My writing group was in the local news recently:

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/01/29/bk.wordos.0129.p1.php?section=oregonlife

Wordy People: Eugene group of science fiction and fantasy writers tries to deliver candid criticism as well as encouragement to its members
By Karen McCowan
The Register-Guard
Published: Sunday, January 29, 2006

In the beginning was the Wordos, for dozens of local writers who have found success in science fiction, fantasy and other genres.

The group, which meets weekly at Tsunami Books, has helped writers such as former local TV news anchor Jim Brown and best-selling fantasy author Patricia Briggs break into print.

Its combination of nurturing support and frank criticism has drawn participants from as far as Kalama, Wash., and has helped members garner top national prizes, such as the Nebula, Writers of the Future and Bram Stoker awards.

Not all of the group's 30 to 40 active members are published, ``but you have to be trying,'' said writer Anna Sheehan of Drain, who has yet to sell a story.

``Getting out there'' and not being paralyzed by fear of rejection is so important that the group once set a quota.

``You had to have at least three (manuscripts) out in the mail at any given time,'' Stephen Stanley said. ``This is a workshop to publish.''

When members succeed at that goal for the first time, other Wordos celebrate the event.

``We have a `First Sale Award' - a removable slice of agate on a wooden base," said Nebula award-winner Jerry Oltion. ``You get to keep it until the next group member makes their first sale."

One drawback of being in such a successful group: First-time authors may not get to keep the trophy for long.

``I had the wonderful experience of having `The Agate' all of one minute, when somebody else around the table announced their first sale,'' Devon Monk said.

Wordos rewards rejection, as well.

``At the beginning of each meeting we have news, and everyone will announce their rejections,'' Sheehan said. ``For each one, we get to take a piece of candy out of a jar we pass around.''

The group also gives a ``Mad Marvin'' award to each member who puts nine stories through the group's critique process.

And then there's the ``Whirling Dingleberry Award,'' bestowed each year on the story ``with the most baroque, convoluted, stylistic, lexical richness,'' member Rich Ramsey said.

Meetings kick off with member John Burridge playing a mock trumpet ``Charge!'' on a child-size electronic keyboard. Burridge also plays a loud buzzer sound if a critique comment gets too personal or vicious.

But the heart of the group's mission is to offer honest criticism of the six manuscripts critiqued at each meeting.

``This is a tough critique group,'' Sheehan said. ``We are not ego strokers.''

Members are expected to come to meetings prepared to offer a one-minute critique of each of the night's short stories. Burridge also employs his buzzer if a critic's comments become too long-winded.

Due to time constraints, Wordos workshops center on short

Wordy People: Eugene group of science fiction and fantasy writers tries to deliver candid criticism as well as encouragement to its members
By Karen McCowan
The Register-Guard
Published: Sunday, January 29, 2006


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stories, not novels. But members writing novels can observe various critique styles around the table and make their own arrangements to have other members critique longer works, Monk noted.

``Our critiques aren't just what's wrong with the story, but also what's right with it,'' Ramsey said.

Member Kristen Lincoln illustrated the approach as she launched a Wordos discussion of colleague Leon West's horror story, ``Night Eyes.''

``This is a really creepy story, and I liked that!'' she said, praising West's characters before outlining some plot twists that had confused her.

Oltion offered a similar assessment:

``Gross, twisted, sick - you did a great job!'' he said. ``Ratchet up your creepiness, but don't lose what's on the page here. There's a few things broken enough they need to be fixed, like the big raccoon: it's a story element that doesn't pay off. And he should have talked to the police. Have him do everything right, and still things get worse.''

In its 18-year history, Wordos has developed enough of a reputation for cultivating serious writers that editors sometimes solicit stories from all of the group's members. The group has also spawned a World Fantasy Award-winning local publishing company, Wheatland Press.

Despite this, it also provides a wake-up call for would-be authors who imagine publishing success means fame and fortune. Around the table one recent evening, day jobs ranged from engineer and family therapist to jeweler and housekeeper.

Even member Nina Kiriki Hoffman, who has published hundreds of stories, laughed at the notion of making a living from her writing. She doesn't have just one day job, she joked, but ``three of four.''

The group accepts new members, but generally has a waiting list. Information is available at www.wordos.com.