February, 2013
This winter must have provided a good period of time to stay at home
huddled over a computer or a writers’ pad and compose, compose, compose. We had a prolific bunch this month and we all enjoyed listening to various styles and ideas.
Amazing how on such a cold afternoon we could create such warmth and
enthusiasm inside our Indian Lake Library.
We heard about how one can win frequently at an Indian Lake, Tricky
Tray. We had two memoir pieces, one initiated by the title of Window Watching,
and the other a family history of Valentine’s Day. We had an inspirational
poem about windows in homes and churches. One of our writers’ has begun a fiction piece based in Brooklyn, while another writer has begun a semi nonfiction piece based on the disappearance of a long time ago friend. Finally,another writer shared a sad tale of historical significance which has since been
wiped out of existence. Is that variety for you?
Assignment: We are hoping for additional tales about the unique
qualities of life in Indian Lake.
Previous assignment which no one has tackled: Layers
New idea: This idea comes from the Universal Class on Creative Writing.
Choose a random noun and then a random adjective. Put them together
and FREE WRITE.
**Adirondack Center for Writing offers a Literary Award for writing fiction, poetry memoir or non fiction. Read details on their website. Entries must be received by March 8.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 20 1:30
FREE WRITING:
“For many writers, free writing or stream of consciousness writing is the way
to find the trail. This is especially true if we have negative memories of
someone’s harsh criticism, if we have writer’s block, if we’re afraid to write
what we feel, if we’ve lived the life of daily chores too intensely, or if we have
lots of ideas but don’t know how to begin.”
“Pick a word—a noun, something concrete—and put it at the top of the page.
It could be an arbitrary word: Onion. Feather. River. Sponge. Or it could be
something you need to think more deeply about: Father. Time. Love.
Now,begin to write everything that comes into your mind. Keep at it for at least two pages. Let yourself wander, anything — especially if it’s bizarre and crazy—goes. Follow the path, don’t be afraid if it veers off somewhere
else. Afterward, go back and jot down next to your free writing links, the journey from one thought to another. Uncover the connections that you made. After all, writing is meandering—sometimes a stroll, sometimes a fast walk—to a place ofdreams, memories, and thoughts you didn’t know existed.”
from: Writing Toward Home by Georgia Heard p.62-63