Recap of November 3 CCWW

November 10, 2015

Hello, writers,

What a warm start to November! I wonder if the higher temperatures have affected anyone’s writing.

Here’s a recap of our November 3 session, which included words, words and more words!

It’s hard to believe there’s only one more session after tonight, but alas, it is true.

Recap of November November 3 CCWW

After Ines R., Richard N. and Ruth A. shared their warm-ups, we began our critique session.

Ruth A. started the session with “The Gift Not Taken,” a short story about an old woman and her dog, Tiny. Members adored her descriptions (i.e. “a pothole-ridden road called dementia”) and the O. Henry-esque irony in her piece. Elaine H. then shared another chapter of her WIP. Members complimented her descriptions of White Dove receiving her name from the Name Giver as well as the mythic quality of her work. Connie W. then read a continuation of a hemp rope piece she read a few weeks ago. Members complimented Connie’s physical descriptions of an older Aiden as well as letting her reader in on the developing plot against him. An interesting discussion about gypsies in Augusta, Georgia ensued.

Lisa C. then had her poem, “The Review,” read by Ashley T. Members connected to her rhymes and the subject matter of her piece. I, Nancy B., then shared another chapter of my WIP. Member complimented my characterization of the droid. Irina R. then read another chapter in her WIP featuring Rita and Ryan. Members enjoyed learning more about Ryan’s injured ankle. 

Lori L. then read a continuation of a piece she started last week featuring four ladies going on four journeys. Members complimented the movement of her piece as well as powerful phrases, such as “the symphony of her daughters’ voices.” Ashley T. then shared more of her fan fiction based on “The Mortal Instruments” by Clare. Members complimented the balance between narration and dialogue in Ashley’s piece. Ines R. then read chapter six of one of her WIPs. Members complimented the revelation of Alyson’s childhood as well as her inner conflict. Richard N. then asked Elaine H. to read another segment of his WIP. Members complimented the flow and the use of sound in his piece.

Superb work, everyone!

Upcoming Prompts

    November 17 – the Taj Mahal

Links of Interest (since these are still current, I’ll keep them here another week)

*Times-Union’s Holiday Short Story Contest is going on now. The deadline is Nov. 23. Stories must be fiction, 1000 words or less and include a ghost, a department store Santa and a woman with amnesia. 

More here: http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/2015-11-05/story/enter-our-annual-holiday-short-story-contest

*Narrative Magazine’s fall story contest is seeking fiction and non-fiction submissions. First prize is $2500. Word limit is 1500. Deadline is November 30.

More here:  http://www.narrativemagazine.com/

*Blackbird: An Online Journal of Literature and the Arts is seeking submissions.

More here: http://www.blackbird.vcu.edu/v14n1/submissions.shtml

Quote of the Week

“Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely essential.”
                                                                                                – Jessamyn West

Until next week, happy writing!

~Nancy B.

Recap of Oct. 27 Session

November 9, 2015

Hello, writers,

Though we only have two workshops left this session, we will start again with two six-week sessions in January.

Below, you’ll see the recap from our October 27 session. I’ll add the recap on the November 3 session in the next day or two. 

There are several wonderful writing contests going on in November. I’ve listed some links below.   

Recap of November October 27 CCWW

After Richard N. and Ines R. read their warm-ups, Ruth A. mentioned the annual Christmas writing contest hosted by “The Florida Times-Union.” 

I, Nancy B., began the session reading a chapter of my WIP featuring Bruno. Members said my humorous characterization worked. Danielle T. then shared a true piece about her grandchildren. Members appreciated the honesty and pathos in her piece. Ruth A. then read about a ship captain and his dog. Her excellent descriptions won rave reviews from members (i.e. the aroma of wood shavings”). 

Lisa C. then shared “The Abyss,” a prompt-based poem. Members complimented her well-created rhymes and her poem’s subject matter.  Ines R. then shared chapter five of “New Girl in Town,” one of her WIPs. Members complimented the meteor shower she included as well as her well-placed descriptions (i.e. “silence required for beauty”). Richard N. then shared a continuation of his second WIP. Members complimented the names of his characters (i.e. “Pike” and “Noxia”) as well has his powerful figurative language (“If her eyes could shoot flames, he’d be a pillar of cinders”). 

Irina R. then read a continuation of her WIP. Members complimented her use of sounds (i.e. buzzing) and the setting she created around Rita and Ryan with the crates. Ashley T. then read more of her fan fiction based on “The Mortal Instruments.” Members complimented her narrative line as well as her characterization. Moriah R. then shared an instruction on what makes people want to read more. Her piece led to a wonderful discussion later in the session. 

