Writing New

Friday, May 30, 2014

I love to learn new things. 

In 2012, I learned to knit. Several scarves, blankets and hats later, I’m hoping to add stuffed animals to my yarn repertoire this summer.  

In 2013, I began learning the violin. (CCWW member Robert O. takes violin lessons too. Way to go, Robert).  Here’s a picture of my sister and me playing at a recital earlier in May.

Stephie G. and I playing our violins at a Performing Arts Center recital held at First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida.

This summer, I plan to learn more about blog posts, podcasts and InDesign, among other things. 

  

I love to write new things too. Poems, skits, fiction and non-fiction stretch me sometimes to the point of discomfort. Some questions I ask myself are:  Am I going too deep too fast? Am I blurring the truth? Is the story I’m telling compelling or creative?

Writing New

One way I ‘write new’ is by journaling in unfamiliar places. Yesterday, for example, I took Hayden to the beach.  I wrote in my journal while I watched her splash with a friend.  Here’s an excerpt of my journal entry:

Tide will turn soon – head out for lunch, maybe. Waves hiss and yawn and sigh, misting me with memories and potential. This is reset, the oscilloscope finding white balance. Balancing white. Balancing light. Ball dancing with Light!

I don’t know what I’ll do with the entry. It may stay in my journal forever. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is the entry would not exist had I not written in my journal at the beach.   

I’ve written in restaurants, in airports, at sporting events and in church services.  When I go out of town this summer, I’ll have my journal with me seeking places to ‘write new’.

Questions for you

What new things are you learning? 

What do you plan to learn this summer?

What new pieces are you writing? 

Where will you ‘write new’ today? This week? Next month?

Let’s chat

I’d love to start a conversation with you. Please consider commenting below or adding your feedback to our Callahan Creative Writing Workshop Facebook page. 

I hope you’ll take time to ‘write new’ this summer.

~Nancy

nancyleebethea@gmail.com

Are those real emotions or just my hormones???

Hmmmm, interesting question, huh?  Of course, I am a woman of a certain age, as I have heard it described.  Therefore, when I am angry, irritated or weepy, I must stop, reflect and consider what is the real problem?  Am I truly angry at the person or situation, or have I done something to put myself in the predicament?  Or is it my hormones causing my lack of patience?

Whatever the real reason for the emotions that we experience, the bottom line is that we do actually experience them.  Have you contemplated how many different emotions you experience daily? 

Here are a few to consider: 

1. Irritation when the alarm wakes you

2. Impatience while waiting for the microwave to finish

3. Fear when the car in front of you slams on brakes

4. Nervous when you realize the boss arrived to work before you…and you are 10 minutes late

5. Happiness when the clock strikes 5:00 

6. Love when you arrive home and see your family

Emotion is not a bad thing, but our response to the emotion can lead to unwanted consequences.  Journaling and writing about the emotions we experience are a positive and creative way of dealing with the stress of having those emotions.   Have you written a piece that deals with a particular difficult emotion? What about a piece that the goal is to elicit a specific emotion from your audience?  

This summer, how about writing a piece where you want your audience to experience a very specific emotion and then bring it to share at CCWW in the autumn to see if you succeeded?  

Until next time, happy writing!

~Michele

chele0001@gmail.com

Attention: Adults!

May 23, 2014

ATTENTION: ADULTS, GROWN FOLKS, ELDERS, well, OLD PEOPLE

This just out:  THEY are on the loose! Be afraid, be very, very afraid! In the language of old, “School’s out, school’s out, teacher’s let the monkeys out!” That’s right, it is that time of year again.  Just when you thought it was safe to go out midday on a peaceful shopping trip or out for a walk in the park, well, you were wrong, they are out there. 

On the flip side, the children often have an extremely different take on this time of year.  They count the days until they are free to roam the countryside.  Summer fever starts early and they are just itching to make a break for it. They are pumped about the prospect of sleep, trips, camp and goofing off in general.   In the words of children everywhere, “No more pencils, No more books, No more teachers dirty looks”.    Let’s just examine this little statement.

