Hello, writers,
How are you? Are you on Spring Break this week?
Due to another event scheduled at the Callahan Branch Library last week, we did not have CCWW. We will resume our sessions tomorrow night, March 21.
Hope all will be there, fresh writing in hand.
Optional rompts for tomorrow night's session are "sewing machine" and "tulips." Of course, you may bring a WIP (work-in-progress), if you'd rather.
Have a great day!
~Nancy B.
Monday, March 20, 2017
Monday, February 13, 2017
Auditions and Sticky Notes
February 13, 2017
Hello, writers,
Happy Valentine’s Day Eve! I
hope you’re having a great week.
Our February 7 CCWW featured books,
well-written phrases, and lots of laughter.
Below, you’ll find a recap of
our evening, a few links of potential interest, and optional writing prompts
for the February 14 session.
Recap of February 7 CCWW
Abby S. and Theresa E. shared their warm-ups with
the group.
Here are the warm-up prompts,
in case you’d like to do them at home:
*Write
about life before Smartphones.
*Write
about a goal you’ve met in your life. What about a goal you’re still achieving?
*Write
about a time you put your foot in your mouth.
*A
freewrite about anything
Meredith M. began the session with a poem. Members complimented
her rhymes, as well as the universal appeal of flying with Superman. Lisa C. then shared “The Chance,” a prompt-based
(audition) poem. As usual, members marveled at her creativity and her rhyming
skill. Ines R. then shared chapter 2
of her work-in-progress, “The Castle in the Rock.” Members complimented her
description and metaphorical use of the tapestry.
Lauren L. continued by reading part two of a first person
fiction piece she shared last week. Members raved about the universality of her
piece as well as her thought-provoking premise of having all the time in the
world. I, Nancy B., then read a
prompt-based (audition) sonnet. Members complimented my reference to video
games. Richard N. then shared his
freewrite. His piece shared the publication goals he has met and the ones he’s
still working toward.
Allen M. was not feeling well, but Abby S. read a continuation of his piece. Members complimented his
balance between narration and dialogue. Michele
N. then shared a piece featuring two characters who knew each other in the
past, Wyatt and Katherine. Members complimented her descriptions and the set-up
of the relationship between the two characters.
Abby S. then read a continuation of her work-in-progress. Members complimented her creativity, imagination, and characterization. Elaine H. then shared a fiction piece set near the St. Mary's River featuring a boy named Anton and a Florida red wolf. Members complimented Elaine's sensory details and her vivid descriptions. Sally S. then read a non-fiction piece about coming home. Members complimented the truth of her piece, especially the different ways home looks through the eyes of a child and the eyes of an adult.
Abby S. then read a continuation of her work-in-progress. Members complimented her creativity, imagination, and characterization. Elaine H. then shared a fiction piece set near the St. Mary's River featuring a boy named Anton and a Florida red wolf. Members complimented Elaine's sensory details and her vivid descriptions. Sally S. then read a non-fiction piece about coming home. Members complimented the truth of her piece, especially the different ways home looks through the eyes of a child and the eyes of an adult.
Wonderful writing, everyone!
Prompts for February 14
The prompts are “helicopters”
or “promises” Of course, you’re free to bring a WIP (work-in-progress), if you
like.
Links of Interest (I’m keeping these up for another
week)
1.
We mentioned signing up for Ashley T.’s meals as a
culinary student.
Dinners
on Thursday nights at FSCJ Downtown Campus with themes as follows:
New England 2/9
New
Orleans 2/16
Southern
2/23
Heartland
3/2
Southwest
3/9
California
3/16
Northwest
3/30
Florida
4/6
Hawaii
4/13
For
more information or reservations, please call 904-633-8151.
2.
Here’s a great
contest with a March 15 deadline.
Writers-Editors
International Writing Competition (many genres)
Quote of the Week
“A real book is not the one
that’s read, but the one that reads us.”
~
W. H. Auden
Looking forward to seeing
everyone on Feb. 14.
~Nancy B.
P.S. Session One ends on Feb. 14. Session Two begins March 7, but we will not meet on March 14 or April 11.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Obituaries and Card Games
February 7, 2017
Hello, writers,
How has your week been? Have
you submitted any writing to a contest or to a publisher?
