lcrwpres Uncategorized

2025 Is a Wrap

2025 was a busy year with an average of 16 attendees at our meetings. We covered seven very different subjects, listed below, in our presentations, all pertaining to writing or authorship. Thank you to those who willingly share their expertise. The three peer critiques remain one of our group’s strong points. Where else can one get such experienced readers who help each other improve their writing? The wonderful photo was taken at our annual Christmas party. See you in 2026.

Show, Don’t Tell – Leslie J. Hall (video)

 Character development – NY Times Best Seller Kathryn Shay

 Indie publishing – Kaycee John

10 types of story structure – Kim Gore

Writing sex scenes – NY Times best seller Kathryn Shay

Songwriting –  Phil Dollard

Selling Power of Book Design – Tamara Dever (video)

lcrwpres Presentation described

Writing Sexuality

You are writing a romance and want to include “sex scenes.” How graphic do you want the descriptions without them becoming smutty? What if you only want to include imagery that happens above the neck? What is the industry standard that is expected in the romance genre? Are there tricks to let the reader imagine what you only hint at?

Our long-time member, New York Times best-selling author Kathryn Shay, will answer these questions during her presentation on Saturday, August 23. We are fortunate to have an author with over 100 published romances in our midst who shares her expertise so freely.

Come visit our group for the business meeting that starts at 9:00, or join us at 10:00 and participate in the presentation. We invite visitors to attend one meeting for free before becoming a member. Our dues are only $20.00 a year. For that small amount, you get seven presentations, three peer critique sessions, and a December holiday party. Our location and meeting times are prominently displayed on the first page of this website.

lcrwpres Presentaation summary

Kaycee John Visits

Kycee John gave us some excellent information during the presentation at the May Meeting. She is an agent from Wild Rose Press, and some of us knew her by her writing name, Kat Henry Doran.

Tips for submitting to any press.

  1. Follow the guidelines given, and include all information asked for.
  2. Don’t submit what they don’t want, or more than they want.
  3. Do your research to submit to the correct department or person.
  4. BE POLITE and patient.

Your main character needs to have a well-defined goal, conflicts that make the goal difficult to reach, and the motivation to attain the goal anyway. That’s what makes a reader keep turning the pages.

No matter who you publish with or whether you do it yourself, marketing is your job. Learn ways to build an email list, ask your family, friends, and writing group to help you share news of new books, and plan book signings at local libraries, and/or book stores.

Thank you, Kaycee, for sharing information with us.

lcrwpres Author

Sue Savard has a new book out

FROM FARMER TO CIVIL WAR HERO
A brand-new book by Sue Savard about the part played in the Civil War by the town of
Sweden’s local hero, Milo Lester Starks, is now available at the Lift Bridge Bookshop.
The story was taken from his letters to family and friends and brings to light his inner
fears and feelings, love of family, admiration of President Lincoln, and his interactions with and
admiration for the black volunteers from both north and south.
He soon made his mark as a successful recruiter of local young men, an admired Major,
who was a strict but understanding mentor of those in his company, fearless fighter at the
Battle of Little Round Top, and the glue that kept his family together.
As well as portraying Milo’s part in history, the book also shines light on the history of
the town of Sweden, its residents, the state college at Brockport, and the importance of the
Erie Canal.

lcrwpres Presentation described

Character Development

Have you ever wanted to take a class from a New York Times best-selling author? On April 26, Kathryn Shay will present the basics on how to develop characters for your story, whether it’s a short one or a novel. The basics for doing this don’t change, so she will be sharing her methods with the group.

If not already a member of our group, you are welcome to visit one time free of charge.

The time and location of our meeting are given on the home page of this website.

lcrwpres Author's examples

A Birthday Poem for Jacob

By Sue Spitulnik

Music. The universal language.

When there’s a beat, toes tap and bodies sway.

It can be fast and exciting, evoke feelings of loneliness,

Or have an air of peace and tranquility.

Animals even surround a singer with a guitar

I’ve watched it happening on a video.

