The Newstream, Fall 2006
The Newstream:A Newsletter for the Woodstream Writing Community,Where we share our news with you--and your good news with one another!
www.woodstreamwriters.com
Fall 2006
In this issue: JOIN US: New at the Knowledge Shop! | PUBLISHED, LAUDED, AND APPLAUDED: Woodstream Writers Afoot | HOW NOW, BROWN COW?: For Daughters, about Fathers
E-mail us to unsubscribe: remove@woodstreamwriters.com
Join Us!
Upcoming Woodstream Writing Events
New for December, a Mini-Workshop at The Knowledge Shop: "Creative Writing for Everyone: Give Voice to Your Words, Language to Your Thoughts."
In this three-week mini-workshop, we will explore our unique writing voices in a supportive group. Working (or experimenting!) in a variety of genres and styles,
you will identify the strengths in your own and others' writing, find new strategies to make your work more memorable, and learn how the "voice" of your writing energizes you and engages your readers.
Presented in the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) method, this class is designed
for writers at all levels of experience. By participating in this dynamic and playful
process, you will increase both the skills that you bring to creative writing and
the pleasure that you take from it!
Choose from day or evening sessions:
Three Monday evenings, December 4th, 11th, and 18th, from 6:30-9:00 p.m.
or three Tuesday mornings, December 5th, 12th, and 19th, from 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Register through The Knowledge Shop by phone, 407-671-9505 or on-line at www.TheKnowledgeShop.us. $99.00 Early Bird Special/$125.00 Regular Price
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Still left for fall . . .
. . . On Saturday, October 21st, we'll meet at our newest pen-and-ink spot, The Muse Book Shop, in cooler-than-cool downtown DeLand, for a day-long Writing Marathon.
"Fresh writing, no fears!" will be our motto as writers of all levels, working--or experimenting!--in all genres, stretch their creative wings and FLY across an entire day of facilitated prompts and community building fun.
Beginning at 10:00 a.m., this wonderful writing whirl will continue through 4:30 p.m. break mid-day for a yummy lunch at one of the terrific nearby eateries. The cost is $45 (does not include lunch), and we have room for 15 writers total--4 seats still available.
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. . . On Sunday, November 5th, our very first "Mix'n'Match-Shop" will be held in captivating Cocoa. From 9:30-5:00 we'll write and share, collaborate and compare, finding what gets our fingers flying--and why . . . while the big, blue ocean breathes herself in and out nearby.
With a schedule of structured exercises, free-writing sessions, and facilitated craft discussion, this day-long event is appropriate for new-to-intermediate writers. Expect to learn a bit about your craft, write a lot more than you expected, and discover yourself as a writer in a community of writers.
The cost of this event is $75 (plus menu item), which includes two vegetarian meals (breakfast and lunch), as well as snacks and beverages. Registering 12 writers total, we have seats available for just one more.
Contact Jamie@woodstreamwriters.com for more information--or to register--for either of these events.
Published, Lauded, and Applauded!
Woodstream Writers' Latest Triumphs
Congratulations to Woodstream well-wisher Adele Azar-Rucquoi on the publication of her article "Lessons from Marrying a Homeless Man" in the September/October issue of Spirituality & Health magazine. Adele, author of Money as Sacrament (Celestial Arts/Ten Speed Press, 2003) is a mover and shaker in Sanford and the greater world of compassionate politics.
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Also, a big, community thank you! to Mary Ann DeStefano who's created a new publishing venue for local writers with her on-line 'zine, -Dash-.
Recently, Woodstream writers, pals, and alums Karen Blondeau, Julie Weller Dunsworth, Darlyn Finch, Ned Kessler, Estelle Lipp, and Terry Godbey, among others, were featured in the inaugural issue. Cheers to all!
(Check out their work at http://madaboutwords.typepad.com/blog/ and click on the link for -Dash-#1 in the upper right hand corner.)
Poetic Publications
Passionate poet and part-time Woodstream Writer Laura Ross received an honorable mention in the new edition of New Millennium Writings. Yay, Laura! Thanks for sharing your news!
And speaking of honors, novelist-in-progress Susie Jaillet paused from the long-form to write her poem "The Skull" in a Mount Dora Woodstream Workshop. And we're pleased to let you know that "The Skull" captured an honorable mention in the East Lake Poetry Contest earlier this year.
