Weekly Writing Prompt — November 23, 2011 Edition

November 23, 2011Weekly Writing Promptcasz

Happy Thanksgiving, Writers.

Abbreviated edition today as it’s the pre-Thanksgiving craziness. Remember, oftentimes at the end of life, your regrets are not for what you did, but what you didn’t do.

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Your prompt today is to try to steal away at lest :30 in the morning and in the evening for the next four days. For those doing NaNoWriMo, that kind of time will be minimal.

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Enjoy your holiday with your family and friends. Reach out to others either in person or through your writing. Share your stories.

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And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“The painting has a life of its own. I try to let it come through.” ~Jackson Pollock

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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

Weekly Writing Prompt — Nov. 16, 2011 Edition

November 16, 2011Weekly Writing Prompthenry miller, NaNoWriMo, weekly writing prompt, winter's coming, Word Jazz, writing contestcasz

Wow, the middle of November. Ouch. The forecast is calling for Snow this weekend, however, all those hot little writing hands are not going to allow it to stick around much.

For those still participating in National Novel Writing Month: Kudos! Keep at it. Even if you don’t make 50k — all the words you have are good ones. You allowed yourself, gave yourself permission to be creative. Keep it up. Don’t give up. Heck, I’m only at 8k and I’m not giving up. Today’s goal is to simply get to 10k. If you’re having trouble, I encourage you to come out to one of the write-ins and challenge yourself with your fellow WriMos and SnoValley Writes! members and do some word wars, talk out your plot, your characters. Ask any veteran of a Write-In, they will tell you they are hugely helpful. I got an extra 800 words yesterday thanks to a write-in. I doubt I would have gotten those without the support of my fellow writers. And that’s why we’re here. Support. Encouragement. Education. We help you reach new literary peaks. 😀

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Don’t forget SnoValley Writes! authors who were featured in Views, Voices & Verses Vol. II: Fall Into Story, will be signing copies of the anthology on Monday (Nov. 21) at Selah Gifts in Downtown North Bend (Bendigo and 3rd Street area…right next door to Carriage House). Signing begins at 6:30 p.m. Hope to see many of you there!

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Still looking for a project manager to get Word Jazz organized. Anyone? Buehler? Anyone? Let me know if you’re interested. You will be fully supported by the board, but you will be leading the charge to create a successful literary event.

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Still looking for a project manager to lead the Annual Writing Contest.

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Today’s prompt: So stealing this from NaNoWriMo because it’s 7 a.m. and my brain has only half a cup of coffee…

Sit down and free write and focus on you or your character observing a duck that is missing something. You decide if its literal or metaphorical. Could be a wing, an eye, it’s webbed foot. Could be your character’s best friend that represents the duck. Like I said, you decide. Would love to see what folks come up with — post on our SnoValley Writes! Facebook Page what you came up with when you’ve finished.

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And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Until we accept the fact that life is founded in mystery, we shall learn nothing.” Henry Miller
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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“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 9, 2011 Edition

November 9, 2011Weekly Writing PromptBook Signing, NaNoWriMo, SnoValley Writes!, Word Jazz, Writing Promptcasz

Wow, 9 days into November already. Yowsa!

NaNoWriMo Update:

Dont’ fear if you’re behind like me. Some of us are late bloomers. Just keep at it. Come to a write-in, too. The word wars work just as well as Write or Die without erasing your hard fought words.

Upcoming Write-Ins: As with all the write-ins, look for the rubber ducky on the table, or at minimum the nano-stickered laptops).

Today: Sawdust Coffee Company, North Bend, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lots of room, plugs, internet, good coffee

Thursday: Happy Hour Write-In at Fall City Roadhouse 4 to 7 p.m. Hosted by DukTap (aka Kathy Gabriel). Meet in the pub.

Friday: Toad’s North Bend, 9:30 am. to 12:30 p.m. If you’re the first one there, get the far back table.

Saturday: North Bend Library from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Hosted by Winney and Quinnleeeee (aka Vicky and Sheri).

