2024 Programs
Are you a writer in Michigan? Interested in joining our group or learning more about us? If you’d like to attend one of our programs, please contact us at michiganromancewriters@gmail.com.
We meet in person, but also offer the programs virtually via Zoom. It is free to attend your first program (in person or virtually), and only $10 for subsequent programs.
Our gatherings rotate from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids to Lansing area venues (generally restaurants or libraries) on the third Saturday of the month. The day begins at 11:30 am and involves lunch and networking. The formal program begins at 1:00 pm. A brief business meeting typically occurs before or after the program, as timing dictates.
There are no formal programs in January, July, August, or December, although we may have informal write ins or critiquing. Also, our annual Retreat From Harsh Reality is held in April. This is open to non-members, and has been a cornerstone of Michigan Romance Writers for over 35 years.
Visit the MRW Facebook Events Page for any potential time changes and details. Please R.S.V.P. below or on the Facebook Events Page.
January
February
Location
Traveler’s Cafe & Pub. 5225 Portage Rd, Portage, MI
Meeting
11:30 am to 3:00 pm
In Person & Virtual
Program
1:00 pm
Author Planning Day with Elke Feuer (via Zoom) meeting in Kalamazoo.
Description: Author-preneuership is difficult, but it’s easier if you know where you want to go. This discussion will show you how to create an annual plan for your writing life. Step one, Reflect. Step two, Dream. And step three, Roadmap. You can find more information about Elke Feuer at https://elkefeuer.com/.
March
Location
Fiesta Charra – Eastwood 2706 Lake Lansing Road Lansing, Mi
Meeting
11: 00 am to 2:00 pm
In Person & Virtual
Program
12.30 pm
March will be hosted in Lansing at Fiesta Charra- Eastwood. Note: There is a time change. Meet for lunch at 11:00 am. The program will follow at 12:30 pm and a business meeting will conclude the day. We need to be out of the restaurant at 2:00 pm.
The talk will be on LGBTQ+ without Fetishizing with Kiki Clark. She will present on how to craft authentic love stories without crossing the line into fetishizing a group of people. More information about Kiki can be found at https://www.kikiclark.com/.
May
Location
Peppino’s 1515 Eastport Dr, Grand Rapids
Meeting
11: 30 am to 3:00 pm
In Person & Virtual
Program
1:00 pm
Selling Direct with Damon Courtney from Bookfunnel (via Zoom) meeting in Grand Rapids
Description: Learn how to sell your ebooks and audiobooks directly using BookFunnel. For more information about Damon and BookFunnel, check out https://bookfunnel.com/.
June
Location
Liz’s Parkview Cafe 8972 East D. Avenue. Richland, MI.
Meeting
11:30 am to 3:00 pm
In Person & Virtual
Program
1:00 pm
Few readers have as voracious an appetite as romance readers — but what are the key ingredients of stories that will keep them satisfied? Join award-winning Christian historical romance author Edwina Kiernan to discover the 5 Key Ingredients Every Romance Needs, and you’ll be serving up sweet stories in no time!
Author Bio:
Edwina Kiernan is the Christian author of eight novels, four of which are award-winning. She is a committed follower of Jesus (the Living Word), and endeavors to use her pen to point others to Him. When she’s not writing, Edwina loves spending time with her dashing husband and lively little son, reading and studying the Bible, getting lost in a captivating novel and drinking more types of tea than most people realize even exist. Sign up for her weekly newsletter and get a free Victorian romance novel: https://edwinakiernan.com/freebook
July
No Meeting Write-In via Zoom & Program at 1:00 pm
| Learn how to sell your ebooks and audiobooks directly using BookFunnel. For more information about Damon and BookFunnel, check out https://bookfunnel.com/.Our July program will be a virtual event. We start at 11:30 with a write-in, with the program starting at 1pm -Selling Direct with Damon Courtney from Bookfunnel (via Zoom). Damon Courtney is the creator and CEO of BookFunnel, an ebook and audiobook delivery service for authors and publishers. As a lifelong software engineer, Damon is an expert in just about everything technical and can offer unique insight on publishing as it relates to software and technology. He is also the self-published author of his very own Fantasy trilogy and continues to spin stories in his head that he hopes to some day get around to writing. |
August
| We are excited to invite you to participate in our summer fundraiser. We are bringing back the popular Write-off in conjunction with a virtual summer auction. The money we make will go into the general fund, which in turn supports programming and our Retreat from Harsh Reality.In the past we made over a thousand dollars, so it has been a very successful fundraiser for us. Here are the details: Part 1 – Write-Off The Write-Off will be held on Saturday, August 17th which is the third weekend of the month when we would normally hold a meeting. – From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – This event will be shared on social media.9 – $5 participation fee – Hourly check-ins. – At the top of the hour(s), 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm everyone who is present (with their camera on) at that time will be included in a drawing. – One lucky writer will win a $5 Amazon gift card. (One winning spin per person.) – Here is link to register for the write-off. We hope you can join us. – All are welcome; this is open to both members and guests. Part 2 – Virtual Auction – August 3rd to August 17th – Bidding opens at 2:00 p.m. on August 3rd. – Bidding closes at 2:00 p.m. on August 17th – Winners will be announced on Zoom at the close of the Write-Off. – The coordinator will contact the winning bidder. The payment should be made to treasurer@michiganromancewriters.org on PayPal. Once this happens the person who has donated the item will be informed and arrangements can be made for shipping or delivery. Keep in mind this is public, so you might want to put a limitation on shipping, etc. It is the responsibility of the person donating to pay for shipping. For example, will ship within the continental U.S. – Service such as beta reading, Amazon Ads, Self-publishing tips, Critiquing – Artwork – Jewelry – Puzzles have been popular in the past. Think in terms of what other authors or readers might enjoy in terms of our target audience. |
September
Location
Travelers Restaurant at 5225 Portage Road Portage
Meeting
11:30 am to 3:00 pm
In Person & Virtual
Program
1:00 pm
Take your self-editing skills to the next level.
· Have you eliminated all the telling?
· Are the characters complex?
· Is every scene necessary?
Most authors will answer ‘yes!’ to these questions.
But then editors and readers tell them the descriptions don’t engage them, the characters are stereotypical, and the story dragged.
How do you fix it? By training your writer’s brain to read with an editor’s eye and by recruiting some outside help. In this workshop, we’ll look at common mistakes novelists make, then learn how to identify and fix them.
Ms. Beery will have her books available for sale.
October
Location
Peppino’s 1515 Eastport Dr, Grand Rapids
Meeting
11: 30 am to 3:00 pm
In Person & Virtual
Program
1:00 pm
Do You Know Your Era? with Diana Lloyd (in person) meeting in Grand Rapids
Description: Historical romance readers are particular when it comes to the facts so you’ll need to do your research. Diana Lloyd will talk about how to know your particular era before you sit down to write your historical novel. You can find more information about Diana Lloyd at https://www.dianalloydbooks.com/.
November
Every November we have a Holiday Party. No program, no business meeting, no formality. Just fun! Details will be added as we get closer to the party. Join us for a jolly good time!
The party this year will take place at the Traveler’s Pub in the Kalamazoo area.
December