Weekly Writing Prompt — February 20, 2013 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt

Writers:

Happy Mid-Winter!

Remember Writer’s Café is tonight at SawDust Coffee Co. in the North Bend outlet mall. 6 p.m.

Let’s get right to our prompt, ok?

We’re back at Week 10 tasks from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

We’re looking at touchstones today.

Touchstones:  Make a quick list of things you love, happiness touchstones for you. River rocks worn smooth, willow trees, cornflowers, chicory, real Italian break, homemade vegetable soup, the Bo Deans’ music, black beans and rice, the smell of new mown grass, blue velvet (the cloth and the song), Aunt Minnie’s crumb pie…

Post this list where it can console you and remind you of your own personal touchstones. You may want to draw one of the items on your list – or acquire it. If you love blue velvet, get a remnant and use it as a runner on a sideboard or dresser, or tack it to the wall and mount images on it. Play a little.

That’s it for today.

We will finish the tasks of Week 10 during our next Work Session. We’ll be talking about the Awful Truth regarding our creative life. Setting a Bottom Line and Cherishing. Hope you all will join me – Feb. 26 at the North Bend Library Meeting Room at 6 p.m. Please RSVP. Bring supplies to be ready to write.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“How often – even before we began – have we declared a task impossible? And how often have we construed a picture of ourselves as being inadequate? A great deal depends upon the thought patterns we choose and on the persistence with which we affirm them.” ~Piero Ferrucci

Weekly Writing Prompt — February 13, 2013 Edition

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Writers:

Greetings.

Quick administrative notes before we dive into this week’s writing tasks –

We need a “host” for the Write-Ins on Friday mornings and Mid-Day on Mondays.

Any volunteers?

Our Friday one is 9:30 a.m. to Noonish (currently at the Black Dog) and Mid-Day Muse is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (currently at Pioneer Café).  Locations could be changed, but SnoValley Writes! needs someone to volunteer to make sure that a table of writers is started. Let me know if you’re interested in  doing this.

Alright…now for our writerly workings for the week…

We’re working through the tasks of Week 10: Recovering a Sense of Self-Protection within The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

Note:  Many of you have come to me and said that this work we’ve been doing going through The Artist’s Way has been enlightening, difficult, helpful, hard, and oh, so, inspiring. I’m glad so many of you are getting so much out of it. Like I’ve told you in the past, this is my third time through it and I still gather benefit from the exercises, tasks and stories within its pages.

Now for this week’s Tasks:

  1. The Deadlies:  Take a piece of paper and cut seven small strips from it. On each strip write one of the following words: alcohol, sex, work, money, food, family/friends. Fold these strips of paper and place them in an envelope. We call these folded slips the deadlies. You’ll see why in a minute. Now draw one of the deadlies from the envelope and write five ways in which it has had a negative impact on your life. (If the one you choose seems difficult or inapplicable to you, consider this resistance.) You will do this seven times, each time putting back the previous slip of paper so that you are always drawing from seven possible choices. Yes, you may draw the same deadly repeatedly. Yes, this is significant. Very often, it is the last impact on the final list of an annoying, “Oh no, not again” that yields a break, through denial, into clarity.

This one is a lot of work and I really want you all to work on this one. So, be sure to get it done.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Only when he no longer knows what he is doing does the painter do good things.” ~Edgar Degas

Don’t forget, Writer’s Café tonight!  6 p.m. at Sawdust Café in North Bend.

 

Weekly Writing Prompt — February 6, 2013 Edition

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I’ve lost count how many years I’ve been sending out these prompts. I know it’s been a lot, however. I hope that it helps keep you focused on your literary passions and continuing to seek out your dreams and goals. 

We are continuing with Week 10 of our group effort working through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. This week we explore the perils that can ambush us on our creative path. Because creativity is a spiritual issue, many of the perils are spiritual perils. In the essays, tasks, and exercised this week, we search out the toxic pattern we cling to that block our creative flow.

