Matchmakers and life before cell phones

January 30, 2014

Hello, writers,

How’s your day going? School is cancelled today, so Hayden and I are finding creative projects to occupy our time. She’s making a quilt for one of her dolls with scraps of material. I’m attempting to sew a shirt. I’m also catching up on paperwork and making a crock pot full of taco soup. I love that stuff!

I recently read an interview with best-selling author, Frank Peretti, in the latest edition of ACFW Journal. Some of you may remember the article featuring CCWW I had published in this magazine.

In the Peretti piece by Christa Allan, Peretti says, “if writers aren’t learning everything and anything they can about craft, they need to give up.” Strong words there!

Near the end of the piece, Peretti gives four suggestions to writers. I’ve paraphrased them here:

1. Be able to write good English - There’s no excuse for bad spelling, grammar or syntax, Peretti says, so learn the rules. Learn them well before you break them in your writing.

2. Write every day - This is a tip I strongly adhere to. If I don’t write one day, I can tell. I feel like my creativity is trapped inside me longing to escape! Peretti suggests starting small with short stories, personal essays or journal entries. He also advises turning off the television.

3. Develop an ear for dialogue - This one is fun. I love to eavesdrop (only for a few minutes!) on conversations at restaurants or in offices just to hear language being spoken. Peretti says he’s surprised by how many writers struggle to write realistic dialogue. He suggests reading dialogue out loud after writing it to check it for authenticity.

4. Quit dreaming and get to work - Writing is a discipline, and it doesn’t get done unless you make time to do it. Peretti suggests getting that rear end in a chair and those hands on the keyboard!

Do you agree or disagree with these suggestions? Do you write every day? I agree with all four, and I try hard to write every day. I think I enjoy writing so much because there’s always something to improve or learn or change.

Here’s a recap of Tuesday’s workshop led by moderator, Lisa C. Thanks for running another wonderful workshop, Lisa!

Warm-ups

Choosing from prompts below, we all completed a writing warm-up.

1.      Cooking vs. eating out

2.      Umbrellas

3.      Polka dots

4.       Fashion

 After a few of us shared our warm-ups, we introduced ourselves, shared good news and started our critique session. We learned Cameron S. will audition for the creative writing program at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts on Tuesday. You’ll do great, Cameron!

Critique overview from January 28 CCWW

Richard N. started the session by reading another scene from his novel. His use of powerful descriptions (i.e. “buildings like turtles in the sand”) worked well. Cameron S. continued by reading a second person reflection of a 90-something who is really a teenager. Her twist at the end as the character “enters the fantasy again” worked well.  Kaitlyn S. then shared a new dream piece, although it wasn’t part of her ongoing work. Her descriptions (i.e. the rotting foot smell, the aroma of old books, etc.) worked well.

Matt Y. then read a piece featuring two sisters, Tina and Sarah, conversing about men over coffee. His clever use of flashback and his story line worked well. Connie K. continued by sharing a first person piece from Emily’s point of view. Her honest portrayal of the mother/daughter relationship worked as did her reflections on hair, school and homework. James B. then read a nightmare piece written from his perspective. His description of the blade and his use of personification worked well.

Connie W. read “Party Lines,” a retrospective of telephones through the years. Connie skillfully worked both prompts into her piece as well as personal connections to phones. Lisa C. continued by asking several CCWW members to read parts in her piece. Her script featured a series of people recording themselves for a dating site, and her characterizations, honesty and humor worked well. Michele N. then read a fictitious article from 2024 highlighting the successes of several CCWW members. Her authoritative tone and specific references to workshop members and their pieces worked well. (Please put this on the blog, Michele).

I, Nancy B., then shared a fictional piece written to the “matchmaker” prompt. Members said my piece worked because it kept the reader hanging. Michele then read Robert O.’s continuation of his Gabriel Whitewolf series. His descriptions of Gabriel’s shape-shifting worked well.

Superb writing, everyone!

Links of Interest

Writing Challenge: The Fun Way to Write Your Life Stories

I’m keeping this link on the blog for one more week in case you haven’t had a chance to sign up. Free, 14-day writing challenge submitted to CCWW by member, Cheryl L. You sign up and participate for 14 days in February. Looks intriguing!

More here: http://writingyourlife.org/writing-challenge/

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The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)

Here’s a great resource my mom shared with me. The writing lab at Purdue University offers all kinds of help for writers! You might want to spend some time here this week.

More here: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/

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Up for a contest?

2014 Annual Writers-Editors International Writing Competition has several categories to enter from novel chapters to poetry. Deadline is March 15. A recent winner of this contest scored a multi-book contract with a publisher!

More here: http://writers-editors.com/Writers/Contests/Contest_Guidelines/contest_guidelines.htm

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Prompts for Tuesday, Feb. 4

The first prompt is the mime. The second prompt is in the locker room. You’re free to write in any genre you like (fiction, drama, non-fiction, poetry, etc.). If you’d like to bring a WIP (work-in-progress), please do.

Please keep pieces to 1500 words or less and bring copies if you can.

See you Tuesday at The Sweet Spot!

~Nancy B.