Writing Prompts & Brainstorming Activities

*Meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m.

Come join fellow SOLA members for refreshments, conversation, and fun writing exercises to get our creative juices flowing! This meeting will focus on writing prompts. Last month, we passed out Easter eggs containing a prompt. Those of you who attended, please bring your Easter egg writing prompt. For those who didn’t, we’ll pass out more this Saturday. Let’s have a little fun flexing our writers’ wings!

Cup and Chaucer will also be available for those who want to group together to do writing sprints, brainstorming, and plotting.

The speaker event will now take place at 10:00 a.m., and the business meeting will begin afterwards at 11:00. Please arrive on time to hear our wonderful speaker!

What You Don’t Clear Might Bite You:
The Author’s Warranty of Right to Publish

Every publication agreement requires the author to warrant that their work does not violate the rights of any third parties. This talk will touch briefly on what rights are protected by copyrights, trademarks, and the rights of publicity/privacy (including limitations such as fair use) and then focus on clearances for book publication and marketing activities. Many, if not most, publication agreements now require the author to do the clearance work for their books and, of course, the author is responsible for any errors. All authors should understand what they are warranting in their publication agreement and what they need to do for proper clearance of their work.

Biography:

Marie practices exclusively in the area of intellectual property law – copyrights, trademarks, IP-related contracts, and select litigation. She helps businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals protect their valuable rights. She represents both authors and publishers in the highly specialized area of publication agreements.

Dear SOLA members:

SOLA has extended the membership dues deadline until the April meeting, which is on April 20th. Due to confusion with the still non-active “pay online” option through RWA’s website, no late fee will be incurred.

The dues are $40. We ask that you pay directly to SOLA in one of the following ways:

1. By check, mailed to 9012 Camille Ct., New Orleans, LA 70123

–OR–

2. By check or cash handed to Ann Cantrell at the next SOLA meeting (March 16th)

Thanks for your patience!

Using Psychology to Create Memorable Characters

Join USA Today Bestselling author Farrah Rochon for an interactive deep dive into creating characters using various methods rooted in psychology, including characterization with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Keirsey-Temperament Sorter, and how to apply them to fiction writing.

Bio:

USA Today Bestselling author Farrah Rochon hails from a small town just west of New Orleans. She has garnered much acclaim for her Holmes Brothers, New York Sabers, Bayou Dreams and Moments in Maplesville series. The two-time RITA® Award finalist has also been nominated for an RT BOOKReviews Reviewers Choice Award and in 2015 received the Emma Award for Author of the Year.

When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading, cooking, traveling the world, visiting Walt Disney World, and catching her favorite Broadway shows.

From the First Word to Hitting Publish:
A Step-by-Step Plan on How to Indie Publish

Deanna is a native Californian. After spending five years traveling in an RV, she and her husband moved into an adorable cottage in a small  town outside of New Orleans. After about six months, Deanna was convinced their 1907 home was haunted. Late at night as she penned Haunted on Bourbon Street, she often heard footsteps throughout the old house. Luckily, the spirit appears to be harmless, as he/she has never done more than make a little noise and possibly smoke a few cigars. However, if the ghost ever shows up in a dream, you’ll be the first to hear of it. Smudge stick anyone?

When she isn’t writing, she is often goofing off with her husband in New Orleans, playing with her two shih tzu dogs, and making glass beads.

Self-Publishing and Tackling the Series

“Learn about self-publishing: when to choose it, what to expect, hints, hacks and some hard truths. Then we’ll tackle writing for a series, and I’ll share a process for organizing, developing story and character ideas, and avoiding writer’s block.”

Bio:

Best known as Leonardo DiCaprio’s sister in Django Unchained, Laura has acted in over 60 movies and TV shows including Kill Bill, Now You See Me, Friends and recurring roles on Treme and Oprah Winfrey’s and Ava Duverney’s Queen Sugar.

Cayouette earned her Master’s Degree in creative writing and English literature at the University of South Alabama where she was presented the 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award. She’s taught both English and acting/directing at various universities.

Laura has authored several books including the Charlotte Reade Mystery series. Beginning during the Saints march to the Super Bowl amid Mardi Gras 2010, the books feature colorful local characters, a haunted chandelier, and mysteries, not murders.

Cayouette is also the author of Know Small Parts: An Actor’s Guide to Turning Minutes into Moments and Moments into a Career with foreword by Richard Dreyfuss and endorsements from Kevin Costner and more, as well as Lemonade Farm, a coming-of-age novel set in a commune in rural Maryland in 1976. She currently resides in New Orleans and writes a blog, latonola.com, about her love for the city.