But, before we dive into that, a few administrative notes… We continue to want to make our Web site the best it can be. Please let me know what you would like to see with the Web site. We are open to suggestions. Just remember, this is volunteer work and we have zero budget. Anyhow, let me know and we’ll do what we can to increase the sites usefulness to everyone who calls themselves part of SnoValley Writes!

Also, next work session is Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again (and hopefully this nasty crud I’ve contracted will be gone). Please RSVP, so I can lesson plan accordingly. Homework is to just be there and be ready to write.

Okay, onto Recovering a Sense of Self-Protection.

I must say that personally, it’s good that this chapter is coming at this time in my life. Self-protection hasn’t been one of my strongest characteristics and I’ve been working hard to improve that. Won’t you join me?

In Week 10 Chapters, the author talks about the dangers of the creativity trail, workaholism, anxiety, creative drought, fame, and competition. I encourage you all to get The Artist’s Way and read these sections.

Our first work is to take a workaholic quiz:

  1. I work outside of office hours: seldom, often, never?
  2. I cancel dates with loved ones to do more work: seldom, often, never?
  3. I postpone outings until the deadline is over: seldom, often, never?
  4. I take work with me on weekends: seldom, often, never?
  5. I take work with me on vacations: seldom, often, never?
  6. I take vacations: seldom, often, never?
  7. My intimates complain I always work: seldom, often, never?
  8. I try to do two things at once: seldom, often, never?
  9. I allow myself free time between projects:  seldom, often, never?
  10. I allow myself to achieve closure on tasks:  seldom, often, never?
  11.  I procrastinate in finishing up the last loose ends:  seldom, often, never?
  12. I set out to do one job and start on three more at the same time: seldom, often, never?
  13. I work in the evenings during family time:  seldom, often, never?
  14. I allow calls to interrupt – and lengthen – my work day:  seldom, often, never?
  15. I prioritize my day to include an hour of creative work/play:  seldom, often, never?
  16.  I place my creative dreams before my work:  seldom, often, never?
  17.  I fall in with others’ plans and fill my free time with their agendas:  seldom, often, never?
  18.  I allow myself down time to do nothing: seldom, often, never?
  19.  I use the word deadline to describe and rationalize my workload:  seldom, often, never?
  20. Going somewhere, even to dinner, with a notebook or my work numbers is something I do: seldom, often, never?

In order to recover our creativity, we must learn to see workaholism as a block instead of building block. Work abuse creates in our artist a Cinderella Complex. We are always dreaming of the ball and always experiencing the ball and chain.

There is a difference between zestful work towards a cherished goal and workaholism. That difference lies less in the hours than it does in the emotional quality of the hours spent. There is a treadmill quality to workaholism. We depend on our addiction and we resent it. For a workaholic, work is synonymous with worth, and so we are hesitant to jettison any part of it 

In striving to clear the way for our creative flow we must look at our work habits very clearly. We may not think we overwork until we look at the hours we put in. We may think our work is normal until we compare it with a normal 40-hour week. One way to achieve clarity about out time expenditures is to keep a daily checklist and record of our time spent. (I did this in my morning pages for some time…It’s very enlightening.)  Even an hour of creative work/play can go a long way toward offsetting the sense of workaholic desperation that keeps our dreams at bay.

Because workaholism is a process addiction (an addiction to a behavior rather than a substance), it is difficult to tell when we are indulging in it. An alcoholic gets sober by abstaining from alcohol. A workaholic gets sober by abstaining from overwork. The trick is to define overwork – and this is where we often lie to ourselves, bargaining to hold on to those abusive behaviors that still serve us.

In order to guard against rationalization, it is very useful to set a bottom line. Each person’s bottom line is different but should specifically mention those behaviors known to be off-limits. These specific behaviors make for immediate recovery than a vague, generic resolve to do better.

If you really have no time, you need to make some room. It is more likely, however, that you have the time and are misspending it. Your tie log will help you find those areas where you need to create boundaries. Boundary is another way to say bottom line. “Bottom line, I will not ________________.” That is your boundary. (We’ll be practicing this soon.)

