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manuscript, book, poetry, or es-
say.
As we do each year, audience
members will be given index
cards to track feedback on each
presenter and some even offer
suggestions on how to help our
readers craft a better product .
⸞⸟
Dedicated to supporting local authors since 1979
to...
We are thrilled
to have you with us!
July 2019 www.sdwritersguild.org
The Writer’s Life
Note from the Editor:
Deadline for submissions to
The Writer’s Life is the 28th of
each month, for publication
no later than every 2nd Tues-
day.
Please e-mail copy and photo-
graphs (preferably .jpg file) to
Patricia Bossano
Thank You!
Inside this issue:
What You Missed 2
SD Book Awards 2
You are invited... 2
Bohemian English 2
Tip of the Hat 3
Upcoming Events 3
About SDWEG 4 A warm
Susan Allen
Larry M. Leech
Stephen Metz II
Olga Singer
Dear SDWEG Members, join us
on Monday, July 22 for one of
our most popular meetings of
the year, “Open Mic Night.” We
filled up quickly this year, so no
additional slots are available.
Our presenters will each have
three minutes (and no more) to
share a story, a part of their
as the patients themselves report im-
proved rapport and communication as a
result.
Hiring an individual with interviewing and
writing skills for a half-time position at a
hospital, the "My Life, My Story" program
is thought to be a cost-effective means of
improving quality of care.
⸞⸟
NPR reports on the new move to include life
stories of around 1000 words in a patient's
medical record. Patients are interviewed, their
stories transcribed, typed, and entered in their
medical record for health care providers to read
and become acquainted with individuals as
more than a condition to treat.
Professionals from physicians to Xray techni-
cians to pharmacists to nurse’s aides, as well
Would you like to play
along?
Send your current WIP’s
first sentence/paragraph to:
for review / publication in
upcoming issues of The
Writer’s Life!
⸞⸟
The purpose of a first sen-
tence or paragraph is to get
us to read the second…
and then we are Hooked.
To kick off this new series,
here is one of my all-time
favorite first paragraphs,
from Gabriel García Már-
quez, One Hundred Years
of Solitude (1967; trans.
Gregory Rabassa)
“Many years later, as he faced
the firing squad, Colonel
Aureliano Buendía was to
remember that distant afternoon
when his father took him to
discover ice.”
Mini Memoirs for Medical Records, By Ruth L. Wallace, PhD
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What you missed … By Mardie Schroeder
During our June meeting, Matt Coyle treated us to his literary
journey with his homey Irish humor. At a young age his father
gave him The Simple Art of Murder by Raymond Chandler. It
was then he decided to become a crime author—except he
didn’t want to write.
It wasn’t until he was an adult that he began his first book and
was convinced it was brilliant—he loved it. So did his father.
After getting some professional input he discovered his book
was a first draft and it would take two years of rewriting before
he felt his book was ready for an agent.
Trying to get an agent brought a new dimension to getting pub-
lished, i.e. more rewrites. He spent years going to writing con-
ferences, sending his work to agents, and rewriting. Everyone
who looked at his manuscript suggested changes. It took ten
years to reach publication. At last he thought he was done with
it, but he still had more writing to do—synopses, blurbs, etc.
Did I gather any pearls of wisdom from Matt’s presentation?
You bet:
• Write what you think
you want to know;
• you must get the
facts right in a
crime novel;
• keep your day job;
• you are your best
marketer;
• own your hometown.
The most important thing is to get in a writer’s group He’s been
in one for 17 years. If two people have an issue with a section,
you should really look at it.
Matt has completed six novels, five of which take place in San
Diego. The sixth one is set in Santa Barbara.
As a resource Matt highly recommends “Publishers Market-
place.”
English
Papyrus and Comic Sans walk into a
bar. The bartender says, "Get out –we
don’t serve your type.” –unknown
We're pleased to announce that the SDWEG 2018 antholo-
gy, The Guilded Pen, 7th edition, was named a Finalist in the
2019 San Diego Book Awards.
The three finalists in the Published Anthology category are:
City Works Journal, Volume 25, by M.P. Lopez and H.A. Mar-
tinez
Magic, Mystery & Murder, edited by Cornelia Feye and Tama-
ra Merrill
The Guilded Pen, 2018 Anthology of the San Diego Writers
and Editors Guild, edited by Marcia Buompensiero and other
SDWEG members.
The winner in that category is Magic, Mystery & Murder. One
of the editors of that anthology, Tamara Merrill, is a San Diego
Writers and Editors Guild member. Congratulations to both
Cornelia Feye and Tamara Merrill.
Josh Turner, pen name for SDWEG member Josh Baxt, is also
among the finalists this year, in the Published Mainstream
Fiction category for his novel Endless Blue Sky. Congratula-
tions, Josh.
Robert Gilberg's novel Twists of Fate: A Folk-Rock Odys-
sey landed him a spot on the finalist list for Published Ro-
mance. Congratulations, Robert.
2019 San Diego Book Awards
Announced
By Marcia Buompensiero and Sandra Yeaman
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Hats Off to SDWEG member Rick Lakin who was recently
accepted as a member in the Science Fiction & Fantasy
Writers of America (SFWA) https://sdwritersguild.org/
congratulations-to-rick-lakin/
Cheers to Pat Tartre, pen name Ruby Ro-
mano! Her book, Shady Gold, the first of
her Golden Wishes series is now on sale at
Amazon. Get your copy here https://
www.amazon.com/Shady-Gold-Golden-
Wishes-Romano/dp/1096568276/ and
read it before Book 2 comes out later this
year!
to SDWEG Members Flexing their Prowess!
