Volume IIII, Issue 33 August 17, 2015 Word of the Week: farewell Dear ,
What a poignant Friday night I had, attending Garrison Keillor's "America the Beautiful" farewell tour concert.
It was a wonderful evening, even with getting evacuated (lightning! and torrential rain) right near the beginning of the concert and having to
wait in our cars for over an hour for the storm to blow over.
I'm just glad I got to see a legend (in "his signature red socks") before it was too late. He's talked about retiring from A Prairie Home Companion before and changed his mind. But USA Today reported his saying, "I have a lot of other things that I want to do. I mean, nobody retires anymore. Writers never retire. But this is my last season. This tour this summer is the farewell
tour."
Yes, Garrison says he really means it this time. And when he ended the concert with the song I chose as this week's featured writing (see below) I knew he was
serious.
Still, sad as I am, I can't begrudge him this farewell. We all deserve to let go of something old to make room for something new. What are you ready to say farewell to to make room for other things you want to do?
Upcoming WordPlay
UNDER
CONSTRUCTION
(Fulfilling Writing Dreams & Goals; Creating New Writing; Revising & Polishing Your Writing)
This class is designed to fulfill your writing dreams and projects. You’ll set goals and
support structures and watch your writing flow! You’ll also get feedback on your work (any genre) and learn revision tools and methods. Each week, writing prompts will generate material for new writing or further a piece in process, whatever your preferred genre. Through examples of accomplished writers, you’ll learn techniques to aid you right where you are in the process.
WHERE: South Charlotte area. Details will be provided upon registration.
WHEN: Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
September 1, 8, 15 and 29, October 6, 13, 20 and 27, November 3 and 17, December 1 and 8
COST: $399 for 12 classes
TO REGISTER: To register by check, please email info@wordplaynow.com for details. To register online
with a credit card, please click this secure link.
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PROJECT BOOK: GET YOUR BOOK OUT OF YOU AND INTO THE WORLD
(Writing/Publishing Your Book-length Writing Project) A hands-on workshop for any writer who would like to write and/or publish a book and
1) doesn’t know how
2) doesn’t get around to it
3) feels
a) intimidated
b) confused
c) overwhelmed
d) uninspired
e) all of the
above
You’ll gain working knowledge of the steps you need to take and the procedures and documents that are necessary (query vs. cover letter, book proposal, overview, synopsis, outline), as well as an introduction to today’s publishing world (major publishers, university presses, small presses, self-publishing, e-publishing, and print-on-demand). $418 (plus tax) includes retreat,
lodging, two breakfasts and Saturday lunch.
WHERE: The Sunset Inn, 9 North Shore Dr., Sunset Beach, NC 28468
WHEN: Friday,
November 13 – Sunday, November 15, 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. Find out more here.
More WordPlay opportunities here. Featured Writing Only Remembered Words by Horatius
Bonar
Music by Ira D. Sankey This beautiful song was featured in a 2011 British-American
film called "War Horse." Here's the refrain: Only remembered, only remembered,
Only remembered by what we have done;
Thus would we pass from the earth and its toiling,
Only remembered by what we have done. If you'd like to listen to the entire song (and it's worth it, it's beautiful) please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEa4zueeAoo 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 "farewell."
PROMPT:
Write about a farewell, in any genre, from a fictional farewell scene to something -- or someone -- that you've said goodbye.
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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