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Friday, June 13, 2014

SIWC - decision made. FEATHERS - great writing stuff.


The Master Class options for the upcoming SIWC are impressive.
There are two awesome choices in the time frame that fits my schedule.

It’s been a while now since my superpower (of being in two places at the same time) stopped working so, like you mere mortals, I was forced to choose.

Choose I did.

I chose door number two - the class given by Donald Maass, titled The Emotional Craft of Fiction. 

I was leaning toward the class given by Sean Cranbury, on Owning Your Online Space. I had the pleasure of having coffee with him the other day and, given he resides in my fair city, I felt I could book subsequent time (at a fee of course) for some one-on-one time to address how best to use social media (his specialty).

He’s also giving other classes, at the SIWC, which I will be checking out.

So, you see, since Sean Cranbury is readily available for consultation here, close to home, whereas Donald Maass is located in New York - just a bit out of the way - my choice, thought difficult, was based on geography. 

My final decision was further based on my immediate interest in all things emotional - namely the current state of emotional unrest my characters are experiencing - they've requested I seek immediate help. Some characters are so pushy.

Decision made!


✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻ ✻


I was out on a run the other day. I ran into a cemetery and found all the makings of a great story. 

So… I ran with it!  Oh gosh… it’s getting late and I’m running into a brick wall (aka writer’s block) - or maybe falling headlong into a freshly dug grave.


Have you ever seen feathers after a bird fight… here, look at these.

You know the drill, if you click on the photos they will get bigger… wow!  Really!
From a distance, as I entered the cemetery - I thought it was the remains of a small fire.
Up close, look at the feathers, the way they are thrown into the ground… weird.

See the crow - he circled me, like I was some kind of prey… (fool)
Just as I was leaving the cemetery, this caught my eye - truly beautiful… but still eerie!
It looks like a book, right, but it was a solid object.
Click on it to read the verse - it's touching.

Here are a few extra photos I took on my run… one always needs to balance the weird with the normal… right?





While having a coffee I thought my new runners deserved a little attention!
Now they are immortalized… 


Where do you find material for your writing - deep within the recesses of your mind, or out in that oasis called reality?



Cheers, Jenny

13 comments:

  1. Don Maass is a great presenter. I enjoyed the Master class I took and spoke to him afterward. Hope you have a great time! The hard part will be waiting. . . lucky you with 3 days at the conference.

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    Replies
    1. Hi D.G. - you're right, the waiting will be tough. In the meantime I'm honing my writing skills - working on a few pieces for the contests the SIWC has. I had entered a piece a couple of years back and was shortlisted - seems the drive is in me to give it another go.

      Now, you are in my neck of the woods, I'd love to have a coffee and talk about how to maximize my conference visit from your perspective - if that is something you'd be interested in doing drop me an email at pearsonreport dot gmail dot com. It would be a real pleasure to meet you.

      Cheers, Jenny

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    2. Perhaps we can arrange something during the summer, it's hard for me to plan something too far in advance as I have a chronically ill adult daughter who sometimes needs our support. We do photo shoots sometimes in downtown Vancouver, so may be able to plan something around that. I will email you this weekend with more explanation.

      Are you following the blog on the site? I'm still on the mailing list since I loved my time at SIWC, it's a conference that concentrates on writers IMO. Take care.

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    3. At your convenience, DG - whatever would work best for you, will work for me. I know all too well about being there for family. In my case it's my mother. You must do what you must do - if that means we can fit a coffee in during a photo shoot that would be great. My time is extremely flexible as well.

      Yes, I follow the SIWC site. Like you, I'm on their mailing list. I am hoping to get the most out of it and choosing to stay on site will be helpful. Though I live close, the drive, at night, would be an added stress - and I'm trying my best to avoid stress.

      I look forward to hearing from you… remember, no stress, no worries, just whenever if works for you, DG.

      Cheers - enjoy this overcast Saturday.

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  2. Ahhh pictures are are worth their weight in feathers!!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. In light of our chats I thought you'd like the visuals that go with the story!

      I hope your having an awesome Saturday! :)

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  3. Now that you're back in action, I'm rejoining your blog. You had it closed off for awhile, but I always kept you on my blog roll, just in case you came back.

    Great to see you here again. Cheers and boogie boogie.

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    Replies
    1. Hey Happy Whisk - thanks for rejoining - put a smile on my face.

      I'm glad to be here, cheered on by so many wonderful bloggers - thank you. :)

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    2. Hope you stick around this time and NOT worry about writing the PERFECT post, but instead, just have fun with it. Cheers and boogie boogie.

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    3. Yup - no more perfection here - warts and all will be the new thing! haha

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    4. Nothing wrong with warts.

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  4. There are superstitions about feathers, some believe that departed loved ones will show their presence with the appearance of a feather.
    I pick them up, perhaps to use in my painting at a later time.

    That purple flower is gorgeous

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    Replies
    1. I didn't know that - I'll look into it because that might add something to my story.

      As to the purple flower - I almost sent it to you to use for a distraction while working on Cityscape - it made me think of you when I took it! Weird eh!

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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.