Lori L. then read a piece with excellent foreshadowing. Members said her piece was very touching. Ruth A. ended the session reading a second piece she wrote on figures of speech. Her wonderfully written piece led into a solid discussion about language and literacy.

Excellent work, everyone!

Upcoming Prompts

  November 10 – Dandelions

  November 17 – the Taj Mahal

Links of Interest

*Times-Union’s Holiday Short Story Contest is going on now. The deadline is Nov. 23. Stories must be fiction, 1000 words or less and include a ghost, a department store Santa and a woman with amnesia. 

More here: http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/2015-11-05/story/enter-our-annual-holiday-short-story-contest

*Narrative Magazine’s fall story contest is seeking fiction and non-fiction submissions. First prize is $2500. Word limit is 1500. Deadline is November 30.

More here:  http://www.narrativemagazine.com/

*Blackbird: An Online Journal of Literature and the Arts is seeking submissions.

More here: http://www.blackbird.vcu.edu/v14n1/submissions.shtml

Quote of the Week

“You learn by writing short stories. Keep writing short stories. The money’s in novels, but writing short stories keeps your writing lean and pointed.”

                                                                                                                ~Larry Niven
Until tomorrow night, happy writing!

~Nancy B.

Recap of Oct. 13 and Oct. 20 Sessions

 November 9, 2015

Hello, writers,

It’s hard to believe we’re already into the month of November!  

Beginning on October 13 and running through November 17, our second session is shaping up to be full of delightful words and witticisms from our participants. 

Below, you’ll see recaps from October 13 and October 20 respectively. I’ll post recaps of the October 27 and November 3 sessions soon.  

Recap of October 13 CCWW

After Richard N., Matt Y., Connie W. and Danielle T. read their war-ups, we started our critique session.

Matt Y. began by reading a prompt-based piece (sibling rivalry) featuring a father and a son talking about pride. Members said his piece had excellent dialogue and characterization. Richard N. then shared “At the Noble Lodge Altar,” which is part of his second Dodge novel.  His characterization of Malphas and Pike worked well, according to members. Ines R. then shared chapter 6 of “Waves,” her mermaid piece. Her descriptions of the hospital and her characters worked well, members said.

Connie W. then read another “Hemp Rope” piece in which Aiden, now 16, has gained Leary’s favor. Members said her conflict worked well as did her descriptions. Cameron S. then read a visceral first-person piece about sinking into darkness.  Members said the emotions in her piece worked well. Danielle T. then shared a piece about teaching a Sunday school class of older ladies. Members complimented her syntax and the realism of her piece. 

I, Nancy B., then shared another installment of my dictionary story. Members said the human attributes of the droid worked well.  Irina R. finished the session sharing more of her WIP. Members said Irina created excellent action sequences.

Great work, everyone!

Recap of October 20 CCWW

I, Nancy B., began the session reading another chapter of my WIP. Members complimented my use of figurative language (i.e. “angry chorus of chainsaws” ). Ruth A. then read “The Halloween Cowgirls,” a piece featuring the Halloween adventures of two sisters. Members complimented Ruth’s descriptions and the quality of her story. Richard N. then shared a continuation of his second book. Members complimented the scene where Monty decides to respond to God’s call. 

Elaine H. then read a continuation of her WIP. Members were delighted by the budding romance between Young Wolf and White Dove, and they complimented Elaine’s vivid descriptions (i.e. “flames raking the sky”). Cameron S. then read “Plans, Plans, Plans,” a humorous piece about a teen named Dylan. Members complimented her conversations and subject matter. Irina R. then read a continuation of her WIP. Members loved her descriptions (i.e. “windows became shaded yellow”) and the flow of her story.

Ines R. then shared a piece featuring Stella and Richard. Members were delighted and shocked when Stella shot Richard! Ashley T. then read more of her fan fiction based on “The Mortal Instruments.” Members complimented her dialogue and the balance of narration and description.  Lisa C. then shared “The Not So Wicked Step-Mother,” a humorous poem. 

Members loved the subject of her piece as well as her clever rhymes (i.e. “slime/time”). Lori L. then read a piece featuring a person who hit a rabbit with her car. Members complimented the flow of her piece as well as the use of the rabbit as a symbol of hope.

Excellent job, everyone!

Upcoming Prompts

  November 10 – Dandelions

  November 17 – the Taj Mahal

Links of Interest

I’ll send several links in an e-mail soon. 

Quote of the Week

“I can’t write five words but that I change seven.”

                                                                ~Dorothy Parker

Until Tuesday night, happy writing!

~Nancy B.