NEWSLETTER
Our September meeting was attended by:
Patricia Capitain
Karen Summerskill
Melanie Robertson-King
Andy King
Terry Verriere
Pat Cove
Joan Rupert-Barkley
Dan Trafford
Berta Plaschka
Chris Stesky
NEW MEMBERS
We welcomed one new member: Mary Rivett. Mary is a retired nurse who wants to write life stories. She would particularly like to write about death in the family for children because it’s an area that’s sorely lacking for material. Welcome to the group Mary.
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CURRENT NEWS AND ONGOING BUSINESS
Patricia Capitain had previously entered a short story in the Ottawa Crime Writer’s of Canada short story contest. She paid the extra fee for a critique which she has received and has shared the results with us at this meeting. The content points that judges look for in contest entries are: plot, structure, characterization, voice, dialogue, and setting.
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Melanie recently entered the ‘First Meet Contest’ with the Ottawa Romance Writers Association (ORWA). She read her 1st meet contest entry but sadly the contest was cancelled due to lack of entries. She’ll be receiving two critiques of her 10 page entry. She’s also currently entering another contest for the first 30 pages of a book.
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There are two writing courses coming up at the Brockville Campus of St Lawrence College – Writing and Illustrating for Children and Novel Writing.
From the website:
Writing and Illustrating for Children
This workshop is for anyone interested in children’s literature. Get an insider’s view on how to get your first children’s book published. The workshop provides an opportunity to learn about various aspects of the craft and business of writing and illustrating children’s picture books, including finding a publisher and negotiating a contract. Using a slide presentation, roughs and original art, the instructor will guide you through the process of creating a children’s picture book, from researching and writing the story, to finding picture reference and creating the final art. There will be opportunity for discussion and questions. This course is suitable whether you wish to write or illustrate. There will be a $3 material fee payable to the instructor. Instructor: Celia Godkin
Mon/Wed. Nov. 16/18, 6 – 8 pm AND Sat. Nov. 21, 10 am – 12 pm,
$66.77*
GENI 1572 480, Rm 114
Novel Writing
Have you always wanted to write a novel? This is your chance to finally get it done. This course will help you focus on the craft elements of writing, such as: character development, narrative tension, point of view, flashbacks, and dialogue. Weekly assignments will keep your novel progressing at a steady pace, allowing you to write your entire novel, or a portion of it, you choose your pace. You will receive feedback as you work on your own story, applying the craft elements in a practical manner. So quit procrastinating! Now is the time to make your dreams come true! Some of the work on your novel will be done in class. Bring some means of writing (laptop, pen and notebook, or any other materials that work for you) A $20 material fee (payable to the instructor on the first day of class) will supply a workbook/ textbook for you. Instructor: Sherry Wilson
Tues. Sept. 22 – Dec. 8, 6:30 – 9:30 pm,
$257.85
WRIT 25 400, Rm 114
Sherry Wilson: As a freelance writer and editor, Sherry brings a wealth of knowledge to her classes of the publishing industry, as well as the writing craft.
Further information may be found here:
http://www.stlawrencecollege.ca/parttime/Brockll1.htm or
http://www.sl.on.ca/parttime/Brockville.htm or
http://www.sl.on.ca/parttime/Brockville.htm#LIFE
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Patricia Capitain has e-mailed the library regarding an alternate meeting venue should The Rosedale be shut down because of a flu outbreak – particularly H1N1. All members will be informed should such an occurrence happen.
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Although Doreen wasn’t present, she did report that 23 entries were received for the local Short Story Contest. Good luck to any of our members who submitted an entry.
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CONTESTS OR OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION
The Writers’ Union of Canada is currently hosting their 17th Annual Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers. Submissions are accepted until November 3rd, 2009.
http://www.writersunion.ca/cn_shortprose.asp
You can find the guidelines online at:http://www.writersunion.ca/cn_shortprose.asp.