Music. It’s one reason I met my husband

He wanted a dance partner

We could fill an empty floor

Just the two of us doing an old fashioned swing

Usually during the dinner hour

When the DJ played the crooner’s songs

Music. We sing along when alone in the car

And it takes us away from our today

People clean house to it

Surgeons operate to it

Children wiggle their bodies and butts

Grinning while being the center of attention

Music, the universal language

Aging backs took away our dance steps

So we enjoy listening, sitting near the band

In bars like the Spirit Room.

It brought us here, it’s why we come back

Well that and the birthday boy

Music is one of Jake’s things

He has a marvelous set of pipes

Everyone should get to hear at least once

Plus he makes a wickedly good cocktail

That might include an eyeball

And he writes poetry much better than so many others

Music, has brought us many new friends

Those who play it and those who listen

Some we’ve grown very close to and

Others are acquaintances in the crowd

Music, is alive in Rochester. It’s a big deal

And in so many locations

Sometimes we choose by the venue’s menu

Because our favorites are giging the same night

Music brings us together

By genre, talent, acoustically and otherwise

The stories that are sung

Could be yours or mine

Full of protest or gospel understanding

Patriotic even, the result is the same

It’s a way to share the reality of life

Music continues to be

Everywhere, All the time    

Happy birthday, Jacob

lcrwpres Presentation described

Critique Guidelines

Our first of three critiques is coming up on Saturday, March 22. This is a great time to get a manuscript of up to 2500 words looked at.  If you aren't a member, this is a fantastic opportunity to see what LCRW can do for you (in addition to the six presentations we have each year.)

This is a LCRW function.  You may participate one time only if you are a non-member. You must be a member to critique.

          ALL manuscripts must be emailed to the moderator, Steve Yates at writingsbysay@yahoo.com by MIDNIGHT on Wednesday, July 12th.  (Note, this is ten days before the critique session.)  Any submissions received after that will be handled as time permits, at the end of the critique session.

          Critiques will be discussed in the order they are received.

          You will be receiving a manuscript from each participant and are expected to print it out and have your critique of their work at the meeting, or email the author your notes, and attend the meeting also.

          Your manuscript must be formatted using: Times Roman, Courier, Tahoma, or Verdana font at 12 points.  Margins should be to one inch.  Double space.

Be sure to number your pages (Insert / Page Number).  Also, it makes critiquing easier if you insert line numbers (Open the Page Layout ribbon / Click Line Numbers in the Page Setup section / Select your options from the pop-up menu.)

Save your document in: .doc, .docx, or .rtf formant.  (All major word processing programs have this capability.)  All manuscripts will be converted to .pdf by the facilitator, with line numbers inserted if you have not already done so.

          Please limit your submission to about 2500 words.  (You may send as many words as you like. The person critiquing may stop at any time after 2500 words.)

          Starting time is 9:00 AM Saturday, March 22th. Please be ready to start then.

          1605 Buffalo Rd, Rochester, NY 14624 Enter via the Police Annex door at the back of the building. There is plenty of parking. We meet in the first room on the left.  

          Please do not submit first drafts.  Spend some time editing before you send it out.  Also, it is requested you don’t send a modified copy of your manuscript after the original has been dispersed. (When Steve receives a manuscript, he will send it out to those who have already submitted. He will send all the manuscripts at the deadline.

          Everyone who submits a manuscript will be expected to critique all other entries and ensure they receive a copy of your comments.  (You are not required to send your critique to the recipient before the critique, but it is useful.)  In addition, we always have people who wish to share their knowledge of writing, yet not submit.  

          NEW: It was decided at the last critique that, no matter how many entries and volunteers we have, we will all be at one table. That may force us to extremely limit your time to present your critique. Therefore, you must be sure to have everything you wish to say on the paper copy to return to the author.

 

The following information should be on the first page, before your story begins. (You may wish to copy/past this to your manuscript and answer them.)

·       Please include your name and email address at the top of the page.

