Kansas City Writer's Group
Amateurs & Professionals Welcome!
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Our Founder and Inspiration... |
Wilma Yeo
1918-1994
The recipient of the Edgar Wolfe Literary Award 1992, Yeo was the author of some ten
published works in both prose and poetry. They include picture books for children, mystery books for pre-teens, and a biography of Thomas Hart Benton written with Helen K. Cook. Her works include Mrs. Neverbody's Recipes, 1968; Mystery of the Third Twin,
1972; Oliver Twister and His Big Little Sister, 1973; Maverick With a Paint Brush; The story of Thomas Hart Benton, 1977; Gypsy Summer, 1986; Girl in The Window, 1988, and Stranger at Winfield House, 1989.
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The Kansas City Writers Group
was founded in 1965 and has met continuously since that time. We average
around 40 members per semester and have several charter members who still attend. We celebrated our 40th anniversary in 2005.
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Spring 2013
Critique Group
For the spring fevered and the writing-obsessed!
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Fee:
$65.00
Date: Forthcoming
10 weeks:
Thursdays,
10:20 a.m.-noon
Make checks payable to:
Mary-Lane Kamberg
913-764-4950
Email:
MLKwriter@yahoo.com |
Location
Country Club Christian Church
6101 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, MO 64113
Park in North Lot, Enter East door
Take elevator up to Solarium |
Critique Leaders
Our leaders are well-published, professional writers and editors, who are willing to share what they know with other writers regardless of
experience or achievement. Leaders for the critique workshops are Deborah Shouse, Mary-Lane Kamberg and Dawn Downey.
Learn more about:
Debora Shouse / Mary-Lane Kamberg
Critique Group
We use a workshop critique group format for works in progress.
 Members
turn in 3 to 5 poems, one chapter of a book, a short story, article or essay to the leaders via e-mail or regular mail, or drop it off at class. We also critique query letters and book proposals. The leader then does a line edit and comments in writing on the piece.
At a subsequent meeting, the leader reads the piece aloud to the group. We have found that it benefits the writer to hear someone else read the piece aloud. The writer often catches things he/she did not notice in written form. For longer pieces, we limit the
amount read aloud to about 10 pages |
Spring
2013
Critique Group
10 weeks
Thursdays, 10:20 a.m. - noon
Begins:
Date Forthcoming
Questions or
To Enroll,
Contact:
Mary-Lane Kamberg
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MLKwriter@yahoo.com
913-764-4950
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Writers Workshop
(6
weeks)
Cost $45
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Learn More!
No
pre-registration necessary
Meets
Thursday mornings
9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Contact:
Sally Jadlow
913-269-9850
E-mail
►Sjadlow@aol.com
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 The class then comments on the piece with the goal of helping it become more publishable. Comments may address grammatical or factual errors, comments on structure, characterization, etc., or just how the piece “hits us” as readers. Sometimes, the class even
suggests a different plot twist. Other times, someone may suggest a market for the piece. It’s pretty much up for grabs. Comments usually include both positive and negative points. But we don’t attempt to change content. We are trying to help the author say what he
or she is trying to say.
Our meetings begin with “Market News,” which is a time (some call it “brag time”) to pass around recently published work, announce
awards, acceptances or rejections, signing with an agent, sales of books, articles, stories, or poems. It’s also a time for such general announcements as when someone is doing a poetry reading or appearing on TV or on the radio or passing around an article in the
newspaper about one of us. Also during Market News, we pass around guidelines or Web sites for markets we have found. It’s sort of a show and tell time. This time varies, probably about 15 to 20 minutes each meeting. However, on the first day of each semester, it
takes most of the meeting, since we’ve been apart so long and lots has usually happened.
In each class, we read the pieces in the order they were turned in (roughly) but we like to read poetry first, because it goes a bit more
quickly, and we can get more authors heard. Then we read the longer stuff. We also like to vary the types of pieces to keep the class interested. During the critique, the author simply listens. We don’t “defend ourselves.” However, the author may ask the person
commenting to clarify the comment. The author also occasionally may ask the group a question he/she has that no one has commented on. We say, take what you agree with and leave the rest. Whatever anyone says is just that person’s opinion. The piece stays the
writer’s to edit or not per the comments.