NO MORE PENCILS?!  As a writer/artist the thought of a world with no pencils just terrifies me.  I always draw in pencil, so when I erase for the millionth time, no one will ever know.  I mean white-out just doesn’t cut it. It is too obvious.  Thank God for computers, most of the time, but when you want to jot down ideas-a pencil and paper do the trick nicely.  I love pens, too but that is a topic for another day.  And don’t get me started on Sharpies-they are my absolute favorite!

NO MORE BOOKS?!  Are you even kidding me? I love to read, so this is also a frightening statement.  Where else can you travel, find adventure, solve a mystery and not go anywhere at all?  Okay, okay, you can watch TV but it is not the same.  The book is always better, you readers know what I am saying.   And my fellow writers, keep at it because we NEED new material.  

No more teachers dirty looks!  Well, as a teacher who happens to love children, I kinda get this one!  Some teachers seem to love to inflict pain upon their students. Others are just worn out and tired from all of the shenanigans.  But there are those great teachers out there, who change kids’ lives for the better. So lighten up, teachers and kiddos straighten up so there will be no need for the dirty looks.

SUMMER, sounds good, right? Makes you want to go to the beach or maybe, Disney World?  Personally I enjoy Universal Studios Islands of Adventure because I like all of the roller coasters. Yes, I know, some people never grow up but, hey, it’s fun.  Other than the heat and long lines these places are great.  It seems like when I go, for some odd reason, it usually rains. Sounds bad, huh? Well, actually it kind of works out good, because people leave and then the lines are shorter.  So yes, go ahead and make lemon meringue pie out of those lemons. There may not always be a bright side, but if you look hard enough you can find something to be thankful for.

                                        

 My summer is spent working in summer camp and we try to keep it fun for the kids.   We are creating a Circus theme this year, which is probably pretty accurate, since working with kids sometimes makes you feel like you are already at the Circus.  I love what I do and kids are super fun but they do keep you on your toes.   

So here are some questions for you:

What do you plan to do or write this summer?

Are you planning any adventures?

What was the worst summer you experienced? Could you have done things differently?

If money and time weren’t an issue, where would you go this summer?

What books do you plan on reading this summer?

**Feel free to leave an answer or a few thoughts in the comment section below or on Facebook.**

Wishing you and your family a terrific summer full of fun and pie! 

~Lisa M. Crosby

Prompts: Love Them or Hate Them?

May 20, 2014

I enjoy many things about CCWW, but if had to pick one favorite part, it would be writing to prompts. 

Here’s why.

A Sense of Discovery

I love writing to prompts because they provide a sense of wonder. I might have images or thoughts in mind when I first read the prompt, but when I write, my piece morphs into something unexpected. 

Last year, for example, we had a prompt about a hardware store. I loved hearing the different directions writers took their pieces. I started a story about a woman returning to a small town. She visits the hardware store and reconnects with a friend from her youth. I ended up continuing the story for several weeks. Who knows? I may turn the piece into something longer. 

A File Full of Writing

Writing to prompts challenges me to produce something fresh each week. When I look back in the CCWW file on my computer, I’m delighted by how many pieces (even if they’re rough drafts or short pieces) I collect there during our six-week sessions.

I have included several CCWW prompt-based pieces in queries or portfolios. Just last month, I updated my portfolio before meeting a potential client. Several pieces I included started as responses to CCWW-based prompts. 

A Chance to Experiment

Writing to prompts allows me to try my wings with new ideas and different genres. I have a hard time deciding which genre of writing I like best. I love them all-poetry, drama, non-fiction and fiction. I also love learning about each genre through writing because for me, the act of writing helps me clarify my thinking. 

This past year, I wrote quite a bit of poetry based on CCWW prompts. For me, poetry is fast and deep. It offers both writer and reader an emotional hit. There’s freedom in poetry, too. Fixed form or free verse? Rhyming or not? Humorous or sorrowful? I love the chance prompts give me to mix and remix over and over.  