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From Brian Henry’s Quick Brown Fox Newsletter, a couple websites that may be of interest:
An Online magazine
http://www.cynicmag.com/ or http://submissions.cynicmag.com/
A literary magazine with open submissions
http://www.glimmertrain.com or http://www.glimmertrainpress.com/writer/html/index2.asp
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MEMBERS’ PUBLISHINGS
Pat Cove’s story about her trip to Chile will be published in 2012. After seeing the pictures from her trip, it’s a shame we have to wait that long to see it in print.
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UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS
Ottawa Romance Writers Association Workshop
Melanie Robertson-King informed us of the next workshop being put on by the ORWA
Next General Meeting: Sunday, October 4, 2009, 1 p.m. ORWA meets at the Ottawa Citizen building on Baxter Road in Ottawa. Non-members may attend a meeting/workshop for a guest fee of $10.00. Workshop (starts at 2 p.m.): ‘A Hands-on Guide to Forensic Anthropology’ by Ed Holland.
Love the TV show Bones? Can’t get enough of the books by Kathy Reichs? Then join us for a hands-on forensic anthropology workshop led by John Holland, Chair of Anthropology at John Abbott College, Montreal, QC–and yes, he’s bringing bones!
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Guest Speaker
Patricia spoke to Robert G. Johnston recently at the Kingston Farmers Market. He was there selling and promoting his book ‘Vinland the Beginning’. Mr. Johnston is the recipient of ‘Recognizing Excellence in Independent Publishing – Independent Publisher Book Award’ for his self published novel. He has agreed to address our November Writer’s Ink meeting. Topics will include the generation of ideas; research; the question of publication and the process of self-publication. Mr. Johnston will also read a passage from his book. For a preview, you can visit his website here: http://www.vinlandthebeginning.com/
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WRITING PROMPTS
The writing prompt assigned for September was postponed until October because Bunty, the originator of the cryptic note that prompted the prompt, would not be in attendance. The September topic was then left to free choice of each writer. Three people brought contributions, Dan Trafford, Terry Verriere and Pat Cove. Included here are some of the submissions:
A SUMMER DAY IN LAROQUE
by Terry Verriere
It is a clear, warm day without oppressive heat, without a trace of haze. Every leaf on every tree seems to stand out–sometimes quiet, sometimes trembling in the occasional cooling breeze that sighs first through the pines, brushes the oaks, picks up strength then gradually dies. The small château, part of the village yet comfortably ensconced above it, watches over the houses clinging to the deeply shadowed rock face below. Walls of stone and stucco, ochre, beige, or grey, are splashed with the greens, pale blues, greys and browns of shutters. The lines of every house are sharpened by the noon sun, yet softened by puffs of greenery planted in exiguous gardens. Tile roofs from baked red to beige and stone walls mark winding streets. Skirted by the pathway to the château, a house is stacked to the top of the cliff like haphazard yellow stone blocks punctured by indiscriminately placed openings.
Somewhere down the valley a cuckoo identifies itself, and the soft jangle of bells from the neighbours across the road–a herd of burnished-brown goats–tickles the air as they lunch on grass and low branches. Elegant mauve iris perfume the air with a heady fragrance, Along the roadside, poppies have been joined by mauve wild sweet peas, pink liseron, purple, pink and white verbena, and everywhere springs the glorious gold and green of fragrant broom. Above, the intense blue of the sky, and below, the green of the valley frame the view forever in my mind.
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Destinations
by Dan Trafford
Not many people get where they’re going because they don’t really think about where they want to be.
Destination is everything it would seem!
To what finish line, then, do we aspire when we take up the pen? Can we make such a decision?
Let me usher you through the door of reflection.
Our minds are mirrored in the words we expose to the world, a revelation of the soul that is sometimes bleary-eyed and unshaven, taunting with the tongue stuck out, or full of pathos and tears.
