Volume IIII, Issue 7
February 16, 2015
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Dear ,
This little girl grew up to become the mother of my grandson, whom I have the pleasure of reading Good Night, Moon to every other Friday, among other occasions. He loves it as much as his mother did, way back when. And I am so grateful to have another toddler in my lap --or next to me on the couch -- to read aloud to.
Reading aloud is not just good for little kids, though. There's a reason I read good writing aloud in all my writing classes -- and encourage all my participants to read their own work aloud. (Yes, we'll be doing this at all three of my upcoming writing retreats -- check them out below.) There's no better way to tell if your writing is
fully polished and ready to go -- or where revising and polishing is still needed.
Reading aloud is good for everybody, no matter how young or old they are, and it's especially good for writers. Yes, that means you! You can read more about that from WordPlayer Chris Daly, who's featured in this
week's zine. Chris fell in love with the hilarious poet Billy Collins in large part because of hearing him read his poems aloud. Here's one of his that made us both laugh. Those adorable children do grow up to be teenagers, don't they? Just as my daughter did. (Click here to read an essay I wrote on the pleasures of reading aloud back when she was a teenager.)
Love and
light,
Maureen Upcoming WordPlay
COASTAL WRITING RETREAT Connect with Your Creativity at the Sunset Inn
(Writing—and more—as Renewal and Inspiration) Only one space left! Renew yourself and reconnect with your own creativity, whether you are a practicing writer, closet writer, or as-yet-to-pick-up-the-pen writer! The techniques and prompts we’ll use will spur your imagination, and can be used to create nonfiction, fiction, and/or poetry—the choice is yours. $378 for the weekend beginning Friday February 20 through Sunday February 22. The Coastal Writing Retreat includes
writing sessions, two nights’ lodging, two breakfasts and Saturday lunch (hotel tax and Saturday dinner at a local restaurant not included). Additionally, for those who might like to stay another day to work on their writing, or to just enjoy the beach, the Inn is offering to Coastal Writing Retreat participants only, the opportunity to stay Sunday night, February 22, at half price. WHERE: The Sunset Inn, 9 North Shore Dr., Sunset Beach, NC 28468
WHEN: Friday, February 20 – Sunday, February 22, 2015 TO REGISTER: Contact the Sunset Inn at 888.575.1001 or 910.575.1000 (if you would like to handpick your room, view your choices here first, then call). Because the Inn is holding rooms for you, our participants, they are blocked off as unavailable online. Register soon by phone – this is a popular event and there are only 3 more spaces available. ----------------------------------------------------------------- (Writing As a Healing Process) Only two spaces left! What benefits can writing provide –physically, mentally, spiritually? Are some ways of writing more healing than others? And can we create quality literary work as we heal? In this retreat that incorporates recent discoveries in the field of mind-body-spirit connection and Dr. James Pennebaker’s ground-breaking ideas on writing as a way to move through loss and grief, you’ll learn methods of writing that
help navigate loss and grief on your life path of growth and wholeness. You will choose your ideal balance between community time and solitude as you use writing as a transformational tool in any way that best serves you. And, if you’re looking, you’ll find the genesis of new poetry, creative non-fiction, and/or fiction. Note: Tears honored. Laughter likely. Inspiration guaranteed. WHERE: The Sunset Inn, 9 North Shore Dr., Sunset Beach, NC 28468
WHEN: Friday, February 27 – Sunday, March 1, 2015 TO REGISTER: Contact the Sunset Inn at 888-575-1001 (if you would like to handpick your room, view your choices here first, then call). Because the Inn is holding rooms for you, our participants, they are blocked off as unavailable online. Register soon by phone — this is a popular event and there are only 3 more spaces available. ----------------------------------------------------------------- SPRING WRITING
RETREAT (Writing as Renewal / Creating New Writing / Tools for a Writing Life) Renew and delight yourself. The Spring 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, March 28th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
TO REGISTER: To register securely online
with your credit card, click here. To pay with a check via mail, email info@wordplaynow.com for instructions. More WordPlay opportunities here. WordPlay Success Story
"Maureen is a magnet for writers with tremendous hearts and I feel blessed to be part of her world."
Meet Chris Daly
Chris Daly found Maureen Ryan Griffin ten years ago and has benefited by being a part of her world in so many ways. Chris has been published both in Maureen's book Spinning Words into Gold, and also Glimmer Train. Her favorite writers are David Sedaris, Augusten Burroughs, Billy Collins and Rainbow Rowell. Chris is the proud mother of Ally and James, dogs Jersey and Calvin, and wife of Gartner, who still makes her laugh after 26 years of marriage. They have lived in
Mooresville, North Carolina for the past 12 years, and recently moved to Lake Norman, where lake-view sunsets are gifts she is so grateful for every week.
What Chris says about WordPlay
As we get older we don't often have superheroes in our lives, but for me Maureen Ryan Griffin is a superhero. I imagine her wearing a mask and cape -- flying around -- sharing words and her powers -- rescuing us when we are in trouble and being there to offer a hand
to help us stand on our own.
Ten years ago my friend Diana gave me the gift of Maureen, a catalyst that generated groups of women creating words of art. Each week Maureen brings her classes a sampling of precious words she has searched for. We get a taste -- a savoring of poems, essays, memoirs. The truth is, no words, no superhero essay can relay what Maureen has
brought to me and so many others. There is not a word big enough that I could submit to describe what she has generously provided to me and so many. Maureen is a magnet for writers with tremendous hearts and I feel blessed to be part of her world. Featured Writing
Read Your Words Aloud
by
Chris Daly
The other night I wanted to share my poem “The Kathies” with my husband Gartner He said “I'll read it" but I said “No, I want to read it to you”
In thinking about that I realized how important it is to read your words aloud
Think of the difference— A Billy Collins poem lying there Flat, black and white, lifeless in the pages of a book Then picture Billy standing there on a stage or in a bookshop in his V neck sweater, glasses down on his nose Taking
time, taking pauses for our laughter, for our tears Speaking with a wry sense of irony or wit about the curveballs life throws us like only Billy
can
To speak your language with all its pauses and inflections to caress some words and linger over others like a cup of fresh brewed coffee
Others you pass by quickly like that person you don't want to see in the grocery store, and don't want to talk to, so you hide, spy-like, in another aisle
Still there are those groups
of words roaring higher and stronger together waves rolling, crashing and pounding on to the beach, salted spray everywhere, with mountains of nature's power
So the next time you write Let your voice be heard
Speak your words, your language, your observations of life aloud Give your audience a glimpse into the world of your mind Your country,
your home, your soul, your heart Read your words aloud for others to hear
Or maybe take the time to honor your spirit— Read your words aloud just for you
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 "aloud." PROMPT: Write, in any genre you enjoy, about reading aloud as Chris did in her poem. (Click here to read another example besides Chris's, an essay I wrote on the pleasures of reading aloud back when she was a teenager.) If you're a fiction writer, weave a bit of reading aloud into a scene.
And if you don't edit your own work by reading it aloud, or deepen your craft by reading aloud particularly lovely passages you come across, try both of these activities this week.
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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 two collections of poetry, This Scatter of Blossoms and When the Leaves Are in the Water. 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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