Our first Writers' Cafe of the year kicked off on 1/11/12 -- 12 people attended.

Here are some of the highlights:

TWO-MINUTE READINGS

Select people continued reading something we’ve written for two minutes (especially if they haven't read before).  If you have something to bring to the next Writers' Cafe on Wednesday, 2/15/12, please let us know ahead of time.  Suggestion: Start reading from the beginning of the piece, not the end.

OTHER NEWS

• ¥ www.MasonsRoad.com will have a $1,000 writing contest -- we'll keep you posted.
• ¥ Contact Dee Andrian if you have a "real" Vagina Monologue piece to submit.
• ¥ Sally Allen is looking for health reporting for www.HamletHub.com
• ¥ We've mentioned this service at a previous Writers' Cafe, but in case you missed it, you may find this author's submission service helpful -- www.WritersRelief.com
• ¥ Come to Mouse Muse's next storytelling program, LOVE HURTS: Thursday, 2/6/12, 7pm to 9pm, at Fairfield Museum and Historical Center, 370 Beach Road in Fairfield.  This is an opportunity to add our voice to our community and build connections between us.

BLIND FEEDBACK... Starts this month!

We'll start to provide a monthly way to get blind feedback on pieces we’re writing.  If you already sent us a piece, please don't resend it.  But, we are offering another deadline for January.  Here’s the process:

• ¥ Written piece length: 1,500 words maximum as a Word document (please use .doc only).
• ¥ Use the attached REVISED cover sheet to identify your piece.  No identification beyond the piece title and page numbers (or piece name as the jpg title) should be on the body of the piece(s).
• ¥ Email the piece and cover sheet as separate documents to ina@mousemuse.com no later than Tuesday, 1/24/12, by 11am.
• ¥ We’ll see what everyone can do to have comments back to you by our next meeting on 2/15/12.
• ¥ If you submit a piece, we’ll assume you will also volunteer to be a reviewer.
• ¥  If you’d like to be a reviewer, but don’t have a piece to submit, please email Ina no later than Tuesday, 1/24/12, 11am.

BRAGGING RIGHTS

• ¥ Lisa Calderone, founding editor of literary journal www.MasonsRoad.com, announced the next submission theme is characterization, which will be open from 2/15 to 5/15/12.  Check the Website for more details.
• ¥ Jane Sherman is simultaneously excited and agitated about having the first chapter of her memoir excerpted by the Weston Magazine Group.
• ¥ Catherine Onyemelukwe is a speaker at the Association of Fundraising Professionals and is starting a new blog, Grandma's Charity Challenge.  She is also working on a memoir about her time as an ex-Peace Corps volunteer.
• ¥ Sophie Barnes is getting her Website up and running for her intuitive health counseling business, which uses Bach Flower Essences.
• ¥ Ina Chadwick has a contributor space named, Trending Now and Then for www.HamletHub.com (edited by our own Sally Allen).  Ina's pieces will researched essays.
• ¥ Margaret Wagner continues to organize 5Rhythms dance workshops with creative writing -- movement opens up the creative pathways.  Next one is on 2/12 and the theme is Moving Love Letters.
• ¥ Dee Andrian, AKA Miss Johnstown, PA of 1954 who had her own TV show, has supported The Vagina Monologue project for the last three years.  The first year, they raised $50,000 and $40,000 the second year for for the Domestic Violence Crisis Center, a local organization that offers counseling, legal and housing advocacy services, as well as a 24-hour hotline. For the third year, called "Under the Covers," women are invited to write and recite their own experiences -- director Jill Jaysen is looking for submissions.
• ¥ Elise Ferrara -- we wish you well with your upcoming dental implants!
• ¥ Mark Albertson, author of three books, has written articles for an army aviation magazine (yes, you heard that right!) and will be speaking at the Stratford Library o 2/12.  Go to markwrites.com for more info.
• ¥ Shira Linden had a client give her a bonus for her promotional writing business.
• ¥ Sally Allen is looking for submissions to www.HamletHub.com, especially in the health area.
• ¥ Barbara Stokes submitted a piece for our blind submission process, and will be in Myrtle Beach for our next meeting (hope it's warmer than here!).

FUTURE 2012 MEETINGS
Save these WEDNESDAYS for future Writers’ Cafes in 2012:

• ¥ February 15
• ¥ March 14
• ¥ April 11
• ¥ May 16

Location: Writers’ Cafes are held at Ina Chadwick’s home, 2 Redcoat Road  in Westport, CT (near Exit 41 southbound entrance of the Merritt/Route 15).  For directions, please email Ina at: Ina@mousemuse.com.  (NOTE: We are no longer meeting at the Westport Arts Center.)

Parking: Please park as neatly as possible in the driveway, and use the door on the side of the house by the walkway (the first doors are the entrance to the dentist’s office).

Time: 12:30pm to 2pm

Options to bring:

• ¥ A piece or portion of a piece to read – we’ll cut you off at the two-minute mark.
• ¥ $1.00 for bragging dollars, if you have any news to share!

P.S.  If you don't want to be on this list, send me an email with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. We don't want to be a nuisance!