A path is being blazed by these words through the crowded forest of our experience, clearing the underbrush of our wayward thoughts, revealing the straight saplings of our intentions, and then thrusting the towering oaks of our convictions into view.
Panting, sweating and feeling drained at times, we scribble and our words churn away, hacking and slashing, piling and burning, until everything being tossed in the wake has accumulated into a massive trail of debris that shouts the direction of our efforts.
Now the tough part. When Columbus took out his quadrant he knew the direction, but couldn’t know his destination until he got there! And where was that? “The New World”, history buffs will chorus!
And so likewise we can be transported by our writing to a special place. But beware Columbus’ experience. He died thinking Cuba was China! When we’re working on our masterpiece, we don’t need to be like him, steering into the future using only the rearview mirror.
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Slang Slingers
by Dan Trafford
Sometimes you find the most special words or phrases in the strangest places. You know, the ones that describe a common object in the most uncommon way, with a special inflection that spices the meaning.
I’ve been bowled over at times by the creative exchanges among Joe lunch bucket and his pals. Just the other day I heard about a fellow who was mixing “Whoopee Weed” with “Wobbly Pop” and became a “Soup Sandwich” as a result. And this was at a party at which there was enough “Electric Lettuce” to light up his soon-to-be-held wedding celebration.
Someone in that coarse group had latched onto some phrases that were incomprehensible to me but which proved to have genius humor in their meaning.
You’re probably faster off the mark than I was and have already figured out that “Whoopee Weed” is marijuana, and this innovative description is derived from how that substance impacts the funny bone of the user.
And you probably know that “Wobbly Pop” is beer, another creative insight based on the uncertainty in the imbibers’ stride after overindulgence.
But does a “Soup Sandwich” really work? I guess it does after we consider how effectively someone performs in any capacity once a potent brew of “Whoopee Weed” and “Wobbly Pop” has been given sufficient time to ferment?
“Electric Lettuce” is my favorite, though. What a clever description of how marijuana can ignite the spark in any dullard’s constrained personality.
Keep talkin’ Joe, think I’m gonna write a book aboutcha.
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For those that have forgotten, the (now) October prompt was a cryptic note written on the back of a piece of sandpaper:
Mom
I love you.
Thank you for trying so hard to make a great Thanksgiving, and although Dad’s attitude was as abrasive as the other side of this paper, we both really enjoyed being with you.
Love
Terry and N.
P.S. I’m at Nicole’s for the night
For our monthly challenge we are to write a 250 word story that is somehow related to this note. Have fun everyone!
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COLLABORATIVE NOVEL PROJECT
Last month’s newsletter had the synopsis of ‘Through a Glass Darkly’, our collaborative novel project. Anne Loucks (Bunty) is spearheading this project. Those who are interested please contact Bunty at bunty@ripnet.com to advise her which chapter you would be interested in writing. She will be able to tell you which ones are available. The idea is, the growing novel will get passed along to the next writer as the chapters are completed… the further along in the novel you are, the more that will be written when you receive it.
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ETYMOLOGY
Terry Verriere is the contributor of this month’s words, and here is her contribution, with thanks:
pol⋅lute Pronunciation [puh-loot ]
–verb (used with object), -lut⋅ed, -lut⋅ing.
