Scribbles California Writers Club — Central Coast Writers Branch centralcoastwriters.org December 2019 Sunday, December 8 Holiday Party December 8 is the day to mark for our annual members-only (plus one guest) holiday event at the Natural History Museum, 165 Forest Avenue in Pacific Grove, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bring your favorite potluck holiday dish. Water provided. BYOB if you would like to have wine, beer, or something else. Please RSVP to Laurie Sheehan at [email protected]! Tell her you are coming and give her your guest’s name for name tags. Do it today, so Joyce has time to work her holiday magic on the name tags. Unlike the summer BBQ, there is no donation, no need to bring chairs, and plenty of street parking! See you there! Tuesday, January 21 Sharon Randall Award-winning writer Sharon Randall is a syndicated columnist whose work has been distributed to more than 400 newspapers and an estimated 6 million readers nationwide. It also appears quarterly in Carmel Magazine. Randall's column “Bay Window” first appeared in The Monterey County Herald in 1991 and was picked up for syndication in 1994. A collection of her columns, Birdbaths and Paper Cranes, was published in 2001 and selected by the Independent Book Sellers of America for the 2002 “BookSense 76” list. sharonrandall.com/about/mug-001 WHAT’S INSIDE Announcements 4-5 CCW President’s Letter 2 Contests and Conferences 9 If the Shoe Fits 10 Member Profile 7 Speaker Report 3 The Last Word 11 The Poetry Corner 8 Workshop Announcement 6 Scribbles December 2019 1
Transcript
Scribbles
California Writers Club — Central Coast Writers Branch centralcoastwriters.org
December 2019
Sunday, December 8 Holiday Party
December 8 is the day to mark for our annual members-only (plus one guest) holiday event at the Natural History Museum, 165 Forest Avenue in Pacific Grove, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bring your favorite potluck holiday dish. Water provided. BYOB if you would like to have wine, beer, or something else. Please RSVP to Laurie Sheehan at [email protected]! Tell her you are coming and give her your guest’s name for name tags. Do it today, so Joyce has time to work her holiday magic on the name tags. Unlike the summer BBQ, there is no donation, no need to bring chairs, and plenty of street parking! See you there!
Tuesday, January 21 Sharon Randall Award-winning writer Sharon Randall is a syndicated columnist whose work has been distributed to more than 400 newspapers and an estimated 6 million readers nationwide. It also appears quarterly in Carmel Magazine. Randall's column “Bay Window” first appeared in The Monterey County Herald in 1991 and was picked up for syndication in 1994. A collection of her columns, Birdbaths and Paper Cranes , was published in 2001 and selected by the Independent Book Sellers of America for the 2002 “BookSense 76” list. sharonrandall.com/about/mug-001
I wonder if I’ve written about procrastination in a past President’s Letter? I suppose I should check—maybe I’ll do that later. For some reason, thinking about procrastination always reminds me of Italy, the home of delay. Don’t get me wrong, Italians can be creative, hardworking, decisive people, but as a culture they seem to know how to put certain tasks on hold and shuffle them off to the lowest priority. There are places in Italy where I’m certain that procrastination is considered a form of ART. Living in Italy was wonderful, but it did nothing to help curb my propensity for deferment. It was there that I learned that many things can be postponed until “domani.”
Literally domani means tomorrow, however, figuratively, to Italians it’s often construed as “later” or “soon” or “someday.” Every once in a while domani ends up meaning “never.” The meaning seems to depend on the perceived level of importance for the task. For instance, when I was trying to learn to make REAL Neapolitan coffee in my little, silver, café macchinetta, there were no end of Italians with helpful suggestions for the perfect type of coffee (Kimbo Medaglia d’Oro was the clear winner), the best flame height (a medium flame that never reaches the top part of the machine—a rule that might well be written into Italian law someday), and the perfect serving cup (la tizzy—always small and always ceramic). However, finding someone to repair doors that scraped on the floor tile as they opened proved a more difficult task. Workman came, assessed the problem, and left with assurances that they would return “ domani” with different tools. That was sometime during our first six months in the villa—the workmen never came back. We lived there for over 3 years.
Now that is the sort of world class procrastination that I’ve been known to apply to writing. My intentions are good, but I convince myself I need different tools, then I leave with promises of returning to the writing domani . I do always go back, eventually, but, as with most things, once you’ve been away too long everything is different. The momentum is lost. That’s about the time I decide that I just need to start a new writing project. Well, I’ve been back from Italy for a long time now, away from my Models of Perfect Procrastination, and I think I’ve changed. I’m more focused now, and I’ve set goals. I used November to jumpstart my writing—it was National Novel Writing Month after all. I did well, and I’d like to believe that I’ll continue on this writing trend. But, first, maybe I should make myself a small cup of espresso? A little procrastination can’t hurt, right?
Happy holidays, and happy writing,
Laurie
The CALIFORNIA WRITERS CLUB is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit, dedicated to educating members and the public-at-large in the craft of writing and in the marketing of their work.
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Speaker Report
Nancy Middleton
The State of the Fourth Estate
The rise of the internet and cable news has had a huge impact on traditional print journalism, according to freelance journalist Derek Moore. Newspapers did not see the internet revolution coming, Moore said. “They were a bit elitist and were sure that people would always buy newspapers.”
Now, Moore said, journalism faces many challenges. Local papers in more and more cities are failing and being bought by hedge funds. “News deserts”—areas where there is no local source of news—are increasing across the country. “The metabolism of the newsroom has also sped up,” Moore said. Journalists have to work much faster and be active in both online forums and print, making them prone to burnout. And, although we have more access to news, Moore said, there is more opportunity for that news to be manipulated.
Of course, there are positive aspects to the Internet and cable news, Moore noted. We now have immediate access to information. We also receive information from faraway locations and can thus better understand situations there. Finally, the Internet has made people around the world more aware of what’s happening in their country or locality, and has even sparked protests and revolutions.
But, Moore asked, what have we lost? First, we no longer have general agreement on what constitutes a fact. People now receive their news in “silos,” reading or listening to only those news sources that confirm their established biases, and do not get exposed to other opinions. Second, we’ve lost the sense of community that grows from the fact-based sharing of information. Third, much of what passes as news these days lacks content and context. When no one serves as arbiter, Moore said, issues can seem bigger than they actually are. And last, journalists all over the world have come under attack—even in our own country. “It’s threatening to our democracy,” Moore said, “to have journalists painted as enemies of the state.”
When it comes to the future of local newspapers, Moore suggested that people subscribe but admitted this won’t necessarily save them. Getting the hedge funds that now own many of the nation’s newspapers “out the door” is really the only way to save a paper, he said. This has happened in some cities and unions are pressuring other owners, Moore said, yet it’s a provocative option.
In the meantime, “we need to teach people to be smarter about how they consume the news,” Moore said. “They need to be an omnivore when consuming news.”
5-minute reader Nancy Swing Speaker Derek Moore
Scribbles December 2019 3
Announcements
Welcome to our new CCW members: No new members in November, but hope springs eternal for 2020!
Member Congratulations River House Books: Holiday Event Local Launch
The Gourmet Gangster: Mysteries and Menus By The Family Marcia Rosen & Jory Rosen
Sunday, December 8 th, 1-3 p.m. Marcia Rosen has a new collection of stories, written with her son Jory Rosen. The Gourmet Gangster: Mysteries and Menu by The Family (Level Best Books) was published November 5, 2019. Marcia says, “My son Jory and I had a great time collaborating on this book. I wrote the mysteries and he provided the recipes.” River House Books, 208 Crossroads Blvd. Carmel. 831-626-2655. Free Donuts made by Sweet Reba’s in the Carmel Crossroads with purchase of book.
