Volume V, Issue 26 June 27, 2016 Word of the Week: introvert Dear ,
This is a picture of my beloved (and introverted) brother Mike, taken on a hike in the Rockies last week near his own little cabin in the
woods. If you're wondering why his hand is fisted on his hat, that's a signal to his rescue dog Shadow. See how attentive Shadow is? (This was before Shadow took off after a young, but still very large male moose and chased him right across the front of the cabin into the river. This was hilarious to watch, by the way.) Shadow is a rescue dog from Wyoming who had some severe problems, and to see the progress he has made over the past two years since I first met him is heartening indeed. It
was wonderful to spend time with Mike and Shadow in his recently acquired cabin away from everything. It is the fulfillment of a longtime dream.
Mike, you may
surmise, given the word of the week and the fact that he enjoys spending time in a cabin out in the woods, is an introvert like his baby sister. (I may be talkative, but I promise, if I don't get big chunks of time alone, I can get quite cranky.)
Mike, however, is not the only introvert in my life. I heard about this week’s featured writer, Susan Cain, from
my dear friend and WordPlayer Wendy Gill, a fellow introvert, as so many of my friends and WordPlayers are—maybe even you.
As I checked out Susan Cain’s TED talk, I found these words about introverts: “Although our culture undervalues them dramatically, introverts have made some of the great contributions to society—from Chopin's nocturnes to the invention of the personal computer to Gandhi’s
transformative leadership. Cain argues that we design our schools, workplaces and religious institutions for extroverts, and that this bias creates a waste of talent, energy and happiness. Based on intensive research in psychology and neurobiology and on prolific interviews, she also explains why introverts are capable of great love and great achievement, not in spite of their temperament—but because of it.”
I think you'll find Susan's talk both inspiring and entertaining, even if you're not an introvert—enjoy!
Love and light, Maureen Upcoming WordPlay DELICIOUS MEMORIES
FREE! Food not only nurtures and sustains us, it’s a rich source of metaphor and memory! We’ll explore our connections with food as we write of when, where, what, with whom, how — and even why — we ate! You can use your food writings to create a family cookbook, individual essays, stories, or poems, scenes in fiction or memoir, a food blog, etc. —
or just for your own pleasure.
WHERE: Main Library. 310 North Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28202
WHEN: July 19th, 2015, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
* A light dinner will be provided from 5:30 – 6:00 pm for anyone
registered for this program.
COST: Free!
TO REGISTER: To register online, please click here.
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WRITING CLASSES AT CHAUTAUQUA, NEW YORK
Our life stories are a precious legacy. Writing them is a gift, not only to ourselves, but to
those who love us - they'll be treasured for generations to come. Come learn engaging tools and techniques to retrieve and record your adventures, loves, losses, successes, and more with ease and enjoyment, no matter where you are in the process.
Course No: | 1700 |
| When: | Monday, June 27 – Thursday, June 30, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. |
| Location: | Hall of Ed.(Sheldon), rm 201, Chautauqua Institution |
| Cost: | $80, plus $22 for optional textbook (payable to instructor) |
Reap the benefits writing can provide—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—in this class in which you'll learn and practice whole brain methods for using writing as a transformative process as well as a creative one. These tools can be used to create essays, poems, memoir, fiction and/or nonfiction. For beginners and seasoned
writers.
Course No: | 1705 |
| When: | Tuesday, July 5th – Friday, July 8th, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. |
| Location: | Turner, 104, Chautauqua Institution |
| Cost: | $80.00 plus $22 for optional textbook (payable to instructor) |
Ever wondered what makes a poem a poem? Or wished your writing had more finesse? This class that explores
"poetic ingredients" in the areas of content, sound, and form will increase your expertise—in poetry and prose. Learn how to identify and use these ingredients, as well as how poems you love can inspire and instruct you. All levels welcome.
Course No: | 1706 |
| When: | Monday, July 11th – Thursday, July 14th, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. |
| Where: | Hultquist, 201A, Chautauqua Institution |
| Cost: | $80.00 plus $22 for optional textbook (payable to instructor) |
Buying Passes Your class registration will admit you to our grounds for the duration of your class. You do not need an additional gate pass unless you plan to come early or stay late. There is a charge for parking.
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SUMMER WRITING RETREAT
(Writing as Renewal / Creating New Writing / Tools for a Writing Life)
Renew and delight yourself. The Summer Writing Retreat is an opportunity to create new pieces of writing and/or new possibilities for our lives. Enjoy various seasonal prompts; they elicit beautiful material that can be shaped into essays, poems,
stories, or articles. After a communal lunch, you’ll have private time which can be used to collage, work with a piece of writing from the morning, or play with a number of other writing prompts and methods. You’ll take home new ideas, new drafts, and new possibilities. $97 includes lunch and supplies.
