Last Minute Jot Information and LiveStream

On March 14, 2014 By Robert EvenhouseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Jot Writers Conference

Hello writing friends. I wanted to inform you of a few last minute details regarding Jot.

The parking lot may fill up quickly. If so, consider parking in the TCBY parking lot instead of the one by La Cantina, unless you want your car towed. This is the safest parking lot nearby.

If you cannot make it, there are two ways to join us:

You can create a LiveStream account and watch the presentations live at https://new.livestream.com/accounts/5380733/events/2839974
I will be tweeting the event, just follow @parttimenovel the # is #jotconference

See you in a few hours!

The Weaklings

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How to Get the Most Out of Jot

On March 14, 2014 By Robert EvenhouseIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Jot Writers Conference

I’ve read it in writing magazines and on blogs and websites of famous writers that going to writer’s conference is one of the best things you can do if you are serious about being a writer. Writing conferences are part education, part encouragement, and part filler of that elusive creative well.

If you’ve been to Jot, I hope you’ve experienced these things.

Writing can be a lonely process. This is not just true for us amateurs but for professionals too. In the book CS Lewis: Eccentric Genius. Reluctant Prophet., Alister McGrath points out that Tolkien (older and well respected in higher education circles of his day) timidly showed CS Lewis one of his poems he had been working on. Lewis approved of it so enthusiastically, he showed him more. In part, because of that encouragement we now have The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. Being around other writers…

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Interview With Christy Award Winning Author & Jot Keynote Tracy Groot

On March 13, 2014 By Robert EvenhouseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Jot Writers Conference

Jot is ONE day away! The Weaklings are excited. The presenters are as well. I hope you are giddy with excitement too. Where else can you rub shoulders with other writers, drink copious amounts of great coffee in an amazing bookstore, and get spectacular advice from publishing professionals all for FREE?!?! (There should be about a billion more exclamation points).

Christy Award winning author Tracy Groot is our keynote speaker for this installment of Jot. The Weaklings are thrilled that she agreed to join us. She wants to share on the topic of pop lit, but more than that, she wants to have a discussion and throw around ideas on what makes a great pop-lit book. I hope you come ready to join in the discussion. Below, I’ve asked her a few questions to help Jot attendees get to know her a little better.

1. Tracy, tell a little bit…

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Writer, Have You Lost Your Motivation? Chad Allen Is Here To Help!

On March 11, 2014 By Robert EvenhouseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

A great interview with Editorial Director Chad Allen of Baker Book House. He’ll be speaking at Jot this Friday. Hope to see you there!

Jot Writers Conference

Jot the GR Writers Mini-Conference is THIS Friday. Have you called that writer friend you know to invite them? You’ve got a sitter for the kids, right? You’ve remembered to request the night off of work? Good. Well done. It is going to be amazing.

Since we’re talking about amazing, Chad Allen, Editorial Director at Baker Books, is speaking at Jot. He’s here to encourage us as we chase our writing dreams.

Chad’s topic in a nutshell:

You Can Do This: An Editor’s Manifesto: How to Stay Motivated and Keep Moving toward Publication

The road to getting published can be tough. How can you improve your writing, build your platform, hold down a day job, and still have a life? What practices can writers use to find their voice and produce their best work? In this presentation editor Chad R. Allen shares strategies to help writers be successful over the long…

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Jot Interview Susie Finkbeiner On Characters

On March 6, 2014 By Robert EvenhouseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Friends, with each passing minute we are getting close to Jot!

The latest installment of the free West Michigan Writers conference has a tremendous line up. If you are not in the state or on this side of the globe, we’ll be doing a live broadcast as well. I’ll post a link when it is available.

For the full list of presenters, please go here.

Local Author Susie Finkbeiner shares her love of characters and how we might create ones our readers might never forget. Check out the link here.

See you at the Conference!

Cheers,

Bob

On the Origin of Jot

On March 5, 2014 By Robert EvenhouseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Josh Mosey

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word “jot” stems from the Latin “jota” which is a derivation of the Greek “iota”, the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet. Thus, a jot is one of the smallest things you can write. And it has taken this meaning as both noun (the smallest letter) and verb (to write a small amount).

