Hexagons and Artists

February 21, 2014

Hello, writers,

Happy Friday! I’ve been brainstorming ideas for new writing projects this week.

How about you? Do you write every day? Do you have a set writing routine? 

Several people have asked me how and when I journal. So, I'll share my routine.

My journal writing process

I prefer composition books for my journal writing, and I usually purchase lots of them during back to school sales. It generally takes me three weeks to fill one composition book. I use both wide-ruled and college-ruled journals.

My ideal journal writing time is early-around 5:15 a.m.-with a cup of hot lemon water, coffee or tea. Sometimes, I read my Bible before I start writing. Other times, I write first, then, I read. My entries are combinations of thoughts, concerns, to-do lists, prayers and more.

I have no expectation of anyone reading my entries-ever! I write them to help me clarify my thinking and the goings-on of my life.

Here’s an excerpt from my journal dated September 20, 2011:

I didn’t know I could wiggle my ears until I was about 6 or 7. I just did it. Sitting in the living room of the motel my parents’ managed, I wiggled them. My sister, Karin, saw them move.

"Ewwww! What are you doing?” she screamed.

I didn’t know I was doing anything. I just moved them.

“Nancy! You’re wiggling your ears!” After a moment or two, she laughed.

I ran to a mirror atop a wooden bookcase and peered at myself as I lifted my ears up and down.      
     

I don’t remember why I wrote about wiggling my ears, but I’m glad I’ve recorded the memory in my journal.

I hope you’ll consider journaling. It’s a wonderful way to deal those ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ life brings our way!

In other news, here’s a recap of Tuesday’s workshop.   

Warm-ups

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

1.       Bullets

2.       Yo-yo

3.       Cotton vs. Silk

4.       Bleachers

After a few of us shared our warm-ups, we introduced ourselves, shared good news and started our critique session. By the way, Cameron S. used all four prompts in her warm-up. Nice job, Cameron!

Good News

Richard N. has finished his novel. Way to go, Richard! Robert O. has a new job. Congrats, Robert!

Critique overview from February 18 CCWW

Michele N. began the session reading a poem reflecting on the loss of a loved one. CCWW members said her piece worked because it offered both hope and words to work through immense emotions. Michele’s aunt passed away last week. We offer our condolences, Michele.

I, Nancy B., then shared a prompt-based poem on six roles of womanhood. Members complimented the narrative nature of the piece. Connie W. then shared a poem about Lily Beagle, a dog who looks at the moon. Members said Connie’s descriptions of a powerful moment as well as her connection to the darkness of night and also death worked. Robert O. then shared a role-play script. Members said his stage directions worked because they were well-organized and descriptive.

Lisa C. continued by reading “The Professional Artist,” a prompt-based poem. Members said her misleading title worked as well as her portrayal of unwise choices people make. Thomas E. shared more of Mia’s story. Members said his piece offered a good balance of dialogue and narration as well as good characterization of Mia. Hayden B. then shared “Classroom Pets,” a short story about fish. Members said her piece created tension because they wondered what happened to the fish.

Cameron S. then read a continuation of “The Lost Reality,” a fiction piece. Members said her story held their interest because it presented a character in a coma. Connie K. then shared “Snowy Day,” a non-fiction piece. Members said her details about her youth (such as Simplicity sewing patterns, measuring cloth and riding on the hood of a truck) worked very well. Richard N. finished the session by sharing more of his Dodge story. Members said the comic relief offered by Rossellini helps readers deal with some of the technical descriptions.

Wonderful writing, everyone!

Links of Interest

“Guide,” an inspirational youth magazine, seeks true stories in several categories from adventure to humor.

More information here:  http://www.guidemagazine.org/writers-guidelines

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“Glimmer Train” publishes new authors every year

The publication offers a short story award for new authors. A few CCWW members said they were interested in this contest, so we’ll leave the link up for another week.

Next deadline is Feb. 28.

More here: http://www.glimmertrain.com/newwriters.html

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Shebooks

Here’s a place to submit writing about women or by women. They publish fiction and non-fiction, including memoir and journalism. Looks like a great market!

