Friday, February 6, 2015
Fourteen writers met at the Callahan Branch Library Tuesday
night, February 3, for the fourth of six creative writing workshops.
Here’s a recap of what happened along with links of interest
and a prompt for next Tuesday.
Warm-ups and News
Writers chose to write for ten minutes on one (or more) of
four prompts. I’ll include them here in case you’d like to do them at home:
1.
I believe animals exist to…. (In
memory of Lyle Love-It)
2.
Your favorite chore
3.
The detective saw his
opportunity. He grabbed the waitress’s arm and said…
4.
A freewrite about anything
After a Matt Y.,
Richard N. and Connie W. shared
warm-ups, Connie K. brought us up to
date on her work as a book influencer. She’s currently helping author, Jill
Eileen Smith, launch books in her “Daughters of the Promised Land” series.
West Nassau High School is performing “Beauty and the Beast”
on Thursday and Friday, February 12 and 13, beginning at 6:30pm in the school
cafeteria. Tickets are $5.00 per person. Children 12 and under are free! We are
planning on attending the Friday night performance. Anyone else want to join
us?
The Amelia Island Book Festival will be held Feb. 19-21. Authors include
Charles Benoit, Heather Ashby, Nancy Blanton and others. More here: www.ameliaislandbookfestival.org.
“Saturday Night Life,” a new and different kind of
church service, is held each Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center at
First Baptist Church, Callahan. If you’d like to learn more, please see Nancy B., Connie K. or Danielle T.
Upcoming Events for CCWW
A Short Break Before Session Two
Hard to believe, but our first spring session of CCWW is almost
finished. That means, CCWW will not meet on Tuesday, February 24, and Tuesday,
March 3.
If you’re planning on reserving a spot for the second spring session
(March 10 – April 14), please sign up for session two on February 10 or e-mail
one of the CCWW moderators (Lisa C., Michele N. or Nancy B.) in the next week
or so.
Spoken Word Festival – April 2015
April is National Poetry Month. Last year, we helped the Callahan
Branch Librarian, Alison M., host a
Spoken Word Festival. This year, Alison is planning a bigger and better
Festival.
She told me this week she is planning on producing an anthology of
short stories, poems, thought pieces and more. If you’d like to be involved,
please let Nancy know.
Back to the Table for CCWW
That’s right. On February 17, March 17 and March 24, CCWW will meet at
the table in the open area of the library. The reason is because we are sharing
the conference room with a smoking cessation group. I think we’ll be able to
move into the room after our warm-up time on each of these dates.
Critiques
Thomas E. asked Lisa C. to read a piece about a special
school for gifted kids. Members complimented Thomas’s vivid descriptions (i.e. “emerald
eyes”) as well as the connection his piece made to Buddhism. Oliver M. then shared a prompt-based
piece (erasers) about a photograph and the memories and stories associated with
it. Members said his piece read like poetry and offered listeners a chance to
make their own meaning. Ashley T. then
read a continuation of her piece from the previous week featuring Annabelle and
Will arriving at school. Members said her reference to the sunglasses on the
captain as well as the mystery between Annabelle and her uncle worked.
Butch K. then read a
first-person memory piece about working as a fireman. Members complimented his
descriptions of the sky and the firehouse as well as several of his powerful
phrases (such as, “death was making a house call”). I, Nancy B., then read a piece about my piano-playing alter ego named
Francesca. Members said my descriptions worked as well as the connection I made
between my mom’s hands and my own. Makenzie
K. then asked Lisa C. to read her
poem. The rhymes, the meter and the sense of hope in the piece worked,
according to members.
Lisa C. then read “Fixer-Uppers,”
a prompt-based (erasers) poem. Members complimented her rhymes (such as, “slate”
and “fate”) and the truth of her piece. Matt
Y. then shared a prompt-based (erasers) powerhouse of a piece. Members said
his references to the piece of meat and holding a gun like an eraser worked. Danielle
T. then read a continuation of her father’s story. Members complimented the
picture her words painted of her father as a boy, and they also encouraged her
to keep writing his story.
Ines R. then shared a
continuation of her story. Her skillful showing (not just telling) of
loneliness and the cruelty of kids worked well, according to members. Connie W. then read a prompt-based
(erasers) tone poem. Her “praise the _______, erase the _____” phrases worked
as did her thoughtful social commentary, members said. Connie K. then read a memory piece about her reaction (at almost 3
years of age) to her baby sister’s arrival. Members said her piece presented
truth and anger in a realistic and compelling way. Richard N. ended the session by asking Michele N. to read another installment of his second Dodge story. Members
said the dialogue between John and Vicki worked, as did the continuing romance
between the two characters.
Super work, everyone!
Links of Interest
1.
Here’s
a creative writing blog you may wish to check out when you have time. It offers
writing tips and exercises, among other things. You may wish to subscribe to this blog.
Read them here:
2.
“Poets & Writers” magazine offers an updated
database of literary journals and reviews seeking
work. If you’re interested, consider scheduling some time to research their
site.
Follow
this introductory link for details:
Prompt and Guidelines for 2/10/15
The prompt for 2/10/15 is surfing.
You’re free to write in any genre you like (poetry, non-fiction, fiction,
drama, etc.) or bring in a WIP (work-in-progress). Please keep pieces 1500
words or less. Keeping our community standards in mind, CCWW now asks writers
to refrain from including gratuitous violence, vulgarity or profanity in pieces
read at our workshops.
Quote of the week:
“Get
it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it’s the only way you can do anything
really good.”
~William Faulkner
Write on!
~Nancy B.
