About Sandpoint Writers On The Lake

  President: Bonnie McDade 

Secretary: Tom Reppert

• Meetings:  2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month, from 9:30 a.m. to noon (sometimes the library moves us, so contact us in advance), at the East Bonner County Library (Sandpoint) 

• Format: The first meeting of the month is devoted to whatever business we have to conduct (contests, book sales, etc.); our monthly writing development presentation -- a 30-45 minute presentation on a subject selected by the assigned member; "brags;" and remainder of time for critiques.

• The second meeting of the month is devoted almost exclusively to critiques, unless we have some urgent business that must be discussed.

• Submitting Manuscripts for Critiques: 

1. Via email, you'll send your work to our list of members by midnight, the Wednesday prior to the Saturday meeting.  (We do not critique pieces that are not submitted ahead of time.  Each member then reads and adds notations to each other's work prior to our in-person or Zoom meetings.)
2. Send two versions -- a Word (or Mac) document and a pdf. (Some of us put comments on the emailed document using Track Changes or some other program or just our own editing/comments; others will print out the pdf copy and use hand-written comments.
3. Be sure to put at the top of your first page: 

~ your name

~ title of document 

~ type of document (ex: chapter in novel, magazine article, non-fiction book section, etc.)

~ word count (in your submission only)

~ several topics you would like group to consider (ex: POV, handling of tension, character development, etc.); ask for the kind of feedback you want.

~ AND be sure to include line numbering

* Submissions should not be more than 3,000 words.

• During critiques, you will have between 20 and 30 minutes (depending upon number of submissions we have) dedicated to your specific piece.  That includes the time you take to read (so you may decide to read only a page or two leaving more time for critique).  You decide how you want the time to be utilized -- more reading or more critique or both.

• See critiquing guidelines at The Writers' Loft: Critique Guidelines (thewritersloft.org).(Remember that the SPW members are NOT your editors, but are more like experienced Beta readers.  You take from the critiquing sessions what works for you and let the rest of it go if it is not helpful to you.) 

• Dues:  Only $25 annually (payable to Sandpoint Writers on the Lake) in January. 

Note:  Writers who want to check us out before committing to joining, are awarded three gratis meetings before dues are requested.

•  Beverages and Snacks:  the library allows us to take these to the meeting, so feel free to do so if you would like to.

If you have questions, suggestions, or ideas, please contact us.