Volume IX, Issue 34
August 19, 2020
Dear ,
You've probably heard the expression "roots and wings": two gifts that every one of us needs to thrive. In a presentation with writer J. Dana Trent I attended earlier this summer called "What Every Writer Needs to Know," she walked us through the past, present, and future of our writing life through an exercise I found very meaningful. I realized that one benefit was that it allowed us to identify the roots and wings of our love of writing.
The exercise was so profound for me that I shared a modified version of it with one of my Under Construction classes, realizing along the way that the process could be applied to any passion or interest in a person's life.
One of my students, T.D. Taegel, wrote something beautiful in response about the legacy of story-telling in her family. I enjoyed it so much that I asked her if she'd be willing to share it with you via the Word-zine.
I'm so glad she said yes! You'll meet the adult T.D. below, and also have a chance to do my version of Dana Trent's exercise. But first,
here's a photo of T.D. with her siblings back when she first was inspired to tell stories. (T.D. is bottom left.)
And here's the person who inspired T.D''s love of story-telling, her father, Raphael Michael Roche, back in his Navy days during World War II.
In what arenas have you been given roots and wings? And what legacy would you like to give roots and wings to, for yourself and/or for others?
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.
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TAG, I'M IT!
Both the year-long TAG, I'M IT! AND three-month TAG, I'M IT! journals offer—in no more than five to fifteen minutes—a simple way to recap and celebrate
the very best of each day of your life. The practice of writing out your “T’s” (things you’re thankful for), “A’s” (actions you can acknowledge yourself for), and “G’s” (gifts you’re grateful for) is a transformative one, especially combined with the final step, I’M IT!, in which you intentionally choose three do-able, most-important-to-you actions you’ll take the next day.
The TAG, I'M IT! journal grounds you in two important habits: keeping your focus on appreciating and celebrating the good in your life and intentionally accomplishing what matters most to you. You’ll also create a record of
your most meaningful, happiest events and experiences.
Start your journal—or restart, if needed—whenever you like. (Though a new year is a perfect time!)
An introduction with tips and ideas will help you make this practice your own. Soon, you’ll notice that you’re living your days with more joy, presence, purpose, and intention.
Thank you to Maureen Ryan Griffin for creating TAG I’M IT.
TAG, I’M IT is my new best friend. It’s a guided writing journal that helps me sort through the mental travels of my day. And it helps me zero in on the special moments by reflecting, acknowledging, and saying thank you for the invisible gifts collected in my daily journey.
“TAG” gives me joy. And it gives me a sense of peace. It helps me discover the small and large wonders around me.
“TAG” sits on my nightstand – it’s my last conversation of the day. And I feel satisfied when I turn off the light. When I write in my TAG, I’M IT journal, I’m giving myself a gift.
What a treasure!
~ T. D. Taegel
More WordPlay opportunities coming soon.
Stay posted!
Featured Writer
Meet T.D. Taegel
T.D. Taegel lives in Charlotte with her husband. They have three adult children, a grandson, and a new granddaughter who just joined the family on August 13.
Featured Writing
Past, Present, and Future
by
T. D. Taegel
Writing started early in my life, well before I knew I was writing. I always had a tale in my back pocket.
In my growing up years, my dad was the nighttime parent. He announced, “Time for bed,” which prompted a flurry of activity: brushing teeth,
gathering schoolbooks, and collecting clothes for the next day. None of these steps were performed in any particular order.
Eventually we gathered around two twin beds to kneel and pray. Finally, after these evening ministrations, it was time for a story. We sat on the beds looking at my father, waiting with rapt attention as he told us about the escapades of Giovanni and his loyal buddies: “Glass Jaw Jeffrey” and “Powder Nose McGilicuddy.”
These characters, drawn from the fabric of my father’s imagination, carved a pocket into our hearts and our repertoire.
Dad was a storyteller and he gave us the gift that keeps giving. Although Giovanni, Jeffrey, and Powder Nose were an amalgamation of various people my father met in his life, they were living, breathing characters and I saw their adventures in technicolor wonder.
As kids, we privately discussed this fearless trio as well as the additional characters Dad dropped into his nightly stories.
As I listened to him wax on about Giovanni and his buddy’s adventures, I carried all of them in my heart and they opened a wide window into my father’s life and the quality of his character.
Giovanni helped the people in his neighborhood and brought magical friends to assist him. On occasion, Mercury, the fleet-footed Greek god, appeared when emergencies arose. Usually, he brought an injured or lost child home to safety.
Mr. Wrong and Mr. Right, two halves of a whole, stuck together in order to keep the other in check, were well-meaning fellows trying to make the right choices in life.
Mr. Thunder, another creation and close friend to all children, joined us during the dark and scary summer rainstorms. Mr. Thunder told us that “the earth was scorched and dry” and the rain clouds needed to explode in cannonball cries.
I learned storytelling at a young age as well as life lessons. Through his stories, my dad was teaching us the difference between right and wrong. These were the values that guided my life.
When my own children arrived, I wanted them to love language, writing and reading and in my own way teach them the skills and values my dad taught me.
His legacy is my legacy and now, it is their legacy.
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 “legacy.”
PROMPT:
This prompt is a modification of one I learned from the writer Dana Trent.
Write about the past, present, and future of your own love for writing. (Feel free to adapt this to your own purposes by writing about any passion in your life, or the life of one of your characters.)
First, capture the details:
PAST: What is your earliest memory of wanting to be a writer? Jot down a few words and phrases that codify the experience. This is your first encounter with “I want that” or "I love this." Jot down the When, the Where, the Who's (if anyone was there besides yourself), the What's.
PRESENT: Slip back into your body in that moment and capture your thoughts in that moment. What emotions were present for you at the time? These thoughts and emotions hold the “why” of this experience, the value in it for you. Tapping into this emotion is fuel for writing in the present.
FUTURE: As yourself how you'd like your writing life to be five years from now. What would you like to have? (A published book, for example, or a collection of family stories.) What would you like to be doing?
Then, if you'd like to, weave these details together into a scene or essay, as T.D. did above as she wrote about the way her father's stories were his legacy to her, and, in turn, her legacy to pass along to her children and grandchildren.
My mom reading to my brother Mike, me (the baby in her lap),
my sister Mary, and my brother Tim.
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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