Volume VII, Issue 35 September 3,
2018 Word of the Week: present Dear ,
I hope you had a lovely Labor Day weekend!
This week's featured writer, Dori Grassau, is a longtime WordPlayer who recently published her first
book, Looking for Redbirds: 40 Days of Encouragement
That We Are Never Alone. The excerpt she chose to share with you, "Today I Saw," is a perfect fit for the end of one of these long holiday weekends that give many of us the "present" of some extra time away from whatever work we may do, allowing us to fill our "present" with people and/or activities we care about.
My weekend, for example, was filled with the rambunctious chaos of my daughter Amanda's family. If you haven't had the pleasure of spending three days with a two-month-old, two-year-old, and
five-year-old . . . well, you had a quieter Labor Day than I did!
And I wouldn't trade a minute. Because each time I'm with Rhys, Harry, and
Ellie, they have changed since I last saw them. I love the opportunity to drink them in just as they are, here in the present that's soon to become the past.
Here's a photo of Rhys from one week ago, just before he started off for his first day of kindergarten.
As Rhys is fond of saying these days about nearly everything, "Can you believe it?" I actually have, on my refrigerator, a photo of my daughter, Rhys's mom, on her first day of kindergarten those many years ago, on our front porch with her little brother. So this photo of Amanda and Rhys with his baby sister, Ellie, makes my heart stop a bit.
I could be sad, if I let myself, at the passage of time. But one of the beautiful things about being present to life right now is that new "presents" are always appearing. This Labor Day weekend, one present was getting a first, beatific smile from Baby Ellie. Another was
hearing (and feeling) two-year-old Harry's sobs still as I rocked and patted and sang him "Well, Hello, Harry" (one of the verses of "Hello, Dolly"). And yet another was Rhys's beaming face when he was complimented on the sour cream pound cake he and I made together for his Uncle Matt's birthday dinner. And I can't forget the shrieks and squeals as his aunt Bryn and older cousins Yvonne and Sierra, good sports that they are, cheerfully chased him and Harry around and around the circle of
our front hall, dining room, kitchen, and family room.
No, there are no seeds of great literature here, just the contentment of
breathing in the simple joy of the present moment, the satisfaction of truly relishing it.
Here's to a present full of grace and beauty, yes, even and
especially in the face of life's many challenges,
Maureen Upcoming WordPlay
THE SEVEN ENERGIES OF WRITING Tools and Techniques to Enhance Creativity and Productivity
If you’ve ever had a hard time getting started writing, finishing what you’ve begun, or gotten stuck in the middle (“writer’s block), knowing how to engage in the most
helpful “energy of writing” at each stage of your process—and on any given day—will be a game-changer. In this class, we’ll explore—and practice—the ins, outs, and benefits of all seven energies of writing. You’ll learn invaluable tools and strategies you’ll use again and again to write with maximum ease and effectiveness. Yes, you can be more productive, creative, and fulfilled, no matter what kind of writing you do or how experienced you are.
WHERE: Charlotte Lit. 1817 Central Avenue,
#302. Charlotte, NC 28205
WHEN: October 2nd, 2018, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
COST: $55 – $65 depending on membership
TO REGISTER: To register, visit the Charlotte Lit website here for registration details.
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THE ART AND CRAFT OF POLISHING A POEM
I have the honor of teaching the Master Poetry Class at The North Carolina Writers’ Network 2018 Fall Conference, November 2-4 at the Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte, NC. The class, titled “The Art and Craft of Polishing a Poem,” which will offer registrants the opportunity to learn
and practice specific revision tactics, as well as get detailed feedback/critique on at least one of their poems.
For the first time, Fall Conference will offer a full slate of sessions
designed specifically for writers of stage and screen. In addition, as part of the Network’s ongoing mission to serve writers at all levels of experience, the Charlotte Center for the Literary Arts will sponsor a “Business of Writing” track at Fall Conference for those who feel ready to take their manuscripts to market. And, because of the Hilton’s convenient location, getting to (and parking!) at a Fall Conference in the Charlotte Metro area has never been easier.
If a poetry master class is not for you right now, please check out the many, many other offerings available that provide so much ways to
learn and grow as a writer no matter what your level of experiences, plus many networking opportunities!
