Friday, October 8, 2010
Happy thanksgiving and just a note...
On our webpage sidebar it was written that the assignment on 'fall leaves' has to be 500-1000 words. If you end up having a few shorter prose or poetry pieces instead of one long one, that is fine too. Mix it up if that feels right!
Open mic at Kootenay Roasting Co.
The Mocha Muse Strikes Again! The College Creative Writing Class is hosting another eclectic
open-mike night at the Kootenay Roasting Co. on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 pm.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Workshop with Luanne
Hi all,
I let Luanne know that we would like to run the workshop the weekend of November 20 - 21st.
This is what I wrote her :
Our writing club met last night; I asked the members to give some
thought about what they would like the workshop to include. We meet
again October 19th and I can get back to you after that (as long as
that's not too late for you). We discussed starting the workshop on
Friday evening with a casual gathering (maybe wine/tea and cheese
evening), Saturday workshop and Sunday one-to-one meetings. I asked
if members would like to focus on creative writing or publishing, or
something else, and they said they want it all. If you have any
suggestions, please let me know. We are a group of about 7 at various
stages in our writing (some working on novels, others just writing for
fun). We will advertise in Cranbrook and Kimberley, so we will likely
get a few more.
And she said:
Hi Susan, sounds wonderful. Well, we'll see what we can fit into a weekend -- often a lot, actually, and the one on one meetings really help a lot because then I can be very specific with whatever people are struggling with.
Warmest best wishes
Luanne
I let Luanne know that we would like to run the workshop the weekend of November 20 - 21st.
This is what I wrote her :
Our writing club met last night; I asked the members to give some
thought about what they would like the workshop to include. We meet
again October 19th and I can get back to you after that (as long as
that's not too late for you). We discussed starting the workshop on
Friday evening with a casual gathering (maybe wine/tea and cheese
evening), Saturday workshop and Sunday one-to-one meetings. I asked
if members would like to focus on creative writing or publishing, or
something else, and they said they want it all. If you have any
suggestions, please let me know. We are a group of about 7 at various
stages in our writing (some working on novels, others just writing for
fun). We will advertise in Cranbrook and Kimberley, so we will likely
get a few more.
And she said:
Hi Susan, sounds wonderful. Well, we'll see what we can fit into a weekend -- often a lot, actually, and the one on one meetings really help a lot because then I can be very specific with whatever people are struggling with.
Warmest best wishes
Luanne
October 5th, Meeting Wrap Up
Here we go again, the first meeting after a long summer break. I got through it with sloppy penmanship, but got through it nonetheless. I hadn't realized how much I missed it until we got in there scratching away during warm up exercise and until I saw the welcoming new faces and smiling old ones (reference to familiarity, not age). Wow, I sure missed this group and am so happy to be back at it again. Thank You! It was nice to see every single seat taken last night.
Susan facilitated the meeting and came to the table with a great exercise and homework assignment. We warmed up by choosing three random words from a container. The words were found in magazines. The goal was simple enough; write a paragraph using all three words. The ooh's, aah's and applause were evidence that we all missed being in that room and that no one seemed all that rusty.
The take home assignment was quite specific. Send a couple mattress shopping and use their dialogue and action to describe what's going on in their relationship. A great metaphor and everyone certainly delivered.
Margaret had us laughing at the mattress' expense. Infidelity reared it's head through the female names of the sleep-ware "Thanks Sears Catalogue". Mike imparted the subtleties, that can become enormous concerns, of marital problems with Jack and Jill. Merrillee portrayed her characters in a scenario of miscommunication and the need for "floating covers". Heather locked Betty & Hilda into an Ikea overnight to tell a sweet endearing tale that had conflict only on the outskirts of their relationship.
Susan used mattress symbology to take her young couple to "the next level" while Keri detailed a couple's issues and confusions about exactly where their relationship was headed. Tara delivered an intense mattress purchasing scenario that ended abruptly. Nicole (me) used humour to describe the deepest unfulfilled desires of her female protagonist. Christine took a less abrasive approach with her female character who convinced her partner to really commit to an upgrade. Nola produced a story of misunderstanding and the need to hang on to what it is that represents the past. Kaitlan was present and we hope to hear something from her at the next meeting.
It felt so good to put the pen to paper again. The next meeting will be Tuesday October 19th and Heather will be facilitating. The assignment will be wide open - only two prompt words "Fall Leaves".
Details for the Luanne Armstrong workshop to be coming soon. Keep the weekend of November 21st open boys and girls!
