Weekly Writing Prompts — June 17, 2015 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt

Dear Sno Valley Writes! Writers:

Summer time! Ahhh! The kids are out of school today. The sun has been a frequent guest for us — not sure where our June-uary went, but the gardens are loving it. Although, they’ll the love the rain if it shows up as expected this weekend, too.
Speaking of the weekend, this Saturday our group has the space at the North Bend Library’s meeting room. There will be no formal program. It is simply a time to come and work in a quiet space. Head-down writing, editing, daydreaming time. That is how it will be for July’s session as well, which is July 18. Come in. Work. Embrace the quiet and lose yourself in your stories. No cafe noises to distract you. No waitress asking if you want another Mac n Jacks. Just head-down writing time. I urge you all to take advantage of this time, as many of us need to get works in progress completed before the very productive novel-writing season of the fall.
Also, the Storyteller’s Circle is on sabbatical for the summer. Look for an announcement in the fall for its continuation.
What’s not suspended is the multiple opportunities for literary field trips, artist’s dates, and our writing cafes. Please do plan to attend the heads-down writing sessions, a writing cafes and take the time to recharge your creative batteries with a reading, an art show, a hike, whatever. Take care of your creative inner child.
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen… yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.”


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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

Weekly Writing Prompt — May 20, 2015

Weekly Writing Prompt

Writers:

Today’s prompt is about something I’m still trying to get many of you to do — and that’s to make sure you’re doing literary field-trips as often as possible. There’s so many reading, writing work shops, cool book stores, storyteller circles,  heck, there’s even a Hike & Write coming up (which I hope to attend). When was the last literary field trip you went on? Oh, and a great one right here in town coming up on May 27th:  Bard & Starlet Radio Hour. 
These kinds of events fuel your creative fire and many of us need a kick in the creative fire pants now and then.
That’s your prompt. Find some field trips and go. Don’t forget to write about them after (whether you publish via a blog or just keep it in your private journal…just write).
Now your moment of Writing Zen:

“I think writing really helps you heal yourself. I think if you write long enough, you will be a healthy person. That is, if you write what you need to write, as opposed to what will make money, or what will make fame.”

Alice Walker

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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 — April 15, 2015 Morning Pages

Weekly Writing Prompt

Quick Missive for you all writers, as its my daughter’s 17th birthday
today and I’m mobbing big time….

Saturday is the monthly Peer Review Work Session at 10:30 a.m. until
Noon at the North Bend library meeting room. This month’s topic is
lessons learned from NorWesCon ’38. Bring pen and paper or lappie,
whatever. Coffee and snacks allowed, just clean up afterwards. Thanks
to Tara for leading the pack on this.

Saturday afternoon the Storytellers Circle will meet at 3 p.m. at the
Umpqua Bank’s Community Room. It’s potluck. Food and Stories, what a
great way to spend a couple of hours.

Your prompt is to plan to be at one or both of these. Please.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“To grasp the full significance of life is the actor’s duty; to
interpret it his problem; and to express it his dedication.”
James Dean

—
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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 — April 8, 2015 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt

Writers:

Notes:  April 18 is the third Saturday of the Month. Time for writerly workshops and storytelling.

The workshop will be at 10:30 a.m. until Noon with the subject:  Writing Lessons Learned from NorWesCon 38. Bring pen and paper (or laptop). Be prepared to write — at least take notes — and ask questions.

Then the storyteller’s circle is at the Umpquah Bank community room (right next to the bank) at 3 p.m. This month’s is a potluck and food stories would be heartily welcomed. But any and all stories and their tellers are welcomed. As is music, poetry, and the like. This has been a lot of fun over the months and we’ve outgrown are little space at the visitors center and are now expanding. Won’t you join us?

Now for today’s prompt:  It’s about food. You knew that was coming, right? I want you to write, or retell a story where food is a focal point. Shoot for about 2,000 words, but no less than 1,000.
Go.
See you on the 18th!
—
—
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 — April 1, 2015 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt

I don’t do April Fool’s Jokes. I’ve tried. I fail at it.

Instead, I always make sure there’s sweet stuff in the house for April Fool’s.

Which reminds me about food.

Which then makes me think about several of the food-centered conversations I’ve been privy to recently.

So here we are at the prompt.

Write about food. Food you love, food you despise, food you’ve grown, food you’ve cooked. Write about it. But make sure that what you write is also about people, not just about the food. Unless, of course, you want to make the food have a personality, you know pull a  anthropomorphism card. When has food been the center of a scene of great transformation in your life? The food at your wedding, or a loved one’s funeral, or the train you took to Chicago. Whatever. Shoot for no less than 1,000 words. If you get closer to 2,500 words, even better. If you decide to post the exercise on your blog, be sure to let us know.

Next workshop is April 18 at the North Bend Library Meeting room at 10:30 a.m. More details to follow in the next few weeks. Put it on your calendar and plan to attend.

That same afternoon, at 3 p.m. the Storyteller’s Circle will be sharing stories. Location to be determined. Stay tuned for more details on that, too.

Congrats to those in the group that went outside their writer comfort zone and did #TheSketchbookProject.
Also, good luck to Free Valley Publishing in its appearance at NorWesCon this weekend. If you’re planning on attending #NorWesCon38, be sure to check out their booth.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“For me, comedy starts as a spew, a kind of explosion, and then you sculpt it from there, if at all. It comes out of a deeper, darker side. Maybe it comes from anger, because I’m outraged by cruel absurdities, the hypocrisy that exists everywhere, even within yourself, where it’s hardest to see.” ~Robin Williams

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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 — March 18, 2015 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt

Writers:

Simple prompt today. Get your first pages (chapter even) of your current Work In Progress. Make two copies of it. Attend the peer-review workshop at the library on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (North Bend Library Meeting Room).
Do it.
You’ll be glad you did.
Then that afternoon attend the Storytellers Circle at the North Bend visitors center at 3 p.m. This month we’re focusing on stories of our matriarchs: stories about your mother, grandmother, aunt, and other historical women in your life.
Hope to see you at both.
Have a great day. 

