Monday, March 26, 2012

Saturday Writers Celebrates Ten Years

While we're on the topic of celebrations, last Saturday was the 10th anniversary celebration of Saturday Writers, a group I co-founded with Lou Turner, David Kirkland, Margo Dill, and Amy Harke-Moore back in January of 2002.

Our little group grew from a handful of members to now around 80 or 90. Who would've guessed?

Current President Jennifer Hashieder and the SW board did a fabulous job for the event. The cake was scrumptious. The photo on the left is of me with Lou Turner, one of the co-founders. (Note to self: Get a haircut.) Thanks Bea for taking our picture.

Speaking of Bea. She won second place in the Romance Writing Contest. Other winners were Jack, Sioux, and Jennifer.




Marcia won a door prize. Here she is displaying her jaunty new cap.

Rebeca does a fabulous job planning these monthly contests. Her idea board is so creative! And Brad's rendedition of "Writer's Block" to the melody of "Yesterday" on Saturday was enormously entertaining--and hilarious. Cyn keeps us all straight when we arrive, and without Les we wouldn't have such delicious goodies each week. And Jennifer is so enthusiastic and creative. She's a wonderful leader!

The group sparkles with energy and ideas, such as Sioux's Writer's Marathon in St. Charles.
Writing, walking, reading, eating lunch and drinking wine. How can you beat that combination on a Saturday afternoon in April?

  
Sioux explains our April 7th Writer's Marathon in St. Charles


Jack receives his award!


Brad performs "Writer's Block"

Jennifer displays a Saturday Writers Tote Bag. Our new logo is super!



Rebeca discusses the Contest Inspiration Board for the April contest (poetry or flash fiction)


Later this week I will post about our guest speaker's presentation. Anene Tressler, author of Dancing With Gravity, did a fantastic job. She inspired us and led us through a writing exercise. I want to give her presentation a full page, so watch later this week when I'll share what I learned from Anene.

Happy 10th anniversary Saturday Writers. Here's to many more!

21 comments:

  1. Donna, congrats again to you, Lou, and the others who began Saturday Writers! It's the best kept little secret around, isn't it? Although, not so secret any longer. It started out small, as you said, but now it's becoming the David of David & Goliath! I am so happy to be a member!

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  2. Hi Becky,

    Thanks. And you continued the legacy by serving as president last year.

    Our group reminds me of a writer's version of the Rawhide song, "Keep rolling, rolling, rolling. Keep those writers rolling. Write on!"

    Donna

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  3. Looks like everyone is having a great time. Thanks for sharing; I really enjoyed your photos. Is the new bag a gift for everyone or a money maker for the group? Is the feather part of your new logo?

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    1. Hi Claudia,
      The new tote bag is a money raiser for our group. Yep. The feather is part of our new logo, designed by Jennifer and voted as winner by the members of SW.
      Donna

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  4. Donna,

    I really liked reading about your Saturday Writers group. It sounds like you all have a fun time and get a lot accomplished as well. I wish I could find a group like that here in Little Rock.

    Congratulations on the 10th Anniversary!

    Leslie

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  5. Good grief! Who is that frumpy woman with the green shirt and the scarf? The one with her mouth wide open? Yikes! ;)

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  6. Donna, congratulations to you and the other founders. What an accomplishment to be proud of.

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  7. Great post - sorry I missed the meeting (sick) - and congrats to those who started Saturday Writers!

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  8. Hi Leslie,
    Thanks. It's a fun group.

    Hi Sioux,
    You look great, and your idea is spectacular!

    Hi Linda,
    Thanks. It's hard to believe it's been 10 years.

    Hi Lynn,
    Hope you're feeling better. It's too nice out to be sick.

    Donna

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  9. Donna, What a fine post. Agreed, it was a really fun meeting. You are always so supportive and kind. I hope Saturday Writers is becoming what you hoped it would be all those years ago. But I need to tell you I was not one of the contest winners this month. I did win a mug as a door prize. And bought a jaunty hat and tote bag to wear at MWG conference!

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  10. Happy 10th Anniversary to your Fabulous Writing Group, Donna! It sounds as if your celebration was delightfully memorable.

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  11. Hi Marcia,
    Oops. Now I remember. You won a door prize--and also announced your story was selected for Writing on Walls. You still are a winner!

    Hi Clara,
    Thank you. It was a fun morning/afternoon. I needed a nap afterwards.

    Donna

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  12. What a wonderful and dynamic group! You and your fellow writers created a good organization. Kudos!

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  13. Congratulations! What a great group, looks like you had a lot of fun!

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  14. Hi Carol,
    Thanks. It is a great group.

    Hi Francesa,
    Thanks. We did have fun!

    Donna

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  15. Delightful! I'm so happy to be a part of Saturday Writers. Thank you and all the founders and those that made this all possible 10 years ago!

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  16. Congratulations on the anniversary! One of the things I miss about having moved to Santander is that there's no writers group. The beach makes up for it inspiration-wise, but the beach isn't a very good copy editor. I had a great writers group in Madrid. Hmmm. . .email critiques?

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  17. It's amazing to see how the group has grown in numbers, inspiration, and enthusiasm. Delicious fun!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  18. Wow, your writer's group is something else. It is good to find and be with so many people interested in writing.

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  19. That's wonderful that your group has grown so large. It's a testament to how writers support each other.

    What are the lyrics to Writer's Block?

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    Replies
    1. Unfortunately, I didn't write the lyrics down. I was laughing so hard.

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