**Important Date change**

Because Easter weekend hits the same weekend we plan to meet next (March 30th) AND Robin Tidwell has a book launching that weekend, we're going to move the meeting date up to March 23. Please put the word out!

Handouts from February's Meeting

We had a great February meeting and Sharon gave us an informative talk with two helpful handouts. The first is Five Key Questions to Ask as You Write your Novel. http://writetodone.com/2013/02/15/5-key-questions-to-ask-as-you-write-your-novel/?goback=.anb_1814346_%2a2_%2a1_%2a1_%2a1_%2a1_%2a1 The second handout is one on Self Editing tips from Gemma Halliday http://thewritersguidetoepublishing.com/self-editing-tips-from-new-york-times-bestselling-author-gemma-halliday?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheWritersGuideToE-publishing+%28The+Writer%27s+Guide+to+E-Publishing+Feed%29&utm_content=Yahoo!+Mail

We'll post the meeting notes later this week, so keep checking back.

(Thanks, Bill, for sending me the links! --JC)

A free resource

WOW! (Women on Writing) and BookBaby have some free e-books on a variety of topics. This on is on marketing.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/New-BookBaby-Guide--Making-Money-with-your-eBook.html?soid=1101417136261&aid=mx8TY69wA4M

MWG Conference Fast Approaching!

Dear Writers,

This is a quick reminder that the 2013 Missouri Writers' Guild conference to be held in St Louis at the Sheraton Westport Chalet hotel on April 26-28, 2013 is fast approaching. If you haven't done so already, be sure to register! You don't have to be a Missouri Writers' Guild member to come. Neither do you have to be a registered member of another writer's guild.

There's a great lineup of speakers and agents, breakout sessions, and Sunday Master classes. Your registration includes pitch sessions with an agent/editor, any/all breakout sessions, the Friday night Slush Pile reading (which is always popular), Nightcap sessions with agents/editors--which is a great opportunity to network, ask questions, and meet other writers. You can also show off your work at Open Mic Night. The Saturday luncheon is included, too. And networking is absolutely FREE!

Here is a listing of the agents/editors who will be taking pitches, along with links to their websites. Check them out! Then be sure to sign up for one!

Kathleen Ortiz, New Leaf Literary & Media http://newleafliterary.com/

Pam van Hylckama Vlieg, Larsen Pomada Literary Agents http://www.larsenpomada.com/

Jita Fumich, Folio Literary Agency http://foliolit.com/

Carly Watters, P.S. Literary Agency http://www.psliterary.com/

Joan Luckett, Midwest Living http://www.midwestliving.com/

Kristina Blank Makansi, Blank Slate Press http://blankslatepress.com/

Nancy Baumann, Stonebrook Publishing

http://www.stonebrookpublishing.net/

Also, check out the Sunday Master classes. We've got some great 3-hour one-on-one sessions lined out. The number of attendees for these classes is kept to a minimum, so be to sure to sign up as they fill up fast. Here's a listing of those classes. (Details for each can be found on the MWG website.)

Sarah E. Fine, "The Ins and Outs of Traumatizing Your Characters"

Kathleen Ortiz, "Who's Listening to You: An Advanced Course in Online Marketing"

C. Hope Clark, "Career Solutions 101"

Geoff Morrison—Digital Publishing 101

There's also a great listing of breakout sessions scheduled all day Saturday, too, with a lunch for all attendees in-between.

And don't forget to enter the CONTESTS! You still have time, but the March 1 deadline for the Sponsor and Chapter contests is just around the corner.

For all the conference details, visit the Missouri Writers' Guild website athttp://www.missouriwritersguild.org. Then sign up! We'd love to see you there.

If you have any questions about the conference, you can email Steve Wiegenstein, president of MWG at mwgpres at gmail dot com. Or you can email us here. We'll be happy to answer any questions.

Keep writing!

Donna, Secretary/Treasurer

SEMO Chapter MWG

djessner6@gmail.com