Good for you, Susie Q!
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Hinda-jonathon's good work with the Orlando Poetry Troupe continues with two new events. First, catch the OPT in performance at the Orlando Museum of Art's 1st Thursday, - October 5 at 7 p.m., in the small auditorium. (Admission for the OMA's monthly fundraiser is $9.00). Then, participate in their poetry workshop at the Winter Park Library with guest, fabulous poet and professor, Dr. Ilyse Kusnetz of Valencia Community College, on Sunday, November 5th, at 2 p.m.
WWW is proud that OPTroupers include wonderful Woodstreamers Estelle Lipp and Alice R. Friedman as well as Hinda-jonathan, Robert Osborne, Leslie Halpern, and Matt Lazin!
Notes in the News: or, What Would the Sentinel Do without Us?
Accomplished novel-girl Julie Compton took time out to write a wonderful travel piece featured in the Orlando Sentinel's Sunday, October 1st, Travel section. Written to a Woodstream prompt, Julie's piece was published as a "Being There" feature!
You keep showing us how to do it, Julie!
Happy Trails to You . . .
Kay Adrid traveled abroad to find a bit of writing inspiration this summer, and now we're glad she's home in Monday night workshop. Here's her report of her Irish AWA experience: "Sligo, Ireland, famous venue for the words of W. B. Yeats. Nearby is the small oceanside Hamlet of Strandhill. This was the scene for an Amherst Artists & Writers weekend workshop. The scenery: rolling hills, ocean sprays, gardens everywhere. We wrote at the home of Orfhlaith Ni Chonaill, an Amherst-certified leader, and the people could not have been nicer to this American. We had snacks, luncheons, and a BBQ, Saturday night. I made new and dear friends. The only thing keeping me from going again in 2007 is that I need to win the lottery. Still, I can dream, can't I?"
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Woodstreamer--and fellow Monday-night writer--Jim Shipley headed west this summer, to Los Angeles, for the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators 35th Summer Conference.
Serious about his craft, Jim learned a lot and brought back oodles of notes to share with his workshop.
Here's a sample of what Jim found most important:
Jackie Woodson, 2006 Newbery Honor Award winner and Caldecott Honoree said, "The characters come to meet the writer who writes down what they say."
Mo Willems said, "Ideas are the easy part"!
Stephanie Jacob Gordon: "Read in the genre in which you write."
Debra Garfinkle & Sarah Littman on breaking the rules: "Never break a rule of writing until you have completed at least one manuscript, gone to writers' class and been critiqued by an industry professional--know what you are risking."
Caroline Cooney: "Don't let the setting overwhelm the story."
Jodi Reamer, lawyer/agent, "reads everything she gets"!
Stephanie Gordon: "Start your story with a day that is different."
Nina Laden: "Find a voice that works for you."
Thanks, Jim. Can't wait to see what you cook up from these great ingredients!
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Yup. That Monday night workshop really got around this summer! Jeff Thetford, fantasy writer, took time away from his two in-progress novels to attend a Fantasy Writers' Conference and ended up writing articles about twelve of the presentations for publication!
Congratulations, Jeff! (How are those fingers?)
How Now, Brown Cow?
Publishing Information, Tips, and Opportunities
This intriguing opportunity came to the Woodstream inbox, recently. Perhaps you have something to submit.
Seeking written contributions for Letters to our Fathers from Daughters: A Pathway to Healing and Hope in the form of letters, prose, or poetry to fathers from daughters for our book.
Would you like contribute? Here is what to do:
Share an experience with us that involves you and your father. Your writing may be a letter or other prose; or perhaps you prefer poetry.
Read through the Statement of Release www.lettersforhealing.com. Give your composition a title for identification purposes, and e-mail it to us in Word document format at: letterstoourfathers@yahoo.com. A signed copy of the Statement of Release will be required upon acceptance of your submission. To send by surface mail, please address to Bonnie Birnam, PO Box 1894, Cave Creek, AZ 85327. Deadline for receipt of all contributions is November 23rd.
Well, that's all for this issue! Remember to let us know what's news, and . . .
. . . keep up the good work!
Jamie Morris,
Woodstream Writing Workshops
www.woodstreamwriters.com