For more
information, and to register, visit www.ncwriters.org.
Featured Writer
"Thank you, Maureen, for making me hold tight to my dreams and to never give
up."
Dori Grassau is the
author of Looking for Redbirds: 40 Days of Encouragement That We Are Never Alone. She is also a Certified Speaker through Proverbs 31 Ministries and has had her writings published in Girlfriends in God online Daily Devotions. In 2006 her writing was featured in Author Maureen Ryan Griffin’s book Spinning Words into Gold.
Dori grew up in Nebraska, but has resided in Charlotte, North Carolina for many years. She has three grown children and is now married to her first love.
Her heart's desire has always been to share with others her belief that God is always with us, even through our greatest struggles in life, whether that be loneliness, divorce, abuse, insecurities, financial struggles, or another kind of challenge. Visit her blog at dorigrassau.com for encouragement when experiencing loneliness.
Copies of her book can be purchased on her blog or here on
Amazon.com. What Dori says
about WordPlay I met Maureen about 14 years ago while I was going through a divorce. After being a stay-at-home mom for over ten
years and being focused on that, I was at a point where I really wanted to re-discover what made me happy in addition to being a mom. I decided to take a “Write from the Heart” class at our local community college. Maureen was teaching the class and I was so amazed at how much I learned. It seemed to open the door of my soul and give me permission to finally honor what my heart desired: to write. I was so encouraged when she decided to use one of my writing exercises from class in her book called Spinning Words into Gold, A Hands-On Guide to the Craft of Writing. I continued to write just as a form of therapy over the years, always wondering in back of my mind how I could someday turn those writings into a book.
Life happened and I was distracted for a number of years, again working and taking care of my children. A bout six years ago, I decided to re-focus on this desire no matter what, and took the opportunity to once again see Maureen at one of her writing retreats
held at the Sunset Inn in Sunset Beach, NC. That weekend reminded me that, for writers, following our hearts' desires is a gift that somehow always enriches not only ourselves, but the people who read our work. Not long after that I started a blog, dorigrassau.com, which kept me focused on helping others. Now have my very first book published: Looking for Redbirds, 40 Short Stories of Encouragement That We Are Never Alone. All the stories were pulled from that blog and now, looking back, I can see
everything happened at just the right time. Thank you, Maureen, for making me hold tight to my dreams and to never give up."
Today I Saw How many of us go through our days without really noticing what is going on around us? We wake up and get ready to go to jobs we are less than
passionate about. We sit in traffic, we work, and then we get back in traffic. We take care of our duties at home, and if we are lucky we find something or someone to enjoy before the day is over. Today I wanted to really be present in each moment. Today I saw a couple in the coffee shop looking at
each other as they took sips of their coffee. A song came on, and they both wiggled their heads to the beat while still gazing at each other with big huge grins on their faces. It made me smile too. It also made me feel a little jealous. I saw a redbird perched on my feeder as I looked out my back door as I do every morning. I always think he is there just for me. I saw women whispering about others in an unkind way. It saddened me. I saw my friend’s eyes well up when she realized she almost ran
me over with her car. I felt mercy. I breathed in the smell of the rain as it poured down on my umbrella. I felt thankful. I saw my son’s face light up when he got a new pair of basketball shoes. I felt impressed that it took so little to make him happy. I saw an elderly couple in the doctor’s office smiling at each other and walking arm-in-arm as they left. I wanted to know their story. Lord, I just want to be present in this very moment. Please don’t let me be blind to life just passing me by. Please let me love everyone to the best of my ability as a mother, a friend, a coworker, and a sister. There are so many things I have worked for and strived for. I know I will get there eventually, but I don’t want to miss the scenery along the way. Today I saw that God has a plan for me, and whatever it is, I accept it.
~ from "Today I Saw" in Looking for Redbirds: 40 Days of
Encouragement That We Are Never Alone 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 "present."
PROMPT: This week, take a few minutes each day, at a time that works for you, to jot down several moments from your day that feel like a "present" to you. You'll be practicing being present to your life, a great skill for writers to
develop.
It's fun to play with prompts in community with fellow writers, and to be able to share the results when you're done. You can find out about WordPlay
classes, workshops, and retreats here. 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.
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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