Susan facilitated the meeting and came to the table with a great exercise and homework assignment. We warmed up by choosing three random words from a container. The words were found in magazines. The goal was simple enough; write a paragraph using all three words. The ooh's, aah's and applause were evidence that we all missed being in that room and that no one seemed all that rusty.
Margaret had us laughing at the mattress' expense. Infidelity reared it's head through the female names of the sleep-ware "Thanks Sears Catalogue". Mike imparted the subtleties, that can become enormous concerns, of marital problems with Jack and Jill. Merrillee portrayed her characters in a scenario of miscommunication and the need for "floating covers". Heather locked Betty & Hilda into an Ikea overnight to tell a sweet endearing tale that had conflict only on the outskirts of their relationship.
Susan used mattress symbology to take her young couple to "the next level" while Keri detailed a couple's issues and confusions about exactly where their relationship was headed. Tara delivered an intense mattress purchasing scenario that ended abruptly. Nicole (me) used humour to describe the deepest unfulfilled desires of her female protagonist. Christine took a less abrasive approach with her female character who convinced her partner to really commit to an upgrade. Nola produced a story of misunderstanding and the need to hang on to what it is that represents the past. Kaitlan was present and we hope to hear something from her at the next meeting.
It felt so good to put the pen to paper again. The next meeting will be Tuesday October 19th and Heather will be facilitating. The assignment will be wide open - only two prompt words "Fall Leaves".
Details for the Luanne Armstrong workshop to be coming soon. Keep the weekend of November 21st open boys and girls!
Monday, September 27, 2010
First assignment of the season
Hi all,
Another reminder, we will be meeting on October 5th upstairs at Centre 64 (that's one week). Please invite all your interested friends.
At the meeting I will be discussing the upcoming workshop with Luanne, (how many are interested, what format/subject we want to cover and any other ideas that you have), so please give it some thought.
And here's a little something to get everyone warmed up. Strive for 500 - 1000 words.
Good Luck:
Write a scene in which a man and a woman go into a mattress store to buy a bed. The couple can only talk about the bed, but must nonetheless reveal through the conversation the real situation between them. (For an example of how this kind of scene can work, read Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants.")
To begin, you might consider the many different stressful situations that develop between couples: divorces, pregnancies (as with "Hills"), substance abuse issues, transfers, etc. If you're having problems thinking of a conflict, start with a situation from your own experience. The situation doesn't matter as much as the conversation. The exercise will force you to think about how couples communicate, how much goes unsaid between them. At the same time, when you're done, your reader should have a very good idea of what is happening in the lives of these two people.
Another reminder, we will be meeting on October 5th upstairs at Centre 64 (that's one week). Please invite all your interested friends.
At the meeting I will be discussing the upcoming workshop with Luanne, (how many are interested, what format/subject we want to cover and any other ideas that you have), so please give it some thought.
And here's a little something to get everyone warmed up. Strive for 500 - 1000 words.
Good Luck:
Write a scene in which a man and a woman go into a mattress store to buy a bed. The couple can only talk about the bed, but must nonetheless reveal through the conversation the real situation between them. (For an example of how this kind of scene can work, read Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants.")
To begin, you might consider the many different stressful situations that develop between couples: divorces, pregnancies (as with "Hills"), substance abuse issues, transfers, etc. If you're having problems thinking of a conflict, start with a situation from your own experience. The situation doesn't matter as much as the conversation. The exercise will force you to think about how couples communicate, how much goes unsaid between them. At the same time, when you're done, your reader should have a very good idea of what is happening in the lives of these two people.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Let's get writing!
Hi all,
October 5th will be our first meeting after a lazy summer (ha!). Hope to see you all at Centre 64 - 7 pm to 9 pm. Give some thought about what you would like to get out of the writing group/changes you'd like to see/aspects you'd like to continue etc, so we can discuss it . Please spread the word.
Our summer workshop with Stefan Czernecki was inspiring! I know that I had a great time and I feel like it's one more step toward becoming a published writer/illustrator. And I feel like I made a new friend.
The next workshop that we have lined up is for early November with Luanne Armstrong. I'm hoping for input from the group about what we would like to see (subject matter, exact dates, workshop format etc.). I need to get in touch with Luanne soon - if anyone would like to help organize the workshop, it would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know (it'll be fun!).
In the meantime, wipe the cobwebs off those pens/keyboards/brains..... and let's get writing!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Oct 5
October 5th works for me. My computer doesn't, though, it won't let me post this as a comment, only as a new post.
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