This poster was designed by our Closet Writers cohort, Susan Greig, who occasionally attends the Grind Writers group as well.
Friday, 3 August 2012
Friday, 13 July 2012
Seasonal Writing Prompt
Doesn't this evoke a few memories? Can you remember the first time you were ever given watermelon?
Where were you? Who gave it to you, how was it sliced, what the day was like? Was it room temp or from the fridge? Were you allowed to let the juice run down your chin and spit the seeds out, or did you have to eat it with a spoon? Did it even have seeds, or was it one of the new seedless GMO melons? And, then what............?
Where were you? Who gave it to you, how was it sliced, what the day was like? Was it room temp or from the fridge? Were you allowed to let the juice run down your chin and spit the seeds out, or did you have to eat it with a spoon? Did it even have seeds, or was it one of the new seedless GMO melons? And, then what............?
15 minutes, starting........now: Go.
Taking your writing to a new level - July 22
On Sunday July 22nd, Joan Boxall will do a mini-shop on how to take a poem or a short reading to a new level.
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| Joan, with arches |
Here are some samples of Joan’s podcasts: “Having Being” an identity poem; and “Be Kind to Mother Nature.”
You can read about Joan on her website: www.joanboxall.com
** Note please email before you attend the first time: margoamont@gmail.com
The Gremlin Whisperer
Thanks to Wendy Lotosky for doing a session on “Gag Your Gremlins”
at Grind Writers on July 7th. It’s all about wrestling your writing gremlins to
the ground and getting on with the writing.
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| Grind Writers showing off their gremlin models |
Grind Writer, Emilia wrote about the workshop that it "focused
on the thoughts that get in the way of writing (or any other life issues). It
took a lighthearted approach to what could be a heavy topic. We first named our
gremlin and drew a picture of it or made a model out of clay. Then we described
our gremlin, what it looked like, where it lived and then we wrote down
examples of what it says to us that gets in the way of writing. We shared these
with the group and it was interesting how similar the issues were."
Wendy is a
gremlin tamer and life/work coach who practices in Vancouver. You
can read her blog here, or follow her on Twitter - TrendyWendy http://twitter.com
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Grind Writers 2012 meetings schedule
Grind Writers 2012 meetings schedule
Sunday, July 22
Saturday, Aug 11
Sunday, Aug 26
Saturday, Sept 8
Sunday, Sept 23
Saturday, Oct 13
Sunday, Oct 28
Saturday, Nov 17
Sunday, Dec 2 - (last one for 2012)
Sunday, 1 July 2012
"GAG YOUR GREMLINS" - Sat July 7 Grind Writers
Sat. July 7, 2012
Gag Your Gremlins
A lighthearted, fun & effective mini-shop with Wendy Lotosky who is a life/work coach by day. Wendy’s going to help Grind Writers address Fear in writing (some of you may have met Fear in its other guise, Procrastination) – and how fear affects your ability to get those words down on that big blank page.
Gag Your Gremlins
A lighthearted, fun & effective mini-shop with Wendy Lotosky who is a life/work coach by day. Wendy’s going to help Grind Writers address Fear in writing (some of you may have met Fear in its other guise, Procrastination) – and how fear affects your ability to get those words down on that big blank page.
Gremlins are the keepers if our 'shoulds.' You know you’re in Gremlin territory when you are dealing with your fears, shoulds, rules, regrets, masks, self-doubts. You’ll identify your Gremlin, give her/him a name (Annoying Andy... Restless Rita....). Then you’ll identify its character traits, snippy remarks, and annoying behaviours – and you’ll take home a sketch of what they might look like.
(Wendy even has finger puppets and drawings to get writers going.) And next time your Gremlin or the committee shows up - you can send them for a drink....and get back to your writing.
If you haven't attended Grind Writers before, please email before you attend the first time: grindwriters@gmail.com
********************************
Still looking for
people to facilitate on these dates.
Mainly a matter of getting there a bit early and saving
the table – and sharing an exercise or two you’ve
learned at a workshop or writing course.
Mainly a matter of getting there a bit early and saving
the table – and sharing an exercise or two you’ve
learned at a workshop or writing course.
Saturday,
Aug 11
Sunday, Aug 26
Or on any of these dates as well:
Saturday, Sept 8
Sunday, Sept 23
Saturday, Oct 13
Sunday, Oct 28
Saturday, Nov 17
Sunday, Dec 2
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
THE "V" WORD SCANDAL
Last week in Michigan, a State Representative was silenced on the State House floor after she referenced her vagina during a debate.
Though this isn’t really about using the word ‘vagina’ --
still, what word are we to use?
And how
does it make you feel--that the
legitimate medical word for a part of a woman’s anatomy is outlawed in a house
of laws - in 2012-- in a assembly of the most powerful nation on earth, one that constantly complains about other countries veiling their women? How does this line up?
Parents went to a lot of effort to educate their children in the last 30 years to use the 'right' words -- and not silly euphemisms like 'down there' and others so silly I can't even them out without wincing. Parents were told, as one example, that some children could not even report sexual abuse because they did not have the words to describe to medical examiners where on their body the abuse had occurred.
This is important stuff.
To be able to speak without silliness about your own body is a kind of right, a type of freedom of speech. It’s not just a
woman’s issue either: is penis next?
Write about your reactions to this as a free-write prompt. 15 minutes--go.
__________________________________
Background on the story here.
Monday, 2 April 2012
A whole day of free writers' workshops - Apr 14th
Meeting up
There’s a break from 12:15 to 1:30 so let’s try and meet up then - in the Caf. We won’t be doing free-writes or anything – just hanging out, having a break. The Security guy said the easiest way to find the Caf is to go to the Security kiosk in the main foyer & ask for directions. To make life interesting, they have 2 Cafs. I’m talking about the one on the 2nd floor. He says it has greater choice of items.
There’s a break from 12:15 to 1:30 so let’s try and meet up then - in the Caf. We won’t be doing free-writes or anything – just hanging out, having a break. The Security guy said the easiest way to find the Caf is to go to the Security kiosk in the main foyer & ask for directions. To make life interesting, they have 2 Cafs. I’m talking about the one on the 2nd floor. He says it has greater choice of items.
Getting there
·
SkyTrain
- nearest stop is the New West SkyTrain Station – about a 300M walk up one of those Streets of San Francisco New West hills.
As you get off SkyTrain – he said: come own one level and, once off the
stairs, keep going straight and then you'll hit the first road. Go left up the
hill. 8th St.,
he thought. He was from Australia, so what does he know - google the map, you’ll see. Or ask someone at the New West stn.
·
Car
– some people are carpooling. If you're a Grind Writer you know the email address so at email before Apr 7 if you need, or if you can offer, a ride. Can't do anything after Apr 7th on this.
All the info – map, schedule
of the day’s workshops etc.
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