New home for this blog

JanGoldenStoryCircles please visit us and leave a comment, become a follower, and post something to add to the conversation. Thanks, Jan

Update on homework and schedule new blog address

Calling All Writers,

All writers or aspiring writers,

Are you writing a memoir for yourself, your family or to be published?  Do you want to learn more about writing?  Do you want to share your writing with others?  If the answer is yes to any of these questions, please come to the next Story Circle at the Safety Harbor Library on July 17th at 6 pm. 

At our gatherings we write a little, read a little, learn a little and discuss writing in general. 

The monthly meetings for the Story Circle are the third Wednesday of each month at the Safety Harbor Library and the first Wednesday at the Largo Library both are from 6-7:45pm.  Please mark your calendar. 

Safety Harbor Library     101 2nd St North     Safety Harbor  34695        727-724-1525

Largo Library                  120 Central Park Drive    Largo  33771                727-587-6715   

Your assignment, in 600 words or less: 
Think about one of the most significant relationships in your life.  It can be one you have now or something from your past.  Pick a relationship that challenged you to enlarge your sense of self.

What did you learn?

How did you grow?

What did you give?

What did you lose?

What was the most important gift to yourself?


Remember dialog and setting.  Six hundred words is not a lot, so pick your words carefully.  Bring your assignment with you and read it to the group. You will receive gentle, helpful feedback and best of all, encouragement.

It is not too late for this month:  Florida Writers Association (FWA)
meets the 2nd Thursday of every month at the main library in St Petersburg
from 5:30 - 7:45pm.  Mark your calendars.  Everyone is welcome.

Jan's Blog has a new home: http://JanGoldenStoryCircles.WordPress.com
00 to 7:45 PM

Powerful New Moon today

We'll are into a new moon phase today in the astrological sign of Aries. New Moons always bring new beginnings that stem from the desires we have bubbling just underneath the surface. It marks an ideal time to acknowledge what it is within you that now wants to rise above the surface and take flight.

The Aries New Moon brings forth a bold and courageous energy, stirring up initiation. So it's a perfect time to allow yourself to "take a leap of faith."

Where in your life are you ready to make a BOLD move? What courageous action are you willing to take? And what new opportunities await you when you step outside your comfort zone?

A new moon phase always brings a time of new beginnings.

• Where in your life do you desire a new beginning?
• What would you like to “reboot?”
• Where are you in need of a recharge?

During a new moon phase, the sky is completely black, with the exception of little sparkles of light in the form of stars. It’s the point in every month when the moon takes a retreat and begins to grow again, redoubling her light and reflecting new creative energy on all worldly things.

This phase marks the ideal time for connecting with our inner selves and our heart’s desire. By looking for the “light” and knowing that it’s there, somewhere, waiting to be discovered – we can reach a place where our personal reflection begins to shed its own light.

What wants to emerge? What wants to be born?

This is a time where dots start to connect and patterns start to reveal themselves – just as the stars do in the night sky. Everything has a place and everything has a purpose. Now it becomes our job to find our place in the next phase of life’s journey.

As a creative individual you can experience your own new moon energy by tapping into the gifts of a new moon phase. This is a time to ponder where you are now, what led you to this particular moment of questioning, and where to go from here. It’s a time to explore new ways of thinking and to prepare for a new path of travel.

What is it that you want to create for yourself – beginning now?

 New Moon Energy is good for a few days before and after the new moon. You still have time! More details check out http://astrologyzone.com - Susan Miller is my my favorite astrologer.

Writing assignment for April Safety Harbor Story Circle Plus a great article

Safety Harbor Library Circle. Third Wednesday of each month 6-7:45.  Largo Library Circle is the first Wednesday of each month also 6-7:45. Both circles are free and open to the public. No writing experience necessary - come on - we know you have stories to tell.

Our writing assignment for Safety Harbor - April 17 - Think about - then write about a situation where your decision was made based on "I was worried I'd offend someone."

Was it a romance, a job, a neighbor? Would your decision have been a better one, or sent you on a different path, if you said what you thought or meant instead? 600 words or less, please.

Interesting article: http://janefriedman.com/2013/04/03/worry-about-the-writing-not-about-being-a-writer/. We had the prompt "Writing a letter to your teenage self" a few months ago at Safety Harbor.  Haven't done it yet at the Largo Library Circle yet.

Safety Harbor Story Circle meets

A reminder about your assignment for January 17th Story Circle. 6:00 pm Safety Harbor Library.

Write 600 words about a person in your life who had a profound influence on you, use dialogue, gestures and mannerisms unique to that person.

See you there. Jan and Sheila

Self-Publishing

Here is an interesting article I found on NPR today. Many of you are asking about self-publishing.
Self-Publishing: No Longer Just A Vanity Project
http://www.npr.org/2012/12/19/167448748/self-publishing-no-longer-just-a-vanity-project?sc=emaf

See you tonight at the Safety Harbor Public Library Story Circle - 6 pm - 7:45, join us to write, to read and to share our love of writing.  Members of our group are bringing a holiday story to share.

We have a second group at the Largo Library the first Wednesday of each month (same time) - come to one or both. And please leave comments on the blog - let it become a place to share. Jan

December Safety Harbor Story Circle Assignment

Since it is December we thought a good assignment would be to write about a holiday experience. Your choice: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, New Year.

A story from your far reaching past or a more recent event. Normally we  limit you to 600 words but since it is the holiday season we are going to  allow you to use 800 word or less. Be sure to add some description of the  setting and of course, some dialog. 

Jan has started a second Story Circle meeting at the Largo Library the first  Wednesday of each month. 6-7:45 pm. Everyone is welcome.