·       Genre: (Fantasy, Romance, etc.)

·       Demographic (target audience):

·       How long is the final piece (short story, novel):

·       Is there back story we need to know to understand what is going on:

·       Where does this fit in your manuscript (i.e.: two-thirds of the way through):

·       What questions do you want answered:

          When critiquing, consider:

·       Are the characters developed.  (You may not get to this in a limited piece)

·       Is there a strong sense of the setting/time.

·       Is it original (Not a requirement.  Some of the best stories are a retelling.)
lcrwpres Presentaation summary

Show-dont tell – presentation

At last Saturday's meeting we were watching a video presentation entitle "show - don't tell." After a few minutes, fussy technology reigned and I couldn't get the video restarted. Member, Kim Gore jumped up from her seat and professionally saved the day. After a bit more instruction, she gave us the following prompt that tells about something happening and asked us to write the same scene showing it to our fellow readers. 
Prompt: He was so angry that he threw the shovel across the driveway and screamed. His wife came out of the house and gave him a cup of cocoa.  
			****
My descriptive version: by Paul Irvine

He stared hard at the shovel, half full of snow, the ice sticking to it adding ten pounds. His frozen toes now forgotten, he kicked it, shattering the ice and his big toe, and sending him flying down the driveway on his back. The resulting scream echoed down the street, like a blast from a shotgun. His wife, already half way out the door, rushed to him, slipped and spilled the hot cocoa down his open jacket. As she hit the ground, their duo screams set off their car alarms, adding to the winter cacophony filling their neighborhood!
			****
Effort to show not tell - Kathleen Plum:

It was a bitter cold wintery morning and the three feet of snow and ice on Jack’s driveway begged to be left alone. He was still steaming from the argument with his wife over their taxes; he was happy to feel the icy breeze brush his nose and cheeks as he stepped out of the house with the snow shovel. A thin, fluffy coating of snow had disguised the thick, hard layer of ice beneath it. In pure frustration, Jack threw his shovel across the driveway and screamed. But then he saw the outline of a bloody human hand, with only 3 fingers, encrusted in the ice below. Now the wind- or maybe it was the hand in the ice- took his breath away entirely. Jack was still speechless as his wife came out of the house bearing a cup a cocoa in repentance for her part in the dust-up that morning, oblivious to the macabre scene that awaited her.
			****
Immediate response to telling prompt -  by Sue Spitulnik

"This damn snow. I want to move south."
"You've said that for years and I agree, then you say you won't leave the kids."
"That's your line."
"Okay. It's your mother you won't leave. Go shovel before she gets here."
He put on three shirts, his insulated pants, a heavy coat and gloves. I added his knit cap and opened the door for him. Next thing I heard was a scream and a thump. I ran to the window. The shovel was five feet into the yard and he was sitting on his ass, fuming, but seemed okay. I watched. He slowly turned to get on all fours and gingerly got up. I went to the kitchen to make him a cup of hot cocoa and put a shot of whiskey in it thinking whatever works. I took it out to him. He would be nicer when his mother arrived. 
			****
As you can see, Paul and Kathleen followed the prompt. Sue rearranged the timeline in her writing showing that everyone wrote what came to mind with different character personalities, and different settings. This is because every author draws on their own personal experiences when writing, and no two people think alike. It was a good presentation for everyone present. Fun side note: more than one person included an argument about doing their taxes.
lcrwpres Presentation described

Show, Don’t Tell

Every author has to learn to write prose that lets readers experience the story by using their five senses. It’s not as easy as it sounds because telling what is happening in a scene is how we generally write, but it leaves the reader feeling uninvolved. In some circumstances, showing is more challenging than in others. The meeting presentation on Saturday, February 22, will be Leslie J. Hall explaining how to show instead of tell by sharing great examples.

If you have heard this topic discussed before, I still encourage you to join us. There may be some tidbit of information spoken in a different manner that will help you incorporate showing into your writing more naturally.

The time and location of our meeting are given on the home page.