What about You?

Do you enjoy writing to prompts? Why or why not?

Have you shared any of your CCWW prompt-based pieces anywhere else?

What prompts have you enjoyed most?

Do you have suggestions for prompts in the future?

We’d love to hear from you! Please comment below or shoot me an e-mail.

Have a great week.

~Nancy

Taking a Trip Down Memory Lane...and Realizing Just How Old You Really Are

The last couple of weeks I have been caught up in graduation mode.  More this year than last year, because several of my friends have children who are graduating from high school and a couple of them have children graduating from college.  I am so very proud of these kids!  They have worked so hard and have achieved much more academically as high school seniors than I did.  A lot of these children are graduating with their Associates Degree prior to their High School Diploma, thanks to dual enrollment.   Amazing!

What is interesting to me, is that I remember when most of these kids were born.  I've watched them perform in church musicals, school athletic events and band concerts.  Somewhere along the way, they grew up.  But, strangely, I have not aged a bit!  Perhaps time does stand still for Southern women, lol.

At this time, these graduates are planning their futures, dreaming of achieving their individual goals and have a blank canvas on which to work.  If you are like me, some of my goals were not met and my life today is a little different than I had envisioned.  Have you considered writing a piece based on what your life today would have been had it turned out as you expected while you were planning and dreaming at 17?

That's the beauty of being a writer.  We can change history with one swoop of our pens, creating an alternate universe where we are in charge of our destiny.

Until next time, happy dreaming and happy writing!

Best,
Michele
chele0001@gmail.com

Road Rage

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Okay, okay, okay…listen...listen…I  mean look (whatever), is it just me or is our country becoming more and more like driving in a third world country? I haven’t traveled a whole lot but I did get to visit Argentina once.  There is no regard for stop signs or street lights and what are those lines painted on the asphalt?  I mean, sure you can fit four cars across on a two lane road, so why not? Whoever is the biggest vehicle, of course, should go first and if anyone dare walk out into traffic they are simply out of luck.   Ordinary individuals use their own vehicles to “taxi” people and let’s just say the “Tower of Terror” has nothing on these guys.  Your life flashes before your eyes repeatedly in one single ride.  On the corners of most roads, there are peddlers who feebly attempt to empty your pockets as you briefly stop by “entertaining” you.  (Don’t get me wrong, it is a gorgeous country with super friendly people and the food-magnifico!  Perhaps they need a Driver’s Ed missionary to be called there, probably would save lives. J )

Now back to our beautiful country, we do somewhat seem to notice that there are a few rules to follow but an alarming number of drivers think that they are merely suggestions, not requirements.  I am a pretty mild-mannered person but sometimes the stress of driving in heavy traffic just wears my nerves thin.  I am a cautious driver and try to leave a “safe” distance between myself and the driver in front of me.  Well, can I tell you what happens when I do so? Yes, that’s right someone thinks that I have left them an invitation to jump in front of me, thus causing me to brake and pray for their safety (if you know what I mean).  

 

I have often watched as cars play “chicken” with a train. Those flashing lights and bars, mean race around at a super high speed, right?  Is it worth your life to arrive a few minutes earlier? Not to say I enjoy waiting on trains especially when they crawl like sloths but I do prefer to be in one piece when I arrive at my destination. I am weird that way.

Road trips? Well, to avoid the “are we there yet?”, “I’m hungry”, “I gotta go to the bathroom”, I usually try to travel when my kids have other plans for the weekend.  I find myself traveling at night, because traffic is usually calmer and it’ more relaxing.  Too relaxing, sometimes, I have to remind myself to stay awake from the monotony.  When I was younger, I was a night owl but now that I work early, not so much.   So I get super tired at night, one time while driving to visit my parents, I saw BIG FOOT right in the middle of the road.  Just a little tip, don’t drive while you are exhausted, you might, just might see things that aren’t actually there, or was he?    

