Weekly Writing Prompt — Oct. 15, 2014 Edition

October 15, 2014Weekly Writing Promptgrow, learn, polish, quote, submissions, write, zebraadmin

Brrrr!

Who turned off the sun?

I have a rule in our house that we won’t start using the firewood supply until the earliest Oct. 15. Here we are and I’m dangerously close to striking up a fire.

Instead, I threw on an extra sweater and am writing about hellhounds, in order to stoke the creative fires.

Today’s prompt is to go out there and find a contest or market to submit a piece of work to and then, gasp!, submit it. Do it, don’t be afraid. Every step you take allows you to learn, and grow.

Don’t have an inventory of stories to choose from? Then you need to finish one! Get it done.

Need something to write about?

Here’s a prompt:

“Sally swore she saw a Zebra racing down main street….”

Go.

Write.

Don’t stop until it’s done.

Don’t forget: Workshop on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the North Bend Library. I only have two RSVPs right now. Hopefully some of you just forgot.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone”
― Pablo Picasso

—
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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 — October 8, 2014

October 8, 2014Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Greetings all you word smiths you!

I hope this finds you revving up to write!

Without further ado, here’s your prompt:

“I heard footsteps in the leaves…”

Write between 1,000 and 1,500 word story beginning with that sentence.

Go!

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Believe only half of what you see and nothing that you hear.”
― Edgar Allan Poe

See you at the cafes?

—
—
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. 1, 2014 Edition

October 1, 2014Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Wow! It’s October! Bringing in the harvest, football games, pumpkin-flavored everything, decorative gourds, oh and Halloween costume making.

How about writing? What are your plans for writing this month? Do you have a plan? Word count goals? Journaling daily? Snap Writing?

Don’t know what any of those things are? Perhaps you should check out one of our cafes? Or our upcoming October workshop on Oct. 18th at the North Bend Library at 10:30 a.m. until Noon.

Today’s prompt is about preparation for winter. I want you to write a short story (1,000 words is good) from an animal’s perspective while preparing for the winter.

In the meantime, we’re doing some winter prep here, too. If you’re receiving this email and would like to no longer do so, please respond with UNSUBSCRIBE and we’ll bid you a cordial farewell and you will no longer receive the weekly prompts/updates.

Now your moment of Writing Zen:

“If you believe you can accomplish everything by “cramming” at the eleventh hour, by all means, don’t lift a finger now. But you may think twice about beginning to build your ark once it has already started raining”
― Max Brooks, The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead

—
—
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 — September 24, 2014 Edition

September 24, 2014Weekly Writing Promptliterary, pablo neurda, poetry, rain, writingadmin

Greetings Rainy Morning, Writers:

Well, at least it’s raining at the ol’ Thrasher Studios Homestead. Maybe you have some autumn sun? At any rate, if you’re like many writers, the cooler temps and shorter days send you inside to create stories more often. That’s why on Saturday we reviewed the 7 basics of a writing education. The things you should be doing to give your literary life a good foundation.

Upcoming workshops include:

October 18: Poetry is Not a Luxury

November 15: Where to Submit your Work (Note, in our workshop, I mistakenly said November 22. That’s incorrect. The third Saturday for November is actually the 15th.)

December 20: Blog to the World

There’s been questions about whether or not we’ll keep this Saturday schedule. The answer is: Yes, for the foreseeable future.

Today’s prompt is to get you ready for our next workshop. I want you to go check your bookshelves, your e-reader, the library — wherever literary sources are available to you, and find a book of poetry. It doesn’t have to be anything specific. It doesn’t have to be sonnets. It can be anything. There’s tons out there. You could pick up McSweeneys or ZoeTrope All Story. Heck, grab your kid’s Dr. Seuss book, if need be. Do, however, go out of your comfort zone. Find something new. Find your alma mater’s literary magazine and check that out. Then read it. Study it. Really examine it. Journal about it. Find the meaning between the lines and words and the white space. Breathe it for the next month or so. Keep picking it up. Memorize it if you like. Learn it. Know it.

Now for your moment of Writing Zen:

“Poetry is an act of peace.” – Pablo Neruda

—
—
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 — September 17, 2014 Edition

September 17, 2014Weekly Writing PromptNorth Bend Library, Poetry Night, poor man's mfa, Poverty Wine and Poetry, Sno Valley Writes!, The Black Dog, writing work shopadmin

Writers!

Greetings. Hopefully you’re eking out the last of summer and getting ready for a great autumn of writing.

First things first, reminders:

1. Thursday (that’s tomorrow) The Black Dog in Historic Downtown Snoqualmie is hosting a poetry night. I talked to Chris, the owner, and she said that the goal is to become joyfully depressed over summer’s exit. It’s very tongue-in-cheek. Honestly it’s to celebrate the greatness of words and the art form of Poetry, as well as the art form that created wine. Open mic. So, bring your poetry to share. I may even read. No bottle of wine will be over $10. Hope to see you all there. “Poverty Wine and Poetry” starts at 6 p.m.

2. Our revamped Writing Workshops begin on Saturday, at 10:30 a.m. until Noon at the North Bend Library. I understand that many of our published authors will be at the Snoqualmie Block Party — and that’s awesome. Go sell those books! For the rest of us, we’ll be diving back into the Poor Man’s MFA curriculum and discussing The Back-to-School basics of a Writing Education. Lots of tips and tactics and a take-home list to remind you. Oh, and of course there will be writing and sharing. Please RSVP so I may plan accordingly with hand outs and set up.

Today’s prompt has to do with end-of-season travel. I’m starring at my mug from Colorado and thinking about my trip, which then gets me thinking about this story I started and never finished. Therefore, today’s prompt is to write a short (no more than 1500 words) story that happens while traveling. Pretty broad, I know. So, there’s one thing I want you to include in the story: a chicken crossing the road. Now, go write.

