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Dwayne Straw: The Importance of Research

The Importance of Research

Join us at our next Wordsowers meeting:
February 26, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Omaha Christian Center
4215 N. 92nd Street
Omaha, NE 68134

Please note: We no longer offer Zoom as an option for our monthly meetings.

Wordsowers is proud to announce that our very own Dwayne Straw will share about the importance of thorough research for both fiction and nonfiction writers. Some of the topics he’ll cover are: 1) What is the definition of research? 2) Does your story need research? 3) How does research impact your work, and we might add, your credibility? 4) Where do you search for information? 5) What pitfalls should you watch for?

Dwayne has been a part of Wordsowers for many years, way back when Kat Crawford conducted critique meetings in her home. He attended the meetings along with Jeanie, Angela, the Williamsons, Karen, and many others. (What an incredible legacy those names represent.) We’re encouraging you, whether an oldie-but-goodie or a newbie, to honor Dwayne for his years of faithfulness by attending this meeting.

Dwayne is a self-published author of four books that are a part of a fictional series set in World War Two, The Dane Shaw Series. Dwayne wants folks to know Dane Shaw’s name has no bearing on his own name. And yes, this editor (Lollie) asked him that question.  I have also read all four books and can vouch for his excellence in research, not to mention his strong character development, and powerful verbiage. His books are available on Amazon:  Dane Shaw Adventure (4 book series) Kindle Edition.

After Dwayne’s presentation and the Q&A session, if time allows, we’ll spend a few minutes addressing additional questions related to writing, publishing, formatting, editing, and more. Index cards will be available for you to jot down your questions, and one card will be selected to discuss.

Beginning in March, keep an eye out for our new WS newsletter feature, “Because You Asked,” where we’ll share answers to some of your submitted questions.

(The meetings are held in the church’s fellowship hall. Park in the south parking lot, enter through the main door, and follow the signs.)

Please Honor Us With YOUR Presence

Wordsowers Annual Christmas Party
The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Saturday, December 6th
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

You and a guest are invited to the WS Annual Christmas Party. It will be held at Amy Stanley’s home located at 18814 Alder Drive, Omaha, NE 68136.

There’ll be a short devotion on the theme of “The Gift that Keeps on Giving,” as well as Christmas carols, brunch, fellowship time, games, and door prizes.

For brunch, we’re asking people with last names beginning in A-M to bring a “savory” dish such as eggs, bacon, sausage, or casseroles. We’re asking people with last names beginning in N-Z to bring a “sweet” dish, such as cinnamon rolls, muffins, bagels, or fruit. Beverages will be provided.

You won’t want to miss our always-entertaining White Elephant gift exchange. In keeping with the theme, “The Gift that Keeps on Giving,” bring something you already have at home, ideally a present you’ve received but never quite found a use for. Wrap it up and bring it to the party. (Please don’t purchase a gift.) Let’s keep it lighthearted and have some laughs together.

You’ll need to RSVP for the Christmas party no later than Tuesday, December 2nd. To RSVP, send an email to Debbie Crom at debbie_crom@yahoo.com or text her at 402-238-2188 (or you can reply to this WS newsletter email). In the email or text, be sure to tell Debbie how many will attend and what specific brunch dish you are bringing.

Guest Speaker: Cheryl Paden

Guest Speaker: Cheryl Paden
Writing from Life

Thursday, September 25th, at 7:00 p.m.

In-Person Meeting location:
*Omaha Christian Center
4215 N. 92nd Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134
(Zoom is also available. See details below.)


Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness. Isaiah 30:8 (NIV) 

God has given each of us specific and individual life experiences. When writing, what better place to draw from than our own lives? In this workshop, Cheryl Paden will discuss collecting and perfecting life stories to create literature. Discover how writing from your own life can become your most powerful form of expression. Whether you write nonfiction, fiction, essays, or poetry, there are myriad ways to implement your life experiences into your stories.

Cheryl Paden is a nonfiction writer with a passion for crafting inspirational, devotional, and memoir pieces. Her portfolio boasts of over 100 published works, including magazine articles, anthologies, newspaper columns, and devotional books. Her current literary endeavors include an Advent devotional, a nonfiction book on seeking a balanced lifestyle, and a Sacred Balance Journal.

