Category Archives: Weekly Writing Prompt

Weekly Writing Prompt – Dec. 12, 2012

Happy 12-12-12 all you fabulous writers out there.

We’re in full swing into the holiday season:  in the midst of Chanukkah, today is the Feast of Our Virgin of Guadalupe, and soon, the Solstice will be upon us and the light will conquer the dark. Ahhhh….sunlight again. Can you imagine it? Hold that thought. Hold it tight all the way through Christmas morning.
In the meantime, we should be taking short breaks to get our Write On. 😀
**********
Hopefully two weeks ago you worked on the exercises towards recovering a sense of compassion — part of The Artist’s Way, Week 9 work. Yes, it’s work. It’s called Art Work, because there is work involved. That’s why artists should get paid. No one blinks when an lawyer loves their work and gets paid, or the doctor, or the engineer….but, I digress.
Here’s a few more “Blasting Through Blocks” exercises/tasks, they should be coupled with the exercises from your prompt on Nov. 28.
3.  Ask yourself if that is all. Have you left out itsy fear? Have you suppressed any “stupid” anger? Get it on the page.
4.  Ask yourself what you stand to gain by not doing this piece of work. Some examples:  If I don’t write the piece, no one can hate it. If I don’t write the piece, my jerk editor will worry. If I don’t paint, sculpt, act, sing, dance (do my sketchbook), I can criticize others, knowing I could do better.
5.  Make your deal. The deal is:  “Okay, Creative Force, you take care of the quality, I’ll take care of the quantity.” Sign your deal and post it.
A word of warning:  this is a very powerful exercise; it can do fatal damage to a creative block.
**********
Hoping you’re still attending the Writing Cafes. My life has been particularly challenging lately; but, I did get back into the swing of things this week. I was solo this last Monday (Sheri came later on, but saw my concentration level and let me be…she’s so sweet); but, I got lots of work done. Writing Cafes? you say. Yes, See our Web site calendar for more info. Be advised, Tuesday evening cafes are still going on at Sawdust Cafe beginning at 6 p.m., however once the workshops start on Tuesday evenings in 2013, they will be every other week.
**********
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“Learning is movement from moment to moment.” ~ J. Krishnamurti.


What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — Dec. 5, 2012 Edition

Greetings,

I hope this past week has been kind to you and writing or other creative endeavors have filled you with joy.
I need to clarify some things regarding any and all SnoValley Writes! field trip offers. They are simply opportunities to take a break and learn from others, get inspired, support our fellow writers and artists, and learn in a different fashion. No one is required to attend these. Ever.
Also, because I am just one person, I can’t suggest a field trip and also conduct a work shop at the same time. In the four years I’ve been doing SnoValley Writes! there are certain times in the year when attendance plummets. December’s one workshop is typically one of those. So when a writer and editor that has been supportive of SnoValley Writes! and its members plans an event for a “slow” workshop day, I felt it was appropriate to suggest it, especially given it had been awhile since we’d gone on such an outing. I recognize that art is personal and some folks may feel that the suggested field trip was not their cup of tea. Totally fine. Not every suggested literary event is for every one. It’s a diverse spectrum — one for which I appreciate each end of, whether it’s light and conservative, or dark and transgressive.
Field trips are not suggesting that everyone participating in this group supports or promotes such events. The information is simply given as a suggestion and you, writer, determine what works for you. Again, there is no implied or expressed requirement. Yet, if you ever have or know of an event you feel the group should be aware of, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We willingly share all cultural and artistic events (preferably through this once-a-week communication, rather than hit or miss). Just contact me and we’ll get the word out. You may also share on our Facebook page.
That said, I will continue to tell you and any student of the arts, that until you go out of your comfort zone (however that may look) you cannot learn. You must push yourselves to try something new, to expose yourself to something new. What that “new” is will be determined by you. No one else. Not me. Not another writer. However, remember the wise words of Buddha:  “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” Like Cameron teaching us about Synchronicity  Something that may be suggested either through this group or a fellow member, or your Aunt Sally, may just be the nudge you need to grow and become better, more, what you want to be.
The bottom line is that I want to reiterate that SnoValley Writes! is an inclusive group and we strive to not stand in the way of art.
This month, I highly encourage you to seek out artistic performances, book launches, readings, signings, poetry slams, choral performances — any and all art. Your assignment in lieu of our Dec. 9th work session is to find some artistic/cultural event and attend it.
Then enjoy the holiday season with your family and friends and community.
In January, we begin our new work session schedules on Tuesday evenings — 6 to 7:30 p.m. The 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. Beginning with the fourth Tuesday in January 2013:  Jan. 22. We will still be in the North Bend Library Meeting Room. I hope you all can begin to plan to attend.
Throughout this month and up until that next work session, I will continue to send out the weekly writing prompts. We will continue our work on recovering a strong creative self and continue setting goals for our craft and personal projects.
Go out and see art, be a part of the community, and have a great holiday season.
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“Nobody objects to a woman being a good writer or sculptor or geneticists if at the same time she manages to be a good wife, good mother, good-looking, good-tempered, well-groomed, and unaggressive.” ~ Leslie M. McIntyre.



