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WORD-for-WORDS
A Monthly Newsletter from the Westport Writers' Workshop
with news of the WWW Community,
writing wisdom, prompts,
and announcements of upcoming events
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WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
at the
WESTPORT WRITERS' WORKSHOP?
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LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
where you will also find special offers and advance invitations.
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Happy New Writing Year!
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Am I the only person who - New England weather nothwithstanding - loves January? I think of this month as the year's sunrise - offering a year with new possibilities, and a clean calendar upon which to write a new plan.
"Write" being the operative word, of course. Every resolution, every new date book, and every "note to self" includes details on when, how much, and where I plan/hope/promise to write in the new year. Notice I didn't include what I'll write. That's the revelation that will unfold only after I plant myself in front of the blank page, step aside, and let the magic happen.
But I do know when I will do that: Beginning January 20, every Friday from 12:30 to 2 pm I will personally commit to be at 3 Sylvan Road South at our Writing Partners Brown Bag. I invite you to join me in making that commitment.
In order to solidify your commitment, there is a cost $75 to sign up for the Writing Partners Brown Bag for the 8-week series. Space will be limited. But take note: anyone who attends every one of the 8 winter sessions will receive at the end a full $75 credit toward any future WWW workshop or event.
I hope you'll join me in showing up for the page. Let's do it together.
(See more information about this and our other Brown Bags below.)
Founder/Director
Westport Writers' Workshop
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Are you ready to:
- Tell your story?
- Write your novel?
- Feed your soul?
While many workshops have already filled, spaces still remain in some of our most popular workshops.
Don't delay! |
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News of Our Writers
| Can an essay be wildly funny and emotionally moving at the same time?  Yes, but it's not easy. Even harder, however, is being a writer while raising a family of young children. Becky Martin, a seasoned participant in our The Examined Life workshop, can show you how both are done in her latest piece accepted for publication. Her essay "Dr. Dude" will be published in an upcoming issue of the highly respected Literary Mama online magazine.
 We are very proud of Carol Boas, whose story "Under the Dining Room Table" has made it to the final selection round for Chicken Soup for the Soul: I Can't Believe My Dog Did That! (The on-sale date is scheduled for September 18, 2012.
WWW instructor Marcelle Soviero's essay "Tips From a Divorcee on Successful Co-Parenting" was just published in New York Metro Parents and her article "A Perfect Day, Post-Divorce" made the front page of Babble. Marcelle leads several sections of Memoir Writing: Telling Our Stories, and recently led Get Published Now! How To Get Your Short Work Published. Beginning in January she will lead a weekly Poetry Brown Bag on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2 pm.
Keep the good news coming. If you've been published or have a success to report, please let us know.
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New in 2012:
Introducing Writers' Brown Bags
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We're introducing something new this year for over-scheduled people who still yearn to fit some time for creativity and enrichment in their busy lives. Bring your lunch and be inspired and nourished at the same time. We'll provide the coffee, tea and camaraderie.
We meet from 12:30 to 2 pm at 3 Sylvan Road South, Westport, 2nd floor. Registration is limited to 12 to keep the groups intimate and informal.
Mondays 12:30-2 pm: GET PUBLISHED MASTERMIND: Meet to track our submissions progress and keep each other accountable on a bi-weekly basis in a supportive atmosphere. The group meeting is designed to keep writers accountable for submitting their short work (essays, short stories and poetry) to new markets on a consistent basis, with the goal of publication. New tips, information, notices of contests and opportunities at each meeting. $195 for 6 meetings.
Wednesdays 12:30-2 pm: POETRY WORKSHOP: A focused workshop where you can share your work and develop your craft in a lively and supportive atmosphere. Participants of all writing levels will write and revise poems with an aim to achieve fine-tuned, well-crafted pieces suitable for publication -- or sheer satisfaction. The majority of each session will be spent discussing and critiquing participants' work. Participants may work on new poems, poems-in-progress and/or longer poems. Emphasis will be on the writing craft including topics such as imagery, musicality, structure and voice. $195 for 6 meetings.