Swing and Sunshine Submitted by Laurie Sheehan
At our Executive Committee meetings the chairs always give a report. I clearly remember the membership chair saying that we have two new members—Sunshine and Swing. There was a pause, and then a bit of “Really? They’re called Sunshine and Swing?”
Not only were the names real, but as it turns out, those names were harbingers of things to come. I believe I echo the sentiment of so many when I say that from the first moment I met Nancy and Russell, I realized that they bring their swingy sunshiny wonderful personalities wherever they go. They immediately jumped in with gusto to participate in club events, but even better they offered to organize so many things including our annual Good Old Days and Monterey 4th of July parades and the 2018 Indie Author Day (which included a bagpiper, I might add). Best of all, they did so with their usual grace and efficiency and humor.
Nancy and Russell make the world a happier place. We’re going to miss you both very much.
Just Write The "Just Write" group meets every Tuesday, 9:30–11:00 a.m. at Crema, 481 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. Newcomers always welcome. No speaker, no critiquing, just working on our writing. (And maybe a little chatting!) Bring a laptop or tablet, or go old school and bring a notebook and pen—whatever works for you. Yes, we are meeting over the holidays! Info: [email protected].
Scholastic Art and Writing Contest Has Judges! Submitted by Dennis Hamilton, Chair HS Writing Contests
Hello judges! I just got off of the Scholastic Webinar with Katie Bonner, the director of our contest. First, thank you all for volunteering to read for CCW. Next, let me name you all so we become a team.
Dennis Hamilton Rebecca Lorentz — New member! John and Laurie Sheehan Mary Smathers Brooke French Debra Rill Clarissa Conn and Sarah Pruitt Gaye Freedman — New member! Wanda Sue Parrott Michael Beck Barbara Dill-Varga Ken Holden Maria Skyttä Susann Thon Linda Mutty Standby judges: Joyce Kreig Lana Bryan
We are in great shape for now. The next thing for you to do is to choose your most favorite genres and also the type of writing you don’t want to read. So if you would, please email me back with your favorite genre and your least favorite. You will not be assigned any works you do not want to judge (e.g., poetry or novel writing). Yes, you can choose two favs. The panels are in tens generally, and when you go online and register, it will become clear. But before you register, I have to assign the password and send in your preferences. When they get our list with your info they will then assign the panels. If you have not done this before it will remain a mystery until you do register. It is a wonderful system and works very well.
Everything is done online, but we will have two gatherings to be sure we are all linked in and have our panels. The first gathering is December 28, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. I will have snacks, but bring a lunch if you want to stay the whole time. You will probably already have become familiar with the system by then, if you have explored the web site. To get you started, the website is artandwritingawards.org. Take some time to explore the site, but please return this email with your preferences and we will go to the next step where I send in the information.
Judges choose one or two genres from the following categories as your preference and one or two that you do NOT want to read. I will do my best to get you what you requested. Blessings and thanks on this recent Thanksgiving.
Sign up today! Eventually, we will advertise the workshop to the public. So reserve one of the limited seats now at centralcoastwriters.org/ccw/workshop-registration.htm.
“Circulation Approximately Thirteen” Sarah E. Pruitt
Sarah Pruitt had been researching her family history in preparation for her first two books when she received some sage advice from a cousin: “All of my family research meant nothing if I didn’t write a book for the rest of them.” And, so, she wrote a book. Two of them, in fact. “Circulation approximately 13. Then I switched to historical fiction.” But this wasn’t Sarah’s first run at being published. That accomplishment came in the form of an essay that ran in the Oakland Tribune when she was a fifth grader. As an adult, Sarah also wrote an article about her father’s experience during World War II for Life in Pacific Grove California. Otherwise, she considers herself unpublished. “I call myself a nonprofit,” she jests. With a bachelor’s degree in English from Cal Berkeley and a teaching credential from San Jose State University, Sarah, a six-year member of CCW, taught second through fourth grades, seventh grade history and English, and eighth grade American history. She’s now retired from teaching and focuses on writing, which takes place in the comfort of her bed or living room before she peruses her email and Facebook accounts. Later, she “checks into” a local coffee shop or library for an afternoon session of writing. A fan of authors Georgette Heyer, Patricia Briggs, Nora Roberts, and Louis L’Amour, Sarah hopes that she’ll soon be a good enough writer to attract an agent or publisher to represent her work. For those serious about their own writing, she recommends attending a workshop “or two or ten” that specializes in writing craft. And, when the need to invigorate one’s mind and body arises, consider these favorite energy foods that also pair well with the coffee shop environs Sarah frequents: “Trader Joe’s’ 79% chocolate, hamentaschen cookies, and espressos poured over ice with a hearty dose of half-and-half!”