*****

And now your moment of Writing Zen:  “Saying no can be the ultimate self-care.” ~Claudia Black

Weekly Writing Prompt — January 30, 2013 Edition

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Greetings Writers!

Most times you get this directly to your Email. This week, I sent you simply a link to our web site, to get the information there. Please feel free to comment there, as well, on the information contained therein.

When was the last time you positively affirmed either “I am a writer,” or “I am an artist?”

Don’t know?

Well say it with me now. Out loud. Doesn’t matter where you are.

“I am a writer.”

“I am an artist.”

**********

So it’s Artist Way Check-In Time.

Look folks, it’s been more than a year that we’ve been working on The Artist’s Way. I’m really hoping that you’re beginning to do some of these “habits” to nurture your “inner artist child” and find your path to creative recovery. It’s a long and arduous journey. The abuse to our inner child was long in the making. We’re not going to fully heal over night. So, don’t just think you can give up on these habits. They are life long.

If you’ve truly been doing these habits and have no sense of recovery, I’d really like to know. For those who have been doing these weekly habits, the exercises, the tasks, tell me how you’re doing. Answer the questions below in the comment section:

1. How many days this week (since last Wednesday) did you do your morning pages? Regarding your U-turns, have you allowed yourself a shift toward compassion, at least on the page?

2.  Did you do your artist date this week? Have you kept the emphasis on fun? 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.

Again, please answer in the comment section below.

And now your Moment of Writing Zen:

“When we are really honest with ourselves we must admit our lives are all that really belong to us. So it is how we use our lives that determines the kind of men we are.” ~Cesar Chavez

—

—
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 Post — January 23, 2013

Weekly Writing Prompt

Greetings writers!

I hope you all made great plans for your “writing year” last night.
My apologies that I could not be with you all. Trust me, I’d rather been with you all. I’m sure that Sheri & Takako took great care of you. My energy and passion for literary arts is matched, if not exceeded by those two.
Our weekly writing prompts & the remainder of our work sessions through March will include finishing up The Artist’s Way journey. Then we’re going to be amp’ing things up, as I’ve taken inspiration from our fellow member Jackie Fedyk and am designing a do-it-yourself master in fine arts of creative writing plan. So if you’re like me and can’t pursue a course of study (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) because of family responsibilities and financial restraints, I think you’ll find this course of study to be very enlightening. Be advised, if you put your energies into this, it will push you out of your comfort zone and you will learn and expand your craft and your level of “artist.” I promise. Like everything we do together as a group — you get out of it what you put into it. But, SnoValley Writes! will happily direct, encourage, mentor and cheer you on as we do this path together. So clear your calendars for the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month. And join us at the North Bend Library between 6 and 8 p.m. Next work session is February 12th.
In the meantime the writing cafes continue. Come when you can; leave when you must. Come be inspired, network, get help, write with your head down or socialize.
Wednesdays – Sawdust Cafe – 6 to 9 p.m.
Fridays – The Black Dog – 9:30 a.m. to about Noon
Mondays – Pioneer Cafe — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
**********
Today’s writing tasks continues in Chapter 9 of The Artist’s Way.
Visualizing:  You have already done work with naming your goal and identifying true north. The following exercise asks you to fully imagine having your goal accomplished. Please spend enough time to fill in the juicy details that would really make the experience wonderful for you. 

Name your goal:  I am______________________________________________.
In the present tense, describe yourself doing it at the height of your powers! This is your ideal scene. 

Read this aloud to yourself.

Post this above your work area.

Read this aloud, daily!

For the next week collect actual pictures of yourself and combine them with magazine images to collage your ideal scene described above. Remember, seeing is believing, and the added visual cue of your real self in your ideal scene can make it far more real. 

Priorities:  List for yourself your creative goals for the year. List for yourself your creative goals for the month. List for yourself your creative goals for the week. 

Creative U-Turns:  All of us have taken creative U-turns. Name one of yours. Name three more. Name the one that just kills you.

Forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for all failures of nerve, timing, and initiative. Devise a personalized list of affirmations to help you do better in the future. 

