The YWCA invites Sonoma County writers to address the issue of domestic violence through poetry, flash fiction and memoir for October 2014’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Authors and poets are free to explore the topic from many perspectives, focusing on a more personal approach, a social level, the viewpoint from victims, children, loved ones, those who witness the violence, or those who work in the field, such as doctors, police, therapists. The YWCA defines domestic violence as threatening behavior that seeks to control and exercise power over another. This behavior can include one or all of the following: emotional abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, physical abuse, financial abuse, and/or threats of abuse or violence to a partner’s children or pets. Short fiction and personal narrative pieces should not exceed 1000 words. Up to three poems may be submitted, but the total number of pages of poetry shall not…
Category: Just Write
“I just want to stay authentic and keep dreaming my dreams.” — Katy Perry
“A lot of times I write these songs because I need to reinspire myself,” Katy Perry, in the July14, 2014 issue of People magazine. “I need to find my voice again. I need to be heard.” How about you? Are you writing to be heard? Is anyone paying attention? We are. . . here at The Write Spot Blog. Choose a prompt and then write. Post your writing on The Write Spot Blog. Maybe the person who most needs to hear what you have to say will be reading. “I just want to stay authentic and keep dreaming my dreams.” — Katy Perry Me too, Katy, me too~! Let’s gather ’round the table, put pen to paper or fingers on keyboard and Just Write!
Reject A Hit. . . Have you seen this?
Reject A Hit . . . Writer’s Digest Magazine, Rejection Letter column is a hit with local writers. Sonoma County Writer Amy Marincik’s spoof rejection on Great Expectations was selected for the March/April 2013 issue of Writer’s Digest magazine. Writers Forum presenter, Daniel Ari, wrote a pithy rejection letter to e.e. cummings, published in the July/August 2014 issue of the magazine. You, too, can be featured on the last page of Writer’s Digest magazine’s, Reject A Hit column. 300 words or fewer. Submit via email to wdsubmissions@fwmedia.com with “Reject a hit” in the subject line. Go for it! Here is a list of books that have been spoofed rejected. 2012 September The Godfather by Mario Puzo October Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote Nov/Dec How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss 2013 January Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl March/April Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, spoofed by…
The Kathy Myers “Book in a Box” Method (patent pending)
Guest Blogger Kathy Myers writes: Computers are great and all— without them, this blog wouldn’t exist and then what would I do? But when I was younger, my image of a writing life was less technical and more romantic: Jo in Little Women, writing her books in a drafty attic wearing fingerless gloves against the winter chill, or Jane Austen dipping her nib and contemplating her next chapter, while her parents plan a ball where she can meet eligible bachelors. Ah, the good old days. At a Jumpstart Writing Workshop in May, I wrote a fictional scene on the prompt “It happened because . . . ” Marlene Cullen, always benevolent and encouraging to writers said, “That would be a good beginning for a romance novel.” Jumpstart was on hiatus for the month of June, and this coincided with a flirtation I’d been having about trying the fabled “sit-your-ass-in-a-chair-and-write-a–thousand-words-a-day” method…
Terrain is an online journal . . . writing plus multimedia.
Terrain is an online journal of fiction, poetry, essays, photos and multimedia, currently looking for more fiction. June 2014 issue of The Writer magazine: “Readers are welcome to comment below Terrain’s pieces, and the online format allows them to share favorite writing through various social media outlet.” Terrain accepts general submissions from September 1 to May 30, and contest submissions year-round (with a September 1 deadline for mid-October publication). We do not accept regular submissions in June, July, and August. With the exception of accompanying artwork and queries, all work must be submitted online via Terrain.org’s Submission Manager, requiring the creation of a user account. Note: From Marlene. . . flag these contest and submissions dates. Start writing now and be ready to send during submission dates.
Listen to your body as a way to creativity.
In this Just Write post, we’ll take a look at the idea of listening to your body as a way to get past blocks toward your creativity. First, turn off your cell phone or put to vibrate. Unplug from Facebook and emails. Eliminate as many distractions as you can. If you are experiencing extreme grief or pain, please get professional help. This post, of course, cannot replace the need for professional assistance. Ready? Here we go. We all experience grief, trauma, sadness. And we have our own ways of handling those stresses. There is no one right or wrong way to handle these difficulties. What is right for one person, may be wrong for someone else. What works for me, might not work for you, so take what works for you from this post, ignore the rest. Let’s take a moment now to breathe, relax and get settled. Take a…
Sweatpants & Coffee wants your stories.
The Story of Sweatpants & Coffee The idea for Sweatpants & Coffee was born, as many great ideas are born, during a time of personal reflection and solitude. That is to say, while its founder was taking a hot shower. The concept of a site that would celebrate all things comfort-related, one that would help people to feel good about themselves, was immensely appealing to Nanea Hoffman. With dripping hair, she bought a domain name and sketched out a plan. Nanea spends a lot of time in sweatpants, drinking coffee, so this was inevitable. Sweatpants & Coffee is a place where you can kick back, enjoy yourself, and be comfortable. Because when you are your most comfortable self, you can do anything. Note from Marlene: Sweatpants & Coffee is an amazing website. . . poetry corner, flash fiction, inspiration, interviews, all kinds of good stuff. So grab a cuppa and…
Rebecca Lawton Week
This is “Rebecca Lawton Week” on The Write Spot Blot. Today’s inspiration for “Just Write” is from her book, Reading Water, Lessons from the River: The water-level fluctuations, both daily and seasonal, gave us regular lessons in how the river varied depending on flow. The thalweg, or deepest or best navigable channel, didn’t always follow a direct path. On one key day early in my training, I followed a boatman friend named John through the long, straight, placid reach of the Stanislaus below Razorback Rapids. As I rowed down the middle of the river, choosing the course where the main flow had been weeks before, I noticed John’s boat meandering from one side of the river to the other. He kept his hands on the oars but barely exerted himself, simply using the oars to adjust his boat’s position on the water surface. He moved briskly downstream through the calms…
Writer Advice introduces a new project
Writer Advice introduces a new project: Communicate an important message to a child, parent, spouse, lover, neighbor, fictitious character, or real literary agent. Write a letter that fits a category below: • Letter to a parent, child, spouse, or other family member • Letter to a lover • Letter to a neighbor • Letter to a civil servant or other service provider • Letter from a character to you or to another character • Letter to a potential agent or publisher Express yourself, hone your voice, find new subjects for your writing, share issues, share your thoughts and voice with the world. B. Lynn Goodwin (Writer Advice) will let you know the message she gets from your letter and the impression she receives of you as the author of the letter. You may be determined, confused, frustrated, wise, or inspiring. Letters only please. Keep them short. Less is more. Suggested…
Writing is like excavating . . .
Writing prompts on The Write Spot Blog are designed to encourage writing that takes the writer on a journey of discovery. Our freewrites can refresh our memories and remind us of times past. It’s like excavating — digging deep and dredging up memories. You can start writing very simply — with pen or pencil and paper or keyboard. To go deep into your writing — rest both feet on the floor, rest your hands lightly on your lap or on the table. Take in a deep, nourishing breath and slowly let it out. Another deep breath in and s-l-o-w-l-y release. Sink into your breath and relax on the out breath. Review the prompt and start writing. If you get stuck and don’t know what to write next: ~ Write the prompt . . . sometimes re-writing the prompt brings up new ideas. ~ Write “I remember. . . ” and…