good story to teach others through writing and public speaking. Her works include the highly acclaimed Boaz Brown, Divas of Damascus Road, Falling Into Grace, Coloring the Scriptures, The 21 Day Publishing Plan, Get in the Word and the award-winning Mama B Series. She has published several short stories for high school students through her educational publishing company, Right Track Academic Support Services, at www.wegottaread.com. You can find out more about this North Texas native at MichelleStimpson.com.

Tired of feeling guilty about not answering the call to write? Are you a fiction or non-fiction writer who is inspired to share a message that will impact people’s lives? If you answered "yes" to these questions, you'll want to attend this workshop designed to help you move past procrastination, craft your content, and then share it with a specific audience desperate to hear from you. Don’t miss this informative workshop.

Vist www.dallaswriter.org to register. Email dallaswriter.org@gmail.com with questions.

The Dallas Area Writers Group continues its 2019 Summer Workshop Series with the expertise of Michelle Stimpson to bring you:

WRITING & PUBLISHING YOUR CHRISTIAN BOOK with Michelle Stimpson

July 20, 2019, 9AM to 12PM Meadows Conference Center 2900 Live Oak Dallas, TX

Register at www.dallaswriters.org

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HPB T.D. WALKER BOOK SIGNING

JULY 7, 2019 1PM - 3PM HALF PRICE BOOKS Flagship Store 5803 E Northwest Hwy Dallas, TX

Meet local author T.D. Walker at your Flagship HPB on Sunday, July 7, at 1 p.m. T.D. will sign copies of her poetry collection Small Waiting Objects. Books will be sold independently by the author while supplies last. Read about T.D. Walker at www.tdwalker.net.

What’s happening locally?

HPB KENA SOSA BOOK SIGNING

JULY 7, 2019 1PM - 3PM HALF PRICE BOOKS Flagship Store 5803 E Northwest Hwy Dallas, TX

Meet local children's author Kena Sosa at your Flagship HPB on Sunday, July 7, at 1 p.m. Kena will sign copies of her book The Unhuggables. Books will be sold independently by the author while supplies last. Read about Kena Sosa at www.thetwig.com.

WRITERS GUILD of TEXAS

CREATIVE CHARACTERIZATION with JAN MORRILL

JULY 15, 2019 7PM - 8:30PM Richardson Public Library 900 Civic Center Drive Richardson, TX

Jan Morrill will discuss how to create multi-dimensional characters that come alive with quirks, secrets, habits, and senses in a way that will keep your readers turning the pages. Through discussion and exercises, she will demonstrate the techniques of interviewing characters, writing letters, and describing

a picture or painting in your character’s voice.

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TBAAL

Poetry Smash #8

July 11, 2019 7:30PM Clarence Muse Cafe Theatre 1309 Canton St. Dallas, TX

A smashing season finale, poets successively give-and- take the mic with a poetic tempo to culminate season 42! Coordinated by B. RANDALL. $10 Entry fee.

CARROLLTON LEAGUE of WRITERS

Carrollton League of Writers Summer Conference July 13, 2019 from 9AM - 5PM 1529 E. Hebron Parkway, Carrollton, TX Cost for the day: $35.00 (Lunch included.)

Ann Rose of the Prospect Literary Agency - will explain components of effective query letters, advice from an agent’s perspective, and pitch guidance

Keith F. Goodnight, science fiction author of The Child and Writers Path instructor at SMU - will explain the shape of a good scene, and how well-designed scenes fit together with other scenes to build dramatic stories

Jan Morrill, award-winning historical fiction author and educator – will explain methods to develop characters who will better drive a story and several exercises to help develop creative characterization through the use of letter-writing, photo prompts and point of view

J. Suzanne Frank, Program Director and instructor for the Writers Path at SMU, is a newspaper, author, and magazine journalist who has traveled extensively in Egypt, Greece, and Israel – will demonstrate how to synthesize research so that the why leads to the how, becomes the cause, which then triggers the effect that builds the feedback loop and finally escalates from call to adventure to The End.

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WRITING WORKSHOPS DALLAS

Our Homes: Windows to the World, Mirrors of Ourselves with Eden Elieff

July 27, 2019 10AM - 4PM The Drawing Board 1900 Jay Ell Dr Richardson, TX Cost for the day: $120.00 New Students $90 Returning Students

We write from our roots, out of the soil, habitat, culture, and history that shape our language, sensory connection to the world, and foundational narratives. . .

This day-long seminar will explore the meaning of place and home in our lives and writing through essays, myths and our own writing, to develop greater insight into our own sense of our place in the world and the meaning of exile.

JStokes Writing Ministries

Writing for Christian Publication July 27, 2019 9AM - 3:30PM Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Arlington South 521 East Interstate 20 Arlington, TX Cost: $79.00 (includes lunch)

This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you." Jeremiah 30:2, NIV Did you know there is power in the words of your story? Power that can make a difference in the lives of others God may be calling you to reach. Do you believe God is calling you to share your story in written format so others may be inspired, encouraged or helped from your life journey? Then join me as I teach you how to share your story at my next seminar for aspiring Christian authors. Register at www.jstokeswritingministries.com.

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WORDfest SW

August 3, 2019 9AM - 4PM Burleson Senior Activity Center 216 SW Johnson Ave Burleson, TX

Calling all writers for a day of unforgettable creative connection!

WORDFest SW is a FREE event that will give writers a chance to meet fellow writers, literary leaders, and industry pros. Learn how to take your work to the next level. Enjoy classes, exhibitors and more! Visit the dfwwordfest.org to register for this FREE event.

Why Join the DAWG? (Dallas Area Writers Group)

BENEFITS:

• Be with a group that will encourage you in your writing and help you get published

• Monthly meetings with knowledgeable guest speakers

• Receive priority in reading at our quarterly Critique Nights

• Wall of Fame on the DAWG website for our members who are published--with links to your websites!

• Discounted workshop fees (Use now for our July and August workshops!)

• Free initial entry in DAWG writing contests for prizes and recognition in DAWG publications & DAWG Anthology (Use for this year’s Short Story Contest!)

• Your membership dues (and gifts) may be claimed as a tax deduction--either as a contribution or a business expense--since we're a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

MEMBERSHIP FEES are annual (Pay now—good through 2020)

Individual - $25.00 Couple - $35.00

Student (Full-time) - $10.00 Cash, Check (pay to: Dallas Area Writers Group) or go to www.dallaswriters.org and use PayPal

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Our Meeting Place:

Zula B. Wylie Library

225 Cedar Street

Cedar Hill, TX 75104

972-291-7323

2nd Tuesday of each month,

7PM - 8:30PM

www.dallaswriters.org

President: Catie Riley Wright

Vice-President: Tamara Warner

Secretary/Treasurer: Patsy Summey

Logistics Coordinator: Lily Welborne

Webmaster/Founder: Alan Elliott

Social Media / Literary Director: Tamara Warner

Contest Directors: Eldon Irving Mary Sue Tiffin Tamara Warner

Writing Workshop Co-Directors: Patsy Summey Catherine Tucker Catie Riley Wright

Immediate Past President Catherine Tucker

Our Mailing Address: Dallas Area Writers Group

P. O. Box 1169 Cedar Hill, TX 75106

This month’s newsletter contributors:

Patsy Summey Tamara Warner

Catie Riley Wright

About us