What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — Nov. 28, 2012

I look at the date — Nov. 28 — and think I should recall that there is something special about it. But, I cannot. It’s just another day. A day to write, create, care for, clean up, get cookin’, run around, breathe the air, notice, observe, and tell the story.

Well, my dear fellow writers, it’s time to begin Chapter 9 of The Artist’s Way — A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. I think it’s appropriate that given the fact that we’re entering the holiday season, that we’re exploring “Recovering a Sense of Compassion.” What do you think?
This week finds us facing the internal blocks to creativity. It may be tempting to abandon ship at this point. Don’t! We will explore and acknowledge the emotional difficulties that beset us in the past as we made creative efforts. We will undertake healing the shame of past failures. We will gain in compassion as we re-parent the frightened artist child who years for creative accomplishment. We will learn tools to dismantle emotional blocks and support renewed risk. T
This is the chapter that we kill our FEAR; this is the chapter where we do NOT curb our enthusiasm. This is the chapter where we block that creative u-turn that stops us in our tracks (mostly due to fear) and make it happen. This is the chapter where we ask for help if we need it. This is the chapter where we Hulk-smash through blocks.
Here’s your tasks to accomplish:
1.  List any resentments(anger) you have in connection with (your) project. It does not matter how petty, picky, or irrational these resentments may appear to your adult self. To your inner artist child they are real big deals: grudges.
Some examples:  I resent being the second artist asked, not the first. (I am too the best.)…I resent this editor, she just nitpicks. She never says anything nice.  I resent doing work for this idiot; he never pays me on time.

2.  Ask your artist to list any and all fears about the projected piece of work and/or anyone connected to it. Again, these fears can be as dumb as any two-year old’s. It does not matter that they are groundless to your adult’s eye. What matters is that thy are big scary monsters to your artist.
**********
Now get back to writing.
**********
For those participating in NaNoWriMo — Thank Goodness It’s Over Party — Dec. 6th — The Black Dog beginning at 5:30 p.m. They start a jazz ensemble playing at 7 p.m. This is a social occasion and there will be no formal program. I will likely go around and recognize people’s special accomplishments  So if you did something particularly notable (wrote the most words, finished first, drank the most coffee…) please let me know so I can be sure to throw it in the mix. Same goes for if you know if someone else made a hard charge for their NaNo efforts — let me know. There is a special NaNo Sticker for all those who attend the TGIO party. So be sure to RSVP either via Email to me or on the forums on the NaNo site under the Snoqualmie Valley region.
**********
Dec. 9th’s Writing Work Session will be a field trip. As I said in my previous Email, I can’t carpool, because I’ll already be in Seattle for another unrelated event earlier in the day. But, hopefully, I’ll see you all there.  Our next work session won’t be until January and then we begin switching to a weeknight routine. More on that later. Here’s the details for the Dec. 9th gig:
‘THE JESUS INJECTION’ – BOOK LAUNCH AND READING WITH AUTHOR ERIC ANDREWS-KATZ
On Sunday, December 9, doors at 4 p.m., book launch from 5-7 p.m., at Vermillion Gallery and Bar (1508 11th Ave.), join author, Eric Andrews-Katz, for a book launch read-ing and Q&A session. ‘Murderous statues, demented drag queens, political bombings, ex-Gay ministries, espionage and romance & all in a day’s work for Agent Buck 98. But the gloves are off when he comes up against The Jesus Injection.’ Purchase your copy at www.BoldStrokesBooks.com or at your favorite book store.www.EricAndrewsKatz.com.
**********
And now your Moment of Writing Zen:
“Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out your horn.” ~Charlie Parker.


