Volume XI, Issue 20
May 18, 2022
Dear ,
I just had the most delightful short visit with my friend Rebecca in her (fairly) new town of Hillsville, Virginia! Here we are in the yard of her artist neighbor Penny's house. (Penny was kind enough to take our photo after a tour of her fabulously creative house and yard—and artwork, including these fun ladies on the planks behind us.
Rebecca is an artist, too—of words, of music, of hospitality, including meals. She's a connoisseur in many areas, and just so much fun to be with. I always come home stocked with new songs, recipes, decorating ideas, insights, and books to read. This time, one of
these is Ruth Forman's Prayers Like Shoes, endorsed by, among others, Carolyn Forché, Gloria Steinem, and Peter Sellars. One poem moved me so deeply, and feels so right for this time in our history, that I knew immediately I'd found this week's featured
writing.
Rebecca, AKA Rev. Rebecca Taylor of Hillsville Presbyterian Church (Penny made sure to include the church in our photo) is a fine storyteller herself. If you're interested, you can check out her Pastor's Blog here. The posts are about two
minutes long and brimming with love, which is one of the things Rebecca stands for.
How about you? What's so important to you (or to one of your characters) that you'll stand up for it?
Love and light,
Upcoming WordPlay
THE HEALING POWER OF WORDS
(Writing as Renewal/Creating New Writing/
Tools for a Writing Life)
What benefits can writing provide – physically, mentally, spiritually? Are some ways of writing more healing than others? And can we create quality literary work as we heal? In this workshop that incorporates Dr. James Pennebaker’s ground-breaking ideas, we’ll discuss and implement ways to use writing as a
transformational tool. And, if you’re looking, you’ll find the genesis of new poetry, creative non-fiction, and/or fiction. Warning: Laughter likely. Inspiration guaranteed.
Read more about this program here.
COST: FREE!
WHERE: 7015 Carnegie Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28211
non-fiction, and/or fiction. Phone: (704) 416-5400
Get Directions.
WHEN: Thursday, June 23rd from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
More WordPlay opportunities here.
Featured Writing
from
Prayers Like Shoes
by
Ruth
Forman
Stand
why so afraid to stand up?
someone will tell you
sit down?
but here is the truth
someone will always tell you
sit down
the ones we remember
kept standing
~ Ruth Forman
Prayers Like Shoes is available 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 "stand."
PROMPT:
In any genre you choose, write about a time you, or anyone else— currently alive or not, real or fictional—stood up, and kept standing, for what s/he believed in.
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, two grief, healing, and gratitude workbooks entitled How Do I Say Goodbye? and Praying You
Goodbye, 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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