Michelle Smith’s articles have been published in a variety of magazines. Her website is theebonyquill.com .
Heather McHugh was born in San Diego on August 20, 1948, and grew up in Gloucester Point, Virginia. At seventeen she was accepted at Harvard. In a 1999 interview, McHugh said, “If you're smitten with English, you love it for its drive and not its drone. The rhythm of the language must be irresistible while the humdrums of it have to be resisted, No linguistic habit is, per se, of interest but ah! when the unsung (underlying) nun informs it—with a sensual twist or quick shape shift! Well that's the trick: the sudden unexpectedness inside the over known.” McHugh's work is known for its obvious interest in language. The use of sharp puns and rhetorical gestures are a hallmark of her work. It is her self-determination “to follow every surge of language, every scrap and flotsam.” And then we have the critics review. Hugh Seidman, poet and critic for The New York Times has this to say about McHugh's work: “Her poems in the book A World of Difference are terse, well wrought and often ironic.” Seidman continues: “McHugh manipulates language to produce resonances of meaning without necessarily creating a psychological depth that might justify her insights and conclusions.” McHugh married scholar Nikolai Popov; both are noted translators. McHugh addressed contemporary writers in this way. "Where once the brightness of life and language sufficiently attracted me, now the darkness (full of ordinals but no cardinals) seems to the greater calling. That may account for the shift in the tonalities of my work, as an increasingly fierceness preoccupies it. Spending a half decade working on Celan translations with my husband, scholar Nikolai Popov, has only deepened such preoccupations...I write for what I write from: Love's uncontainability." McHugh received two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Writer’s Award and a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, and, in 2006, one of the first United States Artists awards. In 2009 McHugh received the MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant" for her work. McHugh served as Chancellor of the Academy of Poets from 1999 to 2006. McHugh's first collection Dangers: Poems was published by Houghton Mifflin (1977). This was followed by a number of her works being published, such as Upgraded to Serious (Copper
Canyon Press, 2009); Eyeshot (Wesleyan University Press, 2004), which was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize; The Father of Predicaments (2001); Hinge & Sign: Poems 1968-1993 (1994), a finalist for the National Book Award and named a "Notable Book of the Year" by the New York Times Book Review.