Very gently, very gently  consider whether any aborted  abandoned, savaged, or sabotaged brain-children can be rescued. Remember, you are not alone. All of us have taken creative U-turns.

Choose one creative U-turn. Retrieve it. Mend it.

Do not take a creative U-turn now. Instead, notice your resistance. Morning pages seeming difficult? Stupid? Pointless? Too Obvious? Do them anyway.

What creative dreams are lurching toward possibility? Admit that they frighten you.

Choose and artist totem. It might be a doll, a stuffed animal, a carved figuring, or a wind-up toy. (Wrimos for Rhinos anyone?) The point is to choose something you immediately feel a protective fondness toward. Give your totem a place of honor and then honor it by not beating up on your artist child. 
**********
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” ~Albert Einstein
—
—
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 — Jan. 16, 2013 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt

Happy New Year!

 

I’m trying to brush off the cold and the rustiness to my creative life. Hopefully, you are, too.

 

I have to make this quick this week to just remind you that:

 

a) Writer’s Cafe tonight at Sawdust Cafe at the North Bend Outlet Mall. 6 to 9 p.m.

 

b) Regular Work Sessions return — Jan. 22 — Yes! Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. at the North Bend Library. This session will be a goal setting session. Bring a calendar or notebook or anything else you think would be goo to get yourself organized for 2013’s writing goals.

 

c) If you have some writing success to share or like, you know, a signing or reading coming up, please let us know so we can let the whole membership know.

 

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

 

“Any idiot can face a crisis — it’s the day-to-day living that wears you out.” ~Anton Chekhov

 

—

—
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. 19, 2012 Edition (Last for the Year)

Weekly Writing Prompt

Merry Holidays All. May your days be bright and your nights brighter. This is your last prompt for 2012. We’ll return in 2013, but we’re taking our annual Yuletide hiatus. Take some time and enjoy your family and the quiet moments that the extended dark can provide. Do some introspection. Feel. Eat. Drink. Be Merry. Live.

*********

I made a faux pas last week when I talked about the Tuesday night Writers’ Cafe being only twice a month. It will continue each week, but on Wednesday nights now. They are on hiatus until January 9th, where you will find them once again at Sawdust Cafe beginning at 6 p.m.  The Friday DayTrippers is still going on Fridays currently at The Black Dog; however, I believe that may change down the road. More to follow on that; however, right now it remains at The Black Dog. Also, the Midday Monday Muse at 11 a.m. at Pioneer Cafe continues as well. Just mark your calendars and take advantage of the motivation that comes along with connecting with a group of writers for just a small time each week.
**********

Your prompt this week is a long but detailed one:
Read your morning pages! This process is best undertaken with two colored markers, one to highlight insights and another to highlight actions needed. Do not judge your pages or yourself. This is very important. Yes, they will be boring. Yes, they may be painful. Consider them a map. Take them as information, not an indictment.

Take Stock:  Who have you consistently been complaining about? What have you procrastinated on? What blessedly have you allowed yourself to change or accept? 

Take Heart:  Many of us notice an alarming tendency toward black-and-white thinking:  “He’s terrible. He’s wonderful. I love him. I hate him. It’s a great job. It’s a terrible job,” and so forth. Don’t be thrown by this.

Acknowledge:  The pages have allowed us to vent without self-destruction, to plan without interference, to complain without an audience, to dream without restriction, to know our own minds. Give yourself credit for undertaking them. Give them credit for the changes and growth they have fostered.
**********

And if you have few morning pages to read? Then you know what your prompt also is:  DO YOUR MORNING PAGES. As I’ve said before, it doesn’t have to be morning — although the most powerful things I’ve written happen there for me. For you, it may be mid-day, or the evening, or in the wee hours of the night. You decide. But daily stream-of-conscious journaling should be a part of your routine.
**********
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“Be really whole
And all things will come to you.” ~Lao-Tzu
**********
Again, have a blessed season and we’ll see you again (at least virtually) Jan. 9th.

—
—
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. 12, 2012

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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

Weekly Writing Prompt

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

Weekly Writing Prompt

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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