Cup of your life

Remember to work with your cup - as metaphor for your creative life. Hold the cup in your hands, remember that the cup is a container, Set the cup down in front of you. Think of metaphors for the cup.
Your creative life is the cup is it: empty, full, overflowing? Is it to be: poured from gently, swallowed in gulps, sipped? If you want the complete exercise that I handed out at the Story Circle: leave a comment on the blog and I'll send you one., 

Obituary writing

We had a great time with this assignment. Our Story Circle Co-Facilitator, Sheila McNaughton, gave the assignment at last months gathering. Some of you had fun with it, some agonized over it, and others just said 'the dog ate my homework'. We heard some really interesting six word quotes for headstones, too. What I like best about this exercise is the opportunity it presents to self-check whether or not we are living up to what we want our lives to be about.

The homework is if you didn't do it then - do it now. Or bring another piece you have written. You are invited to read up to six hundred words for gentle feedback. Meanwhile - Write ON! Jan

Using ellipses

How to use an ellipses

Ask The Writer: I have an amateurish habit of using ellipses, the three dots all in a row that are supposed to indicate “hesitation, interruption, or unfinished thoughts.” Should there be spaces in between each dot? What about before and after?

Metaphor | Microstyle: The Art of Writing Little | Gotham Writers' Workshop

Some of you had more questions on the uses of metaphor. I find this article delightful and informative. Check it out.

Metaphor | Microstyle: The Art of Writing Little | Gotham Writers' Workshop

More on Metaphor

For those of you struggling to write your slice of life story in 600 words using metaphor. Here are a couple I heard yesterday:

Regarding the political discussion of raising our debt ceiling: 

“We are just going to have to eat our peas.” 

Regarding a temporary three to six month solution: “take off the bandaid”

More: “Are we on the same page?”

“Let’s lift the hood and see whats in there.’

“Am I touching an exposed nerve?”

Picture these as literal statements and you see what makes them metaphors.

See you Wednesday, July 20th, 6:00 PM Safety Harbor Library. All invited.

Regarding 8 minute audio

Thanks for listening to the audio - it was an old one. I found it in my files from my preparation for the Story Circle National Conference in Austin, TX several years ago.   I didn't edit it - I haven't learned how to do that yet! But good job Jan, for learning how to convert a file from a digital recorder and put it on my blog.
Hurray! Next I'm going to learn to put up a video! 

An eight minute talk by Jan for the Story Circle National Conference

http://www.fileden.com/files/2011/6/26/3158646//metaphor talk.mp3

We discussed metaphor and your assignment was to choose one that suits you. This audio will help!