BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//West Michigan Author Alliance - ECPv6.15.12.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:West Michigan Author Alliance
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.wmauthors.net
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for West Michigan Author Alliance
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Halifax
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0300
TZNAME:ADT
DTSTART:20220313T060000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0300
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:AST
DTSTART:20221106T050000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0300
TZNAME:ADT
DTSTART:20230312T060000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0300
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:AST
DTSTART:20231105T050000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0300
TZNAME:ADT
DTSTART:20240310T060000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0300
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:AST
DTSTART:20241103T050000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20231028T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20231028T150000
DTSTAMP:20260619T174033
CREATED:20230919T232739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230919T232740Z
UID:123-1698498000-1698505200@www.wmauthors.net
SUMMARY:Kickoff Celebration
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Allendale Township Library for our annual kickoff celebration! This party will feature some light refreshments\, goodie bags\, words of inspiration\, networking\, and ALL THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT YOU CAN HANDLE. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nShow up! Tell us about your novel project. Connect with fellow writers. Be a part of the community.
URL:https://www.wmauthors.net/event/kickoff-celebration/
LOCATION:Allendale Township Library\, 6175 Library Ln\, Allendale\, Michigan\, 49401\, United States
CATEGORIES:Regional Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.wmauthors.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CleanShot-2023-09-19-at-19.26.56@2x.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Melanie Van Weelden":MAILTO:ml@nanogr.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20231025T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20231025T193000
DTSTAMP:20260619T174033
CREATED:20230917T201404Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231001T181321Z
UID:61-1698258600-1698262200@www.wmauthors.net
SUMMARY:PREPtober IV: The Pearls and Perils of Dialogue\, Setting\, and Action
DESCRIPTION:Every good story balances speech — both internal and external — against action\, within a defined place-and-time that\, in itself\, functions as a character. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nIn this session\, Jason will lead a half-hour reflection about what works and what doesn’t: why some speech sings while other speech sounds cliched; what editors assess regarding the voice of inner dialogue; why the rule for descriptions is “just enough but not too much;” how to narrate complex action; and why you should let your readers tend to their own Story-Gardens. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAfter the reflection\, attendees will workshop solutions to each other’s questions or challenges fine-tuning speech\, setting\, and description. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nThis session is in-person. Light snacks will be provided.
URL:https://www.wmauthors.net/event/preptober-iv-the-pearls-and-perils-of-dialogue-setting-and-action/
LOCATION:Jason’s Books & Coffee\, 1590 44th St SW\, Wyoming\, Michigan\, 49509\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wmauthors.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Learn-to-write-dialogue.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20231018T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20231018T200000
DTSTAMP:20260619T174033
CREATED:20230917T202134Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231001T181311Z
UID:62-1697653800-1697659200@www.wmauthors.net
SUMMARY:PREPtober III: Planning A/B/C Plots in a 5-Act Structure
DESCRIPTION:A plot is more than “one darned thing after another” — it’s an opportunity to highlight a story’s conflict through plausible\, meaningful sequences of events. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nIn this session\, Jason will lead a half-hour reflection about setting primary and secondary plot arcs that are based on the core conflicts of your story. These arcs then weave together\, often with careful POV changes\, into a three- or five-act structure that broadly conforms to genre norms. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAfter the reflection\, attendees will workshop solutions to each other’s questions or challenges developing compelling conflict-driven plots. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nThis session is in-person. Light snacks will be provided.
URL:https://www.wmauthors.net/event/preptober-iii-planning-a-b-c-plots-in-a-5-act-structure/
LOCATION:Jason’s Books & Coffee\, 1590 44th St SW\, Wyoming\, Michigan\, 49509\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wmauthors.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/720b36ba7f1e46bd2198f68ae057b756.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20231011T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20231011T200000
DTSTAMP:20260619T174033
CREATED:20230917T203920Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231001T181301Z
UID:63-1697049000-1697054400@www.wmauthors.net
SUMMARY:PREPtober II: Characters in Conflict
DESCRIPTION:A plot without a conflict is like a car without a gas tank: It might look lovely from a distance but it isn’t going to get you anywhere. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nIn this session\, Jason will lead a half-hour reflection about literary conflict: why it matters\, how it should inform the events of a story\, and how it influences the interplay of characters over the arc of a story. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAfter the reflection\, attendees will workshop solutions to each other’s questions or challenges handling conflict in a way that advances and celebrates a story. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nThis session is in-person. Light snacks will be provided.
URL:https://www.wmauthors.net/event/preptober-ii-characters-in-conflict/
LOCATION:Jason’s Books & Coffee\, 1590 44th St SW\, Wyoming\, Michigan\, 49509\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wmauthors.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/GettyImages-158675348-56a4b9c13df78cf77283f4a1-1-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20231006T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20231006T200000
DTSTAMP:20260619T174033
CREATED:20231005T184954Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231005T184955Z
UID:192-1696615200-1696622400@www.wmauthors.net
SUMMARY:G.R. Queer Writers
DESCRIPTION:Join us at this weekly meet-up for LGBTQIA+ writers (allies welcome)! This is a safe space where all identities\, forms\, genres\, and skill levels are celebrated and embraced. Each week\, we kick things off with introductions and a discussion question\, then shift into heads-down writing for an hour. We wrap up with a chance to share any exciting discoveries\, get help with a sticky craft problem\, or read a bit of what you’re working on. If you’d like to be added to the Queer GR Writers mailing list for weekly reminders and other updates\, email Niki Averton at niki.averton@gmail.com. 
URL:https://www.wmauthors.net/event/g-r-queer-writers/
LOCATION:Lotus Brew Coffee & Dry Bar\, 781 College Ave NE\, Grand Rapids\, Michigan\, 49503\, United States
CATEGORIES:Writers' Group
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.wmauthors.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/queerwriters-logo.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Niki Averton":MAILTO:niki.averton@gmail.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20231004T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20231004T200000
DTSTAMP:20260619T174033
CREATED:20230917T203153Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231001T181250Z
UID:64-1696444200-1696449600@www.wmauthors.net
SUMMARY:PREPtober I: Writing for the Market — Genre\, Theme\, & Archetypes
DESCRIPTION:So\, you wanna be a financially successful author\, eh? Unless you set a solid theme within a defined genre using appropriate archetypes\, your goal may prove elusive. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nIn this session\, Jason will lead a half-hour reflection about literary viability that often bedevils aspiring authors. A book that doesn’t sit within a well-understood genre is hard to classify on a shelf\, and therefore hard to sell to readers. A book without a unifying theme degenerates into sequences rather than arcs. Characters and plots that bend archetypes leave readers disoriented and dissatisfied.  \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAfter the reflection\, attendees will workshop solutions to each other’s questions or challenges about literary viability for traditional publishing. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nThis session is in-person. Light snacks will be provided.
URL:https://www.wmauthors.net/event/preptober-i-writing-for-the-market-genre-theme-archetypes/
LOCATION:Jason’s Books & Coffee\, 1590 44th St SW\, Wyoming\, Michigan\, 49509\, United States
CATEGORIES:Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.wmauthors.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/12MustReadLawOfAttractionBooks-578x420-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR