The Writers’ Nook is a place where we, as a group, can provide a safe and positive environment in which to encourage one another and hone our own writing skills.
A New Schedule
To start the new year off with a bang, we the Writers’ Nook have decided to implement a new schedule.
1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month: Members’ Zoom Meeting at 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All members are asked to pay $15/annually to assist in the purchase of our zoom license. Your first meeting is free.
2nd Wednesday of the month may treat us to an Educational Presentation from a visiting or inhouse writer. This takes place over the noon hour. There is no charge. If you are interested in joining us or presenting to us, just contact us. Our speakers present gratis and for the public good, therefore attendance is complimentary. Everyone welcome. Our first speaker will be poet, Jenelle Mitchell. She will present at the Writers’ Nook at noon on January 12, 2022 via zoom. Contact us for the link to attend.
4th Wednesday of the month, Writers’ Coffee House, from noon to 2:00 p.m. via zoom technology. There is no charge to attend or to read. If you would like to read some of your own work please contact us. You will be asked to keep your reading very short, no longer than 7 minutes each.
Adjectives and Adverbs
Boring? Not really. Not if knowing how to use them to your advantage helps you tighten up your writing and makes it come alive.
This meeting was held via zoom at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 5th, Blind Bay Time (aka Vancouver Time). If you would like to join our group, please contact us. Your first meeting is free.
THE CHALLENGE
The Challenge for our next meeting on January 19th is to attempt the exercise explained in the Handout, or…
Tell us a story, real or fictional, about something that happened to you this ‘just-finished’ holiday season that was influenced by the ever-present covid virus that has plagued us since 2019. Tell us in such a way that we feel what you felt.
Responses
Mother Nature’s Revenge by Phillis Jeffery
Covid Waiting Game by Shirley Bigelow DeKelver
DEATH_BEFORE the TIME of COVID by Marilyn McAllister
Christmas 2021 by Marilyn McAllister
End of Day by Marilyn McAllister
Adverb & Adjective Challenge by Kevin Gooden
Phillis, Mother Nature’s Revenge: I think you were listening at our last meeting! Adjectives and adverbs used sparingly and with discretion — metaphors and similies capturing our senses! You haven’t written very much for awhile but you’ve made a roaring comeback. Well done, Phillis.
Phillis, Mother Nature’s Revenge: Reads like a poem, again, you have nailed it.
Thanks for the feedback and kudos Joyce.
You’re right Shirley 👍 It does still read like a poem. By running my thoughts together with punctuation and paragraphs didn’t really change the cadence that makes it still read like one of my “stacked thoughts” Thanks for your feedback 😊
You’re right. I hadn’t thought of that when I first read it but it does read like a poem when I take the time to feel the rhythm. As a visual person, I always use the line breaks in poems to help me set the cadence when I read. It adds a certain dimension to the piece. And yet, it’s the line breaks that inform your audience that this is a poem, which scares some of them away. It was interesting what Jenelle said on Wednesday that they don’t teach writing poetry to students in the same way they used to. I was happy to hear that. Maybe it will take the fear of reading poetry away from that generation.
Hi Joyce. Thank you for your feedback and kudos 😊
Hi Shirley 😃 Yes, it does still read more like my “stacked thoughts”. Just because I add punctuation and paragraphs doesn’t cover up the mascarade that the words are trying to be something more, as they still appear on the page as a poem 😂
Marilyn, DEATH_BEFORE the TIME of COVID: Thank you for your poem Marilyn. I can identify with what you say having lost someone during the time of covid, though not due to covid. I love uniqueness of and empathy in, your metaphors. I think the only suggestion I can come up with is ‘use spell check’ if you can to help alleviate incorrect spelling. For example I think concent should be consent.
Shirley, Covid Waiting Game: Your story is a classic covid story that happens over and over again. I liked the way you told the story, simply and honestly. I think the one thing we are probably all wondering about is, how is Dony? Did he recover or is he still stick? Relating it to a game of craps is a vivid and true metaphor. And all of us, the lucky ones, understand this waiting game.
Marilyn, Christmas 2021: Your experience was honestly told. Thank you for sharing. I have placed a hold on the book, I Heard the Owl Call My Name, though I can see from the trailer that I watched how you would enjoy the scenes of Tofino in the movie. I will make a point of watching it sometime.
Kevin, Adjectives & Adverbs Challenge: Very interesting Kevin. I’m glad you took on the challenge! I’ve only had a quick first read but I’d say that the ‘after’ is definitely a richer smoother read. I’ll try it again in the morning. Love your final sentence; it says so much.
Phillis—“Mother Nature’s Revenge”—Phillis, nice piece! I enjoyed the personification of oceans claiming, rivers running amuck, and lakes sneaking… and of course, your important embedded message without coming across preachy. Clap-clap!
Shirley—“COVID Waiting Game”—Thanks for sharing what must have been a stressful experience in your well-written (as always) piece. A favourite for me in this one is your great description “…as was her way, she talked about everything but why she had called.” Reads like a line from a novel 😉
Marilyn—“DEATH BEFORE THE TIME OF COVID”—Wow, this is a powerful poem. I like how you acknowledge that in the normal way of things (life), death is sometimes a comfort, coming “on slippered feet” or “in the arms of…” Powerful and wise images. Death in the time of covid—exactly!
“Christmas 2021”—An emotional and lovely write. The descriptions are well done and I was left with a sense of the importance of Mat and who he was.
“End of Day”—This one has a lovely literary feel to it, with vision-inducing vocabulary invoking a sense of colour and softness that feels peaceful and relaxing… until the surprise at the end—ouch!
Shirley – COVID Waiting Game – It expresses the fears and anxiety of the time we’re in. We are all holding our breath hoping this will end and looking forward to the relief we will feel when we are able to exhale ❤️
Marilyn – Death before the time of COVID – A few words that tell the story of what was and what is ❤️
End of Day – So full of the beauty of Nature while still needing more ❤️
Christmas 2021 – Inspiring 💕
Kevin – Adverbs and Adjectives – Interesting story full of questions 🤔 The modified side read much smoother. Good job 😊