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Grist for the Muse #20 -- May 2005	Michael Wilson
	May 09, 2005 18:01 PDT

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Grist for the Muse #20 - May 2005
The monthly creative writing resource that gets you writing and keeps you
writing.

"A writer is like a bag lady going through life with a sack and a pointed
stick collecting stuff."

Tony Hillerman

Musings

It is hard to believe that May is already here. With the crazy weather this
April we went from planting flowers outside one weekend to shivering and
suffering under a wet, heavy snowfall up on a Cub Scout camping trip the
next.

Spring around our house always signifies some sort of spring cleaning, where
we get rid of the stuff in our lives that isn't working. A couple of years
ago, I had a lawn mower that was 6 years-old and falling apart. If you could
get it started (and each spring, that was a big IF) it rattled and wheezed.
mainly due to several stupid things that I did to it. like when I replaced
the blade for the mower and put the new one on upside-down, causing it to
rattle and vibrate considerably, cutting the grass with the dull edge of the
blade, and then being too clueless to realize what I had done. at least
until all of the bolts on the mower started vibrating right out of their
sockets, causing major parts of the mower, such as the gas tank, to simply
fall off. My friend Matt, after taking a look at the situation and laughing
at me for what I had done, thought that the solution would be to buy another
used mower, which in his capable hands, worked great... but a week later
when I tried to get it started (after about an hour of yanking on the pull
cord, wheezing and swearing). I failed miserably. I gave up, loaded the
two beat-up and barely-functional mowers onto the trailer headed toward the
Stoutsville Auction (an annual event which raises money for the local
firefighters), and went on down to the locally-owned Toro lawnmower dealer
and bought a brand new mower with a 5 year warranty.

And I haven't had a problem with it over the last three years, of course
until this past weekend, after I nearly had finished mowing the entire lawn
for the first time of the season, it started making a loud rattling noise
whenever it was running, and it got steadily louder, but it doesn't matter,
because I have the warranty to pass this off to someone else as their
problem.

So what's not working in your writing life? Are you missing appointments
with yourself to sit down at the keyboard for 30 minutes each day? Is your
old computer not running your latest version of MS-Word fast enough? Are
you missing deadlines because of watching the season finales of your
favorite TV shows? Are you spending too much time writing email and not
enough time writing your novel?

Well, May is the perfect month to change all of that. Inventory the things
that inhibit your writing. Are you not writing because your desk chair is
uncomfortable? Get a new one. Are you spending too much time playing that
addictive little Solitaire game installed on your computer instead of
writing? Delete it. Do you have a mouse that doesn't quite work right, or
requires a lot of cleaning with cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol? Trash it!
Get rid of distracting clutter in your writing space. Throw out magazines
that you always had planned on reading, but never have. If you can't make
the time to read them now, you never will. Pitch those pens that don't work.
File or toss those "important" papers that are piled everywhere. I am as
guilty of this as anyone. If you saw my office right now, you'd know this
to be true.

But, sometimes you just need a little fresh air and some encouragement to
get rid of the bad habits that have inhibited your writing during the long
winter months and start spring with a clean slate. So make that list, and
start cleaning!

--Michael

Sign up for the Write(Now) Newsletter

Nita Sweeney's wonderful monthly newsletter lists events of interest to
writers in the Central Ohio area, including book signings, writing classes,
writer's groups, writer's conferences, poetry readings, and more. To
subscribe click on this link: http://www.nitasweeney.com/id4.html

FLASHWRITING UPDATE

I am still working on the content for the Flash Writing website. The
Writing Exercise page is almost done, along with content for the enhanced
Links page. It has descriptions of dozens of links of interest to flash
fiction writers and writers of all kinds. The "official" launch date is
June 6th, so be sure to check it out and bookmark it!

Writing Exercises

1. List the things in your life that you'd like to get rid of. List
the things that clutter your mind as well as your home. Why are you better
off without them?

2. Write about losing something important to you. How did it make you
feel? What were the consequences of this loss? Are you different now? How
did other people see this loss?

Quick Topics

* Hand-off

* Lingering

* Sunless

* Scars

* Cafeteria

* Insult

* Flattering

* Smorgasbord

* In the cards

* Solicit

* Punks

* Fingertip

Story Starters

* I'm late.

* When Alfred went to.

* A few months ago, I.

* When I lost my husband.

* