Volume VIII, Issue 41
October 16, 2019
Dear ,
Greetings from the John Campbell Folk School, where I've come, this week, to take a class rather than teach one--Botanical printing with instructor Karin Engen (right) and assistant instructor Sally Blankenship (left). They had me at "enjoy fall in the mountains while identifying and collecting leaves." I am such a leaf lover! Here I am, wearing the silk scarf I made today, imprinted with black walnut leaves I
identified and gathered with two of my classmates.
There are so many things I love about being here, and one of them is the chance to unplug and connect to that "still small voice" within, to spend swaths of time mulling over creative ideas and
options. "Mull" is a word I've always favored. What not to love about a word that means not only "ponder," "contemplate" and "muse on," but also "to warm a beverage . . . and add spices and sweetening to it"?'
Mulling adds spices and sweetening to our lives. It's good for our spirits, it's good for our minds, hearts, and bodies, and it's good for our writing.
Last week, I wrote about my time spent in the energies of structure and revision. This week, I've been engaging in the energy of mulling, thinking long and deep about my work-in-progress, How She Fed Us, as I walk through wooded paths and sit in rockers and swings with mountain views. And I've also engaged in the energy of community, which Karin and Sally are fostering so beautifully in our class, and is
such an integral part of the Folk School experience.
This week's featured writer, Lisa Batten Kunkleman, draws deeply from the energy of community in her writing life, too, and one of her most important communities is Under Construction. Lisa is fourth from the left in the top row, in the cool shades, in this photo.
We've all been waiting anxiously for the arrival of her first book. (I've been a believer in Lisa for more than a decade now, as you'll learn below when you read about her writing experience.
Photo courtesy of Mary Struble Deery, second from the left in the bottom row
How perfect that Lisa, in a week that focuses on the importance of mulling included a humorous essay about its antithesis in her brand new book, Just Because I Used To Could
. . . Life Stories and Beyond It's called "Beeps and Bongs and Chimes, Oh My!" I bet you'll relate! Lisa has a great knack for addressing seriously important matters through telling funny personal stories.
And don't skip this week's prompt. It's as good for you as it is your writing.
Love and light,
Upcoming WordPlay
As host Landis Wade says, in this conversation "we meet author and writing coach, Maureen Ryan Griffin, who reads poetry from her collection Ten Thousand Cicadas Can’t Be Wrong and guides us through her writing book, Spinning Words into Gold: A Hands-On Guide to the
Craft of Writing.
This is a great episode to get your writing juices flowing, whether you are seasoned writer or one that wants to start dabbling, because writing can be for everyone.
Among other topics, Maureen explores the why, when and where of writing, and discusses some of the secrets to good writing.
We start the show with Maureen reading her poem: 'Why You Can Go Back to a Story You Abandoned Years Ago and Finally Finish It.' "
Find it via your favorite podcast app, or here on the Charlotte Readers Podcast website.
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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!
Featured Writer
Lisa Batten Kunkleman
Lisa Batten Kunkleman and her mom, Lois Batten, who illustrated Lisa's
Just Because I Used To Could . . .
Lisa Batten Kunkleman, from Whiteville, a small North Carolina town, now lives outside the big city of Charlotte. A lifelong journal-keeper, history-lover, and amateur genealogist, Lisa feels compelled to
write life stories. As a former guidance counselor and mother of four grown kids, three of which are triplets, and new grandmother of one irresistible little boy, Lisa is convinced that all of us have stories worth sharing. Her non-fiction work, a mix of serious and humorous tales, has been published in a variety of magazines and newspapers, and shared on NPR. She’s especially thrilled to hold her first published book in hand after having it scattered in piles of stories for many years. Just
Because I Used To Could…Life Stories and Beyond is a dream come true.
Lisa’s children were thrilled to see she really was a writer when she won two non-fiction awards through the Charlotte Writers’ Club and stood at the podium reading those pieces. She enjoys entertaining, enlightening, and engaging with readers through her blog, Lifestoriesandbeyond.com.
With the triplets finishing college and their oldest daughter and son-in-law starting their own family, Lisa and her husband, Dan, are getting reacquainted in their emptied nest. They’re catching up on more than three decades of to-do items stored on the back burner and in their barns. They’ll live on lake time, with or without a lake, as often as possible, and plan to travel
when pet sitters are available for their farm full of dogs, cats, and horses. Lisa’s looking forward to continuing to chronicle and share her own Life Stories and Beyond in her blog by the same name since every day is made up of new stories.
