March 26, 2015
Hello, writers,
Our workshop on Tuesday,
March 24, had equal parts laughter, insight and teen talk as we met at the
Callahan Branch Library to share our words. Hopefully, we will be able to meet
in the conference room again soon.
Meanwhile, this entry offers new
information on community events, publication opportunities, critiques and weekly
prompts.
If you weren’t able to make
it on Tuesday, please come on out this week. We hope to see you on March 31 at
6:15 p.m.
Spoken Word Festival – Tuesday, April 28
On April 28 at 6:00 p.m., the
Callahan Branch Library will host its second annual Spoken Word Festival. Since
April is National Poetry Month, the library is hoping beat the poetic drum here
in the Callahan community.
If you’d like to participate
in the Festival by reading a piece (it doesn’t have to be poetry), please sign
up with Callahan Branch Librarian, Alison M., or call her at 904-879-3434.
This year, the Library is
planning to produce a booklet chock full of local writers’ pieces. Sales of the
booklet will benefit the Friends of the Callahan Library. If you’d like to help
put the booklet together, please let Michele, Lisa or Nancy know.
Please consider submitting a
piece or two for the booklet. Please watch this space for more details on word
count, font size, formatting, etc.
The event is free and open to
the community.
Photo of the Week
Community Happenings
Callahan Area Show Theater
(CAST) is now accepting acts for
their upcoming talent show. Two shows are planned. The first will be Friday,
April 17 at 7pm. The second will be Saturday, April 18, at around 2pm (time
still to be determined). The group is also planning a two-week summer camp in
June. Contact Brenda M. at cast2012@aol.com
for more information.
Family Game Night - Tuesday, April 14, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. -
Gamers of all ages are invited to play card and board games at the Callahan
Branch Library! Some games will be provided by the library, but please bring a
favorite game to share if you would like.
Second Annual Spoken Word
Festival – Tuesday, April 28 from
6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. (time is subject to change). Writers from all over
the area will converge on the Callahan Branch Library to share their poems,
short stories, essays, skits, etc. If you’d like to read a piece, please sign
up with Callahan Branch Librarian, Alison M., at 904-879-3434.
Critique overview from March 24 CCWW
We started with warm-ups.
I’ll list them here in case you want to do them at home:
1. Sting operation at the Post Office
2. Baby Blues
3. New State of the Union
4. A freewrite about anything
Butch K. began
the critiques with a continuation of his soap box derby story. Members
complimented his use of sounds (such as, “Kaboom!”) and his descriptions
throughout the piece. Connie W. then
read a prompt-based piece (“dragon who rescued the princess from the knight”).
Members said her piece’s engaging tone, lovely descriptions (“rumbles like a
soft purr”) and bedtime story feel worked well. Danielle T. then shared a piece featuring two friends, Dottie and
Sherry, taking a walk on a five-mile forestry trail. Members said her piece
worked well because of its dramatic ending as Dottie pulled out a gun after two
prisoners blocked the ladies’ way.
Ines R. then
shared another chapter of her WIP in which Alyson and Frank go to the creek for
a picnic. Members said her descriptions of the food and the lake worked (“day
into something fragile”). Richard N. then
shared his revised first chapter of his first Dodge book. Members complimented
his vivid verbs (“clouds cruised” and “sky blazed”) and his piece’s pacing. I, Nancy B., then read another chapter of
my WIP. Members said my piece reminded them of an episode of “The Rescuers.”
Ashley T. then
shared a first-person reflection piece about working with kids. Her metaphor
comparing human beings to broken crayons God can use worked well, according to
members. Lori L. then read a
prompt-based piece (“What do I do? He’s been there all day!”). Members said the
construction of her piece worked as well as her descriptions (such as “arms
timidly became involved in his words). Cameron
S. then shared a story set within a counseling session after one group
member’s friend has committed suicide. Members connected to Cameron’s powerful
portrayal of the aftermath of depression, especially her hurricane metaphor.
Matt Y. then
shared a short story, “The Corruption of Sarah Giles.” From the “cyanide smile”
to the “fingers [that] grazed as they reached for the drinks,” Matt’s piece
resonated with group members. Ollie M. then
read an editorial on our modern society. His use of irony depicting who’s truly
free and who’s truly encaged worked well, according to members.
Wonderful writing, everyone!
Links of Interest
Spring 2015 WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Spring
Writing Contest
Stories must be between 250
and 750 words. Open prompt. Deadline is May 31. There is a $10.00 entry fee. Stories
can be in any style or genre. A literary agent is the judge.
++++++++++
Gemini Magazine Flash Fiction Contest
This contest seeks flash
fiction entries of 1000 words or less. There is a $4.00 entry fee.
Read more here: http://www.gemini-magazine.com/
++++++++++
The 2015 Ernest Hemingway Flash Fiction Contest
Stories should be 1000 words
or less. There is a $10 entry fee. Prize money is awarded to winner. Winners
and runners-up may have their pieces published.
Quote of the week:
“When you stop doing things
for fun, you might as well be dead.”
~Ernest
Hemingway
Prompts for Tuesday, March 31
The first prompt is “A world where everything talks (cars,
clothes, shoes, food, etc.).” The
second prompt is “The Dear John letter.” 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.
Have a great week!
~Nancy B.
P.S. Is anyone interested in
going through a book on writing and reading poetry over the summer? Nothing
formal, just reading the book, writing poems and sharing them? Please let Nancy
know if you’re interested.