What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — November 21, 2012 Edition

Here’s wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Go ahead and write a prayer of gratitude if you care.

There’s not going to be a lot of time, I fear, for most (especially myself) for writing in the next few days. But do try to slip some time in. I’m making it my escape. Uncle Morty is driving you nuts? Offer him the best seat (recliner) in the house and the remote, excuse yourself and let them know you have to get your daily word count in and you’ll be back in a flash. Then you can go and write a scene where a character based off of your annoying in-law gets arrested, injured, wins the lottery and moves away….you decide. It’s really cathartic and I highly recommend it.
Your tasks this week are to:
1) Journal daily
2) Plan two hours away and alone this week for an artist’s date
3) Read something you find inspiring
4) Look for synchronicity.
I’ll hopefully have kicked this virus du  cette semaine and be able to attend the Write-In Your Pajamas session on Friday morning. At the Black Dog. Snoqualmie. 9:30 a.m.
Happy Thanksgiving. I’m grateful for all of you.
Best,



What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — Nov. 14, 2012 Edition

Greetings Writers:

Yes, it’s true, Fifty Shades of Gray is up for a UK book award. Crazy sauce. Everything I’ve seen from most everyone in the group (provided I’ve seen your work) is that you all write better than that. So get cracking, and get that work out the door. It does no one any good, it’s no honor to your hard work of telling the story, if it sits on your computer or holed up in a shoe box in the closet.
So let’s keep working on getting good habits as writers. That’s one good thing that NaNoWriMo is good for — teaching you what it takes to finish something, how to schedule writing into your life, and allowing you the permission to do it.
Another good thing is doing this work through The Artist’s Way, both as a group and alone. We are finishing up Week Eight. Hopefully you’ve incorporated morning pages, artist’s dates and inspirational reading into your life. Also, inspirational reading — as I discussed with someone on Monday, does not mean that it has to be spiritual. I get inspiration from other novels, from non-fiction work, even blog posts. You decide what inspires you. OK? Good!
Here’s the Tasks for this week:
(from page 148-149 of The Artist’s Way)

6.  Ideal Day:  Plan a perfect day in your life as it is now constituted, using the information gleaned from above (for your reference, that is last week’s exercises)
7.  Ideal Ideal Day:  Plan a perfect day in your life as you wish it were constituted. There are no restrictions. Allow yourself to be and have whatever your heart desires. Your ideal environment, job, home, circle of friends, intimate relationship, stature in your art form – your wildest dreams.

8.  Choose one festive aspect from your ideal day. Allow yourself to live it. You may not be able to move to Rome yet, but in a still-grungy apartment you can enjoy a homemade cappuccino and a croissant. 

Check-In:

1.  How many days this week did you do your morning pages? (Have you been very tempted to abandon them?) How was the experience for you?
2.  Did you do your artist date this week? (Have you been allowing workoholism or other commitments to saboatage this practice?) What did you do? How did it feel?
3. Did you experience any synchronicity this week? What was it?
4.  Were there any other issues this week that you consider significant for your recovery? Describe them.

I ask that in the check-in part, you comment on our SnoValley Writes! Blog part. That’s another task this week. Find three blogs — including SnoValley Writes! (so you really only have to find 2) and comment on them. They don’t have to be writing-centered, but do comment and send the writer of that blog a little virtual love. 

Alright, time now for your moment of Writing Zen:
“The most potent muse of all is our own inner child.” ~Stephen Nachmanovitch



What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — Nov. 7, 2012

Greetings Writers!