Our January 31 CCWW featured laughs,
lines of poetry, and lilting phrases.
Below, you’ll find a recap of
our evening, a few links of potential interest, and optional writing prompts
for the February 7 session.
Recap of January 31 CCWW
Lauren L., Abby S., Richard N., and Allen M. shared their warm-ups with the group.
Here are the warm-up prompts,
in case you’d like to do them at home:
*Write
about when you did something bad and got away with it.
*A
twinkling eye can mean many things. Write a poem about a twinkle in someone’s
eye.
*Revisit
your earliest memories about faith, religion, or spirituality.
*A
freewrite about anything
(Source:
writingforward.com)
Meredith M. began the session reading a poem with historical
themes. Members complimented her ability to rhyme and her references to the
Louisiana Purchase, among other things. Ashley
T. then read a prompt-based (obituary) poem about her life. Members
complimented her ability to look at her life with perspective. Ines R. then shared Chapter 2 of “Myrkurt.”
Members praised her lyrical descriptions, such as “her scars felt overwhelming.”
Abby S. then read a continuation of her WIP
(work-in-progress). Members complimented her characterization and the humor she
used. Allen M. then read Chapter 9 in
his WIP. Members praised his development of a sub-plot and his balance and
grasp of both dialogue and narration in his piece. Lauren L. then read a first-person account of a young woman waiting
at a bus stop considering the concept of time. Members praised her the coming
of age theme of her piece as well as the angst she created in her protagonist.
Almariah M. then shared an excerpt from her WIP, “Skin.” Members
complimented her set-up of the romance between an African-American girl and a
British-Pakistani male. Theresa E. then
shared a think-piece on the recent history of the optical industry. Members
complimented her “TED Talk” writing style, and the amount of information she
conveyed in her piece.
Lisa C. then read a prompt-based (obituary) piece. Members
complimented her perspective on her own life, as well as her warning to eat
dinner with your family. Dane M. ended
the session reading a true story about trains. Members complimented the setting he created (Westfield, New York
in the late 70s) and the actions he included (such as bowling with beer cans
and softballs).
Wonderful writing, everyone!
Prompts for February 7
The prompts are “auditions”
or “sticky notes” Of course, you’re free to bring a WIP (work-in-progress), if
you like.
Links of Interest
1.
We mentioned signing up for Ashley T.’s meals. She is a
culinary student.
Dinners
on Thursday nights at FSCJ Downtown Campus with themes as follows:
New England 2/9
New
Orleans 2/16
Southern
2/23
Heartland
3/2
Southwest
3/9
California
3/16
Northwest
3/30
Florida
4/6
Hawaii
4/13
For
more information or reservations, please call 904-633-8151.
2.
Here’s a great
contest with a March 15 deadline.
Writers-Editors
International Writing Competition (many genres to choose from)
Quote of the Week
“A book should serve as the
axe for the frozen sea within us.”
~
Franz Kafka
Looking forward to seeing
everyone on Feb. 7.
~Nancy B.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Rubik's Cubes and Engagement Rings
January 31, 2017
Hello, writers,
Have you been writing this
week? I have been journaling. I try to journal three pages long-hand every morning, but sometimes, I only have time to write one or two.
The January 24 CCWW featured more
new faces and of course, excellent writing.
Another new member joined us.
Please welcome Lori F. to the group.
Below, you’ll find a recap of
our evening, a few links of potential interest, and optional writing prompts
for the January 31 session.
Recap of January 24 CCWW
Lisa C., Ines R., Abby S., and Lauren L. shared
their warm-ups with the group.
Here are the warm-up prompts,
in case you’d like to do them at home:
*Write
about your least favorite type of music.
*Use
the words horror, jobs, parade, and miracle in a short piece of writing.
*Describe
your first bicycle.
*A
freewrite about anything
Lisa C. began the session reading a prompt-based (engagement
ring) poem. As usual, her rhymes worked, but so did the realism her poem
presented. Ronnie C. then shared a
poem she wrote to a potato chip company after finding mostly air in the potato
chip bag. Members complimented her rhymes and her piece’s passion! Dane M. then shared an opinion piece
about the English language. The truth of his piece as well as his powerful
descriptions (i.e. “paper-scented book in flavors of English) resonated with
members.
