Volume VIII, Issue 44
November 6, 2019
Dear ,
It was such a joy to work with writers Karen Risech and Nancy Kline to make their dream of writing a children's book together. Their commitment to the well-being of children everywhere shines through on each page. I'm proud to have helped bring it into being.
Photo by Mary Struble Deery
Some Touches Are Not OK, in gentle, rhyming words and warm, bright illustrations by artist Bonita Somers, teaches young children the difference between loving touches and inappropriate touches—and the importance of speaking up if anyone in their lives crosses the line.
This sweet book, while it focuses on human touches, got me thinking about the gifts our sense of touch gives to us each day, and how much we take this marvel for granted.
It reminded me of Michael J. Gelb's delightful How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day. One of those steps, Sensazione—the continual refinement of the senses as the means to enliven experience—invites readers to make each of the senses a theme for a day. For the sense of touch, he suggests that we "go outside and explore the textures of nature: the bark and leaves of different trees, grass, the petals of flowers, the earth, the fur of a dog or cat." And that we notice the
quality of different people's touch: the firmness of a handshake, the warmth of a hug, the softness of a kiss."
Gelb says, "Our brain receives information from more than 500,000 touch detectors and 200,000 temperature sensors. Yet Leonardo lamented that most people 'touch without feeling.' The secret of sensitive 'feeling' is an attitude of receptivity, learning to 'listen' deeply with your hands and whole body."
This week, I hope you'll make a point of "touching WITH feeling." Your life will not only feel richer to you, you'll also be gathering sensory details that can make your writing stronger.
Love and light,
Upcoming WordPlay
COASTAL WRITING RETREAT AT THE SUNSET INN
November 15-17. One spot available!
Renew yourself and reconnect with your own creativity, whether you are a practicing writer, closet writer, or as-yet-to-pick-up-the-pen writer! The techniques and prompts we’ll use will spur your imagination, and can be used to create nonfiction, fiction, and/or poetry—the choice is yours.
Give yourself time to write in community with others who love words and ideas, and time for solitude, too. There’ll be ample free time to savor your beautifully appointed private room with king-sized bed, private bath and balcony, the large porches with rocking chairs and swings, and the coastal setting the Sunset Inn provides. You’ll return home refreshed, with new ideas and
energy for your writing — and your life.
$458 + room tax for the weekend. The Coastal Writing Retreat includes writing sessions, two nights’ lodging, two breakfasts and Saturday lunch (hotel tax and Saturday dinner at a local restaurant not included).
Want to extend your retreat? If you’d like to stay another day to write, or to just enjoy the beach, the Inn is offering Coastal Writing Retreat participants the opportunity to stay Sunday night at half price.
WHERE: The Sunset Inn, 9 North Shore Dr., Sunset Beach, NC 28468
WHEN: Friday, November 15th - Sunday, November 17th, 2019
TO REGISTER: This retreat is currently full. To be added to our waiting list, please email us at info@wordplaynow.com
One spot just opened up! Please call The Sunset Inn at 1-888-575-1001 to reserve your spot.
---------------------------------
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 Writers
Nancy Kline and Karen Risech
Photo by Anna Traylor
Nancy Kline grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated from Penn State University with a degree in journalism. She then worked as an editor in Philadelphia, before receiving certification in education. She taught grades K-3 before retiring, and now fills her time with reading, writing,
yoga and walking. She cherishes her friends and family, which include three children, one grandchild and three rascally granddogs.
Karen Risech grew up on a farm in Illinois, attended St. Francis School of Nursing in Evanston, Illinois and later worked as a nurse on a Medical-Surgical Floor in Miami, Florida. She has four daughters and six grandchildren. Before retiring she worked for five years at a preschool
in Miami. Her hobbies include book club, Mah Jongg, crafting and enjoying time with friends and family.
Even though Karen now lives in South Carolina, and Nancy lives in North Carolina, they live close to each other and spend time writing together.
What Nancy Says About WordPlay
A few years ago, Karen Risech and I met at a book club in North Carolina and discovered that we both loved writing, as well as reading,
and that we also both had a dream of writing a children's book.
Well, with Maureen's help through the entire process, we were able to launch our book, SOME TOUCHES ARE NOT OK. Karen and I are both grandmothers, have backgrounds working with children, and care deeply about their safety and happiness.
So we decided to write the book to help them understand that there are safe touches and unsafe touches, and how to distinguish between the two. We wanted to present this information in a comfortable, nonthreatening way. We also wanted to encourage them to speak up if anyone in their lives crosses the line.
We hope the book provides parents and caregivers an opportunity to hold conversations with the children they love, to let them know that they have a right to privacy, and that they deserve to have their bodies treated with respect.
Maureen has been our second dream come true through her support, concern and caring. As a writer herself, and an excellent "word player", she has shepherded us through our writing fears, editing problems, and, of course,
publishing.
We believe that the publishing process is foreign to most writers, as it was to us, but Maureen is a wiz in this area as well! It has all been fun and exciting!
an excerpt from
Some Touches Are Not Okay
by
Nancy Kline and Karen Risech
All children should know,
we want you to speak.
Don’t hide any secrets!
It’s your truth we seek.
Ever since you were a baby
you’ve loved hugs and kisses
smiling faces, new words
and gentle whispers.
Purchase a paperback copy of Some Touches Are Not OK 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 "touch."
PROMPT: This week, focus on the sense of touch, in and out of your writing. For at least one day, consciously note the sensations that come through your sense of touch is if you are experiencing it for the first time. What does it feel like to touch/hold the ordinary things in your life? Note textures and temperatures, hardness, firmness, softness. Try making a list of what you touch on one particular day, outside and in.
Then, incorporate some of these physical sensations in one scene, story, essay, poem, etc.
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!
|
|
|
|