The good writing weather has appeared. If you’re doing NaNoWriMo great. If you’re not, but still writing, great. The important thing is that you’re making writing goals and working towards them.
Regular bi-monthly workshop session this Sunday (Nov. 11th — Happy Veterans’ Day!), 3 p.m. at the North Bend Library Meeting Room. Please let me know if a) you plan to attend; b) if you want a regular workshop or a chance to just write. I have a lesson plan, but will go with the group’s desires for this months. So, respond to this email with your attendance intent and what you’d like to happen in our session. Thank you.
We’re still working on the Recovering a Sense of Strength from Week 8 in The Artist’s Way.  Here’s this week’s tasks (continued form last Wednesday): (Suggestion…you can use these exercises to add to your word count…)

2.  New Child hood:  What might you have been if you’d had perfect nurturing? Write a page of this fantasy childhood. What were you given? Can you re-parent yourself in that direction now?


3. Color Schemes:  Pick a color and write a quick few sentences describing yourself in the first person. (“I am silver, high-tech and ethereal  the color of dreams and accomplishment  the color of half-light and in between, I feel serene.” Or “I am read, I am passion, sunset, anger, blood, wine and roses, armies, murder, lust, and apples.” What is your favorite color? What do you have that is that color? What about an entire room? This is your life and your house. 

4.  List five things you are not allowed to do:  kill your boss, scream in church, go outside naked  make a scene, quit your job. Now do that thing on paper. Write it, draw it, paint it, act it out, collage it. Now put some music on and dance it. 

5.  Style Search:  List twenty things you like to do (perhaps the same twenty you listed before, perhaps not.) Answer these questions for each item:  a) does it cost money or is it free; b) expensive or cheap; c) alone or with somebody; d) job related; e) physical risk; f) fast-paced or slow; g) mind, body, or spiritual?
We will continue this section of exercises next week. Continue to journal — remember, it’s important because if you can’t tell yourself your own story (what you are doing when you journal) you won’t be able to tell anyone else’s (fiction or otherwise), continue to treat yourself to artist’s dates, continue to get some inspirational reading time.
Now your moment of Writing Zen:
“I cannot expect even my own art to provide all the answers — only to hope it keeps asking the right questions.” ~ Grace Hartigan



What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — Oct. 31, 2012

All:

A happy full (blood) moon, Halloween, Samhain, or Fall Festival…to all of you. I’ll be giving out spooky books to those trick or treaters who venture into the quiet environs that is my neighborhood.
While they are busy grabbing loot from the community, I’ll be working on trying to figure out what the heck my NaNoWriMo is going to be. Likely, it looks, as if I’m going to be a bit of a rebel and continue working on what I’ve been working on. It’s one of the reasons this will be my last NaNoWriMo as M/L, certainly, and even, perhaps, as a participant, for the foreseeable future. I bascially live NaNoWriMo every month, ever week, every day now. But I believe that NaNo is one of the reasons I’m here today. It is a worthy endeavor and teaches you so much about your own personal writing life. So, if any of you have been thinking of taking the NaNoWriMo M/L reins, 2013 is your year. However, this year, I’ll be happy to give it my all and make it a great experience for all — including myself.
Kick Off Party is at The Black Dog, 6 p.m. tomorrow (Nov. 1 – All Saints Day). Arriving in sugar-skull costume is optional, but always appreciated and enjoyed. (I’m kidding…but if you want to, I’d love it!) This is more of a meet-n-greet event; however, writing is more than allowed. The Black Dog has free wi-fi, so if anyone still needs help getting signed up — we’ll be there to assist you. I did all the Swag Bags and raffle gifts yesterday. Very exciting. Hope to see many of you there.
Also, I’ve been asked by The Office of Letters and Light to not call our Nov. 16th dealio the Night of Writing Dangerously, as they want the big dealio in San Francisco to be the only thing called that… So, I’m taking suggestions on creative things to call it. Then I need to post that in the forums.
Alright, let’s get to our tasks as far as The Artist’s Way is concerned. If you didn’t come to the workshop on Sunday, you missed some great exercises, tips and tricks to get you thinking like a total professional writer. But you also missed some great exercises, prompts and the like to recover that creative self. But no time like the present to get back into it…
**********
Like I said, we’re in week 8 and were’s working Recovering a Sense of Strength. (I know I’m going to need strength to get through November — it’s a busy month for me regardless of NaNo.)
So here’s your Task:
1.Goal Search:  You may find the following exercise difficult. Allow yourself to do it anyway. If multiple dreams occur to you, do the exercise for each one of them. The simple act of imagining a dream in concrete detail helps us to bring it into reality. Think of your goal search as preliminary architect’s drawing for the life you would wish to have.