Sunday: North Bend Library Meeting Room — Regular Writer’s Work Session (all welcome) 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

(Note: on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the North Bend Library, the King County Library System is presenting The Art of the Novel, a presentation of a variety of narrative artworks to serve as inspiration for a novel. The artworks will relate to the following genres: mystery, fantasy, romance, memoir, historical, thriller and adventure. Need some inspiration? Plan to attend right before our work session)

Monday: Music Muse Write-In at Boxley’s (North Bend) 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., they are opening up a special room for us. So please show support and come out for this one! Jazz in the background to help fuel your writing flame.

Tuesday: Writer’s Cafe, Carriage House (North Bend) 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (this is where I made a breakthrough last night! A great environment to get the words down!)

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Upcoming News:

Nov. 21st — 6:30 p.m. SnoValley Writes! Fall Into Story Book Signing at Selah’s Gifts! Come get some early Holiday Gifts and support your fellow writers. Authors with other works will have them available as well! Do plan to be there!

Dec. 12th SnoValley Writes! Board Meeting 7:30 p.m. Carriage House All invited to attend. This will be a work session to get our Federal Tax Exception worked out.

Needed: Project Manager for Word Jazz!

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Writing Prompt for this week: Go somewhere unusual — the side of the river, a park bench, steal into an empty conference room at lunch — and write, just write, freewrite, whatever comes to mind. That guy Fred whose cubicle is catty-corner from you and is constantly shuffling, the sound of the river’s current along the shore, the sound of the birds in the tree at the park. Anything. Everything. Just sit and write out of your normal writing zone. If you’ve never been to a write-in, that would qualify as well. Mimic a conversation you hear at the cafe. Incorporate it into your prose.

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And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Chance is always powerful. Let your hook be always cast: in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish.”

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“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. 2, 2011 Edition

November 2, 2011Weekly Writing PromptFree Write, NaNoWriMo, visual prompts, weekly writing prompt, write-inscasz

Happy Noveling Month All!

Even if you’re not participating in NaNoWriMo (yet I highly encourage you to do so!), November is a great time to redirect and allow writing to be a priority in your life. If you’re so passionate about it you wanted to be on this email list, there’s something inside of you screaming to be fed. Feed it. Give it time to get words and stories out. Even 30 minutes a day is better than nothing. Heck, 3 minutes a day even. Scrawl a poem, scratch out a character introduction — whatever you can do. Do it.

Have to mention that last night’s Snoqualmie Valley National Novel Writing Month kick off at the Snoqualmie Brewery and Tap Room was fabulous. We even got our server to consider joining in on the noveling fun! Woot! Go Allison! Again, as I mentioned last week, there is a theme to our NaNoWriMo efforts this year here in the Valley: 30 Days, 30 Ways to Play…Writer! So each day there is a write-in, writer’s cafe or other such event to get you focused on your writing. Give yourself permission for just this month at least.

Today’s prompt is dedicated to Sheri Kennedy, who is taking on an ambitious challenge in doing a thematic short-story collection for NaNoWriMo:

It’s a visual prompt:

Free write for :20 on what the image speaks to you. Write as the rain. Write as the child. Write as the photographer. Write as your main character. Look deeply at the photo and make sure you don’t miss a detail.

Put it in your novel if it works. Put it in your novel even if it doesn’t work. Just get the words on the page.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Write books only if you are going to say in them the things you would never dare confide to anyone.”
― Emil Cioran

P.S. Write-In tonight in Carnation at the Jin Heng restaurant beginning at 6:30 p.m., your host is Kathy Gabriel. Thursday’s Write-In is Late Night at the North Bend Bar & Grill at 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. Casz will be your host. As with all of these — it’s come when you can, leave when you must. Do be prepared for some head-down writing time.

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“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. 26, 2011 Edition

October 26, 2011Weekly Writing Promptcasz

Good morning writers!

