Tuesdays with Story

Writer’s Mail
May 28, 2014

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”
– Maya Angelou

Notes from May 27, 2014
Rain pounded on the roof as we gathered at BN West for critiques and other things…

Fifth Tuesday – in progress. We should have a location and a challenge soon! Save the date – Tuesday, July 29th!

July newsletter editor: Ruth Imhoff. Working on an editor for August! (Anyone who wasn’t at the meeting last night who can take on August newsletter duties, please let us know).

We jumped into the critiques with the start of Rebecca Rettenmund’s new story, “Lookout.” Jack noted the short poem would be more effective (and more cat-like) if each line had the same number of beats. Roxanne and Carol liked the cat’s way of speaking, but needed to be introduced to it – perhaps put the description “the hard sheet of water she couldn’t go through” first in the story, then call it Hardwater afterward. Deb found that capitalizing the cat’s words was a bit distracting. Carol didn’t mind it, but suggested consistency – if some are capitalized, all should be capitalized.

Jack Freiburger brought in three poems, but we concentrated on “God Hunger.” Katelin recognized the disconnect Jack described between that one poem and the others. It’s different, but not sure how. Others were more symbolic and general, this one is more direct. Ruth said it felt like it covered a longer time period, while the other poems were more in the moment. Carol appreciated the more direct approach of the poem, and suggested that “isle” might be “aisle” instead.

Carol Hornung read a scene from Ghost of Heffron College. Jen wanted more showing and less telling. Thought the keys were mentioned a little too often. Perhaps more of a reaction from Kyle when he gets to the room. Watch the continuity – the guy didn’t actually break into the room, so violation may not be the right word. A few too many descriptive words that could be cut. Deb liked the dialog, thought it was very “college-y.”

Deb Kellerman started a new story, Aquila. Rebecca thought the description of the surroundings fell in the wrong place – maybe scatter the lines of description within the action. Jen suggested a new paragraph there, to set it apart. Also, watch the pov, keep each character within their own paragraphs. Carol liked the description of what was going on, but had to wonder after a while, WHY were they fighting? Deb explained there’s something mystical about this particular spot that’s part of it. Need to bring that out a bit more.

Thanks to Carol for the notes.

Other Odds and Ends
Fanstory.com has a bunch of contest coming up in the next month. You can go to there website and check them out if you want to submit, but you do have to join. Here’s a list of the contest for June.
Reviewing Contest
Every month we make a cash prize available to the reviewer that writes the most detailed and helpful reviews. This writing contest rewards a cash prize to the winner.
Deadline: In 4 Days
What If?
For this contest you are presented with a “what if” for your character. What if your character called one of the numbers written on the wall of a public restroom? This writing contest rewards a cash prize to the winner.
Deadline: Jun 4th
Divergent: Fan Fiction
Fan Fiction for Divergent, by Veronica Roth. No poetry, 800 words min. and 2000 words max.
Deadline: Jun 5th
Shakespeare’s Muse
This is a topic based contest. Write a story based on the topic provided in the the announcement.
Feel free to use poetry, but don’t use Shakespeare’s. Your own original work is fine.

Deadline: Jun 6th
Quatrain Poetry Contest
Write a Quatrain poem for this contest. Read the announcement for a sample poem. Cash prize for the winner of this poetry contest.
Deadline: Jun 11th
Oh Mummy You Didn’t! – 2
This is a topic based contest. Write a story based on the topic provided in the the announcement.
Deadline: Jun 13th
Sibling Rivalry
This is a topic based contest. Your short story should humorously describe the sometimes riotous relationship between siblings.
Deadline: Jun 17th
The Archer Writing Contest
“With a smirk the archer drew his bow.” Write a story that uses this sentence somewhere in the story. This writing contest rewards a cash prize to the winner.
Deadline: Jun 18th
Write a Pantoum Sonnet
Write a Pantoum Sonnet. Refer to the contest announcement for the description and example.
Deadline: Jun 20th
Faith Poetry Contest
The theme for this poetry contest is “faith”. We are looking for poems that in some way pertain to this theme. It doesn’t matter if it’s spiritual, political, intellectual or emotional as long as faith is clearly represented. Cash prize for the winner of this poetry contest.
Deadline: Jun 25th
Write an Italian Sonnet
See the form description and examples in the contest announcement
Deadline: Jun 30th
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Finally, we lost a great woman and writer today. I first read Maya Angelou’s poetry in the 5th grade and have been influenced by her ever since. I’d like to share my favorite poem from her. This was the first poem that I’d read and saw myself in the words.

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies.
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Maya Angelou

Coming Soon…
June 10th:
Rebecca Rettenmund (“Lookout”), Jen Wilcher (new story), Jack Freiburger (“something”), Ruth Imhoff (??), Liam Wilbur (??). Room for one more!
June 3: Amber Boudreau (chapters, Stone), Millie Mader (chapter 55, Life on Hold), Kashmira Sheth & Amit Trivedi (chapter 4, novel), Bob Kralapp (short story part 5, “Hole in the Wall”), Andy Pfeiffer (chapters, The Void), and Jerry Peterson (chapters, Rub Out).
June 17: Lisa McDougal (chapters, Tebow Family Secret), Andy Brown (chapters 4, Man Before the Fall), Cindi Dyke (chapters, North Road), Pat Edwards (???), John Schneller (chapter 2, Final Stronghold), and Judith McNeil (chapter 14, My Mother, Savior of Men).

Well, I’m done, send notes and what-nots to Andy Brown.