The Steps
a. Name your dream. That’s right. Write it down. “In a perfect world, I would secretly love to be a _____________.”
b. Name one concrete goal that signals to you its accomplishment. On your emotional compass, this goal signifies true north. (Note:  tow people may want to be an actress. they share that dream. For one, an article in People magazine is the concrete goal. To her, glamour is the emotional center for her dream; glamour is true north. For the second actress, the concrete goal is a good review in a Broadway play. To her, repsect as a creative artist is the emotional center of her dream; respect is true north. Actress one might be happy as a soap star. Actress two would need stage work to fulfill her dream. On the surface, both seem to desire the same thing.)
c. In a perfect world, where would you like to be in five years in relation to your dream and true north?
d. In the world we inabit now, what action can you take, this year, to move you closer?
e. What action can you take this month? This week? This day? Right now?
f. List your dreams (for example, to be a famous film director). List its true north (respect and higher consciousness, mass communication). Select a role model (Walt Disney, Ron Howard, Michael Powell). Make an action plan.Five years. Three years. One year. One month. One week. Now. Choose an action. (Reading this book is an action.)

********

And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“Your desire is your prayer. Picture the fulfillment of your desire now and feel its reality and you will experience the joy of the answered prayer.” ~ Dr. Joseph Murphy

Weekly Writing Prompt — October 16, 2012

Writers:

Make this your personal mantra.

Welcome back the sun! And welcome back to another weekly prompt that hopefully inspires you to make writing a priority in your life.

If you missed our workshop, you missed us talking about character development and the three-beat arc for our characters.  We also worked on personal archaeology as part of our creative recovery and working through The Artist’s Way. We’re almost done with Week 7 and if all goes as planned, we’ll be done by the end of the year.
We have 10 tasks to work on this week. Some of them take moments, others will require you to focus. This is about taking care of your inner artist child. Not doing so is paramount to self abuse. Such language sounds harsh, but it is absolutely true. This is now the third time I’ve gone through this book and I learn something new each time. It always makes me a better artist, writer and person. Treat yourself. Do these tasks:

1.  Make this phrase a mantra:  Treating myself like a precious object will make me strong. Watercolor or crayon or calligraph this phrase (I would suggest needlepoint or crocheting or glass art or any other expression that fits your style). Post it where you will see it daily. We tend to think being hard on ourselves will make us strong. But it is cherishing ourselves that gives us strength. But it is cherishing ourselves that gives us strength. (I put my money where my typing is on this today — I went and got my first professional haircut in years today. It really does bolster your spirit. Treat yourself well.)

2.  Give yourself time out to listen to one side of an album, just for joy. You may want to doodle as you listen, allowing yourself to draw the shapes, emotions, thoughts you hear in the music. Notice how just twenty minutes can refresh you. Learn to take these mini-artist dates to break stress and allow insight. (I did this today with a mix CD my brother sent me. Two things became clear — a new scene for my WIP and an idea for an art project. Very worth the time investment.)
3.  Take yourself into a sacred space — a church, synagogue, library, a grove of trees — and allow yourself to savor the silence and healing solitude. Each of us has a personal idea of what sacred space is. For me, a large clock store or a great aquarium store can engender a sense of timeless wonder. Experiment.

4.  Create one wonderful smell in your house — with soup, incense, fir branches, candles — whatever. (I do this daily with candles during meditation, and I cook just about every day for my family and it does warm the hearth, as they say, to come into the home and smell something stewing in the crock pot or on the stove.)
5.  Wear your favorite item of clothing for no special occasion.

