This week from the CALS Writing Circle: the importance of premise in memoir, how to write small for a bigger impact, creating high stakes in your fiction, and how to write a book while working full time. Also, tips for weeding out instances of telling (instead of showing) in your writing, poetry from Kim Addonizio, and many, many free in-person and online writing programs.
Did you know that we take requests? Would you like to attend an in-person writing program at your branch? Drop me a line and tell me what sort of program you'd enjoy.
Deb
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"Since they want to say something big and universal, many writers tend to write their stories in the universal. They create settings and characters that adopt the traits of universal subjects, which is to say they become flat and generalized, homogenized into composites. In reality, those 'big' topics are so complex and nuanced that they can’t be described efficiently and adequately enough in a short story. The result then is a narrative filled with characters and scenes that don’t connect with readers, and a message that sounds artificial and predictable. So how can writing about something small illustrate the great truth you have in mind?"
Creating High Stakes in your Fiction
"Each scene has three critical elements: a goal, conflict, and high stakes. Without those components, the scene loses purpose and falls flat. Each proceeding scene must build on the previous scene’s urgency increasing the point of view character’s struggle. Scene two can’t happen before scene one, and scene sixty can’t happen without scenes one through fifty-nine. The high stakes must be worth the POV character’s effort and communicated to the reader."
Food Writing at Terry Branch
How to Write a Book While Working Full-Time
"Yes, you can have a job and write a book. There may come a day when you wake up, sip your coffee, write some morning pages, and then work on your latest book until dinner; but that day is not today. Just because you work full time doesn't mean that you can't be a writer." It doesn't mean that you can't publish great stories.
How to Find Telling in Your Writing
Show, don't tell is great writing advice, but is sometimes easier said than done. "When you read what you’ve written back to yourself, you won’t notice what’s missing, because your smart writer brain will fill in all the glorious details your imagination holds about the sky and the sounds in the distance. To you, your story will read like a masterpiece. The problem is, those details your brain knows didn’t make it to the page, so your reader is going to get a much flatter version of the story you’re trying to tell." So, how do you fix this age-old writing problem if you can’t find it in your own work?
To the Woman Crying Uncontrollably in the Next Stall
by Kim Addonizio
If you ever woke in your dress at 4am ever
closed your legs to someone you loved opened
them for someone you didn’t moved against
a pillow in the dark stood miserably on a beach
seaweed clinging to your ankles paid
good money for a bad haircut backed away
from a mirror that wanted to kill you bled
into the back seat for lack of a tampon
if you swam across a river under rain sang
using a dildo for a microphone stayed up
to watch the moon eat the sun entire
ripped out the stitches in your heart
because why not if you think nothing &
no one can / listen I love you joy is coming
Kim Addonizio is the author of seven poetry collections, two novels, two story collections, and two books on writing poetry.
Free Upcoming Writing Classes at CALS
CALS Writing Circle: Writer’s Lunch Generative Writing Studio Virtual
Thursday, November 10, 17 12-1:30 pm
Having trouble finding the time to write? There's a lot going on; how will you squeeze your writing time into your busy schedule? Join us once a week on your lunch hour for some dedicated writing time. BYO work-in-progress or use the prompt provided. Come and go. Contact dmoore@cals.org. Register.
CALS Writing Circle: Food Writing at Terry Branch
2015 Napa Valley Drive
Saturday, November 12 10-11:30 am
Food writing is a type of writing that focuses on food and evokes a place or memory. Join us as we look at how to use food as a vehicle in our writing, do an in-class exercise, and share examples of food writing. Contact dmoore@cals.org or fdelgado@cals.org.
CALS Writing Circle: NaNoWriMo Early Day Write-Ins Virtual
Saturday, November 12, 19 10 am-2 pm
Do you want to write a novel in November? Come write with us! We will be writing quietly together, with breaks for writing sprints, prompts, additional support, and plenty of encouragement. Come and go as you please–eat as you need to! Contact jjobe@cals.org. Register.
CALS Writing Circle: NaNoWriMo Late Day Write-Ins Virtual
Sunday, November 13, 20 2-6 pm
Do you NaNoWriMo? Come write with us! We will be writing quietly together, with breaks for writing sprints, prompts, additional support, and plenty of encouragement. Come and go as you please–eat as you need to! For more information, contact jjobe@cals.org. Register.
CALS Writing Circle: Journaling for Healing and Grief Virtual
Tuesday, November 15 10-11:30 am
Grief journaling is a way of allowing ourselves the space for genuine healing to take place, whether we’re ready and willing to express ourselves to others or not, and is a recognized tool in the processing of grief. In fact, journaling is one method of helping people cope with any type of traumatic event. Expressive writing has been found to improve physical and psychological health for people with a number of physical and mental health conditions. Join us and learn how to create and keep a grief and healing journal, including step-by-step instructions and prompts. Contact dmoore@cals.org. Register.
CALS Writing Circle: Memoir Writing for Seniors Virtual
Wednesday, November 16, 30 10-11:30 am
This ongoing class meets once each week and takes attendees aged 55+ through the steps of writing their own life stories. Students are given tools and techniques to help learn to write regularly and productively. Everyone is welcome; no writing experience is required. Contact dmoore@cals.org. Register.
CALS Writing Circle: NaNoWriMo All Day Write-a-Thon Roberts Library in Library Square
401 President Clinton Ave
Room 124
Saturday, November 19 10am-4pm
Do you want to write a novel in November? Come write with us! We will be writing quietly together, with breaks for writing sprints, prompts, additional support, and plenty of encouragement. Come and go as you please. Potluck snack bar! Contact jjobe@cals.org.
Write something awesome this week? Share it with us! email it to dmoore@cals.org
