I have yet to read Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" and the rest of the books this series, but they are on my running list of books-to-read. I am quite excited to share a video where Ms. Gabaldon shares some of her tips on writing.
I think she makes a good point in her efforts to always be busy writing something; even if it isn't addressing the task at hand. I've heard it said less eloquently before. The butt in seat method of writing. BIS.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Okanagan Short Story Contest
The Okanagan Short Story Contest is OPEN for entries! This upcoming year the NEW DEADLINE IS JANUARY 22, 2010. The contest awards the best new short stories by writers in the Southern Interior of British Columbia. The contest is sponsored by Okanagan College, the University of British Columbia Okanagan, and the Central Okanagan Foundation, with media sponsorship provided by CBC Radio One in Kelowna. Prizes are $500 for first prize, $200 for second, and $100 for third. The three winning stories celebrated at a reading hosted by the judge, a nationally renowned fiction writer.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
A Fantastical Evening
Second, I've been buzzing since last night. What a great group we're going to have! Thank you so much for all the sharing and eagerness. We jumped right in didn't we?
Pleasant surprises all around! After only one night I feel I know all of you better. Funny how writing does that. Gets inside your imagination and begins to draw a picture of your persona for those you are sharing with. You can know more about someone after one evening of sharing writing than you can after months of working together or years of being neighbours. So Thank You!
We've tentatively decided the next meeting will be Tuesday January 19th but will find out first if that works for everyone. Since there are only four of us it's nice to make an effort so that we can all make it.
Still trying to put the word out and recruit new members. In the meantime, four is a great starting place and I'm getting the sense that we're all committed and excited about being a part of this.
Third, another welcome is due for the blog. I'm hoping this can be a central place for us to share and keep the writing wheels turning in between meeting dates. I will be posting prompts on here and I hope you will do the same. I would love to read your responses to the prompts- all you need to do is write a post with your response. And of course, comments and feedback are welcome and encouraged. I hope you can embrace this medium as much as I have. If you're not getting it. Swing by my store and we'll sit in the back and do a quick tutorial.
Thanks again group! I'll leave you with this... Fiction Exercise from the University of New Denver
1. Synesthesia, according to M.H. Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms, is a description of “one kind of sensation in terms of another; color is attributed to sounds, odor to colors, sound to odors, and so on.” Here is an example of synesthesia from Bruno Schulz’s Street of the Crocodiles: “Adela would plunge the rooms into semidarkness by drawing down the linen blinds. All colors immediately fell an octave lower; the room filled with shadows, as if it had sunk to the bottom of the sea and the light was reflected in mirrors of green water.” Schulz describes a change in color by means of a musical term. Writers consciously and unconsciously employ this peculiar method to convey the irreducible complexity of life onto the page. Diane Ackerman (in A Natural History of the Senses) feels we are born with this wonderful “intermingling” of senses: “A creamy blur of succulent blue sounds smells like week-old strawberries dropped into a tin sieve as mother approaches in a halo of color, chatter, and perfume like thick golden butterscotch. Newborns ride on intermingling waves of sight, sound, touch, taste, and, especially, smell.” Use synesthesia in a short scene—surreptitiously, without drawing too much attention to it—to convey to your reader an important understanding of some ineffable sensory experience. Use “sight, sound, touch, taste, and, especially, smell.” 600 words. - Share a portion or all of this piece here on the blog or in our next group meeting.
1. Synesthesia, according to M.H. Abrams in A Glossary of Literary Terms, is a description of “one kind of sensation in terms of another; color is attributed to sounds, odor to colors, sound to odors, and so on.” Here is an example of synesthesia from Bruno Schulz’s Street of the Crocodiles: “Adela would plunge the rooms into semidarkness by drawing down the linen blinds. All colors immediately fell an octave lower; the room filled with shadows, as if it had sunk to the bottom of the sea and the light was reflected in mirrors of green water.” Schulz describes a change in color by means of a musical term. Writers consciously and unconsciously employ this peculiar method to convey the irreducible complexity of life onto the page. Diane Ackerman (in A Natural History of the Senses) feels we are born with this wonderful “intermingling” of senses: “A creamy blur of succulent blue sounds smells like week-old strawberries dropped into a tin sieve as mother approaches in a halo of color, chatter, and perfume like thick golden butterscotch. Newborns ride on intermingling waves of sight, sound, touch, taste, and, especially, smell.” Use synesthesia in a short scene—surreptitiously, without drawing too much attention to it—to convey to your reader an important understanding of some ineffable sensory experience. Use “sight, sound, touch, taste, and, especially, smell.” 600 words. - Share a portion or all of this piece here on the blog or in our next group meeting.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Names, Reasons, Dates & Rules
What a great first meeting we had on November 30 at Centre 6-4. Our first for the new writers' group here in Kimberley. Five of us were in attendance and everyone brought varying passions and interests to our table. Laughs were shared and it does seem that we are all on the same page - or as Susan pointed out - the same book anyway.
We will now all be working together to come up with different promotional material to generate interest and hopefully draw members to our group. Duties were passed around, and eagerly received.
The general format will likely be as follows (but I'm sure we'll learn as we go).
Rotating facilitators will bring topics to exercise our writing minds. We'll also be bringing a piece we've been working on, sharing it with the group and then engaging in rounds of constructive criticism.
As it stands meetings will be held on the Third Tuesday of the month, making the next one Tuesday December 15th.
I encourage any newbies to join us and I look forward to seeing everyone from the first meeting, hopefully no one was frightened off.
Additionally, this blog will be a tool for each of us to post anything we might see fit for the benefit of the group. One rule; label the post with your name, aside from this - just be relevant and considerate.
Look forward to stimulating discussions, extraordinary writing, and the company of people that will keep me going. Thanks!
We will now all be working together to come up with different promotional material to generate interest and hopefully draw members to our group. Duties were passed around, and eagerly received.
The general format will likely be as follows (but I'm sure we'll learn as we go).
Rotating facilitators will bring topics to exercise our writing minds. We'll also be bringing a piece we've been working on, sharing it with the group and then engaging in rounds of constructive criticism.
As it stands meetings will be held on the Third Tuesday of the month, making the next one Tuesday December 15th.
I encourage any newbies to join us and I look forward to seeing everyone from the first meeting, hopefully no one was frightened off.
Additionally, this blog will be a tool for each of us to post anything we might see fit for the benefit of the group. One rule; label the post with your name, aside from this - just be relevant and considerate.
Look forward to stimulating discussions, extraordinary writing, and the company of people that will keep me going. Thanks!
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