SDWEG is proud to note when its members are engaged in creative activities
with other organizations around San Diego and beyond.
Members who have upcoming events are
invited to submit details including date,
time, address, title of the event, related
image, and brief description to webmas-
[email protected] for inclusion in the
calendar.
Ongoing through Aug, in connection with
the SDWEG’s 40th anniversary Richard
Lederer has offered to publish in his SD U-T column a number of
our members' literary creations (250-word limit) on "Why You
Are a Writer/Why You Love to Write." Please submit them to
[email protected] with your contact information and
SDWEG membership status.
Jul 7, Sun Noon-3:00 p.m., “The Writers Coffeehouse” with Jon-
athan Maberry hosted by Mysterious Galaxy, 5943 Balboa Ave,
Suite 100, San Diego, CA. http://www.mystgalaxy.com/
Jul 8, “Building a Business Around Writing” 3-week course for
UCSD Extension online, taught by SDWEG member and award-
winning writer, Andrea Susan Glass of WritersWay. Sign up at
https://extension.ucsd.edu/courses-and-programs/building-a-
business-around-writing
Jul 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m. SD/PEN will draw on the hive mind to
explore some of the most important issues editors and writers
face in a unique program titled “Crowd Mentoring for Editors
and Writers.” More info at: https://sdpen.com/event/crowd-
mentoring-for-editors-and-writers/?instance_id=313
Jul 22, 6:30 p.m., SDWEG presents Open Mic Night, join us for
Stories, Clips and Poetry by our talented members! We will
meet at the County Health Services Complex, 3851 Rosecrans
St., San Diego. $5.00 charge for non-members
Aug 12-15, Oregon Christian Writers Conference “Following
your Call.” Top editors, agents, and authors dedicated to help
you reach your writing goals. More info at: https://
oregonchristianwriters.org/
Aug 24, San Diego Union-Tribune Festival of Books. More info:
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/festival-of-books
Sep 1-7, Salute! In Vino Veritas is a residential writing workshop
in the vineyards of Tuscany, featuring personalized encounters
with teacher/writers, morning workshops, guided wine tastings,
and wonderful Italian cuisine. Limited to 15 participants. More
details: https://invinoveritaswriting.com/
Upcoming Events
Congratulations to Gary Winters! His poem “Pockets” has
been accepted for the Land's End Bi-Coastal Poetry anthol-
ogy. It will embody the best of poetry in the U.S. from both
East and West! And his poem “D. I.” has been chosen for
publication in We Are Beat, National Beat Poetry Festival
anthology. Gary is on a roll!
A wholehearted Thank You to all contributors to The Writ-
er’s Life for allowing me to be the bearer of stellar news
every month!
from the crowd. We will have the ability to
set up our tables any way we choose.
This annual event is your opportunity to
get your name and wares out there to
interested readers, fellow authors,
booksellers and related vendors.
This popular event fills up quickly and we
need to give a table count fairly soon.
The upcoming Festival of Books will be
held on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at
Liberty Station.
Member costs will be $100 for 1/2 a
table (2 people per table) and $199 for
a full table—same as last year.
This year, the Guild will be given its own
tent next to Author’s Alley, but in a
prime location, helping to distinguish us
Please email Mardie Schroeder at:
[email protected], subject
line: FESTIVAL OF BOOKS, to let us
know you want to participate.
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Board of Directors
President: Mardie Schroeder
VP & Publicity Chair: Bob Doublebower
Secretary: Laurie Asher ([email protected])
Treasurer: Marcia Buompensiero
Membership Chair: Adolpho Sánchez
Directors-at-Large:
Gered Beeby ([email protected])
Marie DiMercurio ([email protected])
Janet Hafner ([email protected])
Rivkah Sleeth ([email protected])
Penn Wallace ([email protected])
Ken Yaros ([email protected])
Newsletter Editor: Patricia Bossano
Social Media Mgr.: Sandra Yeaman
The Writer’s Life by
Mission Statement: The San Diego Writers and Editors Guild shall promote, support,
and encourage the writing arts for adults and youth.
Benefits of Membership:
General meeting: 4th Monday of
each month
5:30-6:30 PM Marketing Support
Group for Guild Members
6:30 PM Sign-in & Networking
6:45 PM Business Meeting
7:00 PM Guest Speaker & Program
Location: San Diego County Health
Services Complex, 1st floor, 3851
Rosecrans Blvd., San Diego, CA
92110
View location map at:
www.SDWritersGuild.org
Membership dues: $36 per year
Guests: $5 per meeting
SDWEG supports members and
promotes the writing arts through:
educational meetings with guest
speakers on timely topics for writ-
ers; networking with writing/editing
professionals; manuscript review
services and the opportunity to
submit your work for publication in
the annual anthology; information
about community wide writing/
editing classes, conferences and
other events; links to writing and
editing resources on the website;
publicity for members’ creative
works on the “Members’ Works”
web page.
@SDWritersGuild
@SanDiegoWritersEditorsGuild/
Write, Edit, Read… Repeat
the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild
PO Box 881931
San Diego, CA 92168
w: www.sdwritersguild.org