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DATE & TIME   |   August 14th, 2021 – Business meeting at 12:30 pm, Speaker at 1:30 pm
LOCATION   |   Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and at The Forge Tavern 1375 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43220. See below for further instructions.
TOPIC   |   The Case for Diversity and Inclusion

This is a workshop that focuses on understanding what Diversity and inclusion really is, how it affects each and every one of us, and focuses on examining the way that we think about the world we live in. The workshop will examine understanding biases, privilege, microaggressions, discomfort, and how to navigate initiating diverse and inclusive dialogue.

Jordyn Blanson was a military child who grew up in culturally diverse environments; she was born in Panama, Central America, has lived in 9 states, and traveled around the world. Her upbringing sparked her passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and she’s been fortunate enough to have made it a focus in both her personal life, and in her career. She is a published author of short stories and a comic that focus on people of color, she provides sensitivity reads for major textbook companies, and is the host of a podcast that focuses on Working while black called ‘Wait Say What”. And perhaps more importantly, she has a Masters in Industrial Organizational Psychology, which focuses greatly on Diversity and Inclusion.

For those members who cannot join us at The Forge Tavern, join us via Zoom. The password will be posted on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Group page, which can be accessed via the Romance Writers of America website under the Forums tab. If anyone has any questions, email cofwpresident@gmail.com

DATE & TIME   |   July 17th, 2021 – Business meeting at 12:30 pm, Speaker at 1:30 pm
LOCATION   |   Meeting will be held via Zoom. See below for further instructions.
TOPIC   |   NLP and Writing Great Novels

About NLP and how it can help authors devise and complete great novels:
NLP, or neurolinguistic programming, is a tool that helps you write more, better, and faster. Used with respect and compassion, NLP is a gentle way to help you have what you want without having to “work” to be different than who you are.

Starting with the underlying assumption that all behavior has an intended positive intention and that we always do the thing that feels the best, I’ll lead you through a few exercises that help you clarify your writing goals, expand your writer toolkit, and give you a few practical and useful ways to improve your writing, write faster, or handle roadblocks as they come up.

In this hands-on workshop, I’ll share about:

  • the building blocks of our experience, the senses, and explore how that applies to improving your fiction
  • the readers’ experience, and how to tap into that
  • a procrastination-busting tool to help you spend more time writing

If you’re curious about how to expand your toolkit as a professional writer and incorporate some ways that help you learn more easily and integrate more information, so you can complete great novels, then join us!

About Your Instructor:
Award winning novelist, Beth Barany writes in several genres including YA fantasy, paranormal romance, and science fiction mysteries. Inspired by living abroad in France and Quebec, she loves creating magical tales of romance, mystery, and adventure that empower women and girls to be the heroes of their own lives.

Additionally, Beth runs her own company helping novelists as a creativity coach, NLP practitioner, speaker, and teacher to help them write, market, and publish their books to the delight of their readers.

For fun, Beth enjoys walking, gardening, and watching movies with her husband, thriller author Ezra Barany. They live in Oakland, California with a piano and over 2,000 books.

More at https://www.BethBarany.com.

Our meeting will be held via Zoom. The password will be posted on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Group page which can be accessed via the Romance Writers of America website under the Forums tab. If anyone has any questions, email cofwpresident@gmail.com

DATE & TIME   |   June 19th, 2021 – Business meeting at 12:30 pm, Speaker at 1:30 pm
LOCATION   |   Meeting will be Hybrid via Zoom and at The Forge Tavern 1375 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43220. See below for further instructions.
TOPIC   |   Scrivener Lessons

Scrivener is excellent writing software for both plotters and pantsers. Want to find out what makes it so popular, or learn some new tricks? The author of Scrivener For Dummies will walk you through the basics and cover some of her favorite features.

In this webinar, you’ll learn how to:

  • create a new project.
  • organize your manuscript.
  • import your existing work, notes, and pictures.
  • track your word count.
  • color code your files.
  • create a storyboard.
  • and more!

Gwen Hernandez, the author of Scrivener For Dummies, helps writers all over the world master Scrivener through online courses, in-person workshops, and private training. When she’s not using Scrivener to write romantic suspense, this lifelong nomad likes to travel, read, run along the beach, flail on a yoga mat, and explore her current home of Southern California. Learn more about Gwen at gwenhernandez.com or ScrivenerClasses.com.

For those members who cannot join us at The Forge Tavern, join us via Zoom. The password will be posted on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Group page, which can be accessed via the Romance Writers of America website under the Forums tab. If anyone has any questions, email cofwpresident@gmail.com

DATE & TIME   |   May 15th, 2021 – Business meeting at 12:30 pm, Speaker at 1:30 pm
Note: This month is a 4-hour presentation.
LOCATION   |   Meeting will be held via Zoom. See below for further instructions.
TOPIC   |   How to Growth Hack a Bestseller (One-Day Workshop)

Growth what? Growth hacking is one of the hottest buzzwords in marketing today, responsible for start-up viral sensations like Dropbox, Instagram, Facebook, and the original Hotmail. Few people realize that to guarantee success, the principles of growth hacking must be implemented long before a product is released. But how can an author apply these techniques when writing/self-editing/marketing their novel to better ensure a hit? Join publisher and editor Liz Pelletier as she demonstrates a new and innovative way to develop, write, edit, and market a book with the greatest chance of making your next release a best seller. This is an advanced workshop but even new writers will find it useful!

Liz Pelletier co-founded Entangled Publishing in 2011. Over the past 8, almost 9, years, Entangled has gone from a small start-up to a bestselling romance publisher, with more than 18 NYT bestsellers and 71 USA Today bestsellers. Her out-of the-box approach to everything from pricing strategies to marketing to editorial allows Entangled to be both disruptive and agile within a dynamic publishing landscape. You can find her on Twitter at @Liz_Pelletier.