WHERE: South Charlotte area. Details will be provided upon registration.
WHEN: Saturday, August 6th, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. TO REGISTER: To pay with a check via mail, email info@wordplaynow.com for instructions. To pay online, please click this link to check out using PayPal.
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(Expanding Our Creativity; Learning New Tools for Our Writing and Our Lives; Creating New Writing)
Discover your own genius as you learn to apply seven fascinating approaches of Leonardo da Vinci to your writing. These techniques enliven non-fiction, poetry and fiction. Expect fun, inspiration and writing galore in
your preferred genre, with opportunities to share your work.
$630 for one week-long session (lodging and meals are additional – options can be found on the Folk School website). WHERE: John Campbell Folk School, 1
Folk School Road, Brasstown, NC 28902
WHEN: Sunday, August 7 – Saturday August 13, 2016.
TO REGISTER: To register, please click this John Campbell Folk School link to register directly from them.
More WordPlay opportunities here. Featured Writer
Susan Cain Photo courtesy of http://www.quietrev.com/media-kit/ Susan Cain is a former corporate lawyer and negotiations consultant -- and a self-described introvert. At least one-third of the people we know are introverts, notes Cain in her book QUIET: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop
Talking….In 2015 Susan Cain announced the launch of her mission-based organization Quiet Revolution that aims to change the lives of introverts by empowering them with the information, tools and resources they need to survive and thrive.
In the workplace, companies are not fully harnessing the talents of their introverted employees and leadership teams are often imbalanced with many more extroverts than introverts. The Quiet Leadership Institute has worked with companies from LinkedIn to GE to Procter and Gamble to help them achieve their
potential by providing learning experiences that unlock the power of introverts.
At the heart and center of the Quiet Revolution is empowering the next generation of children to know their own strengths and be freed from the sense of inadequacy that has shadowed the children of previous generations. Susan's second
book, Quiet Power, is written for teens and young adults but also serves as a tool for teachers and parents. In addition, Susan has created a portal and an online learning experience
for the parents of quiet children and has also established the Quiet Schools Network. Susan's podcast, Quiet: The Power of Introverts debuted in February 2016 as a 10-part series designed to give parents and teachers the tools they need to empower quiet kids.
(Bio courtesy of TED)
Featured Writing
This week’s featured “writing” is a TED talk, which is fantastic, and I hope you’ll watch it. And, good news, there is also a transcript!
The Power of Introverts
by
Susan Cain
When I was nine years old, I went off to summer camp for
the first time. And my mother packed me a suitcase full of books, which to me seemed like a perfectly natural thing to do. Because in my family, reading was the primary group activity. And this might sound antisocial to you, but for us it was really just a different way of being social. You have the animal warmth of your family sitting right next to you, but you are also free to go roaming around the adventureland inside your own mind. And I had this idea that camp was going to be just like
this, but better…. To watch/read the rest of this fabulous talk, see links below.
WordPlay Now! Writing
Prompt This is WordPlay—so why not revel in the power and
potential of one good word after another? This week, it's "introvert."
PROMPT:
After watching or reading Susan Cain's "The Power of Introverts" and taking special note of her opening story about taking a suitcase of books to summer camp. (I would have done the same thing, except my
mother wouldn't let me! Which turned out to be a good thing...) Write about a time you, or one of your characters, experienced being different from many of the people around you.
BONUS: Make a list of good things that have come out of your being an introvert (or
extrovert).
MAUREEN RYAN GRIFFIN, an award-winning poetry and nonfiction writer, is the author of Spinning Words into Gold, a Hands-On Guide to the Craft of Writing, a grief workbook entitled I Will Never Forget You, and three collections of poetry, Ten Thousand Cicadas Can't Be Wrong, This Scatter of Blossoms and When the Leaves Are in the Water. One of her long-held dreams came true in July of 2015 when Garrison Keillor read one of her poems on The Writer's Almanac. She believes, as author Julia Cameron says, "We are meant to midwife dreams for one another."
Maureen also believes that serious "word work" requires serious WordPlay, as play is how we humans best learn—and perform. What she loves best is witnessing all the other dreams that come true for her clients along the way. Language, when used with
intentionality and focus, is, after all, serious fuel for joy. Here's to yours! |
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