Ghoti by Heather McHugh
The gh comes from rough, the o from women's, and the ti from unmentionables--presto: there's the perfect English instance of unlovablility--complete with fish. Our wish was for a better revelation: for a correspondence-- if not lexical, at least phonetic; if not with Madonna then at least with Mary Magdalene. Instead we get the sheer opacity of things: an accident of incident, a tracery of history: the dung inside the dungarees, the jock strap for a codpiece, and the ruined patches bordering the lip. One boot (high-heeled) could make Sorrento sorry, Capri corny, even little Italy a little ill. Low-cased, a lover looks one over--eggs without ease, semen without oars-- and there, on board, tricked out in fur and fin, the landlubber who wound up captain. Where's it going, this our (H)MS? More west? More forth? The quest itself is at a long and short behest: it's wound in winds. (Take rough from seas, and women from the shore, unmentionables out of mind). We're here for something rich, beyond appearances. What do I mean? (What can one say?) Read more at: famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/heather_mchugh/poems/19895
CONTESTS The Nowhere Magazine Fall Travel Writing Contest Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST, January 1, 2020 Entry Fee: $20.00 Website: nowheremag.com/contests/ Do not use the submit page under general guidelines . Click on the Submit Here button at the bottom of the contest description under the deadline date. Prizes: 1st Prize: $1000.00 cash, publication in Nowhere Magazine under FNASR. Up to ten finalists will also be published. Guidelines: See website . Fiction, nonfiction, poetry or essay, but indicate which genre at the top of your manuscript. Entries should be between eight hundred and five thousand words (poetry may be any length and several poems, themed together, may be submitted as one entry), written in English and must not have been previously chosen as a winner in another contest. Previously published work and simultaneous submissions are accepted Multiple entries from a single author, submitted individually with fees, are welcome . The River Styx 2020 Microfiction Contest Deadline: 11:59 p.m. CST, December 31, 2020 Entry Fee: $15.00 per entry with one issue, $20.00 with magazine subscription Website: riverstyx.org Choose Submit tab and then click on Microfiction. Prizes: First Prize: $1500.00 & publication in issue 104. 2nd & 3rd Places: Publication in issue 104; all entries will be considered for publication. Judges will nullify entries from writers they recognize with whom they have worked or studied. Guidelines: See website for complete guidelines. 500 words maximum per story, up to three stories per entry fee. (Additional stories are accepted with additional fees.) Previously published stories, including publication on websites, blogs, and personal home pages, are not eligible. Entries by Submittable on website or U.S.P.S. WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES 1440 Multiversity Programs Location: 800 Bethany Dr. , Scotts Valley, CA 95066 Dates: December 6-8, 2019, December 27-29, 2019 Website: 1440.org Registration: Currently open, phone number 1-888-727-1440 Costs: These programs offer a variety of event packages ranging from $392.00 to $537.00, all inclusive of program, rooms, meals, and taxes. Pricing depends on whether attendee chooses private or shared room. Call reservations, 1-888-727-1440, for pricing for day-student attendance and for availability of private rooms with private bath. The Stories We Carry Program, December 6-8, 2019 1440.org/programs/faculty-led-programs/personal-growth/creative-expression/the-stories-we-carry-writing-and-meditation We carry our stories inside of us--tales we polish into well-formed, amusing anecdotes. Some we don't even know we carry. Join New York Time s best-selling author of Inheritance, Dani Shapiro, for a transforming experience. New Year’s Writing Retreat Program, December 27-29, 2019 1440.org/programs/faculty-led-programs/personal-growth/self-discovery/new-years-writing-retreat-invite-renewal-and-flourish-2019 In this special program at this auspicious time of year, John Evans will guide you in carefully chosen writing prompts to help you bring closure to the old year and begin the new one with a fresh vision for health, vitality, and your best possible life.
Jonathan While composing a column on dealing with “Holiday Depression,” I realized that Isabel Allende expressed it much better:
“In Giving, I Connect with Others”
I have lived with passion and in a hurry, trying to accomplish too many things. I never had time to think about my beliefs until my 28-year-old daughter Paula fell ill. She was in a coma for a year and I took care of her at home, until she died in my arms in December of 1992. …everything stopped for me. There was nothing to do—just cry and remember. However, that year also gave an opportunity to reflect upon my journey and the principles that hold me together. I discovered that there is consistency in my beliefs, my writing and the way I lead my life. I have not changed, I am still the same girl I was fifty years ago, and the same young woman I was in the seventies. I still lust for life, I am still ferociously independent, I still crave justice, and I fall madly in love easily.
Paralyzed and silent in her bed, my daughter Paula taught me a lesson that is now my mantra: You only have what you give. It's by spending yourself that you become rich.
