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Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Safety Harbor Library Story Circle
Our May Story Circle (3rd wed. 6 to 7:45 pm) was invigorating as usual. I was touched, tickled, and laughed at some of the stories. We usually have an assignment from the previous month, 300 to 500 words so that everyone can bring something to read. We talk about ways to improve our writing and then write for 12 minutes from a prompt (an idea of something to write about.)
Some find it intimidating to write from a prompt but join in and find the words begin to flow.
The Story Circle is open to the public. We are never sure how many will attend. No writing experience necessary, just the desire to recall, record, re-live. If you can't come, write for yourself at home. This was our prompt: What was your reaction/feeling when someone, after hearing you say something really important to you, said,"Oh, I know exactly how you feel?"
Write quickly, don't edit, don't worry about grammar or punctuation. This is your rough draft.
Here's is mine:
I had just lost my son. I knew he'd lost a son this past year, too. He was expressing sympathy in the only way he knew, I guessed. But he left me doubly devastated.
"What did he die of?" He asked.
Is this really a necessary question? I wonder.
"Cirrhosis of the liver."I told him.
"Oh, then it was self-inflicted. My son died of cancer," he stated, like it gave him a right to be sadder.
Did he know how I felt? Did I know how her felt? It sounded to me like he was making this a game of one-up-manship.
"I'm sorry." He said.
"Oh thank you I answered hoping my voice wasn't dripping with sarcasm."
We end our rough draft with: Good job, Jan.
Try it.
Some find it intimidating to write from a prompt but join in and find the words begin to flow.
The Story Circle is open to the public. We are never sure how many will attend. No writing experience necessary, just the desire to recall, record, re-live. If you can't come, write for yourself at home. This was our prompt: What was your reaction/feeling when someone, after hearing you say something really important to you, said,"Oh, I know exactly how you feel?"
Write quickly, don't edit, don't worry about grammar or punctuation. This is your rough draft.
Here's is mine:
I had just lost my son. I knew he'd lost a son this past year, too. He was expressing sympathy in the only way he knew, I guessed. But he left me doubly devastated.
"What did he die of?" He asked.
Is this really a necessary question? I wonder.
"Cirrhosis of the liver."I told him.
"Oh, then it was self-inflicted. My son died of cancer," he stated, like it gave him a right to be sadder.
Did he know how I felt? Did I know how her felt? It sounded to me like he was making this a game of one-up-manship.
"I'm sorry." He said.
"Oh thank you I answered hoping my voice wasn't dripping with sarcasm."
We end our rough draft with: Good job, Jan.
Try it.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Who's story is it?
This article helps to answer these questions: Why do we all remember the same event so differently? Were we really raised in the same family? Can I tell my story as I remember it?
One Family, Three Memoirs, Many Competing Truths
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/25/
One Family, Three Memoirs, Many Competing Truths
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/25/
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Writer's Picnic
Come one come all:
Event: Writer's Picnic Pot Luck
Start Time: Sunday, May 1 at 9:00am
End Time: Sunday, May 1 at 4:00pm
Location: Shelter 5, Taylor Park, Largo FL
Event: Writer's Picnic Pot Luck
Start Time: Sunday, May 1 at 9:00am
End Time: Sunday, May 1 at 4:00pm
Location: Shelter 5, Taylor Park, Largo FL
Thursday, April 14, 2011
C. Hope Clark: Dancing With Words
C. Hope Clark: Dancing With Words: "'When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way.' ~ Wayne Dyer ~ I've..."
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Assignment for April Story Circle
Memoir Writing Prompt:
1. If you have journals or letters, take one day from your past and read about it. It doesn’t need to be a turning point or major life shift. Read the details in that day’s journal entry or in the letter you choose to reread. Does the entry or letter bring back memories of what else was going on in your life? Has your memory of that day changed over the years? Compare the two. Write for 10 minutes about this rediscovery of one day in your life. Focus on as many micro details as possible.
1. If you have journals or letters, take one day from your past and read about it. It doesn’t need to be a turning point or major life shift. Read the details in that day’s journal entry or in the letter you choose to reread. Does the entry or letter bring back memories of what else was going on in your life? Has your memory of that day changed over the years? Compare the two. Write for 10 minutes about this rediscovery of one day in your life. Focus on as many micro details as possible.
2. If you don’t have a paper trail for your past, choose a day from a previous decade in your life. Go online and read about the events of that date. You can always find news stories from major newspapers and you may be able to find stories from your hometown newspaper. Let those details help spark your time of rediscovering that day in your life. Write for 10 minutes.
Monday, March 14, 2011
How much detail is enough? Too much?
At our Story Circle in February at the Safety Harbor Library your assignment for March was to write a 500 word piece about any topic showing detail from the eye of a camera. What does the camera see?
Focus on detail:
What are the people wearing?
Where are they - in a coffee shop, igloo, home or a hotel?
Colors, sounds, body language?
No need to use all of the above - use some to allow the reader to be in the story.
Want to know more? Follow this link.
Read On...An Excerpt from Authenticating Details by Dave Koch at Gotham Writers' Workshops and WritingClasses.com
See you Wednesday March 16, Safety Harbor Library, 6 p.m. Everyone welcome
Focus on detail:
What are the people wearing?
Where are they - in a coffee shop, igloo, home or a hotel?
Colors, sounds, body language?
No need to use all of the above - use some to allow the reader to be in the story.
Want to know more? Follow this link.
Read On...An Excerpt from Authenticating Details by Dave Koch at Gotham Writers' Workshops and WritingClasses.com
See you Wednesday March 16, Safety Harbor Library, 6 p.m. Everyone welcome
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