Allen M. then read chapter six of his WIP (work-in-progress).
His characterization worked as well as his use of vivid verbs (such as winced,
circled, and gazed), members said. Lauren
L. then shared a poem focused on the ocean. Members complimented her
personification of the true nature of the ocean. Abby S. then read a continuation of her story featuring Presh and
Chelsea. Member complimented her pacing, her dialogue and her narration.
Richard N. then shared the rest of his second sci-fi story.
Members complimented his scientific research as well as the confrontation he
set up. I, Nancy B., then shared a
prompt-based poem (Rubik’s cube). Members said my humor and rhymes worked.
Exceptional writing, everyone!
Prompts for February 7
The prompts are “auditions”
or “sticky notes” Of course, you’re free to bring a WIP (work-in-progress), if
you like.
Links of Interest (I’m leaving these up for another
week, in case you missed them)
1.
This is the online writing magazine I mentioned last
Tuesday night.
It’s
called Authors Publish. You can subscribe for free.
2.
Looking
for a writing contest?
3.
R. L.
Stine (the “Goosebumps” guy) will be here in February as part of the Amelia
Island Book Festival.
More
here: http://www.ameliaislandbookfestival.org/
Quote of the Week
“Easy reading is damn hard
writing.”
~
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Looking forward to seeing
everyone tomorrow night.
~Nancy B.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Antioxidants, Literally and Figuratively!
January 23, 2017
Hello, writers,
Happy New Year!
The January 17 CCWW featured
new faces, wonderful writing, and CUPCAKES! (Thanks to Abigail S. and her mom for sharing cupcakes with us again)!
Two new members joined us.
Please welcome Theresa E. and Ronnie C. to the group.
Please find a recap of our
evening, a few links of potential interest, and optional writing prompts for
tomorrow night’s session.
Recap of January 17 CCWW
Richard N., Allen M., and Abigail S. shared
their warm-ups with the group.
Here are the warm-up prompts,
in case you’d like to do them at home:
*Write
about the first time you had to speak in public
*Use
the words dishwasher, Samurai, wrench, and
marshmallows in a short piece of
writing
*Describe
your first pet
*A
freewrite about anything
Theresa E. began the critique session by reading a piece about
Sophie, a character reflecting on her life as she gazes at a lake. Members
complimented Theresa’s use of internal monologue and her characterization. Ronnie C. then read “Christmas
Stockings,” a piece she wrote a few years ago. Members complimented her
description of the sock as well as the warm, homey feel her piece created. Allen M. then read chapter five of his
WIP (work-in-progress). Members complimented many of his descriptions (such as “words
flowed off her tongue like phantoms”) and his creation of suspense.
Abigail S. then shared a continuation of her WIP (work-in –progress)
featuring Presh and Chelsea in conversation. Members complimented her
descriptions, actions, and future setting. Richard
N. then shared a science fiction story, which is a sequel to the one he
just had published. Members complimented the quality of his writing as well as
his ability to let the reader make discoveries as he/she reads. Ines R. then shared a continuation of
her Avaline and Taz story. Members complimented her dialogue as well as her
powerful descriptions, such as “eyes bright as tunnels.”
Meredith M. then shared a poem. Members loved her lilting poetry
and her skillful rhymes. Lisa C. wasn’t
there, but Nancy B., read her
prompt-based (literal vs. figurative) poem. Members complimented Lisa’s humor,
her rhymes, the truth presented in the last two lines. I, Nancy B., then read a prompt-based (antioxidants) piece featuring a
widow named Eloise. Members complimented my descriptions.
Excellent writing, everyone!
Prompts for January 24
The prompts are “Rubik’s
cube” or “engagement ring” Of course, you’re free to bring a WIP
(work-in-progress), if you like.
Links of Interest
1.
This is the online writing magazine I mentioned last
Tuesday night.
It’s
called Authors Publish. You can subscribe for free.
2.
Looking
for a writing contest?
3.
R. L.
Stine (the “Goosebumps” guy) will be here in February as part of the Amelia
Island Book Festival.
More
here: http://www.ameliaislandbookfestival.org/
Quote of the Week
“I try to create sympathy for
my characters, then turn the monsters loose.”
~
Stephen King
Looking forward to seeing
everyone tomorrow night.
~Nancy B.
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