The course will be held in person from Jan 10 – Feb. 14, 2023, on Tuesday evenings, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. The location is the Workhouse Arts Center, W16, McGuire Woods Gallery, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA 22079. Here is the direct link to register: Write Your Story | Workhouse Arts Center.
Take the next step in getting your story out and making your voice heard. The goal is for participants to walk away with a written product reflecting their work.
Terese Schlachter and I are both members of Military Writers Society of America (MWSA), and this is an extension of MWSA’s “Write Your Story” programs held since 2014 across the country. This is the first MWSA workshop held in the Washington, DC area in this particular format. We look forward to seeing writers of all skill levels there!
Author, blogger, and friend Marcia Meara invited me to participate in her #TenThingsYouMayNotKnowAboutMe blog feature last month. I had so much fun thinking about it, writing it, and meeting her incredibly interactive followers. I hope you will enjoy both this post and Marcia’s blog: The Write Stuff – “Writers Helping Writers” with Marcia Meara & Friends.
I am sharing Reedsy’s blog post on copyrighting a book because this is a question people ask regularly. I recommend reading both posts in this series. The first post outlines the mechanics of obtaining a copyright from the U.S. Copyright Office while the second discusses other important details. Among those details in the second is the following:
“Copyright exists as soon as the words are written
Copyright protection on an original work exists in the United States and the United Kingdom the moment you create that work (and extends for 70 years after your death).”
I love writing prompts because they both force me and free me to create stories or poems I may not have otherwise considered. The “freewriting” nature of most prompt exercises tames my inner editor. I’m also usually thinking no one will ever read what I’m writing, so I stretch my writing muscle and imagination. Due to the short timeframe for most writing prompt requirements, I usually look back at the rough draft of the finished product and consider the outcome as time well spent.
Ten years ago, I participated in about a fun contest at Writing.com. The 15 for 15 Contest challenged writers to respond to writing prompts (photos) for 15 straight days writing for no more than 15 minutes each day. Per Writing.com:
This contest is for writers who may only have a little time on their hands but a lot of creative ideas bubbling around in their heads.
All you will need is 15 minutes a day for 15 days
I highly recommend these types of activities and contests for writers because it forces pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Below is an example of one of those writing prompt responses that I would have never just sat down and wrote. It ended up being a runner-up in that day’s contest! Responding to prompts makes writers think beyond what they may normally write without judging themselves (as much).
Planets
“I love you to Pluto and back!” Jason said lovingly, while on one knee grinning ear to ear and looking into Natalie’s eyes.
“It’s to the Moon and back, goofball.”
“No, it’s not. Pluto is far further than the Moon, and I love you more than the simple distance to the Moon.”
Natalie couldn’t help but love this man. The past nine months she’d learned more about love than she had in the thirty years before. Jason, unafraid of his feelings, and unafraid of commitment and attachment. She’d never met anyone like him.
“Where are you?’ he asked, sensing she had wandered off to another place, which she seemed to do quite often.
“I’m right here, my love, just lost in thoughts. I haven’t gone anywhere; I’m still with you.”
“Good, because I was thinking we should go grab a blanket and sit outside in this crisp air and stargaze for a while. Then I can show you how far Pluto is, so you’ll see how much I love you.”
Natalie cooed, “I can’t think of a better way to spend our nine-month anniversary.”
“Nine months? I thought it was nine days?” Jason smiled again, gazing at her mouth this time, and seemed expectant of an answer.
“Nine months, nine days – who’s counting? I’ll get the blanket and lead the way to the best spot on the hill.”
As they settled in together lying on their backs, bodies warm, close, and sharing heartbeats, he whispered in her ear, “Please tell me what you see.”
“I see the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, Jason.”
“I meant what do you see in the sky. But I do like your answer better.”
On the nine-month anniversary since their first date, Jason committed to marry Natalie and take care of her for the rest of her life. And Natalie committed to loving a man forever who had no sight, but a heart that was out of this world.
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Unfortunately, Writing.com no longer runs the 15 for 15 contest, but for anyone interested, here is Writing.com’s prompts link: Writing Prompts, Creative Writing Prompts, Prompts for Writers – Writing.Com. Set your timer for 15 minutes a day for 15 straight days and surprise yourself. If anyone has writing prompt thoughts or suggestions, please leave a comment!