More here: http://www.shebooks.net/submission-guidelines

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Fun Photo from CCWW

Prompts for Tuesday, March 11

The first prompt is on a school bus. The second prompt is the housekeeper. 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.

Looking forward to seeing you March 11 at The Sweet Spot!

~Nancy B.

P.S. I’ve included names of CCWW members who have signed up for our second session (March 11-April 15) in the e-mail sharing this blog link.

Airplanes and Yellowstone

February 13, 2014

Hello, writers,

Hope all of you have a happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow.

As I mentioned Tuesday, I’m reading “How to Write Short: Word Craft for Fast Times” by Roy Peter Clark. Last time, we considered his suggestion to write 100-word stories.

In the second chapter of the book, entitled, “Study short writing wherever it finds you,” Clark suggests looking around everywhere for short writing-in fortune cookies, on baseball cards and atop those candy hearts so popular this time of year!

Here are two of his suggested assignments and one from me. I haven’t decided which of the three I’ll complete yet, but I’ll post my response here when I finish.

Fortune Cookies

“Make believe that fortune cookies were served at all ethnic restaurants. How would the fortunes read at, say, a NewYork-style Italian restaurant? ‘Fuhgeddaboudit!’ or ‘Stop reading, you meatball, and EAT!’ Try this with a variety of ethnicities” (Clark 28).

Movie idea

“Write a brief premise for a movie in which something discovered in a pack of baseball cards proves crucial” (Clark 28).

Ad slogans

Come up with 3-5 new slogans for a product you use every day.

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Please consider completing one, two or all three of these exercises and sharing them with us Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, here’s a recap of Tuesday’s workshop led by moderator, Michele N. Thanks for leading us, Michele!  

Warm-ups

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

1.       Smudges, stains, greasy spots

2.       Brakes

3.       Valentine’s Day

4.       Curly vs. Straight

After a few of us shared our warm-ups, we introduced ourselves, shared good news and started our critique session.

Critique overview from February 11 CCWW

Lisa C. began with “Elevated,” a poem contrasting the grandeur of being airborne with commonplace entertainments, such as Candy Crush. CCWW members said her powerful verbs (i.e. gander and meander) worked as did the poem’s metaphysical tone. Oliver M. then shared a commanding piece about adult life. Members said the conflict and search for meaning in his piece worked well. Connie W. continued by reading, “Airplane,” a memoir about her first flight. Members said her descriptions of flying before September 11 and her use of flashback worked well.

James B. then shared a piece featuring Tabitha, a writer who uses a quill pen. Members said the stress he infused into her character as well as his descriptions (i.e. “itch of the parchment”) worked well. Thomas E. read a continuation of his story featuring Mr. Larson and Mia. Members said his word craft and his showing of details instead of simply telling about them (i.e. flames as amber liquid) worked well. I, Nancy B., then read a poem written to the Yellowstone prompt. Members said the poem’s focus on mankind’s addiction to technology worked.

Michele N. then shared a continuation of Wyatt and Katherine’s romance. Members complimented Michele’s vivid descriptions (of Katherine’s eyes, for example) and her ability to set scenes for readers. Robert O. continued reading more of his Gabriel Whitewolf story. In this part, a new character (blonde and female) approaches Gabriel. As usual, members praised Robert’s descriptive writing (i.e. “living masterpiece painted on the sky….”). Connie K. then shared a poem and a 100-word story. Her poem allowed readers to glimpse the true value of life, while her 100-word story about Abraham and Sarah resonated with CCWW members because of its plot and brevity.

Katilyn S. then read a prequel to one of her earlier dream stories. Members complimented her pacing and her use of imagery. Cameron S. continued by reading “Lost Reality,” a piece about a person in a coma after being in a wreck. Members said the twists and the descriptions in her piece worked well. Richard N. finished the session by sharing another installment of his Dodge story. Members connected Richard’s plot to the new GI Joe movie and complimented his well-researched descriptions of kinetic weapons.

Fine writing, everyone!

Links of Interest

“The Story” - A Short Story Competition

Many CCWW members write family-friendly fiction. Here’s a short story contest with publishing creds as one of the prizes. Deadline is March 15. Winner announced May 1.

