April 11, 2013
Hello, writers,
Twelve writers met at the Callahan Branch Library Tuesday
evening, April 9. Stephanie G. joined us.
Welcome to the group, Stephanie!
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.
Describe your hands
2.
Best and worst haircuts
3.
Continue the phrase, “Fred
had just added the last ingredient…”
4.
A free-write on anything
Co-moderator, Michele
N., led the group in sharing their warm-ups. She then posted her warm-up on her blog, “Tales
from the Tiara.” If you’d like to read what
she wrote (it’s about hair), please click here:
http://chelenoel.blogspot.com/. After other members read their warm-ups, we
introduced ourselves, shared information and started our critiques.
Good News and
Information Exchange…
Our Publication Party
is next Tuesday, April 16! Many of
us have already submitted a piece (or pieces) of writing to a publication, an
agent, a contest or a publisher. If you
haven’t, please consider doing so before Tuesday.
In other news, I surprised my family with a new dog this
past Saturday. I adopted her from Animal
Care and Protective Services on Forest Street in Jacksonville. She’s a one-year-old Pointer/Labrador mix,
and she’s very sweet. We named her
Harmony. Here’s a picture:
Speaking of dogs, CCWW member, Connie W., still needs to find someone to watch her dog and her
house for two weeks in May. If you know
someone who would be interested, please see her contact information in the
e-mail I sent.
Overview of assignments/critiques...
Lisa C. started the
critiques with “Holiday Havoc,” a poem about being tardy taking down Christmas
decorations. Her rhymes, meter and
visual imagery worked well in the piece.
I (Nancy B.) then continued by
asking CCWW members to read my skit, “Barbecue.” CCWW members said the humor in my piece
worked. Connie W. then read a piece about Mr. Swallow who shoots misshapen
vegetables in his garden. Her
characterization and illustration of the prompt worked well. Robert
O. then read a piece in which a character searches for the light, but he
awakens before he finds it. Several
members said his piece worked, but they wanted more!
Sandra H. continued
by reading “The Disappearing Rabbit.”
She skillfully illustrated ‘dog in a manger’ by showing how one person
ate another person’s chocolate Easter bunny.
Connie K. continued by reading
a short poem in which a girl wants to drive a VW Beetle, but her grandfather
holds the title to it. Members commented on how well Connie’s piece illustrated
‘dog in a manger’. Karen D. then shared “Changes,” a powerful poem we all related
to. After hearing her piece, we commiserated
with her over the loss of her daughter. Thanks
for sharing your writing, Karen.
Cameron S. then
shared a story about a group of wolves led by Htead. Her piece showed good characterization and
conflict. We hope you’ll share more,
Cameron. Suzanna then read a piece about a throne room. Her vivid descriptions worked as did her
set-up of the conflict between the knight and the man sitting on the
throne. Stephanie G. then shared “Un Chien dans la crèche or A Doggie in
the Manger,” a poem based on the prompt.
CCWW members commented on the skillful way her piece brought the reader
into the present-day and its hopeful tone.
Wonderful work, everyone!
Links of interest…
Poets & Writers
Database of Literary Magazines Seeking Writing
You might want to spend some time researching this
database. Many publications are seeking fresh
writing. More here:
Highlights Magazine
submission guidelines
Write for children? Highlights accepts several genres of
writing. See more here:
Here’s a newsletter full of markets for young writers
You have to subscribe to the newsletter, but it’s full of
great information. More here:
The Amelia Island Book Festival is almost here
This festival is held in Fernandina every year, and it’s
coming up on April 27. Debbie Macomber
is the keynote speaker. More here:
Prompt for April 16…
There is no prompt for next week, just a party and a chance
to celebrate writing. I do think we’ll
have time to share where we have submitted our work, and we may take time to
write down our summer writing goals.
I’ll look at the calendar soon and plan our fall
sessions. We will most likely start our
third year of workshops in late August or early September.
Blessings,
~Nancy
P.S. CCWW is on
Facebook! Please join our Callahan
Creative Writing Workshop page.
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