Monday, December 30, 2013

GFWG January 2nd Newsletter

Talk about your Hail Mary...Sorry I've been lax on this month's newsletter but hey, we've all worked under crushing pressure before....and Christmas intruded on my free time sooo...it is what it is. I will imitate the Romans in brevity.....




QUOTABLES Words to shift your mind into overdrive...

“Being an author is having angels whisper in your ear - and devils, too.” 
― Graycie Harmon

“A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it.” 
― Samuel Johnson

“Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything good.” 
― William Faulkner

“There was a moment when I changed from an amateur to a professional. I assumed the burden of a profession, which is to write even when you don't want to, don't much like what you're writing, and aren't writing particularly well” 
― Agatha Christie


CONTESTS AND OTHER SUNDRY ITEMS


William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing contest
2014 Competition opens January 1st..
http://www.wordsandmusic.org/competition.html


The Saturday Evening Post Great American Fiction Contest
All entries must be postmarked July 1st, 2014. There is a $10 fee to enter but, hey, it's the Saturday Evening Post. Worth a look.
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/fiction-contest


No Entry Fee Poetry Writing Contests
A good list of contests with some hefty prizes to be had. 







PROMPTS

All we are saying is....what? What are we saying? What does peace and/or equality mean to you? Does it mean equal wages for men and women? Does it mean foiling terrorist plots overseas? Maybe it means a silent prayer in an empty church, a quiet spring morning spent in a breakfast nook with a cuppa and the paper..give me your interpretation in prose or poetry..your choice 













Written Prompts


Imagine you are a falling leaf...where would you go, where would you land? Would you be blowing about in a blustery autumn gale, drifting gently along to land on a sidewalk. Raked into a pile of your leaf friends?

A charm bracelet is often filled with personal meaning for the wearer. Describe your charm bracelet and what it would have hanging from it...of course a charm bracelet would be a bit girly for our writer guys....how about what mementos you might have in your wallet...




See you January 2nd!

Remember a writer writes, always.

Happy New Year!

Debbie




Wednesday, December 11, 2013

GFWG Newsletter for the Dec 19th Meeting

   The writer's group is next week. Excitement! Even the newsboy on the corner feels the hairs on the back of his neck prickle when the rush of a writer en route soars by.
      
     Hey, Want a short SHORT fiction competition? 500 words or less? The Gover Prize for Very Short Fiction is upon us.
     The deadline is January 10. We're meeting next Thursday the 19th, so if you brought it in THEN, you could get feedback from us for it when we meet again on January 2nd, and so you could clean it up and submit it. What a great idea, huh? You betcha. See the bottom of this email for details.*
     Want prompts? Okay. We got prompts.
1. Things around town keep disappearing
2. Two groups of knights have a mounting quarrel which looks like it is about to turn to bloodshed, write how someone steps in and resolves it through talk/diplomacy
3. A suspenseful horror story/scene which centers around holiday lights
4. you haven't decorated the house for the holidays, but the neighbors just did. You realize they stole your decorations you do it.
5. children have overthrown adults and are ruling the house/company/country/world
    For poetic forms, this time let's prompt the Bop.
The Bop is a form of poetic argument consisting of three stanzas. For specifics, go here: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5773
  
     That's it. See you next Thursday, the 19th, 7:00, in the Crandall Room!


     * The Gover Prize, named after groundbreaking author Robert Gover, awards an annual prize and publication in Best New Writing for the best short fiction and creative nonfiction. Entries limited to 500 words or less.
     The Gover Prize includes:
     $250 to Gover Prize Winner.
      Finalists published in the upcoming Best New Writing edition.
Please use our submission portal to enter your story: http://www.bestnewwriting.com/BNWgover.html
or visit www.BestNewWriting.com for details.