Another recent predicament is yes, I am going to say it, TEXTING, while driving.  So there you are cruising down the road and the driver in front of you is swerving in and out of their lane. Once upon a time you might have thought that it was a drunk driver but now, it’s Grandma trying to text and drive. What a deadly combination!  Ok, and that doesn’t mean that you teenagers because you know where all the keys are located are any better.   Put the phone down and watch the road!

I said all that to say this….

How about some writing ideas!

*What is the best/worst road trip you have been on? (Real or imaginary)

*Have you ever been pulled over by Officer Friendly?  How did that end up?

*What is the craziest thing you’ve seen someone do while driving?

*Have you ever been in an accident or watched one happen?

*What would it be like if we really did have those cool cars like in “Back to the Future”?

*If you were a car, which one would you be and why?

Hope you are all doing well! I miss you guys! Drive Safe and Have a great week!

~Lisa M. Crosby

Writing Through: Thoughts on Faith and Writing

Friday, May 9, 2014

People often tell me they would love to become writers, but they suffer from writer’s block. I usually listen to them for a moment. Then, I shock them. “I don’t believe in writer’s block," I say. To me, writer’s block is letting fear defeat faith. Let me explain.

When I am writing a piece-a blog post, a newspaper article, a poem, a dramatic scene, etc.-I often feel a twinge of fear before I start. I feel inadequate. I feel thoughts and words twirling and whirling in my mind like a tornado. I feel like I can’t write. 

Then, in the midst of my whirlpool, an image of a dryer full of crumpled clean clothes might pop into my head. “I can’t write now,” I say to myself. “I need to fold clothes!” 

I might notice a pile of junk mail on the counter. “Don’t write now,” the papers seem to say. “We need you to spend your time over here throwing us away.” Do I dare complete a chore instead of writing? If I do, I will have folded clothes and clear counter space, but I won’t have the piece written.

So, what I’ve learned to do is write anyway. Write through. Write to the other side. No matter if you think what you’re writing is the worst string of words you’ve ever put together. Write, write, write!

Sometimes, I break it up a little and write a paragraph or two and then do a chore. Completing the chore after I’ve started writing helps me think through the rest of what I want to say on paper.

Another helpful tool I use often is my journal. I try to write three pages long hand in my journal every morning to stay fresh and flexible as a writer. On mornings I don’t journal, I feel frustrated and uptight. On mornings I do journal, I breathe freely like I’ve just stretched warm muscles at the end of a long run.

                                A picture of my journal entry in progress from May 6, 2014.

                               Several of my journals stacked on a table on our back porch.

To me, writing though is like exercising faith. We all use faith every day, don’t we? I am talking about practical faith and spiritual faith. An example of practical faith is feeling confidence your coffee maker will work and produce fresh java for you each morning. An example of spiritual faith is putting your hope in a force bigger than yourself. For me, spiritual faith is an integral part of who I am because I am a Christian. My faith in God grows the more I exercise it through prayer, Bible reading and serving others. 

Just as I utilize my practical and spiritual faith each day, I am also learning to use my writing faith. The antidote to fear is faith. I try to take risks and write in genres I’m unaccustomed to. I try to read fiction or poetry if I’ve been reading too much non-fiction. I go on hikes, see plays, take in a concerts, talk to five-year-olds and 95-year-olds!  

So, the next time I hear someone tell me they have writer’s block, I might say, “No, you’re afraid. Live a little, take a risk and write through!” 

Here are some questions to consider:

1.       Do you currently write in a journal? If so, what benefits have you noticed from it? If not, why not?

2.       Do you ever feel fear when you’re preparing to write or while you’re writing? Want to share a specific example?

3.       What do you have faith in? When you feel your faith faltering, what do you do?

4.       What risks have you taken in the last month? Last six months? Last year?

Want to share answers or start a conversation? Please comment below or shoot me an e-mail. I’d love to hear from you.

~Nancy

nancyleebethea@gmail.com