The Power of Love

Our February theme:
How LOVE changes us. 

• How does the power of love move in your writing?
• Do you LOVE to write? Do you LOVE your writing?
• Did someone you LOVE(d) influence your writing?

NEXT MEETING:

Monday February 13

1:15 – 3:15pm, Accokeek Library, 15773 Livingston Road, Accokeek, MD 20607

If you want to write for this month’s prompt

Take a look at LOVE from an unusual viewpoint. How does LOVE moves throughout our lives?
Any genre is acceptable- essay, memoir, fiction, poetry, etc. Submit online or come and read at the meeting Feb. 13.

Here are a few quotes from famous writers to help inspire you:

1. You have more love to give than you could ever know. “Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold.” ― Written by Zelda Fitzgerald in her novel, Save Me The Waltz.

2. Some passions may be impossible to resist.“The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.” ― Written by Oscar Wilde in his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.

3. Love is the greatest gift and the greatest sacrifice.
   “In the flush of love’s light
   we dare be brave,
   And suddenly we see
   that love costs all we are
   and will ever be.
   Yet, it is only love
   which sets us free.”   ― Written by Maya Angelou in her poem, Touched By An Angel.

4. When real love hits, it shouldn’t make you feel weak. “Don’t ever think I fell for you, or fell over you. I didn’t fall in love, I rose in it.”― Written by Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morison in her novel, Jazz.

Here’s a few more…

In this chilly weather, I’m reminded that a warm sweater, a bowl of soup, a call from a friend can all say ‘love.’ 

Crow About Your 2016 Progress – Plan for Success in 2017

It’s the Year of the Rooster!

What will you be crowing about by this time next year??

Last Tuesday 12/27 we had a wonderful mini-retreat day at Lyn Scott’s waterfront house “Ducks.” It was such a balmy day that several of us wrote outside on the deck, listening to the ducks and swans enjoying their day splashing about.

We shared our plans and dreams for the new year of writing ahead, and created a talisman that would be a symbol of our commitment to our work.

Plan for Success in 2017

Just because you weren’t there doesn’t mean you can’t share in the process. Here are the questions we asked and answered in our Year Ahead retreat day:

1. What went well for you and your writing in 2016?
2. Did you meet the goals you had for the year?
3. List the writing projects you currently have.
   – Review and report on each one.
   – Now prioritize them for 2017.
4. What new project is calling to you? Name it, and place it in your 2017 Priority list.
5. Choose an object – something to keep in your pocket or on your desk, and didicate it to your writing goals for 2017. Hold it in your hands, see your work accomplished! Then keep it as your touchstone to remind you of your goals.
6. Set specific goals for the first 2 months of 2017. What will you have accomplished by Feb. 28, 2017?
7. Make an Artist’s Date* with yourself that feeds your creativity.  The Artist’s Date is assigned play, you are wooing your Muse. Click the link to learn more.

There you have it! I recommend you post your answers to your own blog, or submit it here to share with your community.

AWWG will host another Retreat Day in early March, and we’ll see how it’s going! Meanwhile, pick up your pen, stretch your typing fingers and happy writing!

 

 

December Meeting Monday

Monday December 12, 2017
1:15 – 3:15pm
ACCOKEEK LIBRARY
15773 Livingston Road
Accokeek, MD 20607

How’s that Holiday spirit holding up?

Forget all about the hectic Christmas season! Come and hang with your AWWG peeps and get revved up for winter writing.

• Arrive on time for a warm-up prompt to get your words flowing
• Applaud our NaNoWriMo writers
• Come & share your News & Goods
• Don’t forget to bring books, flyers & cards for our Resource table

We’ll discuss our winter writing schedules, a local post-holiday retreat day, and our January party, so don’t miss it!

NEWS BLAST!

Cheryl Holloway featured on Internet radio show The Gospel Truth, hosted by our own Deborah Parker on E-Life Radio!

