Stamps

February 14, 2013

Hello, writers,

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Fifteen of us met at the Callahan library on Tuesday evening to share our creative writing.      

Please note CCWW will not meet on Tuesday, February 26 and Tuesday, March 5.  Our second six-week session will run from Tuesday, March 12 through Tuesday, April 16.

Here’s what happened…

We started the workshop with a choice of warm-up exercises.  I’ll list them here in case you want to do them at home:

    Choose one of the following prompts and write for ten minutes…

1.                  Taxi cabs

2.                  Valentine’s Day-the good, the bad, the ugly

3.                  A battle among knives, forks and spoons

4.                  A free-write on anything

After a few members read their warm-ups, we introduced ourselves, shared information and began the critiques.  

Good News and Information Exchange…

CCWW is planning a Publication Party for Tuesday, April 16. In addition to eating yummy food, we’re preparing at least one publication-ready piece for submission to a magazine, a newspaper, an agent or a publisher.  Members may wish to start researching markets now.  Each CCWW-er will choose his or her piece and a publication.  Of course, it’s up to CCWW members to figure out the submission guidelines for the chosen publication-some ask for query letters while others ask for sample pages.  Members are encouraged to submit more than one piece!  I’ll bring a few market research resources beginning in March.  Are you up to the challenge?

Connie W. is taking a free online philosophy course through Course Ra.  Check out course offerings here:  https://www.coursera.org/.  Way to go, Connie!

Lisa C. has been tapped to lead the Creative Writing Club for middle and high school students at Sonshine Christian Academy in Callahan.  Great job, Lisa!

Lori L. told us she just got a new job!  Yay, Lori!

Michele N. has been successfully editing college entrance essays for a high school senior.  Her work is paying off because the student has been accepted to several colleges, including the University of Florida.  Nice work, Michele!

Oliver M. was featured in a “Working on the First Coast” article in The Florida Times-Union.  The article showcases the antiques shop he and his father own.  Read the article here:  http://members.jacksonville.com/business/premium-business/2013-02-13/story/working-first-coast-collecter-doesnt-want-be-called

Overview of critiques...

Lori L. started by reading a thoughtful piece featuring women characters. Her vivid details (such as the scent of chicken) and her powerful verbs (such as –peered, -perched and –migrated) worked well.  I (Nancy B.) then read a continuation of “The Party,” a short story I started with the hardware store prompt a few weeks ago.  Members said the weaving between past and present worked in the piece.  Matt Y. then shared a piece written as a sales pitch.  His humorous piece informed readers about an upcoming meeting for an anarchist group called STAMPS (Stop the American Machine’s Political System).      

Oliver M.  then shared a piece written as a riddle.  CCWW’ers tried unsuccessfully to figure out the answer.  It was about a clubhouse.  Cameron S. then read a piece featuring a character named Cereal Boy.  Her well-written story captured many members’ imaginations.  Robert O. then read a continuation of the piece he began with the “Stonehenge” prompt.  His portrayal of family connections as well as the coming-of-age nature of the piece worked, according to many members. 

Lisa C. continued the critique session by reading “The Pot and the Kettle,” a story showcasing a humorous argument (over stamps) between a husband and a wife.  Her characterization of Margaret and Henry and her story’s resolution worked well. Christine R. then shared a piece featuring a woman dealing with the loss of her father.  The setting of her piece worked well.

Heike M. then read a crime-scene piece.  Her balance of narration and dialogue and her syntax worked well.  Connie K. then shared a continuation of “Emily’s Secrets.”  Connie’s ability to “show, not tell” was evident in her descriptions.  Shirley A. then read a slice of life piece showing what grandmothers go through when they keep grandchildren.  Her piece offered many insights.  Sandra H. then read “The Funeral,” in which a teenage boy must say goodbye to his grandmother.  Her skillful writing produced an emotional punch in the reader/listener.  

Connie W. finished the session by reading a piece in which a wife must use food stamps at the grocery store.  Her piece caused many of us to consider the assumptions we make about people every day.   

Betty C. and Michele N. did not read pieces.      

Links of interest…

Here’s an index of flash fiction markets.   As you may know, flash fiction is short (usually up to 1000 words).  Read more here:  http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59234

Ready to start researching markets for our Publication Party?  Try this comprehensive database featuring paying and non-paying markets in a variety of genres:  http://www.writerswrite.com/writersguidelines/

Here’s an article featuring 15 paying markets for life stories and personal essays.  Maybe you’ll find a match for one of your pieces here:  http://www.writing-world.com/creative/fifteen.shtml

Prompt for next week…

Prompt for next week is…curiosity killed the cat.  You’re free to write in any genre you like (poetry, non-fiction, fiction or drama).  If you’d rather bring a WIP (work-in-progress), please do.  

Please bring something to share with the group.

Until Tuesday, February 19, happy writing!

~Nancy