Fridays 12:30-2 pm: WRITING PARTNERS: Do you write best in a quiet room surrounded by other writers? Let's write together! Make the commitment to show up for each other - and "show up for the page" - every Friday at 12:30 pm . No craft, no conversation, just a bright, quiet room surrounded by books in which to be motivated by your fellow writers focused on their work. $75 for 8 meetings is your commitment to be there.
To register call (203)227-3250 or
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In case you missed ...
"Where Do You Get Your Ideas?"
Children's Authors Share Invention Strategies
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As any writer or fan of children's fiction knows, a fantastic and richly imagined plot is the foundation of a good story. On Saturday, Dec. 8, a panel of successful children's authors, including surprise guest NY Times tech columnist David Pogue along with authors Elise Broach, Tony Abbott and N.A. Nelson, discussed a range of issues, including: - How they come up with fresh, inventive ideas.
- How they determing that an idea is right for their target age range - in this case, middle grade fiction.
- What strategies they use when they get stuck working on a story.
- How they decide when it's time to abandon an idea and move on to something else.
The panel was followed by a Q&A session. Afterwards, authors signed their books for participants. 
Thank you so much to everyone who came out for this wonderful event! |
This Month's Featured Workshop: SILENCE YOUR INNER CRITIC with Jessica Bram WWW Director and Author of | |
I love writing, but...
...I'm not good enough to get published.
...I don't have the discipline to be a real writer.
...You can't make any money writing, so why bother?
Sound familiar?
If you've ever considered becoming a writer, chances are similar thoughts have crossed your mind. These doubts, and many more, plague successful and novice writers alike. But what makes some writers successful is persistence and the willingness to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) nevertheless.
Learn how to tackle those doubts and more in an interactive workshop led by successful writer, NPR commentator and popular writing teacher Jessica Bram.
Silence Your Inner Critic
Saturday, January 21
9 a.m - noon
$125
In interactive discussions and supportive, inspiring writing exercises, Jessica will guide a small group of aspiring writers through the steps to enable them to silence their inner critics and unlock the floodgates of their creativity.
Here are a few things past participants have said about the workshop:
"I attended your recent "Silence Your Inner Critic" workshop at the Fairfield Library ... Ever since then I've continued to write the first draft of a children's fantasy book using your guidelines. The empowerment you spoke of is happening for me. I thank you so much!"
~Robyn Boccardi, Fairfield, Conn.
"Jessica, thank you again for your inspirational talk, "Silence Your Inner Critic, Let the Inspiration Flow". I needed to hear the part about writing being hard work! I sat down as scheduled today for two hours to write, and it really helps to have a schedule, as you said. Again, many thanks for your encouragement."
~Maurya C. Keating, Fairfield, Conn.
 Jessica Bram is a writer, radio commentator, and Director of the WWW. Her book Happily Ever After Divorce: Notes of a Joyful Journey (Health Communications, Inc. 2009), won first prize in the Connecticut Press Club's Annual Award Contest's Adult Nonfiction (Biography & Autobiography) category. For four years Jessica's radio commentaries were frequently heard on WSHU during NPR's "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition," and her personal essays have been published and syndicated in publications including The New York Times and Child Magazine. As Founder and President of the Westport Writers' Workshop, Jessica Bram's personal mission is to empower people to fulfill their deepest desires to write. She frequently addresses writers' groups and consults with writers to help them break through writer's block, silence their inner critics, and allow them to overcome all those doubts that prevent them from fulfilling their writing talent and potential. |
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Now Registering ...
Twitter Intensive
for Writers
with Tessa Smith McGovern
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There are fifty million people on Twitter and many of them are writing and publishing folk. Margaret Atwood, Stephen Fry, and Oprah all do it. Increasingly, writers are using Twitter to send out sample chapters, find agents and publishers, and get writing tips.
If you are ready to tap in to this new, haiku-like platform to promote and improve your writing, join Tessa Smith McGovern, founder and editor of eChook Digital Publishing,and other fledging Tweeters on Saturday January 28, 10 a.m to 1 p.m for an intensive workshop called Twitter Intensive for Writers.
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January Contest |
Attention children's authors!
Are you ready to take the next step toward becoming a published children's author? This winter, the Book Wish Foundation is offering a rare opportunity to have your manuscript reviewed by a renowned children's author or literary agent.
