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.
Mood and Atmosphere
The invisible strings that tug at our emotions, those that weave a tapestry of feelings and responses through the story are the subtle brushstrokes that colour the narrative. They determine whether a story feels light and airy, tense and suspenseful, or melancholic and contemplative. It’s not just about what is happening in the plot, but how the events, characters, and settings make the reader feel.
The Handout
Please download and print this Handout. Bring it with you to the meeting, either on paper or on your tablet or laptop. This is what we will be reading from and discussing.
Special Note
There will be no meetings during the month of January. We plan to meet again on Tuesday, February 11th, 2025.
The Challenge
Your challenge before our next meeting in the new year, 2025, is to write a story, poem or essay. Before you begin, think of the atmosphere you want to create. I have included some writing prompts below but remember; these are only prompts. They are only meant to be brainteasers, to give you ideas — from there on you take the piece wherever you want it to start, or to go.
— Remember your favourite Christmas, the one just past or that special one from long ago.
— Three times now while walking along Greer Road, you’ve met the same passenger train rolling down the tracks alongside. With each passing, there’s been a girl looking out of the train window. She waves at you. There’s a strong connection between you, almost supernatural. Last night you had a dream in which a ghost gives you her mailing address.
— Yesterday you are working in your yard when you see a stranger come running out of your house with something in his hand. You yell, to try to stop him, but he’s gone. Today, this same character is right in front of you in a crowded theatre. You tap him on the shoulder, he turns around.
— You’ve seen cute and cuddly dragons, mean and vicious dragons, and noble dragons. But the dragon you saw last night was a different kind of dragon. Was he real, or not? Remember? He didn’t respond to you at all when you said to him…
Responses
(Members, after reading the following responses, please continue on down this page to Comment on them. This is where we provide feedback to one another; this is one of the ways we learn from each other.)
THE Ring by Marilyn McAllister
I’m Sorry by Joyce Adrian Sotski
A Christmas Story by Marilyn McAllister
Anne and I by Marilyn McAllister
Thursday’s Child by Marilyn McAllister
Joyce I “couldn’t put it down”, couldn’t stop reading and primarily it was the description, and pace, and written as a poem fit that bill. Boy, the cliche’.
Joyce may I ask, did you invent the witkow, or is it a well known (ghost?). The suspense it creates is very powerful.
Marilyn, I think you probably already suspected this; the whitikow has several different pronunciations in North American First Nations culture. It is called Whitikow in the Cree language.
THE Ring Marilyn, This is a little different from some of your stories and many of your poems, but I enjoyed it. It begins almost like a personal letter or email and then goes into something that brings chills to my spine. I enjoyed the way you ended it, simply with a question, leaving your readers to come to the conclusion in their own mind.
A Christmas Story: Marilyn, this is a nice Christmas story, that ended as a celebration of Solstice. You broke it down into something quiet and blissful and it reminds me that perhaps we should slow our own lives down and take time to give honour to Solstice. Thank you for this.
Anne and I: Marilyn, what a gleeful dance! This whole poem is a dance; I am in awe of the words; the many times you used the word ‘we,’ and the word ‘and,’ and ‘danced’ and it all works as though the words themselves are dancing. Is this the same Anne as from the poem, The Ring?
Thursday’s Child: Marilyn:, magical and mystical, this poem, it fits so well into the Mood and Atmosphere topic. I am in awe.
Joyce, How powerful. How engaging. How mysterious. I was slowly dragged into your narrative, never to return to the here and now. Through metaphor and simile you captured my attention and held me rapt – questioning the reality of ‘Charlie’, his mental state, his need to escape the Wihtikow (as in the native Cree language). The choppiness of the verse highlighted the urgency of the story, the desperation of the girl, the frantic need for Charlie to escape.
Well done!
Joyce I couldn’t put it dawn I was out of breath just reading the pace of it was breathtaking