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When I procrastinate or get stuck in my unproductive self, I remind myself of Karen Drucker's song, "I Will Be Gentle with Myself." My favorite lyric of the song: "I will only go as fast as the slowest part of me feels safe to go." Following these words of wisdom, I try to pace myself. Maybe today, I can only add one line or edit one word or (if you are a poet) move one comma. I may work up to a paragraph or a stanza of poetry, then increase as I am able. Other days, it may help to walk away, read a good book, or play pickleball with some friends. Often, exploring a new writing prompt helps. To that end, let me offer the following: (Inspired by https://www.pw.org)
Creative Nonfiction Prompt: Write an essay about a prized possession with a storied history How did you acquire it, and what new life does it breathe?
Fiction Prompt: Write a story that begins with a character finding a secret trinket - a necklace, a teacup, or a medal of honor. Who does the object belong to, and what feeling does this discovery conjure in your protagonist?
Poetry Prompt: Write a poem about the feeling you get when entering a new year. What are you taking with you and what are you leaving behind?
Find Karen Drucker's song here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s62ZFr0SOj4
Anke Hodenpijl
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Next Meeting | 19 February 2022 | Featured Speaker: Clarissa Kae
 Regardless of whether you’re self, traditionally or yet to be published, here’s a step-by-step guide to a successful and sustainable career in the publishing industry. With her experience at Writer’s Digest, Storymakers and as a Pitch Perfect Conference Coordinator, Clarissa pulls back the curtain on the industry while sprinkling in her personal hits and misses as an award-winning author.
Clarissa Kae is a preeminent voice whose professional career began as a freelance editor in 2007. She's the former president of her local California Writers Club after spending several years as the Critique Director. A stint at Writer’s Digest and a Pitch Perfect Conference Coordinator, Clarissa had dedicated countless hours to mentoring fellow authors. Since her first novel, she's explored different writing genres and created a loyal group of fans who eagerly await her upcoming release. With numerous awards to her name, Clarissa continues to honor the role of storyteller. Aside from the writing community, she and her daughters founded Kind Girls Make Strong Women to help undervalued nonprofit organizations—from reuniting children with families to giving Junior Olympic athletes their shot at success. Clarissa lives in the agricultural belly of California with her family of horses, chickens, dogs and kittens a plenty. A graduate of Animal and Veterinary science, Clarissa helms Annie’s Aussies, a kennel providing companion, emotional and medical service dogs. She and her daughters also rescue horses, aiding All Seated In A Barn to help 200+ horses.
Purchase your in-person ticket here. $15 members and $18 nonmembers
Purchase your Zoom ticket here. $5 online
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Last Meeting |15 January 2022 | Cat Rambo
There was a last-minute cancellation for the in-person meeting. However, the Zoom meeting with continued with success. If you attended the Zoom meeting, purchased in-person tickets, or showed up at Hodel's to pay at the door, please email me, Cyn, at president@writersofkern.com to receive the private link to Cat's workshop. I apologize for any inconvenience.
Getting to the Heart of the Story: Great stories have a heart, an emotional core that both resonates deeply with the reader and says something about the human experience. How do you discover what lies in your story's heart, and how do you revise to make its beat even stronger and more compelling? Join Cat for a workshop on how to examine your draft and find out what's really inside.
Cat Rambo lives, writes, and teaches somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Their 250+ fiction publications include stories in Asimov’s, Clarkesworld Magazine, and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. In 2020 they won the Nebula Award for fantasy novelette Carpe Glitter. They are a former two-term President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). Their most recent works are space opera You Sexy Thing (Tor Macmillan, November 2021), as well as an anthology, The Reinvented Heart (Arc Manor, February 2022), co-edited with Jennifer Brozek.
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Your Poem on the Writers of Kern Blog
For the past few years, Writers of Kern has celebrated National Poetry Month in a unique way. Each day in April, an original poem is published on our WOK website. Established poets, emerging poets, and would-be poets all have the possibility of being published during the month.
But, hey, we need YOU to submit your poetry for consideration! Beginning February 20 th and throughout March, please send your poems to submissions@writersofkern.com
Guidelines:
- Poem line limit: 30 lines or fewer
- Submit poems as a Word Document; 12-point font, Arial
- Include a short bio (50 words or fewer)
- Include a head shot
- Send to submissions@writersofkern.com ; In the subject line: NPM “Title of your Poem”
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2020 WOK Annual Dan McGuire Blog Challenge
What: Our annual Blog Challenge for our writing community honoring our dear friend, and prolific blogger, Dan McGuire.
Who: Anyone can participate (membership in Writers of Kern not required)
When: Start posting Monday, Feb. 10. Final posts by Sunday, May 10.
Why: To develop a habit of regular writing and sharing it with a like-minded community of writers.
Where: Your personal blog online
The Fine Print: (Requirements to finish and be recognized at WOK Honors, our annual awards and recognition dinner. To be held this year on May 16th):
- To participate, please email: president@writersofkern.com with your name and blog web address by Feb 9, 2022.
- Write 26 posts in 13 weeks
- Subject/theme is up to you
- We suggest two posts per week, but there is no minimum or maximum, just so all 26 posts are completed by the end date.
- Leave 2 comments/week on other participants’ blogs
- Each participant will be given a list of the other participants’ blogs for easy access
- Though not required, we prefer you share a link to your blog posts on the Writers of Kern Facebook Group page (link below). It makes it easier to everyone to read and leave comments.
- After publishing all 26 posts, please email president@writersofkern.com to confirm you’ve completed the challenge.
- Note: Pace yourself. While it seems simple, many will start, while not everyone will finish and that’s okay. We celebrate everyone who starts!
If you do not have a blog, now is the time to start one! This video will help: https://youtu.be/5n-ZpBo7cHI
- If. after watching the video, you are still struggling, please contact president@writersofkern.com We have two very patient volunteers who are willing to answer your blog set-up related questions.
Questions? Email president@writersofkern.com
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WOK Critique Groups are up and running! The new Screenwriters Group has room for more members, and so does the Mystery Writers Group. There is room for one more in Portia’s Poetry Group as well. I encourage new WOK members to join – it will really improve your writing and you’ll make some new friends! Interested? Contact Carla Martin at critiquegroups@writersofkern.com
Respectfully submitted,
Carla Joy Martin
Critique Group Chair
critiquegroups@writersofkern.com
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