You could win a manuscript critique from:
- Laura Langlie, literary agent for Meg Cabot
- Nancy Gallt, literary agent for Jeanne DuPrau
- Brenda Bowen, literary agent and editor of Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal winner Out of the Dust
- Ann M. Martin, winner of the Newbery Honor for A Corner of the Universe
- Francisco X. Stork, winner of the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award for The Last Summer of the Death Warriors
- Cynthia Voigt, winner of the Newbery Medal for Dicey's Song and the Newbery Honor for A Solitary Blue
All you have to do is read one of the short stories in Book Wish Foundation's new anthology, What You Wish For and submit a 500-word essay about it by Feb. 1, 2012. Winners will be announced around Mar. 1, 2012 and will have six months to submit the first 50 pages of a manuscript for critique.
This means you can enter the contest even if you haven't finished -- or even started -- your manuscript. You can also write essays about more than one of the contest stories, for the chance to win up to six critiques.
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Well Said
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"Someone once asked Somerset Maugham if he wrote on a schedule or only when struck by inspiration. 'I write only when inspiration strikes,' he replied. 'Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o'clock sharp.'
" ... Maugham [knew] ... that by performing the mundane physical act of sitting down and starting to work, he set in motion a mysterious but infallible sequence of events that would produce inspiration, as surely as if the goddess had synchronized her watch to his .... He knew if he built it, she would come. "
~ Steven Pressfield, The War of Art
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Coming This Winter To the Westport Writers' Workshop | |
Saturday, January 21, 9 am-12 pm, SILENCE YOUR INNER CRITIC: LET THE INSPIRATION FLOW with Jessica Bram. $125
Saturday, January 28, 10am-1pm, TWITTER INTENSIVE FOR WRITERS with Tessa Smith McGovern. $75
Saturday, February 4, 9 am-12 pm, BLOCKED? HOW TO GET UNSTUCK with Marcelle Soviero. $125
8 Fridays, Jan. 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10, 17, Mar. 2, 9, 16, 10am-12pm, MEMOIR WRITING: TELLING OUR STORIES with Linda Howard Urbach. $445
NEW! 8 Wednesdays, Jan. 25 - Mar. 21, 7 to 9 p.m., FINISHING YOUR NOVEL with Linda Howard Urbach. $445
NEW! 8 Wednesdays, Jan. 19 - Mar. 17, 7 to 9 p.m., SCREENWRITING with GiGi New. $475.
NEW! BROWN BAG WORKSHOPS. Be inspired and nourished at the same time. Bring your lunch and your writing to these informal, focused workshops where you can share your work and develop your craft in a lively and supportive atmosphere.
- POETRY BROWN BAG 6 Wednesdays, January 18-February 29, 12:30-2 pm, with Marcelle Soviero. $195
- GET PUBLISHED MASTERMIND: Submissions Process Support 6 Mondays, Jan. 23, Feb. 6, 20, Mar. 5, 19, and Apr. 2, 12:30-2 pm, with Marcelle Soviero. $195
- WRITING PARTNERS 8 Fridays beginning Jan. 20. $75. (Call to register.)
For more information or to register see
individual links above or go to
www.westportwritersworkshop.com
or call (203)227-3250.
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What We're Reading
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This month's recommendation is from WWW instructor, award-winning essayist, and poet Marcelle Soviero. Marcelle will lead her popular Blocked? How To Get Unstuck workshop on Feb. 4, 9 a.m. to noon.
Naked, Drunk and Writing
by Adair Lara
(Ten Speed Press, 2010)
With a humorous tone Adair Lara delivers practical advise on writing memoir and personal essays. Topics range from What's Your Angle? to How to Trick Yourself into Writing -- apply part A (butt) to part B (chair). "Try It" exercises throughout each chapter actively get you writing.
This is a wonderful book that I refer to often.
~Marcelle Soviero |
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Westport Writers' Workshop
3 Sylvan Road South
Westport, CT 06880
203-227-3250
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| Please feel free to forward this newsletter WORD-for-WORDS to your friends and fellow writers. Visit our website to sign up for newsletters. You can also read past archived issues here.
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