Gravity and other stuff...

March 23, 2015

Hello, writers,

We had a wonderful writing workshop on Tuesday, March 17. Members’ writing ranged from realistic to serious.

This entry has new information on community events, publication opportunities 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 24 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.

Piece of the Week

Here is Cameron S.’s poem from the March 17 session:

            Run on your little hamster wheel.
            Go ahead.
            Just keep running in the same continuous loop day after day, I mean, why not?
            You know it’s safe.
            There's no debris or danger on your little hamster wheel, oh no.
            You could keep running forever and be perfectly safe, and why wouldn't you?
            Stick to what you know. Excellent plan.
            Yeah, maybe there are bigger and better things out there.

            Adventures to find. Sights to see. People to meet.
            A world of excitement.
            But then you'd have to leave your hamster wheel. That could be dangerous. 
            You don't live for danger.
            So, no. Don't go explore. Why would you?
            Keep running on your hamster wheel.

            It’s much better this way anyway.

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.

Critique overview from March 17 CCWW

We started with warm-ups. I’ll list them here in case you want to do them at home:

1.      Ghostbuster for hire

2.      The wedding pawn

3.      The note left on your car…

4.      A freewrite about anything

[Added on March 25, 2015.]

Lori L., Michele N., Matt Y., Connie W. and Lisa C. shared their warm-ups with the group.

Richard N. shared information on Splickety Publishing (http://splicketypubgroup.com/). The publisher supports three imprints and hosts a variety of contests.

Matt Y. began the critique session by reading “The Muddle Mess of Jimmy Franks,” the second piece in his modern romance trilogy. CCWW members complimented Matt’s flowing dialogue and the realistic characters presented in his piece. Richard N. then read the latest chapter of his second Dodge novel. Richard’s storyline and continuing characterization of John and Vicki worked, according to members. Michele N. then shared a piece written from the perspective of a professional woman. Members loved the way she built suspense and showed the stealthy nature of modern electronic communications.

Lisa C. continued the session reading, “Grounded,” a prompt-based (gravity) poem. Members complimented Lisa’s excellent rhymes (such as “shenanigans/mannequins”) and the humor of her poem. Cameron S. then shared a poem about a hamster running on a wheel. Many members connected to the truth presented in her piece. (Her poem is posted elsewhere on this entry). Ines R. then shared a continuation of the third chapter of her WIP, “Caught.” She did an excellent job of including vivid descriptions (such as the mother drying her hands on her apron), according to members.

I, Nancy B., then shared a chapter of my WIP. Members said my piece reminded them of a show called Kid Genius on Lifetime Network. Ashley T. then shared a continuation of her WIP. Members loved her descriptions of fencing class and the school where the piece is set. Connie W. then shared a prompt-based piece (“I’ll kill you. Darling, I’m already dead.”) Members complimented the power of Connie’s palpable descriptions and the way in which she showed the effects of alcohol on families. Danielle T. then read “First Bicycle Ride of the New Year,” featuring her pink bicycle, Lulu. Members enjoyed the humorous details she included, such as her “angry posterior” and the “memory foam tractor seat.”

Excellent work, everyone!

Links of Interest

The Master’s Review Emerging Writers Contest

This publication seeks short stories up to 7000 words. Prize money and publication awarded. Deadline is March 31.

More here: https://mastersreview.com/submissions/

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Like to write essays? (I’ll keep this one up one more week as several members asked about it).

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.

More here: http://www.ninjaessays.com/blog/essay-writing-contest/

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ArtAscent issues call for artists and writers

“ArtAscent” is currently seeking art and writing submissions on the theme, “Unknown.” Written submissions can be fiction, poetry and short stories of 900 words or less are accepted. Deadline is April 31, 2015.

More here: https://artascent.com/the-call-for-artists-and-writers/

Quote of the week:

“Writing is like giving yourself homework, really hard homework, every day, for the rest of your life. You want glamorous? Throw glitter at your computer screen.”

                                                                                    ~Ketrina Monroe

Prompts for Tuesday, March 24

The first prompt is “What do I do? He’s been there all day….” The second prompt is “The dragon who rescued the princess from the knight….” 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.

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!

More here: http://todayschristianliving.org/uncategorized/2015-writing-contest-tips/

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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.

More here: http://www.ninjaessays.com/blog/essay-writing-contest/

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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.

More here: http://www.pw.org/writing_contests/editors_awards

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.

"Praise Education, Erase the Student"

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:

                      http://thewritepractice.com/

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:

                   http://www.pw.org/content/literary_magazines

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.