- to make foul or unclean, esp. with harmful chemical or waste products; dirty: to pollute the air with smoke
- to make morally unclean; defile
- to render ceremonially impure; desecrate: to pollute a house of worship
- Informal. to render less effective or efficient: The use of inferior equipment has polluted the company’s service
Origin:
1325–75; ME polute < L pollūtus ptp. of polluere to soil, defile, equiv. to pol-, assimilated var. of por- (see pollicitation; here marking the action as complete) + -lū- base of -luere (akin to lutum mud, dirt, lustrum muddy place) + -tus ptp. suffix
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brou⋅ha⋅ha Pronunciation [broo-hah-hah, broo-hah-hah, broo-hah-hah]
–noun
- excited public interest, discussion, or the like, as the clamour attending some sensational event; hullabaloo: The brouhaha followed disclosures of graft at City Hall
- an episode involving excitement, confusion, turmoil, etc., esp. a broil over a minor or ridiculous cause: A brouhaha by the baseball players resulted in three black eyes
Origin:
1885–90; < F, orig. brou, ha, ha! exclamation used by characters repr. the devil in the 16th-cent. drama; perh. < Heb, distortion of the recited phrase bārūkh habbā (beshēm ădhōnai) “blessed is he who comes (in the name of the Lord)” (Ps. 118:26)
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haz⋅ard Pronunciation [haz-erd]
–noun
- an unavoidable danger or risk, even though often foreseeable: The job was full of hazards.
- something causing unavoidable danger, peril, risk, or difficulty: the many hazards of the big city
- the absence or lack of predictability; chance; uncertainty: There is an element of hazard in the execution of the most painstaking plans
- Golf. a bunker, sand trap, or the like, constituting an obstacle
- the uncertainty of the result in throwing a die
- a game played with two dice, an earlier and more complicated form of craps
- Court Tennis. any of the winning openings
- (in English billiards) a stroke by which the player pockets the object ball (winning hazard) or his or her own ball after contact with another ball (losing hazard).
–verb (used with object)
- to offer (a statement, conjecture, etc.) with the possibility of facing criticism, disapproval, failure, or the like; venture: He hazarded a guess, with trepidation, as to her motives in writing the article
- to put to the risk of being lost; expose to risk: In making the investment, he hazarded all his savings
- to take or run the risk of (a misfortune, penalty, etc.): Thieves hazard arrest
- to venture upon (anything of doubtful issue): to hazard a dangerous encounter
—Idiom
- at hazard, at risk; at stake; subject to chance: His reputation was at hazard in his new ventures
Origin:
1250–1300; ME hasard < OF, perh. < Ar al-zahr the die
October’s etymology will be done by Andy King. Thank you Andy.
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2009 FESTIVAL UPDATE – NOW HERE – October 17th
Patricia Capitain passed out flyers for the Thousand Islands Writers Festival and sold some tickets at the end of the meeting. We hope to see everyone there on October 17th.
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MEMBER’S LITERARY CONTRIBUTION
This month we have Pat Tierney contributing one of her stories, based on one of our monthly prompts. Enjoy Pat’s story!
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DON’T EVEN REMIND ME
I’m on the second hop home from Florida; my cat and I. I am on the plane, seated, shoes off, coat off, book and glasses out, baggage stowed. Wait, is that me the flight attendant is beckoning? Yes. I pad up to the front in my sock feet. “”What do you mean this plane can’t take my cat, it’s all been arranged for months?” Go in the cabin with me? You must be joking. She never shuts up. Can I come down to the tarmac? Yes. Pilot, air line attendants and I have a meeting about my options. ”Sorry lady, don’t know who told you what, but you can’t take your cat in the baggage compartment of this plane. It will freeze! Do you want to take another flight?”” Well, I guess I don’t have much choice now do I? Back into the plane, full of now curious passengers waiting to take off and wondering ‘what the heck?’’ Put my shoes on, get my baggage, get my book, put my coat on and try to leave with some dignity whilst everyone is staring at me. ‘’Are these your glasses ma’am”? With a close mouthed ‘’yes’’ I retrieve these as well. I finally disembark leaving a plane full of people questioning whether or not I am a terrorist, one of America’s most wanted, a parolee, a detainee, or some other kind of ee or what. Don’t remind me of why my husband will not travel in the car with the cat. Next year……
THE END
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Our next meeting takes place on October 25th, 2009, at Rosedale, at 10:00 a.m. to noon. Hope to see you all then. Remember we can meet at 9:30 for the early-birds!
Dorothy
For Writers’ Ink
WRITERS' INK 