We
had a lovely time together at the January meeting of the Hill Country
Women of Words and I apologize for the tardiness of this newsletter. And
please forgive me for any mis-information or anything I get wrong. If I
could just find a new brain, I’d buy it...
We began the meeting with a writing prompt from Valerie Gaumont: “Our well thought out plan was almost immediately to be proven completely inadequate....” We all wrote to the prompt and shared what we had read. We wrote about a rock, sleep, beer signs, hiking, a lost backpack, an empty gas tank and a change of routes. This is one of the most fun parts of our meetings and we all enjoy it! Thanks, Valerie!
We began the meeting with a writing prompt from Valerie Gaumont: “Our well thought out plan was almost immediately to be proven completely inadequate....” We all wrote to the prompt and shared what we had read. We wrote about a rock, sleep, beer signs, hiking, a lost backpack, an empty gas tank and a change of routes. This is one of the most fun parts of our meetings and we all enjoy it! Thanks, Valerie!
Judith Rost
was with us, but she didn’t have anything to read. Judith and her
husband are moving and that’s a very mind-and-energy consuming job.
Valerie Gaumont
has started a new project to write one haiku every day for the next
year. This is harder than it sounds. I tried it one year and I think I
made it to April before I quit. She invites anybody who would like to
join her in this challenge to write one haiku a day, too. Valerie has
also started a new book with no title yet, but she read us the first
chapter and it was fascinating! Three unopenable wooden boxes. What do
they mean?
Linda Christensen
had a successful book signing at her house on Sunday afternoon. I
believe Linda said she sold 12 books. She was very happy with the turn
out. I’m sorry to have missed it. Linda is also writing daily haiku and
she brought some of them to share with us. Linda brought a short piece
titled “The Phone Evolution” she plans to submit. It certainly brought
back memories for us all to be reminded how far telephones have come.
Our grandkids wouldn’t believe it, would they?
Lynn Harris was with us, but she didn’t read anything. Lynn
says she hasn’t written anything since her son & five-year-old
grandson moved to town. She is taking care of her grandson while her son
works in Austin
and she is working on the weekends, so she’s pretty busy. I’d be
exhausted, but we all do what we have to do. I miss her stories.
Paula Bramlett
brought us something she printed off the web, “Elements Found in Fairy
Tales.” It was very helpful. Do you know the difference between a fairy
tale, a fable, and a parable? I do (now)! Thanks, Paula.
Sally Clark
brought a personal essay she wrote about her days in high school. I
submitted it to The Sun Magazine for their Reader’s Write column, but I
haven’t heard anything back yet. I also brought a poem, “The End of
Summer Garden,” that I have submitted to the 2017 TX Poetry Calendar.
Sheila Kale
has also decided to write haiku every day and she brought us what she
had so far for the year. Haiku is a wonderful way to sharpen your focus.
Details can add depth and create interest in any story you are writing,
fiction or nonfiction.
Back in November, Vici Wray
gave us all a craft project of making envelopes, with instructions, to
do over the holidays. Vici needed to know if the instructions were clear
and easy to follow. Vici reported to us that Anna Mendeke made her
envelope and mailed it to Vici along with her report that the
instructions were a success! How neat! Vici was very pleased.
Liz Eberle writes: “Enjoy WOW, give them my hugs and that I am so very proud that they continue to weave beautiful words and encourage each other!!” We all owe Liz a serious debt of gratitude for starting our WOW group, way back in 2001.
Betty Murphey emailed: “We
have an out-of-town appointment tomorrow, so, I will not be there. I
am so impressed with all the work our group has been doing.”
TWiG
will continue on all the other Tuesday’s of the month, in the same
location, at the same time. Everyone is invited to join us and bring
anything that you would like critiqued.
Remember you can always go to http://christwriters.com/deadline for the latest submission information.