She has facilitated spiritual and writing retreats, women’s ministry workshops, and Bible studies. As a previous instructor at Metro Community College, Cheryl has taught an eight-week course on “Writing for Life” and does a one-hour summary presentation at writing workshops.

An active member of several writing communities including Wordsowers, Cheryl is affiliated with HACWN, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, Compel Pro Writer Training, and “My Thoughts Exactly,” (a local writer’s group). Her diverse background includes professional roles as a registered nurse, an apartment manager and bookkeeper, and a local pastor in the United Methodist Church.

To stay connected with Cheryl and explore her work, visit her website at Seeking Balance by Cheryl and follow her on Facebook at seekingbalancebycheryl. If you are interested in a prayer journal designed to inspire and encourage daily conversation with God, go to Sacred Balance: A Prayer Journal: Discovering Sacred Balance in an Out-of-Balance World.: Paden, Cheryl A.: 9781733260909: Amazon.com: Books.

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Zoom: To join the meeting via Zoom, click on the following link: Wordsowers Christian Writers Group Meetups | Facebook. It is a closed group so if you haven’t joined the group yet, click on “Invite.” Answer the questions, agree to the guidelines, and an administrator will let you into the group. Please do this prior to 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Parking: Park in the lot on the south side of the church and enter through the main doors. Follow the signs to the fellowship hall.


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*Wordsowers is not affiliated with Omaha Christian Center. They graciously allow us to use their facilities for the meetings.

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Learn the Ins and Outs of the Writing Process

March Wordsowers’ Meeting
Guest Speaker: Rita Rocker
The Process: From Writing a Manuscript to Being Published

Thursday, March 27th at 7:00 p.m.

In-Person Meeting location:
*Omaha Christian Center
4215 N. 92nd Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134
(Zoom is also available. See details below.)

Rita Rocker will be the guest speaker at the March Wordsowers meeting. She’ll cover the essential steps in the writing process, from seeking God’s guidance and inspiration through the Holy Spirit in your writing to suggestions for editing options, crafting a book proposal, finding a publisher, and promoting your book. Since this is a broad topic, she’ll cover the basics along with providing a handout covering each step of the process.

We’re asking Wordsowers’ experienced and published authors to be a part of the meeting as well. During the Q & A session, we’ll invite you to join Rita in answering questions that attendees might have regarding the writing process.

Rita Rocker is a speaker, author and trainer with SoaringHigher.rocks and has a program on YouTube (KPAO) on TransformationNow! She is the author of five books and co-author of twelve international anthologies. Her books speak of rising from tragedies to triumph, self-esteem and self-image, career development, communications, professional image and etiquette. All books share about a person’s value and worth and then moves to keys to success in work and life. Rita is a former Mrs. Nebraska and Mrs. America contestant (widowed during her term) and speaks with hope, help, humor and heart.

To contact Rita, her email is rita@soaringhigher.rocks and her website is SoaringHigher.rocks.

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Zoom: To join the meeting via Zoom, click on the following link: Wordsowers Christian Writers Group Meetups | Facebook. It is a closed group so if you haven’t joined the group yet, click on “Invite.” Answer the questions, agree to the guidelines and an administrator will let you into the group. Please do this by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Parking: Park in the lot on the south side of the church and enter through the main doors. Follow the signs to the fellowship hall.


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*Wordsowers is not affiliated with Omaha Christian Center. They graciously allow us to use their facilities for the meetings.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.


What are you thankful for this year?

There are no regular monthly meetings in November and December. WS Critique group will meet in November but not in December. Be sure and check out the Christmas Mystery Party details for December 7th. (Posted separately from this post.) Regular monthly meetings will resume in January on the fourth Thursday.

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“The Christmas Mystery”
Annual Wordsowers’ Christmas Party

Saturday, December 7th from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
(Zoom will not be provided.)

Location:
*Omaha Christian Center
4215 N. 92nd Street
Omaha, NE 68138

You and one guest are invited to join us in discovering “The Christmas Mystery” at our annual Wordsowers’ Christmas party. We’ll enjoy a potluck brunch, short devotional, a mystery game and a “Mystery Gift Exchange.” There will be door prizes.

For the potluck brunch, egg and potato dishes will be provided. You’re asked to bring a side dish to compliment the meal such as fruit, finger foods, and pastries. (Gluten-free options will be available.)

If you’d like to participate in the “Mystery Gift Exhange,” please don’t get too serious with your gift (the funnier the better). We challenge you to find that “perfect” gift from a local thrift store. Please keep the gifts under $10.00.