More here: http://contests.salempublishing.com/FamilyFiction/

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“Glimmer Train” publishes new authors every year

The publication offers a short story award for new authors. Next deadline is Feb. 28.

More here: http://www.glimmertrain.com/newwriters.html

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Up for reading a cool creative writing blog?

Patrick Ross offers insights and opinions on writing, art, technology and more.

Check out his blog, “The Artist’s Road,” here: http://artistsroad.wordpress.com/

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Prompts for Tuesday, Feb. 18

The first prompt is hexagons. The second prompt is the artist. 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.

P.S. CCWW will take a short two-week break, so we will not meet on February 25 or March 4. The next session of workshops begins Tuesday, March 11 and runs through Tuesday, April 15.

Mimes and locker rooms

February 8, 2014

Hello, writers,

Has anyone ever written a 100-word story? It’s fun. Here’s one I started a little while ago. I know it’s not quite a story yet, but it is exactly 100 words…

100-word story

                Annabelle cursed her curling iron, though the day’s humidity caused her hair’s unruliness. Zack’s phone call the night before entered her mind like a stone sinking into a placid lake. Zack accepted the job offer, and he’d be moving to the West Coast in three weeks. Did she want to join him?

                She did, but she always kept options open. How could she remove the habits she wore like a familiar sweat suit?  

                Gazing at her hair in the mirror, Annabelle rubbed gel in her hands. She smoothed the frizz and saw her curls form moist ringlets atop her head.

Please consider writing your own 100-word story to share with us Tuesday night.

Here’s a recap of Tuesday’s workshop led by moderator, Michele N. Thanks for running the workshop, Michele!  

Warm-ups

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

1.       Brass

2.       What you want to be when you grow up…

3.       Nurses

4.       Spin cycles

After a few of us shared our warm-ups, we introduced ourselves, shared good news and started our critique session.

Partial Critique overview from February 4 CCWW

Kaitlyn S. started the session reading Cameron S.’s piece. (Cameron auditioned for the creative writing program at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Tuesday night). Featuring characters named Tara and Storm, Cameron’s piece created suspense through description and personification. Robert O. then shared a continuation of his script/screenplay. CCWW members said his dialogue flowed well and his scene built suspense. Richard N. then read another installment of his novel. Members complimented his imagery and pacing.

Kaitlyn S. continued by reading a continuation of a piece she started last week featuring a girl named Bethany. Members said Kaitlyn contrasted the peaceful lake and the dark figure well. James B. then read a reflection piece. Members said the honesty and voice in his piece worked well. Thomas E. then shared a continuation of his hospital piece featuring Mr. Larson and a woman named Mia. Members praised his figurative language (i.e. “school of fish in lobby”) and his pacing. I, Nancy B., continued by reading a prompt-based poem called “Gesture King.”Members said connecting colors to emotions worked well.

Since I left early, I have no notes beyond this point. Michele N. has graciously agreed to fill in this part soon. Thanks, Michele!

Links of Interest

Want to write greeting cards? Then read this ad from Florida Freelance Writers Association:

Blue Mountain Arts is once again interested in reviewing writings suitable for publication on greeting cards. We are looking for highly original and creative submissions on friendship, family, special occasions, positive living, and other topics one person might want to share with another person. Submissions may also be considered for inclusion in book anthologies. We pay $300 per poem for all rights to publish it on a greeting card and $50 if your poem is used only in an anthology. To request a copy of our writer's guidelines (which include contact/submission information), please send a blank e-mail to writings@sps.com with "Send Me Guidelines" in the subject line, or write us at: Blue Mountain Arts, Inc. Editorial Department, PO Box 1007 Boulder, CO 80306.

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Anybody have a book or story ready to submit to a publisher?

Port Yonder Press is accepting submissions throughout the month of February.

More here: http://www.portyonderpress.com/submission-guidelines.html

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Up for a contest? Just in case, we’ll keep this listing up one more week:

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

Prompts for Tuesday, Feb. 11

The first prompt is Yellowstone. The second prompt is on an airplane. 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.