May 15 Program, Tex Thompson

Juice Box Hero

Juice-Box Hero: Squeezing Plot From Character
They say there are only six plots. Maybe seven. But there are a million characters – and a great one can make an author’s career. If you have an AMAZING character (or ten), but are struggling to sustain their storylines – or if your intricate, masterfully-crafted plot feels a bit flat on personality – have no fear. Come on out and discover how to distill a story that readers will remember from characters they’ll never forget. Bring your enthusiasm and all your burning questions!

Topic: THPW May Program with Tex Thompson
Time: May 15, 2021 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

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Tex Thompson is…

Tex Thompson.jpg
  • a ruckus-raising professional speaker, writing instructor, and all-purpose extrovert
  • a licensed and practicing locksmith in Dallas
  • founder and chief instigator of WORD (Writers Organizations ‘Round Dallas)
  • a developmental editor and can-do ‘book doula’
  • author of the Children of the Drought fantasy Western series of novels
  • owner of possibly the last website on the entire Internet without a newsletter pop-up form (though you are certainly welcome to sign up for monthly Tex Messages 🙂 )
  • an egregiously enthusiastic, catastrophically cheerful one-woman stampede!

March 20 Program – Ask the Author

Join us at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 20th, for a panel of Authors ready to answer all your burning questions about the writing craft, including research, plotting, editing, publishing, marketing, and more.

Our panel consists of both traditional and indie-published authors, representing a wide range of genre fiction.

Linda Broday

Linda Broday is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of Historical Western Romance, with five multi-book series and contributions to a dozen anthologies. She has a list of accolades too numerous to count here, including the THPW 2018 Writer of the Year. For more about Linda, CLICK HERE.

Kim Black

Kim Black is an award-winning indie-author of Historical Christian Fiction, Mystery/ Suspense, Sci-Fi/ Western, and children’s books. Her books all feature strong female leads. For more about Kim, CLICK HERE.

Ryan McSwain

Ryan McSwain is an indie-author of reality-bending fiction featuring monsters, cosmic horror, comic book heroes, and twisty suspense. He’s also a master of short-story humor and nostalgia. For more about Ryan, CLICK HERE.

Rick Treon

Rick Treon is a newspaper journalist turned award-winning Mystery/ Suspense author. His novels are rich with the grit and gravel of the Texas Panhandle. For more about Rick, CLICK HERE.

Visit the THPW Facebook page to submit questions in advance, and watch for the upcoming Zoom link to join in the discussion.

ZOOM INVITATION:

Topic: THPW March Meeting Ask the Author Panel
Time: Mar 20, 2021 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

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The Anthology is Out!

Click here to purchase!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733862145?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

Contents

Introduction – Ricky Treon

Writers Block – Mike Akins

Remnants of Her – Kim Black

The Miracle – Linda Broday

A Flicker in August – Mary Cooke

Finn – Cheryle Cooper

Impossible Dreams – Dahna Danli

The Mower Incident – Bobbette Doerrie

Blood & Honey – Hunter Fithen

6 Stall Walk Through – Dean Guell

Challenge – Lynn Harper

The Beast – Ashley Hendrick

The Hooded Way – Lynette Jalufka

The Choice – Audrey Cannady Massingill

Footprints on the Heart – Phyliss Miranda

The Second Proposal – Ashlyn Parker

Saving the Water Aerobics Class– Mevanee Parmer

Roadside Crosses – Elise Phillips

The Problem of Suffering – James D. Quiggle

Failed Journey to Fiji – Janda Raker

Swedish Girl Powwows with Mountain Men – Betty M. Reeves

It Is Going to be Okay – Lou Sheldon

Old Fishing Rods Wanted – Lou Sheldon

Hunger – Coby C. Spurrier The Last Gasp – Rick Treon

January 16, 2021 Program, Rick Treon

Polishing Your Manuscript: Tips for Self-Editing

You have a fantastic story, wonderful characters, and a beautiful setting, but there’s still one thing that can hold your story back: the editing. Though all manuscripts should be professionally copy-edited before publication, you can head off many issues before it gets that far. Your copy editor will thank you for it, and — more importantly — so will your readers. 

Rick Treon https://ricktreon.com/

Topic: THPW January 16, 2021 Program
Time: Jan 16, 2021 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

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Vote for the THPW 2021 Slate of Officers

Please vote for your 2021 THPW Board of Directors

  • In order to vote, you must be a paid member of THPW in good standing, and anyone nominated to an office must meet these criteria as well.
 

Verification

November 21, 2020 Program, Shayla Raquel

Finding Your Antagonist’s Saving Grace

If every hero has a major flaw, then every villain has a saving grace. Help your readers relate to your antagonist through these exercises and a fun “Who am I?” game, real-life villain style.

An expert editor, best-selling author, and book marketer, Shayla Raquel works one-on-one with writers every day. A lifelong lover of books, she has been in the publishing industry for ten years and specializes in self-publishing.

Her award-winning blog teaches new and established authors how to write, publish, and market their books.

She is the author of the Pre-Publishing Checklist, “The Rotting” (in Shivers in the Night), The Suicide Tree, and #1 bestseller The 10 Commandments of Author Branding. In her not-so-free time, she acts as organizer for the Yukon Writers’ Society, volunteers at the Oklahoma County Jail, and obsesses over squirrels. She lives in Oklahoma with her dogs, Chanel, Wednesday, and Baker.

Link to Join the Zoom Meeting

(We will have a 10-15 minute business meeting before the program begins.)

Topic: Nov. 21 Program, Shayla Raquel
Time: Nov 21, 2020 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

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Support Texas High Plains Writers

Through the Panhandle Gives

November 23 – December 1

The Texas High Plains Writers is participating in The Panhandle Gives in coordination with the Amarillo Area Foundation.  Please support this century-old writers’ group by donating:

$50 pays for refreshments at a bi-monthly meeting/program

$100 pays for a virtual speaker workshop during COVID-19 pandemic

$200 pays for a speaker and travel expenses at an in-person program

$500 contribution to student writing contest scholarship

Or donate as little or as much as you can

Whether or not you donate, please help us spread the word by going to www.thepanhandlegives.org and clicking on “view organizations,” type Texas High Plains Writers in the “Search Organization Name” field, click the Search button, scroll down, and click on the View Profile button.  To the right of the Donate and Fundraise buttons are the Facebook and Twitter icons.  Click on one or both to help us spread the word.  Thanks!

Why should you donate?  If you give during The Panhandle Gives, THPW will receive MORE due to the Amplification Fund.  The Amarillo Area Foundation has established the “Amplification Fund” comprised of money given from foundations, corporate sponsors, and individual donors. This fund serves as a percentage match for any organization raising at least $250 during the campaign. At the end of the campaign, the total amount raised will be broken down by percentage per organization. Each organization will receive 100% of what was designated to them PLUS their percentage of the Amplification Fund.  Donations must be received between November 23 through December 1 to be eligible for amplification.

There are many ways to give:

online at www.thepanhandlegives.org

drop off your donation at any of our sponsoring banks:

Happy State Bank * FirstBank Southwest * Amarillo National Bank

Make checks payable to The Panhandle Gives.  Include Texas High Plains Writers in the MEMO section of your check.

**To keep our communities safer while also increasing the dollar amount of contributions raised, Amarillo Area Foundation is paying all credit card fees for online donations**

(c) 2018 Panhandle Professional Writers D/B/A Texas High Plains Writers

Texas High Plains Writers
PO Box 19303
Amarillo, TX 79114

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