Volume IX, Issue 32
August 5, 2020
Dear ,
This week's word is inspired by Press 53's monthly 53-word story contest! If you don't know about it, you can learn all the details here. (And if you want to learn more about Press 53, click here.)
I hope you'll take on entering this contest at least a time or two, for the fun and the experience of it. (There's a different theme each month, which is always announced on the 1st, and the deadline is the 22nd of each month.) Whittling one's writing down to a certain word count is an illuminating process that will go far in helping you hone your literary chops.
The story by this month's winner, Kristin Tenor, "And All the Heavens Are in Disarray," is so beautiful I felt compelled to share it as this week's featured writing.
Reading it reminded me of my first ever published poem, way back in 1991, "Before I Go," in which I write about counting stars, among other things. Reading it was like "sitting down for a spell" with my self of 29 years ago.
And, with our lives akilter, I thought you might enjoy a poem that lists pleasures and aspirations that are mostly available, even now. What was bringing you joy 20 years ago? What were you hoping to learn? Are any of those things available to you today?
WordPlay
Opportunities
Shaping Our Lives by Shaping Our Words:
Through the Pandemic and Beyond
What benefits can writing provide—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually? We know now that the words we use and the stories we tell shape our daily experiences. Learn to shape words that bring out the best in you—and others. In this class incorporating Dr. James Pennebaker’s ground-breaking work, you’ll practice holistic, whole brain writing approaches that broaden your perspectives and deepen your
compassion. And, if you’re interested, you’ll create new poetry, creative nonfiction, and/or fiction.
WHERE: Online via Zoom
WHEN: Coming this fall
COST: TBA
INFORMATION: I am having a wonderful time teaching this class this week through Chautauqua Institution! And a number of people have emailed to ask if I'd consider offering it again via Zoom in a once-a-week format. I'd love to! If you are interested please email me at info@wordplaynow.com.
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How Do I Say
Goodbye? and Praying You Goodbye
These two books are for anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one—whether the loss is
impending, recent, or in the past.
The contemplative exercises within are a guide through the “many waters” of grief (from Madeleine L'Engle's A Two-Part Invention), including "treasuring" and "keeping" as well as regret and sadness.
What is grief, after all, but a sign of the depth of our love? On the far shore is always gratefulness, for, as the French proverb says, “Gratitude is the heart’s memory.” Those who enjoy writing will likely also find poems, essays, and/or stories emerging as they make their way through these
pages.
I created the process shared in these two books in June of 2002, shortly after my mother died, as a way to mindfully mourn this loss—and celebrate her life. I shared it with a beloved friend, the Reverend Rebecca Taylor, when she lost her father, and she encouraged me to make it available to others. Here it is, in two versions, both of which offer quotes, reflections, prompts, and space to write about your loved one, as well as beautiful photographs by Wendy H. Gill that enhance each part of the process. Either
version makes a thoughtful condolence gift for a friend or family member.
How Do I Say Goodbye? is for those of any faith, with quotes from many different sources to accompany the process. It can be purchased on Amazon here.
Praying You Goodbye is specifically for Christians, with accompanying quotes from Scripture chosen by Reverend Rebecca Taylor. It can be purchased on Amazon here.
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POETRY ROCKS!
Would you like your writing — prose and/or poetry — to be more graceful, powerful, beautiful? Do you sometimes find poetry confusing or intimidating and wish you could “crack the code”? Or do you enjoy writing and reading poems, but want a more thorough understanding of what makes a
poem good? Then this poetry extravaganza is for you.
Expect a good time exploring what makes a poem a poem, gaining the knowledge you need to confidently create and revise poetry, and strengthening your writing skills in all genres.
It would be a joy and an honor to share what rocks about poetry with you.
HERE’S WHAT YOU GET:
- 23 poetry creation tools, delivered one per day (Monday through Friday) to your inbox — in honor of National Poetry month. Use them as you get them, use them when you can, use them over and over to create poems. Each tool zeroes in on one aspect
of poetry and provides an innovative method to approach writing a poem. Many of them are great for creating prose, too. The tools include:
* a purpose, so you’re clear what you will learn
* background information when helpful
* “how-to” directions to create a poem
* an example that illustrates the poetry tool in action
* a short reflection to solidify the concepts covered
* “Hone Your Craft” suggestions for further exploration
* a short reflection to solidify the concepts covered
- A PDF document of each tool that you can print or save on your computer
- An audio recording of each tool, so you can learn by listening and/or reading
- Instruction on the role of audience, reading like a writer, and the process of revision, including a handy Revision Checkpoint Chart — this information can be applied to strengthen your prose as well as
poetry
- Additional poetry resources
- An e-book that contains the information and resources covered, as well as your 23 poetry creation tools for ongoing use
WHERE: From the comfort of your own home, via the web.
WHEN: Any time you want! And once you receive all 23 tools, they’re yours to keep, which means that you can keep using them for years to come.
COST: $45
TO REGISTER: To pay with a check via mail, email info@wordplaynow.com for instructions. To register for Poetry Rocks online, click here.
More WordPlay opportunities coming soon.
Stay posted!
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Featured Writings
And All the Heavens Are in Disarray
by
Kristin Tenor
Late at night they lie side by side counting tiny holes scattered like a constellation across the ceiling tiles above her hospital bed—big bear, little bear . . .
To read the rest of "And All the Heavens Are in Disarray,"
see the prompt that inspired it, and check out August's 53-word
prompt, visit https://www.press53.com/53word-story-contest.
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Before I go
give me time to learn
the neighborhood songbirds by name,
to notice the raindrops glistening
on the tips of pine needles
after the next hard rain.
Let me sniff damp asphalt,
red clay, loam.
Give me one more sunrise
by that willow on the Pamlico
with steam from my coffee
rising in homage
to that nip in the air. Please.
I’m not asking for Paris, even Mozart,
although that would be nice.
I’ll even take another afternoon
with a teething, whiny baby
if You’ll let me simmer
one more pot of turkey soup.
Give me one more evening by the pond
listening to the croakers, peepers,
twangers, shrill romancers.
Let me lie awake under
one more August sky
so I can lose count of shooting stars,
gaze contented, dazed,
until the night blurs into
another ruby morning.
And before I go, let me forgive myself
my kindnesses omitted,
cruelties committed
against the gentle souls I’ve known,
against myself.
by Maureen Ryan Griffin
in A Carolina Literary Companion
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 “count.”
PROMPT 1:
Visit https://www.press53.com/53word-story-contest and try your hand at writing a 53-word story.
PROMPT 1:
Write about counting, whether it's stars, seashells, money, or anything else you can think of, in any genre you like.
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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