Monday, March 16, 2015

A New CCWW Session



March 16, 2015

Hello, writers,

We had a great start to our second Callahan Creative Writing Workshop session of the year. Members’ writing ranged from humorous to nostalgic, as you’ll see below.

We’ve stuffed this blog entry with community events, publication opportunities, accurate retellings 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 17 at 6:15pm.

Spoken Word Festival – Tuesday, April 28

On April 28 at 6:00 pm, 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.

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.

Museum of Science and History (MOSH) is hosting Odyssey’s Shipwreck! Pirates & Treasures, for a limited time. Adults $10/Children from 3-12 $6. For more information, visit http://www.themosh.org/.

Critique overview from March 10 CCWW

After writing warm-ups, Matt Y. and Ollie M. shared what they wrote.

Connie W. has a new Bassett Hound named E.J. Danielle T.’s husband, Wayne, has a new white Westie, and so far, Danielle and the puppy are getting along.

Michele N. began the critiques by reading a first person account of a woman wondering if she is pregnant. Her storyline and her potent verbs (such as “puckered” and “vanished”) worked well, according to members. Ines R. then read the second and part of the third chapter of her WIP (work-in-progress). Her pacing and several of her phrases (such as “mind thirsty for rage”) worked well, members said. Danielle T. then shared a continuation of her father’s story. Members commented on the power of the story she’s writing as well the fact that every life has a story.

Butch K. then read “The Soap Box, Not Tied,” a look back at his boyhood involvement in a soapbox derby. His descriptions and his poignant look at boyhood stirred all the members. I, Nancy B., then read (with Matt Y.’s help) the next chapter of my dictionary story. Members said they could picture the characters well. Richard N. then read another chapter in his second Dodge novel. Members connected to the descriptions he provided about his character, John Dodge.

Lisa C. then shared a script for the upcoming preschool program at Sonshine Christian Academy. Members loved the humor and the talent show format of the piece. Ollie M. then read “Fear, an Unseen Caution.” Members complimented his tackling of the subject of fear and the ‘faces’ we put on to hide our true selves from others.  

Connie W. then read, “The Bridge,” a piece about the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Connie’s call to action at the beginning of the piece and her dealings with good and evil in the piece worked, according to members. Matt Y. ended the session with “Heartbreak of Katy Ellison,” a true-to-life fiction piece. Members complimented his use of a literal storm with the emotional storm going on in Katy’s life as well as his skill showing the female perspective in relationships.

Fantastic work, everyone!

Links of Interest

Today’s Christian Living Writing Contest

This Christian magazine is hosting a non-fiction writing contest. The topic this year is “everyday people who are making a difference for Jesus.” There’s no entry fee and prize money if you win!


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Like to write essays?

Ninja Essays is sponsoring another essay contest with prize money (Yay!) and no entry fee (Double Yay!). Topics and formatting instructions are listed on the site below.


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Feeling literary?

If you hurry, you can submit poetry, a short story or an essay to The Florida Review Editors’ Awards. Deadline is March 17, and there is an entry fee.


Prompts for Tuesday, March 17

The first prompt is “I’ll kill you! Darling, I’m already dead.” The second prompt is ”Mom, he turned off the gravity again.” 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. Please let Nancy know if you’re interested in participating in the Spoken Word Festival on April 28.

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