I hope the autumn season is treating you well. Enjoy the sunshine while you can.

NaNoWriMo is just around the corner. A mere five days away. The official Snoqualmie Valley region’s kick off is Nov. 1st at 6:30 p.m. at the Snoqualmie Brewery and Tap Room. We’ll have a section in the loft area. We’ll go until at least 9 p.m., but you are welcome to stay past that and get your word count for the day. There will be some formal activities: meet-n-greet, locking away your inner editor, word wars, etc. Please join us for a great start to a great month of literary abandon. Remember this year we have a quasi-theme: 30 Days, 30 Ways to Play…Writer! Each day there is the availability of a write-in. For most of them there is a person already planning on being at that particular write-in. Look on your regional calendar on the Snoqualmie Valley region page and you can see where and when we’ll be. I’ve also provide a link here: tlknt8dpavq7b46i3lfe1cpuok@group.calendar.google.com This also includes a virtual write-in on Thanksgiving, which will likely always be there. Details coming on where that “hang out” will be.

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Also, our Word Jazz will definitely be in the Spring, as will also be our annual writing contest. I’m still looking for some volunteers to help with organizing this. Let me know if you’re interested. We need a good project manager. In conjunction with the writing contest and Word Jazz we’ll be publishing another journal. So start writing. We’re looking for at least three of these words to be in the prose or poem that you submit as members of SnoValley Writes!: Three, Magic, Number, Valley, Anniversary, Coffee, Friends, Ashes, Determination, or Quest. There are no bonus points if you get all the words. But, feel free to challenge yourself.

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Today’s prompt is stolen from my very favorite writer’s calendar (A Working Writer’s Daily Planner). Perhaps it will help inspire those of you looking for your next story or your NaNo. Feel free to use this prompt as a personal essay, memoir/creative non-fiction start, or write it as fiction from the perspective of a main character.

“Picture a conversation between two people you know who will never get a chance to speak to each other…people in your life who, for whatever reasons, are highly unlikely to ever meet. Yet suddenly they have. Why? Without your being there, wheat are they saying? Do they realize they know you? What would they say about you if they make the connection?”

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SnoValley Writes! Board meeting is this evening at 7:30 p.m. at Carriage House. Anyone is welcome to attend. Remember we’re still looking for another position to be filled on our board, to fill the huge sucking chest wound left by April (we miss you!) when she had to move off to the islands. If you’re interested, please let us know. This position must be filled no later than April, but preferably sooner.

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And now your moment of Writing Zen: “The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels.” ~Hazrat Inayat Khan.

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“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. 19, 2011 Edition

October 19, 2011Weekly Writing Promptcasz

Writers!

Good autumn morning. Did you catch that Chinook wind yesterday and last night? How wonderful!

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This week is focused on outlining. Asking yourself, your characters, your storytelling skills lots of questions; forcing some introspection and examination.

Outlining can be rather daunting and, for those unfamiliar with the process, it may be difficult to imagine the form — not that there is a single, rigid style. To acquire a self-created example, I suggest that you try a technique I’ve found both enlightening about the form and instructional about writing — a method by which you can learn how good stories (and those not-so-good) are constructed. Even experienced writers, including professionals, may find it to be a few well-spent hours.

Rent or buy or borrow a videotape or DVD or other type of recording of one of your favorite movies or shows or miniseries. View the first scene, punch Pause and write three or four or five lines about what the scene was about. Then run the second scene, and repeat the process — and so on and so on. It will take a while, but by the time you’re through, you will have an outline. You’ll see what it looks like, know how it’s supposed to read.

But more than that, you will have learned. A lot. You’ll see what the writer was doing — understand it on a fresh level. Which can be a revelation — and may just give you some creative mojo for your next project.

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Sunday, Oct. 23 is our next Writing Work Session at the North Bend Library Meeting Room at 3 p.m. Please RSVP so I can plan accordingly for our session. We will be talking & exercising more on outlining and plotting. Don’t be scared, I promise it will be fun. I’ll even bring some treats! You bring your smiling selves, notebook and pen (laptop if you prefer) and get ready to loosen those writing muscles. Who’s with me?