We need to hear from you. Be sure to email your RSVP to Debbie Crom by Monday, December 2nd, at debbie_crom@yahoo.com or text her at 402-238-2188. Let her know if you’re bringing a guest and what dish you’ll provide for the brunch. (Or you can RSVP to the newsletter’s email.)

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Parking: Park in the lot on the south side of the church and enter through the main doors. Follow the signs to the fellowship hall.

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*Wordsowers is not affiliated with Omaha Christian Center. They graciously allows us to use their facilities.

Kathy Nickerson
Creating Characters Who Come to Life

Thursday, September 26th
7:00 p.m.

Meeting location:
*Omaha Christian Center
4215 N. 92nd Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134
(Zoom is also available. See details below.)

Don’t you love a good book with strong characters who pull you into the story and keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning? You talk about them like they’re real people to the point your family and friends think you’re a little cra-cra? Don’t you wish you could write such a book?

If the answer to the above questions is yes, we have great news for you. Kathy Nickerson, our September guest speaker, will discuss how to create characters who come to life with faith, failure, humor, and hope. Since her many books brim with intriguing folks, she’ll be speaking from her own experiences as a successful writer.

Here’s more great news. Kathy will have books available for sale at the meeting. You can connect with her on her website at Kathy Nickerson | author, speaker, and eternal optimist. Her email address is kathy@kathynick.com.

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Zoom: To join the meeting via Zoom, click on the following link: Wordsowers Christian Writers Group Meetups | Facebook. It is a closed group so if you haven’t joined the group yet, click on “Invite.” Answer the questions, agree to the guidelines and an administrator will let you into the group. Please do this by 4:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Parking: Park in the lot on the south side of the church and enter through the main doors. Follow the signs to the fellowship hall.

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*Wordsowers is not affiliated with Omaha Christian Center. They graciously allow us to use their facilities for the meetings.

Great Turnout for the Wordsowers’ Anniversary Celebration

Thank you to the twenty-six folks who joined us in celebrating Wordsowers twenty-fifth anniversary. Thank you to Kat Crawford, Lee Warren, and Kelly Haack for sharing their Wordsowers’ journeys with us. A big shout out to Kat Parent for emceeing the meeting, Theresa Graeve for recording it, and to Roger Crom for taking pictures. Debbie Crom and Lollie Hofer cooked the pulled pork and did food set-up.

Here are a few of the pictures taken during the party. We’ll publish more pics at a later time.

More pictures can be found on the Wordsowers Facebook Page along with a recording of the meeting.

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Pat Mingarelli: Blending Writing with Life’s Other Passions

Pat Mingarelli
Blending Writing with Life’s Other Passions
Meeting will be hybrid: in-person and zoom

Thursday, August 22nd
7:00 p.m.

Meeting location:
*Omaha Christian Center
4215 N. 92nd Avenue
Omaha, NE 68134

Pat Minagrelli will be our guest speaker at the August meeting. Pat combined his love for God’s Word and His creation, along with his passion for photography, to write a devotional book “Drawing Near: Meeting God in His Creation.” He’ll challenge us to look at our other interests to see if there’s potential for blending them with our desire to write.

You can connect with Pat at his website The Creation Speaks Creation Ministry, or via email at pat@thecreationspeaks.com. His book can be purchased on the website. Many Wordsowers attendees have professional shots thanks to Pat who generously provided his services at a discounted rate at some of the Wordsowers’ conferences.

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Parking: Park in the lot on the south side of the church and enter through the main doors. Follow the signs to the fellowship hall. If you can’t join us in person, Zoom will be available.

To join the meeting via Zoom, click on the following link: Wordsowers Christian Writers Group Meetups | Facebook. It’s a closed group so if you haven’t joined the group yet, click on “Invite.” Answer the questions, agree to the guidelines and an administrator will let you into the group. Please do this by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting otherwise we can’t guarantee you’ll be able to join the meeting online.

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Donations are appreciated. Wordsowers has ongoing expenses throughout the year (paid speakers, name domain and hosting expenses, SSL certification, etc.). If you’d like to donate to Wordsowers, please contact Lollie Hofer at lolliehofer@yahoo.com.

*Wordsowers is not affiliated with Omaha Christian Center. They graciously allow us to use their facilities for the meetings.