6.  Buy yourself one wonderful pari of socks, one wonderful pair of gloves — one wonderfully comforting self-loving something. (May I suggest you stop in to Selah Gifts, Shelley carries the most wonderfully comforting self-loving socks. Tell her I sent you!~)
7.  Collage:  Collect a stack of at least ten magazines (don’t have any? check out the thrift store or the library — they sell old magazines uber cheap. you could even make an artist date out of gathering a stack that has beautiful-to-you images in them), which you will allow yourself to freely dismember. Setting a twenty-minute time limit for yourself, tear (literally) through the magazines, collecting any images that reflect your life or interests. Think of the collage as a form of pictorial autobiography. Include your past, present, future, and your dreams. It is okay to include images you simply like. Keep pulling until you have a good stack of images (at least 20). Now take a sheet of newspaper, a stapler, or some tape or glue, and arrange your images in a way that pleases you. (This is one of my students’ favorite exercises.)

8.  Quickly list five favorite films. Do you see any common denominators among them? Are they romances, adventures, period pieces, political dramas, family epics, thrillers? Do you see traces of your cinematic themes in your collage?

9.  Name your favorite topics to read about:  comparative religion, movies, ESP, physics, rags-to-riches, betrayal, love triangles, scientific breakthroughs, sports…Are these topics in your collage?

10.  Give your collage a place of honor. Even a secret place of honor is all right — in your closet, in a drawer, anywhere that is yours. You may want to do a new one every few months, or collage more thoroughly a dream you are trying to accomplish.

Okay, writers, get to work. Get your tasks done. Take care of yourself, treat yourself precious and take some time for these fun mini-artist dates and explorations. You’ll be grateful you did.
**********
The Night of Writing Dangerously, Mini Writing Retreat/Nano event is on. We have a block of rooms saved at the top of Fall City Roadhouse. If you want a room, you need to contact Vicky Bastedo (her email is on the To: line here) and she will let you know what you need to do to get your room. We anticipate that the six rooms available (three double occupancy — in case a couple of you want to go in half-sies) will go quickly. It’s for the night of Nov. 16th — a Friday. We’ll be there at the Roadhouse beginning at 3 p.m. and will have the banquet room upstairs until 10 p.m. and then you may retire to your room to wrestle your noveling demons alone, with a roommate or even rest. We’ll have breakfast in the morning and then checkout. There may be an evening event planned later, but that announcement is forthcoming.
Don’t forget our NaNo kick off event is Nov. 1 at The Black Dog in Snoqualmie. The duck-worthy fun starts at 6 p.m. Special NaNo-Rhino Guests will be there to help us Charge Ahead! with our writing goals.
I am your M/L for the event and I am HeroProtagonist on the NaNoWriMo.org site. Get signed up. Come friend me and we’ll novel our way to artistic bliss. 😀
**********
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“When you start a painting, it is somewhat outside you. At the conclusion, you seem to move inside the painting.” ~Fernando Botero.


What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — October 10, 2012 Edition

Writers:

Brr! I don’t want to turn on the fireplace yet; but, it’s cold today. But at least its going to be dry for a few more days. Then the rains move in.
Speaking of rains, when the weather turns this way, it’s so much easier to get into the swing of the writing thing. It’s going to rain, you may as well write. And November is the perfect month for it, because it’s National Novel Writing Month! Once again, SnoValley Writes! will be leading the charge and getting everyone excited and involved and making the month not only productive, but fun!
Kick Off:  Will be on the evening of November 1. It will inspire those that feel stuck and allow those who have already charged ahead to come out. There will be prizes, giveaways, No Plot, No Problem discussion, and connecting with your other WriMos. I will have details hopefully after today. But it will be the evening of Nov. 1 — so be sure to stay tuned.
To also put on your NaNoWriMo calendar is the evening of Nov. 17th — our regions Night of Writing Dangerously. This event will also provide a mini writing retreat. So stay tuned for details for that as well. I’ll be posting this information via the NaNoWriMo.org site, so be sure you get signed up and registered and home yourself with the Snoqualmie Valley region. I’ll be at the Black Dog on Friday for those who need help with the technical aspects of signing up. Or at our Workshop Session on Sunday.
This Sunday is our regular Workshop Session. Please RSVP if you plan on attending. We will start the session with exchanging some work for feedback. Bring a short story, one chapter of a novel, up to five pages of poems, or up to 10 pages of a screenplay for review by other members. Then we’ll dive into our exercises and other creative pursuits. Bring pen/notebook or your lappie. We’ll be working. That’s why it’s called a Workshop. 😀
There is a board meeting for SnoValley Writes! tonight at the Sawdust Cafe at 5:30 p.m. for anyone who is wanting to be involved further in the group.
Okay, enough with the housekeeping and announcements. Here’s your prompt….which you may proceed to if you’ve done your morning pages and had your artist’s date in the last week. Oh, you haven’t? Nor have you done any inspirational reading? tsk-tsk. Go do those.  When you’ve finished those, you may proceed to the other tasks.
Which I’ll give the group on Sunday. North Bend Library. 3 p.m. Be there.
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” ~Anne Lamont