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By request at our last work session, I was asked to point out those in the membership who have blogs for others to follow. There is a page on our Web site that features this: http://www.snovalleywrites.org/?page_id=342

If you have a blog and would like to be added to this list, please let me know.

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And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Do not fear mistakes — there are none.” ~Miles Davis

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“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. 12, 2011 Edition

October 12, 2011Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Today’s prompt comes from the brilliant Small Beer Press. Each year they produce A Working Writer’s Daily Planner – Your Year in Writing. It goes on my Birthday/Yule list every year (we won’t talk about the fact that I end up purchasing it myself…). At any rate, this publication is packed with helpful hints, awards, grants, residencies, market listings, and of course, writing prompts. It is what I am going to use to create our 30 days — 30 ways to Play…Writer for NaNoWriMo. I hope to have that calendar done and published for all of you next week. A whole month worth of places to write with people who support what you’re doing. Isn’t that fabulous? But, I digress. Here’s the prompt, with attribution to the aforementioned publication:

“Salvador Dali said, ‘Those who do not want to imitate anything produce nothing.” Pick an excerpt or poem from one of your favorite authors or poets and imitate their form, maintaining original author’s punctuation, line breaks, length, etc., but change the topic and make it your own. If no one springs to mind, try Adrienne Rick or Frank O’Hara. Write 50 to 100 words at least.”

Speaking of National Novel Writing Month, the Web site is now ready for you to engage for NaNo ’11. They have a new, juicy, full-of-extra-guts web site. So you may have to (like I did) reload an icon photo and fill in some other blanks. Please sign up and home with region Snoqualmie Valley. Would love to see our numbers hit 200 this year. I am Hero Protagonist. Please don’t laugh, my husband signed me up the first year and gave me that moniker. If anyone needs help signing up, just let me know. Perhaps I can help you at one of the writers cafes or work sessions before November hits. Of course our kick-off party will definitely a spot I and others can assist you.

And now your moment of Writing Zen: “Genuine beginnings begin within us, even when they are brought to our attention by external opportunities.” ~William Bridges

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“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. 5, 2011 Edition

October 5, 2011Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Some days the writing won’t wait even if life is demanding you focus on something else. I use to curse those days. Now I embrace them because those are the days when I write some of my best stuff. I call it my “psychotic writing sessions.” Despite it’s DSM-sounding name, it’s only crazy because of the sheer volume and brilliance that speed out of my keyboard.

I keep meals in the freezers, forget about the dishes, stock up on water and non-sticky-fingered munchies at the writing desk and go to town.

I want you to write about your writing process — the harvest times and the lean times. How do you deal with both? Send me it. I’ll post it on the SnoValley Writes blog page.

We meet this Sunday at 3 p.m. at the North Bend Library Meeting Room. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. I already have one regret — hope it’s not a trend.

And now your moment of Writing Zen: “Art? You just do it.” ~Martin Ritt
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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“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 — Sept. 21, 2011 Edition

September 21, 2011Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Happy International Peace Day.

I hope the cusp of Summer to Fall is treating you well. I, myself, am battling a very determined virus. It is determined to make September’s end not very productive for me. But, I’m not giving up. Determination. Perseverance. They make up great battle buddies against the constant war that life throws at you. With those two at your side, you can do anything.

Sunday is our next regular writing work session (Sept. 25) at 3 p.m. Please let me know how many are attending. Steve Matlock, David Moore and Takako Wright will be doing a special workshop for us. You don’t want to miss it!

In other news, National Novel Writing Month is coming up in November. Start letting the ideas for a new novel float around in your head. Dream about it. Be open to new characters. Maybe explore a new genre? Mostly, however, just think about how you’ll really dedicate your life to your story — your novel — for the month of November. Takako and I will be plotting to come up with a great kick off, so stay tuned for more information.

