JoCoWrites

By Virginia Brackett

No doubt you recognized that Chapter 52 was written for us writers. Its focus on the use of comparative language, or metaphors and similes, to clarify an abstract idea is one all skillful writers experience. The authors tell us of “bold” work ideas that the person proposing the idea must “find the essence and share it in a way that someone else can easily understand.” The skillful writer makes abundant use of comparative language as she keeps her audience in mind. For instance, if you want to explain the concept of not judging others, because we can’t know everything about them, to a child, a comparison works well. You might compare that situation to our viewing a tree. We can clearly see the trunk and branches, but the roots are an equal part of the complex that is a tree. Comparison to an iceberg might even better serve, as what we see above water is usually only a fraction of the entire iceberg. One concern is to not lapse into cliché or employing comparisons that are so well known they have grown stale, such as the phrase “the tip of the iceberg.” We must challenge ourselves as writers to look to such time-honored comparisons as examples, but to develop fresh comparisons of our own.

By Virginia Brackett

Chapter 13, “Party Park Parkway” practices perfect alliteration – see what I did there? The title gets writers rolling right into the first few paragraphs that discuss the importance of trust to successful group interactions. While the chapter focuses on various kinds of groups or teams, for our purposes we can see how well it applies to a writing critique group. Important takeaways: we must trust in order to feel safe; to trust those around us, we must depend on their being “invested in” our personal success, and we must be invested in theirs; when we trust we feel free to be honest and disagree without threat. In my experience true trust within a critique group takes time to build; as the chapter notes, it can’t be “rushed,” and it certainly can’t be “faked.” In order to establish trust, rules for conducting critique are critical. If everyone must adhere to the same length requirements, the same submission procedure, the same conduct during the critique, then respect for one another as individuals, as well as respect for the writing that we share will grow organically over time. Time is an essential ingredient to trust-building. For instance, we do not enter the first day on a new job, in a new class, even shopping in a new store with trust. The unknowns loom too large. Regardless of what we’ve heard or read about a new place or new group, we must experience it ourselves, and experience it more than once, before we can relax and trust that what seems to be true, actually is. This need for experience in order to trust and gain comfort is even more essential to a well-functioning writing critique group. That’s because we feel especially vulnerable when we offer our writing to others. Our writing reveals much about us, and that type of revelation is not something we generally engage in during a first experience.

By Virginia Brackett

To begin at the beginning, I love everything about the title of this book. The words “Creative,” “Acts,” “Curious,” and “People” all relate so well to writing and writers. Those words predict an active experience, and to be a writer one must – well – act, or write. We can think about writing, coming up with ideas as we jog, prepare meals, run errands, in spare moments at our work desk, but the follow-through to complete a piece about that great idea is essential. Even after beginning a piece based on what seemed a creative idea, if we depend on the rush of emotion we feel when we begin the act of writing to carry us to the conclusion, we will not make it. The individual who finds the task of assembling a written work fun from the first paragraph to the final is a rare and blessed creature indeed. Writing is a serious of “acts,” some of sheer will. This remains a truth that will endure. The term “curious” can be our motivator when finding a topic to write about and assist us in the follow through. Let’s say you want to write an article about an already popular topic, such as fostering animals. You and the everyday reader may understand the topic in a general sense – you understand that people take homeless animals from a shelter and keep them for a measured amount of time, until they can be adopted into a forever home. But you and others likely don’t understand all of the effort that goes into fostering. As a curious person, you want to know more, and you begin by asking questions, such as how does one get started fostering? What are the steps to becoming a foster parent for furry kids? Does everyone qualify, or must one meet certain requirements? By following the lead of curiosity, you can learn much and share much as well. That sharing that arises from the writing act, which is spurred by curiosity, can be a most satisfying people-centered activity.

The Writers Conference Pre-Game is September 22nd at Central and the planning committee is excited to distribute this year's conference book: Creative Acts for Curious People How to Think, Create, and Lead in Unconventional Ways by Sarah Stein Greenburg.

This month we would like to see some examples of your responses to prompts from the conference book! Choose a prompt that has a writing response and post that response here along with something you learned while completing it.

Happy creating!

Submit your response here.

By Annie Newcoemr

Harvest

moonlight grazes over the tops of hills reflects footpath around lake reflects light without shadows reflects moonlight, over the tops of hills, grazing

Annie Newcomer

Abandoned

So I brought them home Abandoned angels without wings abandoned puppies wandering streets abandoned So I brought them home

Annie Newcomer

Remember

There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future Remember and then surrender remember and then forgive Remember There is no sinner without a saint, no future without a past

Annie Newcomer

By Nina Cope

Youth

It was taken when I was young. Naive, Fearful, Quiet because I was young. Changing, Hardened, Hating because I was young When it was taken.

By Charles

His eyes Are filled with A sly humor and wit Beyond his years. He ensures our days Are filled with Creativity and self-expression, And ensures my memories Of all these days Are filled with His eyes.

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I’m listening to podcasts Most of the time If you see me wearing headphones. It’s like chatting with old friends Or overhearing some hot gossip, and Most of the time I get so invested in the episode That there is no room For my anxiety Most of the time I’m listening to podcasts.

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The pie I ate Had organic blueberries Bursting with juice. Each bite I ate Was pure delight. I hope My neighbors who left it out to cool won’t mind I ate
The pie.

By Joy Rock

Checking In

You good? Long night Fun times

Car ride You good? Black heels Stumbling Fallen

You good?

Checking In

By Joy Rock

Yoga Toga

Sweating Heat Closeness

Burning Sweating Darkness Light

Calories Sweating

Yoga Toga

By Joy Rock

You, ME, Everything

ID me at the store Tell me I'm ugly at times Put me on the shelf I'll be by your side ID me at the store Let's go on this ride What am I to you? Am I your ugly photo? ID me at the store ME, you, everything

by Joy Rock