What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron

Weekly Writing Prompt — October 3, 2012 Edition

Writers:

If you’re feeling like your artistic life is just one battle after another. Fear not, we’re all waging a war. Remember, the artist today reflects the child who survived. Don’t give up. Keep doing everything that is necessary each day, and then what is possible and soon you’re doing the impossible and fulfilling your dreams (with props to St. Francis).
Today’s tasks continue with The Artist’s Way and Week 7:  Recovering A Sense of Connection.
This entry will help us deal with jealousy and how it impedes our creative recovery and life.
From page 123 of Cameron’s book:
Jealousy. I’ve often hear, is a normal human emotion. Wen I hear that, I think, “Maybe your jealousy — not mine.” 

My jealousy roars in the head, tightens the chest, massages my stomach lining with a cold fist as it searches out the best grip. I have long regarded jealousy as my greatest weakness. only recently have I seen it for the tough-love friend that it is. 

Jealousy is a map. Each of our jealousy maps differs. Each of us will probably be surprised by some of the things we discover on our own. I, for example, have never been eaten alive with resentment over the success of women novelists. But I took an unhealthy interest in the fortunes and misfortunes of women playwrights. I was their harshest critic, until I wrote my first play. 

With that action, my jealousy vanished, replaced by a feeling of camaraderie. My jealousy had actually been a mask for my fear of doing something I really wanted to do but was not yet brave enough to take aciton toward.

Jealousy is always a mask for fear:  fear that we aren’t able to get what we want; frustration that somebody else seems to be getting what is rightfully ours even if we are too frightened to reach for it. At its root, jealousy is a stingy emotion. It doesn’t allow for the abundance and multiplicity of the universe. Jealousy tells us there is room for only one — one poet, one painter, one whatever you dream of being.

The truth, revealed by action in the direction of our dreams, is that there is room for all of us. But jealousy produces tunnel vision. It narrows our ability to see things in perspective. It strips us of our ability to see other otpions. The biggest lie that jealousy tells us is that we have no choice but to be jealous. Perversely, jealousy strips us of our will to act when action holds the key to our freedom. 

THE JEALOUSY MAP, AN EXERCISE

Your jealousy map will have three columns. In the first column, name those whom you are jealous of. Next to each name write why. Be as specific and accurate as you can. In the third column, list one action you can take to move toward creative risk and out of jealousy. When jealousy bites, like a snakebite it requires an immediate antidote. On paper, make your jealousy map.

WHO WHY ACTION-ANTIDOTE
My sister Libby She has a real art studio Fix spare room
My friend Ed Writes good crime novels Try writing one
Anne Sexton Famous poet Publish my long-hoarded poems

 

Even the biggest changes begin with small ones. Green is the color of jealousy, but it is also the color of hope. When you learn to harness its fierce energy on your own behalf, jealousy is part of the fuel toward a greener and more verdant future.

 

**********

 

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

 

“I don’t have a lot of respect for talent. Talent is genetic. It’s what you do with it that counts.” ~Martin Ritt

 



What did you Write today?
~Casz

Casondra Brewster
Moderator/Founder
Sno Valley Writes!
Helping Writers Reach New Literary Peaks Since 2008
http://www.snovalleywrites.org
Check us out on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/SnoValleyWrites

“But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling, like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.” ~ Lord Byron