Our meeting will be held via Zoom. The password will be posted on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Group page which can be accessed via the Romance Writers of America website under the Forums tab. If anyone has any questions, email cofwpresident@gmail.com

DATE & TIME   |   April 17th, 2021 – Business meeting at 12:30 pm, Speaker at 1:30 pm
LOCATION   |   Meeting will be held via Zoom. See below for further instructions.
TOPIC   |   Better, stronger, faster first drafts.

Writing a good first draft in less time is not so much a matter of typing faster but rather of using your time more efficiently. If you know where you’re going before you start your journey, you’ll get there faster. This means two things. First, plan the story in advance. This doesn’t necessarily mean stodgy outlines with roman numerals, but rather having a good handle on the broad story you’re trying to tell before you sit down to tell it. Second, find your ideal writing time and use that time well.

Kate McMurray is a writer and editor based in New York. As a writer, she writes smart, sexy stories with well-developed settings. To date, she’s published over 20 novels in a few different romance sub-genres. As an editor, she divides her time between developmental editing and copyediting for nonfiction and genre fiction. She’s done editorial, writing, and content development for textbooks, including a large writing handbook series for students, and develops content for online learning platforms. She teaches classes on writing craft and self-editing around the country.

Our meeting will be held via Zoom. The password will be posted on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Group page which can be accessed via the Romance Writers of America website under the Forums tab. If anyone has any questions, email cofwpresident@gmail.com

DATE & TIME   |   March 13th, 2021 – Business meeting at 12:30 pm, Speaker at 1:30 pm
LOCATION   |   Meeting will be held via Zoom. See below for further instructions.
TOPIC   |   Slay Your Promos

Is your book the complete package? Join Nikki as she talks about nailing all the elements that will help capture new readers. She’ll discuss craft, release approach, and promotion/ad strategies.

USA Today bestselling author Nikki Sloane landed in graphic design after her careers as a waitress, a screenwriter, and a ballroom dance instructor fell through. Now she writes full-time and lives in Kentucky with her husband, two sons, and a pug who is more slug than dog.

She is a three-time Romance Writers of America RITA© Finalist, a Passionate Plume winner, a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist, and couldn’t be any happier that people enjoy reading her sexy words.

Our meeting will be held via Zoom. The password will be posted on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Group page which can be accessed via the Romance Writers of America website under the Forums tab. If anyone has any questions, email cofwpresident@gmail.com

DATE & TIME   |   February 13th, 2021 – Business meeting at 12:30 pm, Speaker at 1:30 pm
LOCATION   |   Meeting will be held via Zoom. See below for further instructions.
TOPIC   |   The Other HEA: Grab Your Readers with Emotional Attachment

In order for a reader to care about a story, they must care about the characters. Learn how employing rooting interests in your stories that will create an emotional attachment– without the reader ever realizing how you manipulated their emotions. We’ll discuss how, when, what types of rooting interests to use in different situations. See how they can be used in your work and the visible proof of their effectiveness.

Published since 2007, Donna MacMeans has published ten romance novels, both through Penguin Publishing (Berkley imprint) and independently, as well as several short stories. Though she primarily writes historical romance set in the Victorian era, she has also published time-travel, historical paranormal, contemporary paranormal, and one lone romantic suspense set in Westerville, Ohio.

MacMeans won the prestigious Golden Heart award from RWA in 2006 for long historical romance. She has also received the RT Reviewer’s Choice award for Historical Love and Laughter, and recognition from many regional contests. She was the 2013 recipient of the RWA Service award and the 2014 RWA Pro Mentor award. She participated on the RWA board for four years as the Treasurer of the organization, and has taught at the Nora Roberts Writing Institute, Cleveland Writers Association, the RWA National conference and numerous libraries.

And she has loved it all.

Our meeting will be held via Zoom. This meeting is open to the public! Please contact cofwpresident@gmail.com to reserve a spot! Space is limited so please RSVP as soon as possible. Members, the password will be posted on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Group page which can be accessed via the Romance Writers of America website under the Forums tab. If anyone has any questions, email cofwpresident@gmail.com

DATE & TIME   |   January 16th, 2021 – Business meeting at 12:30 pm, Speaker at 1:30 pm
LOCATION   |   Meeting will be held via Zoom. See below for further instructions.
TOPIC   |   Motif and Metaphor with Jenny Crusie

Motif and metaphor are ways to deepen your story’s meaning without putting that meaning blatantly on the page. Through careful analysis of your completed first draft, you can find the things that you unconsciously put into your story and enhance them to create the kind of emotional subtext that draws a reader in without hitting her over the head with MEANING. The repetition of those motifs and metaphors can also give your story unity, making the reader feel as if she’s in safe hands, that there’s an authority in complete control of the narrative. Although motif and metaphor seem as though they belong in a English class, they’re actually valuable, practical tools for writing a compelling and unified story.

Jenny Crusie is a NYT bestseller and two-time RWA Rita winner. She has written more than twenty novels, which have been published in 20 countries. She has a Master’s degree from Wright State University in Professional Writing and Women’s Literature and an MFA from the Ohio State University. She has taught at Antioch University, Wright State University, Ohio State and McDaniel College, where she helped design the curriculum for the graduate level Romance Writing program.

Our meeting will be held via Zoom. The password will be posted on the Central Ohio Fiction Writers Group page which can be accessed via the Romance Writers of America website under the Forums tab. If anyone has any questions, email authorkimberlybeckett@yahoo.com