—

—
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 — March 11, 2015 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt

Writers:

Sorry for the unannounced mini vacation from the prompts. That sometimes happens in life. I’m sure you were busy with your writing anyways, so you hardly missed it?
Well, no need to fear, we’re back.
Don’t forget March 21 is the peer-review work session at the North Bend Library Meeting Room at 10:30 a.m. until Noon. Bring two copies of a first chapter. Bring a pen/pencil. Bring a smile and an open mind and heart. Coffee optional.
If you have questions, feel free to send to me.
Today, your prompt is about support. When was the last time you went to a reading? Bought a book? Reviewed a book? Took a writing class? Can’t remember? Then it’s time to put those on your radar and get going. Support another artist. Today. Now. Go.
Lastly, it’s that time of year when I ask folks to let me know if they want off this crazy ride of an email list. Just respond to this email with “remove” and I’ll take you off the list. Even if you’re inactive, but still enjoy the prompts, feel free to stay. You’re always welcome. If not, no worries, we’ll send you off with good wishes.
Have a great week, folks. See you on the 21st.

—

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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 — February 25, 2015

Weekly Writing Prompt

Friends,

I’m so glad a few of you decided to join the Storyteller’s Circle on Saturday. What an incredible afternoon! Songs, stories, history, community! I hope that some of you will make plans to join us in March, too. March 21, 3 to 5 p.m. at the North Bend Visitor’s Center.
The morning before, is the peer-review work shop at 10:30 a.m. until Noon at the North Bend Library Meeting Room. This month’s focus is on first chapters. More information to follow on that next week.
In the interim, you need to be writing, revising, editing, and sending out. When was the last time you sent something out? Sometimes, it could be said, that traditional publishing is a numbers game. To an extent, that can be true. The more you write, the more you send out, the more you’ll learn, the more you’ll get acceptance. Be brave. Kill your fear. Get it out there. Your prompt is to at minimum make a plan to send something out, with a definitive deadline. Best case scenario is to send something out before this time next week. Or send a few things out. Whatever! Just get it read and send it out!
And now your moment of Writing Zen:
“If the book is true, it will find an audience that is meant to read it.”
—Wally Lamb

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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 — February 18, 2015

Weekly Writing Prompt, , , , , , ,

Good Morning Writers!

This Saturday you’re planning on being at the North Bend Library at 10:30 a.m. in order to polish your pitch for whatever project you’re currently on, right? Don’t know what a pitch is? You should be there to learn as well. This will be a round-table discussion and critique workshop, so lots to learn. Bring a couple of copies of your pitch to share.
Afterwards, take time for lunch and your Saturday errands, or a nap, whatever, and join us at 3 p.m. at the North Bend Visitors Center for the Storyteller’s Circle. Bring a poem, a short story, a legend from your family, your guitar, your ukulele, a drum, whatever. Tribal leaders plan to be there and partake this month, so it bodes to be a special session. Hope to see you there.
Before Saturday, there is other writing work to be done. If you don’t have your pitch ready, get that ready. (Here is a cheat sheet to get you started.) Or spend two hours editing. Or get 1,000 words on the paper/screen. Go to a writing cafe. It’s free-reign week! Just make progress. Pitch, edit, write, and then write, edit, pitch. Tell your story. It matters.
Now for your moment of Writing Zen:
“We’re past the age of heroes and hero kings. … Most of our lives are basically mundane and dull, and it’s up to the writer to find ways to make them interesting.”
—John Updike

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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 — February 11, 2015 Edition

Weekly Writing Prompt, , , , ,

Writers:

There is lots of good things going on with the group. Many of our author-friends are having success with people finding their stories and publishing. I hope that you are making time to go to the cafes and soaking up this goodness.

You, too, should be part of that success track. Today’s prompt is about finding a home for your work. We spend so much time working on the work — creating, editing, revising, recreating — that some of our energies never see the effort of finding a home, whether that be an anthology for a short story, a magazine for an article, or an agent for our novel. I want you to set aside time this week to find a home for your work. Take the time and send out that inquiry. Find the submission guidelines and send in that short story. Do a pitch to the acquisitions editor at your favorite magazine.

To steal a marketing term:  Just Do It.

Because as writers we know that even in rejection we are learning, growing, and honing our craft.

After you send it out, pitch it, or inquire about it, I want you to let me know. I want to do some sort of tracking matrix for our group. I want us to be able to say in February, X number of authors sent out work, and Y number of authors were accepted. I do believe that if we just up the amount of folks sending stuff out, the results will be amazing. This is a very talented group. Don’t keep your talent in a box in your closet. Your story matters. The world wants to read it.

Do not forget that the peer-review workshop is Feb. 21st at 10:30 a.m. at the North Bend Library Meeting Room. Round-table review for your pitch/inquiry is the focus this month. The workshop goes until noon. Come prepared. Any questions, feel free to ping me.

Additionally, the Storyteller’s circle is also Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. at the North Bend Visitors Center. Come read a short story, a flash fiction piece, a poem. Anything. Come tell about that crazy time you almost caught the sturgeon in the Snoqualmie River. This is an electic group of folks– musicians, poets, historians, etc.  Best of all, it’s lots of fun, and for me, has created new inspirations for story lines. Hope to see you there.

And now your moment of Writing Zen:

“Writing means sharing. It’s part of the human condition to want to share things – thoughts, ideas, opinions.” ~Paulo Coelho

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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