Tag Archives: poor man’s mfa

Weekly Writing Prompt — September 17, 2014 Edition

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mtsireflectionWriters!

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:
*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.

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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 — January 15, 2014 Edition

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All:

This is arriving in your mail box a day late. My apologies. I was trying to ferret out some information and it was taking me longer than I would have preferred.
The workshop on Tuesday was a lot of inspirational fun. I hope that many of you can plan to join us on the 28th and then head post-haste from that to the FreeValley Publishing Round Table at Boxley’s.
Also, grants, submissions, and contests, notably the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards, were discussed on Tuesday. I found that the 2014  ABNA contest has not opened yet and Amazon has, as of today, not planned to cancel it. So, finish up your pitches and everything else and get ready for it. In the meantime, here’s a link to some more contests and calls for submissions you might be interested in.
Today’s prompt is continuing on our Poor Man’s MFA plan. This prompt will take you over several weeks, so you need to be committed.
Good writers are readers.
Your prompt today is to find a novel, any novel, and read it like a writer. Have a notebook handy. As you read, make notes of the mechanics of the book:  genre, point of view, and length. Then be sure to acknowledge phrases and word choices that you like. Rewrite them so they are ingrained in your brain. Look for the character development, where is the conflict, what does the character want, what’s in the character’s way? What are the plot points/devices? Make notes as you read. Not just in your head, but in a notebook. Get a fresh one if you like, or just stick this exercise in your daily morning pages journal.
Next week we’ll be looking at even more things from the book because you’re going to write a critique/review of it.
And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“I’ve put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant, and that’s the only way of insuring one’s immortality.”  ~James Joyce

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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