August 22, 2013
Hello, writers,
Welcome to the Callahan Creative Writing Workshop! Fifteen
writers shared words and laughs at our first meeting Tuesday, August 20, inside
the Callahan Branch Library.
Four new members joined us! Welcome Dee C., Ann W. and Judith M. to
the group. Gina A. also joined us. We’re
so glad she will be able to fill the seat vacated by Lori L.
Here’s what happened
We started the workshop with a 10-minute writing
warm-up. I’ll list the topics here in
case you want to do them at home:
1. Fear or
faith? Which describes your life? Why?
2. Write from a
different point of view (grass talking to a lawn mower or bullets speaking to a
gun, for example). Be descriptive. Try
to use at least two similes or metaphors.
3. What
expectations do you have for yourself as a writer this year? Why?
A few of us shared our responses. We then introduced ourselves, shared good
news and started our critique session.
Critique overview
I (Nancy B.) started
the session by reading a short scene. Members said humor in the piece worked,
but they would like more of it. Dee C. then
read her warm-up exercise about a battle of wills between a woman and her dog. Her
vivid verbs like “snaked” and “snatched” worked well. Michele N. then shared more of her story featuring Wyatt and
Katherine. Several members commented on the distinction she made between Wyatt’s
air of superiority and his air of authority.
Matt Y. then read
a prompt-based piece about Sue Ellen’s wake. As usual, his authentic voice and
dialogue stood out. Robert O. shared a
second-person narrative featuring Gabriel Whitewolf. His choice of descriptive
words, such as “fierce” and “meager” worked well. Lisa C. read a poem entitled “Highway Robbery” featuring two
endings. Her use of humor and the friendly voice in the piece worked well.
Oliver M. then
shared a piece incorporating both prompts. Featuring powerful description (i.e.
smell of oil), Oliver’s based his work on a real story. Cameron S. read a piece featuring two teen siblings, Clara and Ben.
After being dropped off at church by their grandmother, the teens witness their
version of the Rapture.
Connie W. then
read a prompt-based piece about Ogden Nash (ohhh, I love him!) watching cows.
She ended the piece with a Nash poem about a purple cow. Richard N. shared a portion of his book featuring Dodge. Several of
his phrases, such as “graffiti crawled…” worked well. Connie K. ended the session sharing a purple cow story. Her piece
featured a grandmother telling her grandkids a favorite story.
Nice work, everyone!
Links of Interest
Anybody like to write
about dogs?
The Chicken Soup book people are looking for dog (and other)
stories. Deadline is August 31.
Read more by clicking on the “Submit your story” tab here:
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Writing contest with
no entry fee
Family Circle is
sponsoring a fiction writing contest. Each entrant can submit up to three
entries. Deadline is in mid-September. Great prizes, too.
Read more here:
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Want to submit stories
or poems to a literary journal?
Switchback, a
publication of the MFA in Writing Program at the University of San Francisco,
is accepting submissions through the end of August. Theme for the next issue is
“rising.”
Read more here:
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Looking for a place to
submit a romance?
Here’s a local contest with an August 31 deadline. Interested?
Contest asks for first 25 pages of your story.
Read more here:
Prompts for Tuesday,
August 27
There are two prompts for next time. The first is the
interstate system, and the second is marbles. You’re free to use either or
both prompts to write a piece for next Tuesday, or you can share a WIP
(work-in-progress).
Write in any genre you like (fiction, poetry, non-fiction,
drama), but please keep pieces 1500 words or less.
Have a wonderful weekend!
~Nancy B.
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