• When: Sunday, December 11, 2016
• Listen in at: www.ELifeMedia.net
• Time: Approx 2:15 – 2:45 (Eastern Time)
• Call in Number:  (301) 455-5934 

 

Writers, we Hold the Tools of Change

What It Means To Be A Writer In The Time Of Trump

Huffington Post publishes thoughts from 18 writers on the work ahead.

 

Aftermath: Sixteen Writers on Trump’s America from the New Yorker magazine.

 

“This is precisely the time that artists go to work.There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal.”

~Toni Morrison

More concrete resources: take action on what you feel strongly about – Slate has a great list HERE

how_liberals_can_channel_their_post_election_anxiety_into_action

November is fast disappearing!

Dear NaNo writers!

We have a write-in planned at Lyn’s house, “Ducks,” from noon-6pm. RSVP to Lyn HERE for directions. Also, one more Monday night Write-in at the Library, 6:30-closing, 11/28.

Here are some tips from the latest Pep Talk, this one from Maggie Steifvater of the Raven Boys series.

1. Know my project. I need to know what I want that final project to look like. Where it sits on the shelf, why I’m writing it, how it will make the reader feel. Then I ask myself with each chapter: does this belong in the book I said I was writing?

2. Never sit at my computer without knowing what I’m going to write. If I’m stuck, I need to stimulate my physical body so my mind can play: drive, walk, shower.

3. Unwind each day with thirty minutes of reading something that feels like what I’m trying to make, to remind myself how others accomplished it.

4. [brackets]. If I know I need a beat but can’t quite get the details yet, I place brackets around the words [fight here] or [scene], so that I know I can go back and fix it later.

5. Move forward and backward. I go back and edit; I go forward and outline. Rereading and scanning ahead helps me keep #1 in mind.

6. Ignore word count. I get through the plot first, then I go back and flesh out or cut down as needed.

From NaNoWriMo Pep Talks by well-known NaNo authors 

NaNoWriMo at AWWG & Beyond!

November: It’s National Novel Writing Month!

ACCOKEEK WOMEN’S WRITING GROUP is delighted to
sponsor lots of NaNoWriMo action this year.

KICKOFF PARTY
Wednesday Nov 2
6:30-8:00 pm Accokeek Library
15773 Livingston Rd, Accokeek, MD 20607

Refreshments and celebration, get a writing buddy, resources for writers, and more

WRITE INS at the Library during November:   Accokeek Library
15773 Livingston Rd, Accokeek, MD 20607 Mondays 6:30-closing (9:00pm) Nov. 7, 14, 21, & 28

Come Write In! at the local library. It’s great to write with company – the words fly onto the page!

THANK GOODNESS IT’S OVER! (TGIO) Monday Dec 5th
6:30-8:00 pm Accokeek Library
15773 Livingston Rd, Accokeek, MD 20607

Refreshments and celebration, readings from NaNo participants (last year’s party was great – some HOT stories!)

Please check our calendar for any updates.

NANOWRIMO LINKS & RESOURCES

Official NaNoWriMo website:  nanowrimo.org – sign up and pledge your intentions. Join the forums, get pep talks from successful authors. and More!!

PEP TALKS from successful Authors!! nanowrimo.org/pep-talks

Plotting Resources The WriterSaurus

NaNo Prep: 30 Tips from Writers Digest

NaNoWriMo has groups on Facebook – here’s our Maryland group and the National

Twitter has NaNo Coaches at @NaNoWriMo and writing sprints 24 hours a day for 30 days at @NaNoWordSprints!!!

 Nano Founder Chris Baty’s book No Plot? No Problem! on sale this week for only $1.99!

Medium’s NaNoWriMo articles

It’s NaNoWriMo Time!

It’s that time again:

Time to get ready to write 50,000 words in 30 days. The marathon for first drafts, the inimitable NaNoWriMo. Nano is the writing event that taught me that “I can’t run a marathon, but I can write one!”

