Val Dumond

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Val's Writers Group: Afternoon Writing

Afternoon Writing Salons

The Writing Salons are aimed at helping writers with book manuscripts to work toward getting published. Each eight-week workshop is planned the same, to give writers a chance to drop back for more information or catch up on something they might have missed.

The first of the eight weeks include work to fine-tune their writing: theme, plot, characters, dialog, and word usage. Other sessions include facing the business of writing, preparing queries and proposals, finding agents, and determining the best way to publish.

The Afternoon Writing Salons began with eight sessions on Tuesdays, from 2pm to 4pm at the Mandolin Café. Upon request, a Wednesday was added. And now a Saturday is in the works. Watch my event schedule for upcoming groups.

To become part of an Afternoon Writing Salon, contact me: Val@valdumond.com

The Writers Roundtable

The Writers Roundtable of Tacoma, which has been going like gangbusters since 1997, began like most other groups - a meeting of writers who couldn't help themselves keep from writing! Some had been writing for a long time; others were new at it.

Hundreds of writers have stopped by or have been part of the Roundtable. On an average, 25 to 30 people attend meetings, held regularly on the first and third Wednesdays, from 6:30 to 8:30 at a bookstore.

What makes this group different is the dedication of members to improving their own writing and helping others to improve theirs - with encouragement and criticism that helps rather than damages. Members have become good friends over the years, responding to each other like family. We've witnessed a couple romances that resulted in marriage, the arrival of babies, a few debilitating illnesses, and even the death of a member. In short, the kind of experiences that give us things to write about.

Each meeting includes readings and evaluations. Speakers often present ideas to the group.

The Writers Roundtable published two anthologies of their work themselves, experiencing the entire publishing process from writing, editing and formatting, to choosing a printer and a marketing plan. Then they went out and sold the books.