You can connect with Lisa at www.lifestoriesandbeyond.com, She also posts stories and photos regularly on Facebook under Lisa Batten Kunkleman and on Instagram as lisakunk.
What Lisa Says About WordPlay
Over a decade ago, I wandered into a poetry group at Barnes and Noble in Charlotte, led by Maureen Ryan Griffin. I produced my rhyming, humorous pieces, week after week, and was encouraged by the kind people who laughed in all the right places. Most everyone else brought serious and deep subject matter,
which meant I stood out with my Dr. Seuss-ish ditties. After my failed attempts at more serious poetry, Maureen suggested I bring an essay to share with the group and I did. Sharing that essay felt like the real me was out in public. Wow. It felt great to receive such fine accolades from everybody. Maureen even said, "Lisa, I think you’re an essayist masquerading as a poet."
I picked up an assortment of classes wherever Maureen taught. Eventually, she suggested I take a semester-long class called Under Construction. I think I started in 2009 and have never missed a semester since. I love the camaraderie and helpful critiquing among my classmates and the expertise and guidance
Maureen provides weekly. We write and laugh and sometimes cry. We critique each other’s work and are encouraged to reach for our individual goals. It’s such a treat to watch classmates complete their books or projects, thanks to the Under Construction classes. Maureen helped me focus on publishing my newly birthed book baby, Just Because I Used To Could…Life Stories and Beyond.
I’ve come a long way from wondering if I’d have any ideas for critique group each time to knowing a thing or two about writing. I can’t say enough wonderful things about Maureen Ryan Griffin and Wordplay.
an excerpt from
Just Because I Used To Could . . .
Life Stories and Beyond
Beeps and Bongs and Chimes, Oh My!
These days, I can get nagged from every corner of the house even when I’m all alone except for the animals. I’m used to my family ever so gently telling me when I’m doing something wrong or forgetting things, but lately I’m getting reminders from my electronics, too. It’s becoming a bit much.
I need to set my phone’s inbox so it doesn’t ping and ting every time I get a ding dang e-mail! I will check it myself when I get good and ready, thank you very much.
I hear beeps and bongs and chimes no matter where I go. I can’t figure out which appliance is telling me what to do when.
This morning, as I loaded the dishwasher, I heard an unfamiliar delicate ping from across the room. I asked the dogs, “Do you hear that?” They looked around the kitchen, and seeing no movement, were obviously confused too.
After hearing the sound repeat itself three times, I walked to the table and checked my new phone, and there it was. My husband had sent a text that needed immediate attention. Of course it did. That pretty sound came from my brand-new phone with all kinds of new noises that I don’t recognize. I knew this because it dinged
all night announcing mail from Reader’s Digest, the local performing arts center box office, and Restaurant.com, since those couldn’t wait till daylight. I guess I’d been subconsciously conditioned to ignore any dang ding. I planned to adjust the sounds later, but I rebelled, not wanting to be ordered around by a bossy piece of metal the size of a pork chop. Take that. OK, fine. I’ll silence it but not because it demanded I obey.
If I leave the laundry in the dryer ten minutes longer than I should, I get a reminder song of “do do do do do.” It’s much prettier than it looks on paper. If I stand and look in the fridge with even a few seconds of indecision, the darn thing sings me a melody that says, “You’re letting the cold air out so close the door,
woman.” I sing back, “You’re lucky you’re so full of condiments, there’s no room left for old moldy food. So just hush.”
I kinda like the sounds of the dishwasher. Its pretty voice sings to let me know it’s done. No demands or judgment. I can leave it as long as I want, and the mugs and plates won’t wrinkle or sour. Finally, I have time to check my phone. Now where did I put it? The electrician is supposed to call before he comes to fix our
motion lights. Oh shoot! A fine time to put my phone on silent. Where’s that ding dang phone when I need it?
Purchase a paperback copy of Just Because I Used To Could . . . here.
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 "mull."
PROMPT: This week, take some deliberate time away from the "beeps, bongs, and chimes" in your life. Do your best to give yourself a good 30 minutes to an hour every day to unplug from electronics, and any other distractions in your life as well. Spend time in "the energy of mulling" as you sit in stillness or take a walk in nature, contemplating characters, relationships, events, choices, etc. Afterward, jot
down any insights or ideas that come to you: about your writing, or anything else in your life.
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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