Jot is also the name that my writer’s group settled on when we came up with our free, one-night writer’s conference concept. As busy guys with full-time jobs and families, we don’t always have the time or money to attend big writers’ conferences, awesome though they be. So we decided to start one of our own targeting the needs of people like us.

So the Jot Conference, or mini-conference if you prefer, is one night only. It is free to attend. And it offers quality sessions on a variety…

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Parent Writer – On Writing with Kids

On March 5, 2014 By Robert EvenhouseIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Being a parent is like being a Navy Seal. You get little sleep. You are called at any moment, day or night. Though exhausted and pushed to the limits of human endurance, you somehow make it through. Then comes the next day.

Having the dream of publication and the responsibility of raising children can be like spitting in the wind at times. Your days are filled with the greatest joys and most difficult challenges. I’ve tried to write at night and in the morning only to be thwarted by the cutest little girls and happiest little boy in the world.

Many times I’ve rose early, take a sip of my black coffee, smile and sat down at the computer then – “Daddy! I woke up!” calls my 2 year old Clara. Then her sister June gets up and the fun begins.

I love writing, but I gladly set it aside any time I can for my children.

How do I get anything done? I take one night a week to write to go and write for a few hours with my writers group, after the kids are down. Also, I usually have some time before work or before I got to bed a few days each week. I believe it was Madeleine L’Engle who talked about writing in the cracks of life. As parents who write, we do what we can and keep going, building the habit now, rather than waiting for the time when we’re on a more consistent schedule.

Writing with kids is never easy. But parenting is my first love. Besides, I get to see the world through their eyes and am inspired to be a better person, and better parent. I want to try harder at things, to be a good example, to be disciplined and soft, loving, and kind. Living life is the best way to find inspiration for my work. There is no better way to live life than to share it with those we love.

Love your kids today writers.

Cheers,

Bob

Community in Writing

On February 24, 2014February 24, 2014 By Robert EvenhouseIn Uncategorized6 Comments

Every six months, over the last year, my writers group has put on a one night writers conference called Jot. The third installment is less than a month away (Friday, March 14^th).

Before we started writing, we were all friends. Each of us had been writing or considering it in one form or another. We each shared our secret love of writing and all of a sudden there we were, meeting about once a week to share our progress or even reading a little of our work. At the time I don’t think we realized the unique situation we had, an organically grown writers group that sprouted out of friendship. We didn’t read an article on a website or an invitation in a bookstore to connect with random individuals, it just sort of happened.

Writing is a lonely activity. I’ve said it many times on my blog that you cannot write alone, but you have to. What I mean is that, just like runners in a marathon, you need people on the sideline cheering you on and also people writing with you to help improve your craft.

The act of writing thrives in community. In community the writer receives encouragement, readers, and challenges all at the same time, three ingredients essential to any would be novelist. This is why we started Jot. Not because we wished to make money (it is free) but because we wanted to connect local writers with other local writers.

If you are a writer in the West Michigan area, or within driving distance, I hope you’ll come out for our event. If anything, our lineup is fantastic. You’ll hear presentations from professional novelists, one on screenwriting, have a chance to attend a free poetry workshop with a poetry editor of a literary magazine, and a presentation from a publisher. I believe, however, you’ll get more than that. Your passion for writing will be ignited and you might find a writing friend or two to meet with regularly, that is our desire.

Writing thrives in community. I hope to see you Friday, March 14^th at 7pm at Baker Book House on East Paris in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Until then, write every day!

Cheers,

Bob

Great opportunity! Get your first five pages critiqued by a professional editor

On February 14, 2014 By Robert EvenhouseIn Uncategorized1 Comment

Writing friends, check out the criteria and send your work in. This is not a submission but a free critique. Don’t worry though, this is not an attempt to steal your stuff or trick you, I checked it out. Read full post at Jennifer M Eaton. Good luck!

Jennifer M Eaton