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. 

On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.

Some resources to help you get ready:

• NaNoWriMo official prep page
• Writer’s Digest Getting Ready for Nano
• 10 Last Minute NaNoWriMo Tips
• The Serious Novelist’s Guide from Huff Post

If you’re not a novelist, non-fiction and other genres are more than welcome to the party.

Last year AWWG had at least 5 participants, and several members used all the inspiration to advance existing projects. You can make it work for you! There will be Write-ins several times a week in various locations, and lots of online encouragement.

Ask me about NaNoWriMo!

Save these Dates: WordFest and more!

Summer Camp is now

AWWG WordFest!

Save the dates: Monday – Friday, August 1-5, 2016

Some possible sessions: Crafts for Writers, Poetry as Provocation, Make a mini video, Movie night, Travel Writing, Rant/Slam/Storytelling, Good Book Happy Hour….

We’re still looking for ideas, presenters and hosts. Comment or email to get involved!

also, coming sooner:

Marketing discussion day  

Saturday July 16th – noon to 4 pm, followed by a potluck supper
at Teresa Maxwell’s house in Ft. Washington

Come to learn about book marketing and marketing your writing business. Share your experience, learn new skills that help you get OUT THERE!

 

 

June’s Meeting report

June’s meeting had lots of ‘news & goods’ as well as two new members. Welcome to Winona and Joyce! Here’s hoping we see more of you and your work.

Carol Burbank returned from her Canada trip inspired by a writers workshop with author and playwrite Alison Waring. Carol reports progress on multiple writing projects including a new book on education reform for people with disabilites.  She also led us through an exercise to develop our own individual writing prompt for this month. She’s offering various workshops and online courses that you can find out about here.

Cheryl Holloway announced she’s been nominated for two awards online! Cheryl also let us know that she’s offering to be your writing productivity coach. “Write every day and in a year you have your book!” Easier said than done as we all know. You can contact Cheryl here.

New member Teresa is getting a great response to her first ebook and shared some of her marketing strategy with us. She’s interested in more discussions on marketing out self published books. You’ll find her address on the latest email list.

Lyn Scott let us know she’s moving into DC on June 27and invited all to a party at her home Saturday 6/25. She insists she’ll return for meetings, and I hope so!!

Patrise called for volunteers to meet and plan Summer Camp 2.0 or its equivalent. A goodly number of members joined the committee and we’re meeting at the Accokeek Dunkin Donuts at 1pm Monday June 27.

And, the deadline for the Erotic Writing Challenge is extended until July’s meeting. So keep writing, girls!

Remember I am always delighted with submissions for this blog and will help you gain contributor access or post something you send me.  Don’t be shy!

 

May’s Meeting Report

Fun was had by all

Our fearless leader was away so Patrise led the meeting. We had 17 attendees.Quite a few members wrote for last month’s prompts and we enjoyed those. Wanda read from a novella in progress and received lots of feedback from the group, and encouragement to keep going.

New Book wants reviews!

New member Teresa Maxwell has her first book up on Kindle. More Than My Share of Pain is a memoir and inspirational book about surviving verbal and emotional abuse. Available for free as a Kindle eBook. Terry would be grateful for any reviews, so please check it out HERE: https://amzn.com/B01FG70RJA

AWWG Writers take the Challenge!

Finally, to launch the Erotic Writing Challenge, Cheryl coaxed writers out of their shells with a random prompt exercise that got us writing – about strippers! Everyone chose two slips: one stripper name and one provocative adjective. My character was named “Hung Jury.”  We had a lot of fun writing these character studies, and they ranged from heartfelt to hilarious, titillating to tragic. Carol Cox offered a scorching description of pleasure, and conscripted us all with masterful misdirection.

This proved beyond doubt that you all have potential to warm things up, and I hope for a few more signups for the Challenge or some surprises on June 13th!.