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

SIWC - it’s all about CREATIVITY and ABUSING TWITTER.

I’ve decided to abuse* Twitter - okay, maybe that’s way too strong of a word. So… how does “utilize” sound - so utilitarian, but hey, anything to not look like the abuser I am!  :P  *make excessive and habitual use of (according to Mac’s Dictionary)

I am taking advantage of my creative juices, that are freely flowing thanks to Brenda Ueland’s book, If You Want To Write, whereby I am not thinking (easier than I thought) just typing what comes to mind.

My copy - but you can get yours HERE.

Back on May 26th, in light of discovering the SIWC twitter site, I tweeted this:

Johnny asked, “How many more sleeps till Christmas, mommy?” Mommy smiled, “153 dear, just 153!” #siwc14 My gift to me.

When I got a reply from the SIWC Board I thought, “Hmmm, let’s play with this a little.”

And so it went…  

I found Johnny and Mommy taking on a life of their own through my tweets. It got me thinking how much fun it would be, given this is a Writers’ Conference’s twitter feed, to use (or abuse) Twitter shamelessly and write a story, in 140 character bits, as a way of partaking in the world of social media. 

If you want to see the story unfold… it’s HERE!

Given my love of social media (if you know me well, you’ll see I’ve lodged my tongue in my left cheek as I type this) I figured, hey, what the heck, give it a whirl - really, what can happen? I might even get a few extra followers to keep my stalwart 37 in good company. 

In fact, I’ve been toying with attending a Master Class, at the SIWC, given by Sean Cranbury on Owning Your Online Space. Talk about a lot of links...

I imagine he will be supportive of my using (or abusing - see earlier definition) Twitter in this shameless fashion. If not… oh well, can’t fault me for finding the teats and milking them on the old Twitter cow, now can you.

Source

On to the conference… which can be found at SIWC.ca

I have decided to book myself into the conference hotel, up on the Club floor no less - really, go big or stay at home. 

Staying at home was not an option as I plan on consuming the occasional adult beverage (it’ll be noon at some point throughout the day) - and driving would not fit that plan. (I might borrow Drake’s costume if I go the route of imbibing too much. If you read comments you’ll get the reference if not - you know; you snooze, you lose.)

I’m springing for the whole enchilada - not just one of those taco things - no siree - I’m going for the beans and the beef! 

In other words, for you that don’t get my humour (so sad, isn’t it - you not getting it) I treated myself to the 3-Day full conference package - listed as the best value. I’m all about the best… value!

Now, if you’ve made it this far, and actually read most of it, Tex would say I’ve done something right in the layout, colour choice, picture selection etc… ‘cause she knows all about this stuff.

Now, back to some spontaneous writing… oh wait, that’s what this was… silly me!

I think I’ll lace up my new runners and head outside - sunny and warm, with a little breeze - just how I like it!

Cheers, Jenny

Well, how are you in the social media department - twitter much?

Or is Facebook your bent?