 We like to try to read pieces by authors
whose work hasn’t yet been heard that semester before we repeat an author. (Some people never turn in anything!) Also, the author must be in class the day the piece is read. If he/she isn’t there, we just save it ‘til the next time he/she is.
We take a seven to 10 minute break at midpoint in the session and that’s a time for visiting the rest rooms, vending machines. People
also socialize a bit during the break, or ask each other specific writing questions – like advice on approaching a certain editor or anything else on a one-on-one basis.
Our class ends at noon and whoever wants to then proceeds to lunch at a nearby restaurant. We currently lunch at Lucky Brewgrille at 5401
Johnson Drive (east of Kinko’s—Nall and Johnson Drive—on the opposite end of the same sidewalk).
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Writers Workshop
Taught by professional writer,
Sally Jadlow |
Sally is the author of poetry,
historical fiction, devotionals, and inspirational short
stories. Her books are available at:
Barnes & Noble.com and Amazon.com
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SIX-WEEK
CLASS FOR WRITERS
Fee:
$45
Dates:
Fall Dates TBA
Time: Thursdays -- 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
LOCATION:
Country Club Christian Church
Third Floor, Solarium
6101 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, Missouri
For more information
Contact Class Leader
Sally Jadlow:
913-269-9850
E-mail
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Sjadlow@aol.com
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This
class will explore how to
make your writing SHINE! Plus...
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Market information
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Information on manuscript preparation
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Writing techniques – in-class
writing exercises
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Discussion of student questions
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An interactive, supportive class
setting
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Optional – 1 to 5 page writing
assignments
– finished
pieces ready to send to publishers.
Hope to
see you there!
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The Kansas City Writers Group Presents
I Love To Write Camp
(Select from 2 age groups of camps)
No
Camps Currently Schedule - Future Dates to Be Announced
Explore the creative writing process without worrying about your
grade! These workshops include
experience with peer review, free writing and techniques to help your writing come alive.
These camps are mentored by award-winning professional writer
Mary-Lane Kamberg: 913-764-4950 E-mail:
Mary-Lane
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Cost:
$65 per session. Optional book
$17.
Location: TBA
Bring a spiral notebook, pens or pencils,
and change for vending machines. |
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Writing Activities Camp
...for students entering grades 4-8
Questions? (913) 764-4950
E-mail Mary-Lane
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Critique Camp
...for students with work in progress who are
entering seventh through 12th grades
Critique campers must send up to 8 pages
of prose or 3-5 poems (single spaced)
for discussion
with registration.
E-mail
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mlkwriter@yahoo.com
US Mail:
Mary-Lane Kamberg,
2128 E. 144th St.
Olathe, KS 66062-2355
Questions? (913) 764-4950
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Now Available!
The I Love To Write Book: Ideas and Tips for Young Writers by camp director Mary-Lane Kamberg, $17.00
Questions? (913) 764-4950 or e-mail:
mlkwriter@yahoo.com
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“Thank you so much! (my
daughter) absolutely LOVED your camp … Thank you so much for all of your support
and positive feedback!”
Diann Marolf
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“When (my daughter) was telling friends about her summer, I was surprised to hear her say the
most fun thing she did was writers camp! After all, we took her to Mexico, climbed ruins, played in the water, bought her stuff...”
Elizabeth Uppman |
“I am hoping we see you next summer for your youth writers camp. As a teacher,
you are such an inspiration. Your workshop fits so much with my idea of
learning, which is that education should be about the love of learning, not a
grade or test score. Furthermore, I am impressed with how much you focus on
children’s strengths and foster a very positive learning environment so that
your students feel more inclined to work hard, as well as to create.”
Valerie Gabrielli
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Purchase from Amazon.com NOW!
The I Love To
Write Book: Ideas and Tips for Young Writers
is an instructional, inspirational get-started guide to launch young students on the first stages of their journeys to become
successful, self-motivated writers. It includes tips, techniques and activities – ideal for use in the classroom as well as individually. Targeted to grades 4-8, it may also appeal to younger and older writers, depending on their reading and writing skills. |
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