Paula led a life of service. She worked as a volunteer helping women and children, eight hours a day, six days a week. She never had any money, but she needed very little. When she died she had nothing and she needed nothing. During her illness, I had to let go of everything: her laughter, her voice, her grace, her beauty, her company and finally her spirit. When she died I thought I had lost everything. But then I realized I still had the love I had given her. I don't even know if she was able to receive that love. She could not respond in any way, her eyes were somber pools that reflected no light. But I was full of love and that love keeps growing and multiplying and giving fruit.
The pain of losing my child was a cleansing experience. I had to throw overboard all excess baggage and keep only what is essential. Because of Paula, I don't cling to anything anymore. Now I like to give much more than to receive. I am happier when I love than when I am loved. I adore my husband, my son, my grandchildren, my mother, my dog… Loving them is my joy.
Give, give, give—what is the point of having experience, knowledge or talent if I don't give it away? Of having stories if I don't tell them to others? Of having wealth if I don't share it? …It is in giving that I connect with others, with the world and with the divine.
It is in giving that I feel the spirit of my daughter inside me, like a soft presence.”
— Isabel Allende (April 4, 2005 on All Things Considered)
Scribbles December 2019 10
The Last Word Lana Bryan
All Hail the Dedicated and Weary!
CCW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President Laurie Sheehan Vice President Sharon Law Tucker Secretary Joyce Krieg Treasurer Clarissa Conn Programs Chair Nancy Middleton CCW Workshops Sharon Law Tucker Membership Maria Skyttä Publicity Jason Warburg Hospitality Sarah Pruitt Newsletter Lana Bryan Webmaster Ken Jones Assistant Webmaster Kemberlee Shortland Writing Contests Dennis Hamilton Central Board Representative Laura Curry
Not yet a member of CCW? You can join at a monthly meeting or online at:
centralcoastwriters.org
To the right of this column are two lists. At the top are the members of the Executive Committee (EXCOMM), who meet once a month the Saturday before each month’s General Meeting. Led by our president, Laurie Sheehan, we hash out plans for meetings, workshops, members’ parties, and keep on track with reports from chairpersons. Our indomitable secretary, Joyce Krieg, keeps the minutes, types and distributes them by the end of the day, and again before the next meeting for approval. (She always makes us laugh with her insightful wit.) Joyce creates nametags and the poster that displays all of your book covers.
You might expect to know the duties of, say, the membership chair and the program chair, but if you don’t, why not ask them at the Holiday party in December or at the January meeting? And do you know what Jason Warburg does each month for publicity? Laura Curry is our Central Board rep, attending two meetings a year in Oakland, where she meets a score of others who represent their clubs. She goes to the NorCal meetings with 14 other CWC reps. Our dear treasurer Clarissa Conn might have the busiest job of all, keeping our accounts and communicating not just with the EXCOMM, but also with the Central Board. Hardly a day goes by when she isn’t doing something for our club.
The second list at the right consists of faithful members who make sure you have something interesting to read in the monthly newsletter, Scribbles . You see their names on the particular page they devote their time, thoughts, and writing to.
It takes many more of us to accomplish what must be done to keep the club visible and vibrant. Since Sunshine and Swing have been with us, they have orchestrated the two annual parades (Good Old Days and the 4th of July) and wrangled book-selling writers for Indie Author Day. Their exit from our club will leave a huge gap to fill.
Other unsung heroes (or sung heroes in additional roles) include Gary Parker, who picks up the print newsletters, then addresses, stamps, and mails them. Clarissa Conn is the club’s resident photographer and supplies the meeting pictures for the newsletter. Gary Parker has subbed for her when she is out of town. First husband John Sheehan takes on just about everything; he and Laurie set up the CCW booth at Good Old Days and any other time it’s needed. Ken Jones is our master of webmasters.
All right, I did not mention everyone who works for the club, but I hoped to remind you that the club exists due to everyone’s good will and donation of their time and effort. Thank a volunteer! Then be one!
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