Today’s prompt comes from the International Peace Day tribute. Write a story about making peace. Could be a short scene between siblings or spouses or friends. It could be more epic and countries making peace. Races making peace — e.g. humans and aliens. Whatever you prefer. Make me feel the conflict than soothe my frayed nerves with the peaceful resolution.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“When and inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate.” ~C.G. Jung

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“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 — Sept. 14, 2011 Edition

September 14, 2011Weekly Writing Promptadmin

All:

First news today is that Word Jazz has been postponed until the Spring. Date to be determined closer to the first of the year. Hopefully then some of you lurkers, new members and non-practicing writers will be energized to get your work out there and join us. Delay in sponsorship, lack of entries in our writing contest and overall low SnoValley Writes! member participation required the schedule change. If someone would like to assist in the planning of the spring event, please let me know.

It’s about that time, too. End of Summer cleaning time. If you no longer want to receive these messages or be associated with SnoValley Writes! please respond with a reply email that simply says “remove.”

On to the next…

National Novel Writing Month is coming up. I will be your Municipal Liaison, with Takako Wright stepping up as Co-Captain to this insane month of writing focus. Special thanks to Takako for agreeing to join in on the M/L fun. Please spend some time these next couple of weeks to decide if you would like the awesome feeling of writing 50,000 words in 30 days with at least a near million other writers– more than 200 of them located right here in the valley. I have another manuscript in my South Fork series that must be written, as it appears…well, we won’t jinx it. Not yet. I have words to write. You have stories inside of you that must come out, too. Take the time, be supported and do it!

For those who thought MAYBE they might want to be treasurer for our board — here’s the duties as I was pressed for time last time to provide the details:

The Treasurer position is much like it sounds. We need someone who is willing to keep track of income and expenses for the group and act as an officer on the board. At this point the duties are fairly simple since we don’t have a large budget and do just a couple projects a year. There is a monthly or bi-monthly board meeting. We have been having it a Toads in the evening, but the time and place are flexible between the 5 board members. The other board members are myself, Vicky Bastedo, Sheila Hunter and Sheri Kennedy.

A working knowledge of QuickBooks or another accounting program would be needed. As we grow, we will be continuing to explore our tax reporting obligations and things of that nature, and would hope that our treasurer would be helpful in this research. They wouldn’t need to know all the ‘higher’ accounting skills, but would need to be able to work with a CPA or tax professional if required.

Ideally, this individual would commit to no less than a 2 year term. However, we’re willing to look at 1 year terms at this junction.

So, if you’re still interested, please let me know and we’ll set up a time to meet with the board and have a discussion, answer questions, etc., so you may come to a decision.

Moving on…

Our story that was produced via Write Now! Needs to be edited. If those who participated would like to meet separately from our writers cafes and begin to collaborate on revision for publication, please send me the best day/time that you could meet, perhaps weekly until November to try to get this done. We would pause in November for NaNoWriMo and then pick up, if necessary, to get it done. I envision at least 2 hour work sessions.

As you can see most of this post is about getting involved with your the other writers in our community. That is your prompt this week. To get involved.

You, dear writer, have a strong and active board under the banner of SnoValley Writes!, but we cannot create a literary community alone. We need the individuals which make up that community. We have grown fast and strong in three years. We have many more things we can accomplish, but it will take a village of writers to get it done. Imagine when you sell that book finally — wouldn’t it be nice to have a community already behind you, supporting you, helping you promote? Wouldn’t you like to have a high quality organization to put together a writer’s conference of your dreams? One right here in the Valley? If none of these things are appealing to you, I ask that you truly consider why you initially contacted SnoValley Writes. You want to be a writer. You need to write and you need to connect. Because without community, your work sits in a shoe box in the closet, or gathering up virtual dust in your computer files.

Step up. Step out. Bring your stories. You won’t be disappointed.

Join us. Truly join us. Don’t just be a name in a “to” line.

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What did you Write today?
~Casz

“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