HAPPY HOLIDAYS

It is snowing here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. A white Christmas.

We would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday, whatever holiday you celebrate.

Just for Fun

What is Writing to You?

This isn't really a writing prompt as much as an emotional exercise. You don't have to write about this at all if you don't want to. Just sit and think about it.

"Think about what" you ask?

Think about what writing means to you. What has it brought to your life? What has it taken away? And is it worth it to you in the end.

I for one write because I have to. I've tried to stop writing, and succeeded for a time, but not for long. I always end up taking pen in hand and starting all over again. It's not just something I do, it's what I am. I am a writer. Whether I am ever again published or not, I AM A WRITER!

And I'm sure most writers feel that way.

Apologies...With A Request

Well, I must make apologies to our group members. I said I planned to post every other day, and here I've already missed that twice. Ah well....best laid plans and all that.

We've have talked off and on over the years about putting together a little chapbook of members' poetry and prose. We've also talked about opening it up to the community, in order to bring about even more goodies for the book. Many years ago, there was a regular writer's journal in our area that came out about 4 times a year. The couple who published it have since moved away, and my big dream has always been to start something like that up again. Ah, dreams....

For now, we are sending out the word to our members to see if the interest is there for a chapbook. Whether you write poetry, prose, essays...even if you take a picture or two...we're open to all kinds of stuff. We just want to gauge interest before we move ahead. We have many email members who follow our little group and check out our writing prompts, plus those who come to the meetings, so we're hoping there will be a lot of interest.

If you are a member, and are interested in our little endeavor, either leave a comment here or send an email. Don't send any submissions yet. If/when the time comes, we will let you know. Just send us a note letting us know you would be interested.

Thanks. I look forward to hearing from y'all.

Writing Prompt #7

The kiss. Has anything else in the universe been written about more than the kiss? A kiss can be celebratory.....

...sensual...

...or just plain loving.

With one simple kiss we can tell someone we love them...or mark them for death. (The Godfather anyone?)

Today's prompt: write about your first kiss. Were you in the third grade kissing little Billy in the coat closet, the smell of modeling clay and paste wafting around you? Or maybe you were 15, sharing a timid kiss with your first boyfriend, hoping your braces would not lock together. Dig out and dust off those memories.

And most of all....have fun. :-)

How About Some Inspiration

Gotta love NPR. They are sponsoring a three-minute writing contest. You draw inspiration from a photograph posted on their site, and write a short story that can be read in three minutes (which is about 600 words). Check it out and give it a try. I know I am.

Poetry Blog

Interested in writing and talking about poetry? Check out Robert Brewer's Poetic Asides blog. He puts up prompts every Wednesday, and even does daily prompts during National Poetry Month. It's a great place to go for inspiration.

Writing Prompt #6

OK, so this is kind of an obvious prompt. Write about snow. Well, not just snow in general. Write about a snowflake; one, single, solitary snowflake. Let's see what you can come up with for this one?

Writing Prompt #5

Well, I'm late with writing prompt #5. But, as they say, better late than never. (Ever wonder who "they" are?)

Anyway, here we are with the fifth writing prompt for 2010.

As tomorrow is Valentine's Day, many people will be turning their minds (and hearts) to love. Poems will be written. Songs will be sung. Great soliloquies will be spoken. So, you probably think I am going to tell you to go out and write something about love. Well, you're wrong.

Let's do just the opposite of what everyone else will be doing. Let's write about hate. You can write about someone/something you hate. You can write about how hate is ruining the world around us. You can write about how you can't have love without hate. Anything that comes to mind.

So, you have your assignment. Get to work.

Writing Prompt #4

Close your eyes and think back to your childhood. What were you afraid of? The dark? Monsters under the bed? Or was it something much more real, more tangible? Spiders maybe?

Grab a piece of paper and write about what you were afraid of as a child. You could write a poem, a short story, whatever you feel like writing. Take that fear and run with it, embrace it. Deal with it.

When you're done, feel free to either keep what you've written, or destroy it if you wish. Maybe writing the words down only to set them on fire so the ashes can float away is what will finally banish the fear forever.

Oklahoma!

Last July, I was privileged to see the musical Oklahoma! at the Parkway Playhouse in Burnsville, NC. I haven't been to a play since high school, and this was my first musical. I had recently watched a DVD of a London performance starring Hugh Jackman, and let me tell you, that man can sing. But I digress...

Myra McCoury (l) and Stephanie Poling (r)

Group member Stephanie Poling and Myra McCoury (daughter of group member Suzan McCoury) were in this version of Oklahoma! so I felt a bit of an obligation to be there. I was worried though, as money was a bit tight. Parkway Playhouse to the rescue. They offered free tickets to the final performance taking place on July 4th. How cool was that. I piled into the truck with fellow group members Chrissy McVay and Judith Smith and off we went.

If you haven't seen a musical live, I highly recommend you do. And if you get a chance to see it on a smaller, local stage, all the better. What fun the actors seem to be having. It really makes you want to get up there with them.

Everyone in this production did a wonderful job, and I look forward to attending many more productions in the future. They're doing Annie this summer, so who knows. Maybe I'll take in a show.

2010 Writing Prompt #3

Well, I promised myself I would post at least every other day. Best laid plans and all that.

Today’s writing prompt comes from the Creative Writing Prompts website. “Use the following words in a story: college student, crumpled paper, train, laptop.”

Now, that should be fairly easy. The challenge is to take it in a totally different direction from the all to obvious one. And don’t forget, if you aren’t a story writer, you can write a poem, an essay…whatever you feel is appropriate.

So, that’s it for today. Have a good one.

Congratulations and Good Luck Alessa

Group member Alessa Leming recently completed a month-long poetry challenge on the Poetic Asides blog with the goal of completing a chap book to submit for publication. She not only completed the chapbook, but out of over 150 entries, her manuscript is among the 21 finalists. The winner will be announced on Groundhog Day....tomorrow.

Congratulations Alessa and we're still keeping our fingers crossed for you.

Photo Writing Prompt

(photo copyright 2009, cory shubert photography, used w/ permission)

Today's writing prompt is this cool photo taken by Cory Shubert of Minnesota. Awesome picture. Let's see what kind of "images" it brings to mind.

Writing Exercises

I've had this book in my "arsenal" for some time now, but have only recently pulled it out and started looking through it. The exercises in it will work not only for fiction writers, but for those who write in other genres as well. Here is our first one from it:

**"Write a composition on the subject 'My Pet.' The only requirement is that this must be a pet you have never owned. It can be anything from a kitten to a dinosaur, from a fly to a dragon. Describe what your pet looks like, how you acquired it, what it eats and where it sleeps, what tricks it can do, and how it gets on with your family, friends, neighbors, or the people at work."**

Yeah, this is mostly a fiction exercise of course, but imagine what kinds of poetry you can get out of it as well. :-)