Hope to see many of you Thursday or even tonight at the Writing Cafe at Jay Berrys. Also, don’t forget to RSVP for Saturday.

Now your moment of Writing Zen:

“You can write a short story in two hours. Two hours a day, you have a novel in a year.“*

Ray Bradbury

*And as we all know, a novel can be written in a month, too. Don’t forget National Novel Writing Month is in November. 30 days. 50,000 words.

—
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. 10, 2014

September 10, 2014Weekly Writing Promptadmin

In just 10 days, we kick back off another season of work shops. I certainly hope you all are ready to roll into fall and learn all you can about helping your literary life.

We will continue on our curriculum of the Poor Man’s MFA. More details next week, but put it on your calendar now: We’ll meet Sept. 20th — that’s a Saturday at 10:30 a.m. until Noon. Late enough to snooze in on a Saturday, but early enough that you still have a whole day to do whatever you like (maybe work on that novel?). So did you put it on your calendar? That’s your prompt. Put it down, plan on it, be there.

In the interim, I hope you are attending any of our weekly writing cafes. Mondays at Pioneer have been a bit low participation and that time may be getting moved to mid-afternoon. More news on that as decisions are made. However, Wednesdays at Jay Berrys and Friday mornings at The Black Dog continue strong and helping folks connect with other writers and inspiring great pieces and projects.

Can’t wait to see you all on the 20th! It’s been a great summer, but it’s time to get back to it. See you soon.

—
—
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 — July 30, 2014 Edition

July 30, 2014Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Hello Writers!

Have you been enjoying your summer? I hope so. We’ve been busy around here with many, many things, including writing.

Have you been doing your morning pages? Have you had an artist date as of late? How about read every day, in addition to writing?

When was the last time you went to a writers’ cafe?

If there are any kind of answers that are no, not as of late, can’t recall, or not in a long time, you might want to change that around.

Despite the hiatus to workshops, the group is still very active — especially in the cafes. Lots of work, networking, inspiration, and the like is going on.

Today’s prompt is simply this: don’t let life get in the way of telling your story (whatever that may be). Keep writing. Keep giving yourself permission to pursue your dreams. Heal and heed that inner child.

Create.

And now your moment of writing zen:

“Non-judgment quiets the internal dialogue, and this opens once again the doorway to creativity.”
― Deepak Chopra

Weekly Writing Prompt — June 18, 2014 Edition

June 18, 2014Weekly Writing Promptadmin

Writers:

Greetings!

A reminder that we meet Tuesday, June 24 at 6 p.m. at the North Bend Library Meeting Room. We’ll be discussing editing tips & tricks and my goal is to have a checklist for such to hand out to all those in attendance.

Your prompt today is to make sure you have a piece of writing ready for critique feedback for the June 24 workshop, too. Bring a chapter, a couple of poems, a short story (no more than 8,000 words), an article, or even a blog post! We’ll provide feedback to help you polish it up!

Don’t forget to get a writers cafe date on your calendar for the month, too — which now is half over.

Alright, enjoy the last day of school for our district and let the summertime fun begin!

Language ought to be the joint creation of poets and manual workers. ~George Orwell

—
—
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 — June 11, 2014 Edition

June 11, 2014Weekly Writing Promptnew schedule, permission, schedule, summer sabbatical, weekly writing prompt, workshop, Writing Zenadmin

Writers:

Again, my sincere apologies for the last-minute cancellation yesterday. All I can say is that life happens and it doesn’t happen according to schedule. That’s the stuff stories are made of, yes? All is handled, and life will go on.

Now for writing-focused news:

Our next workshop June 23 and we’ll do an editing check list along with doing feedback and critique. Please bring some work to share.

On July 8 we have special author guest speaker. Regional Author Sharol Louise will come and speak to the group. If you attend any workshop this summer, please attend this one.

July 22 will be our last workshop of the summer. I’ve learned a few more things since the last time we focused on this in a workshop regarding online personas and building platforms. As is our core, we’ll be doing some feedback and critique time. Please bring some work to share.

August we’re on summer sabbatical. Enjoy the weather, good times with family and friends and get ready for some changes in the group come fall.

Beginning in September our workshops will moved to once a month and on the third Saturday of the month. Therefore, Sept. 20th will be our first of the new schedule. We’ll meet at the North Bend Library Meeting room, still. Time is from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Hope this schedule allows everyone to participate more often and regularly. Be ready with work to share for feedback and critique, as always.

Your prompt is to put all these dates down on your calendar and make writing a priority in your life. We give you permission.

Now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Our animal companions love us unconditionally. They are our great teachers.” ~ Julia Cameron

—
—
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 — June 4, 2014 Edition

June 4, 2014Weekly Writing Promptartist's dates, feedback. prepared work, morning pages, snap writing, work shopadmin

Prompt: Prepare something to share for Tuesday’s workshop. Make at least two hard copies of it. Make sure it’s not longer than 8,000 words.

Remember: RSVP for the work shop on Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m. at the North Bend Library.

Nudge: Keep doing your snap writing, morning pages, and artist’s dates.

Question: When was the last time you were at a writers cafe? Plan to attend one in the next month.

Writing Zen: “You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway.”

― Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

SnoValley Writes!

Helping Writers Reach Literary Peaks

Weekly Writing Prompt — Oct. 15, 2014 Edition

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Weekly Writing Prompt — September 24, 2014 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt — September 17, 2014 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt — Sept. 10, 2014

Weekly Writing Prompt — July 30, 2014 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt — June 18, 2014 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt — June 11, 2014 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt — June 4, 2014 Edition