Updates, a Recap of 2/2 and Prompts for this Session

March 8, 2016

Hello, writers,

We are looking forward to the start of our second spring session tomorrow night, March 8, at 6:15 p.m. inside the Callahan Branch Library.  Will you be there? We hope so!

Several of our members will be involved with a school performance at SCA, but many of us will be at the first session.

We are fortunate to have co-moderator, Michele N., leading the new session. She is such a gifted writer and leader.  

Prompts for this new session are listed below.

Without further ado, please find the recaps from our February sessions below.  The February 9 session was cancelled due to cold weather and multiple events going on at the Callahan Branch Library.

Recap of February 2 CCWW

We began the session introducing prompts for the warm-up. After Connie W (“I was born…”), Cameron S. (“the most beautiful smile”, Irina R.(“I was born…”), Danielle T.(“I was born…”), and Richard N. (“the most beautiful smile),”  read their war-ups, we started our critique session. The warm-ups, in case you’d like to use them at home, were:

*Write about nature. Include the following words: hard drive, stapler, phone, car, billboard.

*Write about one (or both) of your parents. Start with “I was born…”

*The most beautiful smile I ever saw…

*A freewrite about anything

                                                                                Source: writingforward.com

Connie W. started us off by reading an autobiographical piece about Prairie Dog Records and Tapes.  Her piece, set in Aberdeen, Kansas, offered an authentic historical feel, according to members. Michele N. then read “Southern Hospitality,” a prompt-based thought poem. Members loved her imagery and phrasing. Ashley T. then read a continuation of her ranger story. Members complimented her descriptions, especially of the forest.

Irina R. then shared a piece featuring characters named Melody, Ivan and Douglas. Her line, “My sister is in therapy because of me” resonated with members. Cameron S. then read a continuation of her psychiatric ward piece. Members complimented her powerful theme and vivid descriptions. Ines R. then read chapter nine of her WIP (work-in-progress). Members commented positively on her lyrical writing (such as “the fresh wind coming from the terrace caught me by surprise rearranging my thoughts and my posture”).

Elaine H. then shared “Great Ape,” a poem. Members adored her poem, especially the line, “I gave you respect; you gave me a Jane Goodall moment.” Richard N. then read a revised part of his second Dodge. Members complimented his sentence variety and the budding relationship between Vikkie and Dodge.  Danielle T. then shared a piece about Lester, who goes to the gym wearing fleece pants. Members complimented the true-to-life feel of her piece brought about by her vivid details.

Ruth A. then read “Marsha Mayfield,” a piece about a character with the same name. Ruth’s piece, with its suspenseful slow revelations, worked very well. Lisa C. then read “Southern Belle,” a prompt-based poem. Members complimented her clever rhymes and the piece as a whole. I, Nancy B., ended the session by reading a prompt-based poem about Jell-O. My poem’s humor and voice worked, according to members.

Excellent writing, everyone!

Recap of February 16 CCWW

I will recap this session soon.

Prompts for this Session

March 8 – “the paisley tie” or “lollipops”

March 15 – “making mountains out of molehills” or “spring training” or “spring cleaning”

March 22 – “memories of past Easters” or “boarding school”

March 29 – “pudding” or “chewing gum”

April 5 – “Maine” or “lumber mills”

April 12 – “the blue silk scarf” or “Dr. Seuss”

Links of Interest (I’ll keep the same ones here for another week)

1.       Writers and Editors Annual Writing Contest (for poetry, nonfiction and fiction)

                Deadline:  March 15, 2016

                Please click here for more information.

2.      

 American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) 

With low fee, members can access critique groups, contests, writing classes and more. Please click here for more information.

3.       Fiction Writing Contests from About.com

                If you’re looking for a place to enter your fiction, you might want to click here for several upcoming              contests with March deadlines. 

Quote of the Week

“I hope someday to write something worth plagiarizing.”

                                                                ~Author unknown

Hope to see you tonight!

~Nancy B.