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Tiny Essay, tiny prompt

The following tiny essay and prompt is part of a working collection entitled just that: Tiny Essays, tiny prompts. If you love writing in short form like I do, and you’re up for a few weeks of learning and exercise (pen to paper, fingers to the keyboard), register for the next online course, Flash Nonfiction I: An Introduction. Seats are filling fast, and the course begins on January 7th!

Sacrilegious

I pulled out my notebook and pen in the middle of church, when I should have been singing or meditating on the Gospel, because something struck me that needed to be written down. Sure, I felt guilty. Profane. But I wrote pensive, as if I was simply taking note of the hymn number (which one time I was), so that I might return to the verses later and ask for forgiveness.

The Prompt: guilty

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Designs for the New Year: Writing Opportunities in 2017

“The writing career is not a romantic one. The writer’s life may be colorful, but his work itself is rather drab.” ~ Mary Roberts Rinehart

img_0012Hey now, come on, Mary. Writing may not be romantic (though when I type with fingerless gloves I feel very “Jane Austen”), but drab is a little strong. Let’s say painful, gut-wrenching, #ThisPenHatesMe, sure. “Woman found sobbing over red ink and word counts,” yes. But drab? Nope.

If you find yourself in the bla-bla-bla’s of a blank page, you may be in need of a boost in morale, a prompt for inspiration, a bit of camaraderie–a workshop, a course, or an official writers’ huddle.

The Workshop
Join me face-to-face for FLASH MEMOIR.

pexels-photo-204511Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, 9:30am-noon at the Red Oak Writing tables (11709 W. Cleveland Ave., West Allis, WI). We will define the purpose of memoir and the memoir essay (there is a difference!), look at traditional and nontraditional forms, and talk about strategies for turning a personal experience or story into flash (1,000 words or fewer). We’ll also put pen to paper–because we learn best when we engage with the page! $50. REGISTER via Red Oak HERE.

The Course
Join me ONLINE for in-depth learning on FLASH NONFICTION.

Drawing of online connectionThis 4-week course runs from February 5-March 4, 2017. We will tap into books, videos, podcasts, and samples of great flash nonfiction. We’ll learn about techniques that make this powerful genre work, then put these techniques into practice through writing exercises and peer critique. At the end of the course, you’ll leave with a better understanding of flash nonfiction as a whole, a list of resources for further study and submission ideas, and several new pieces of work under your belt. $90. Information on discounted fees & registration HERE.

The Huddle
Strength in Numbers with THE WRITERS’ COLLECTIVE.

Another great in-person workshop at Red Oak, taught Kim Suhr on Saturday, February 25, 2017, 9:30am-noon. Here’s the description from the website:

Red Oak Writing logoWould you like to increase readership of your book, website or blog? Are you better at singing others’ praises than your own? Are you willing to spread the word about other writers’ work in exchange for expanded exposure?

Spend the morning building a collaborative publicity plan with others who are committed to helping your audience grow. Participants must be willing to promote each other throughout a six-month period. Those who make one “touch” for every member of the group will appear on a “Featured Writers” page at our website with links to their blog, Amazon page, etc. Group limit strictly held at 12 members.

$50. Register for the Writers’ Collective via Red Oak HERE.

And with that, folks, we’re barely into March. Drab is so 2016.
Sign up and get writing in 2017!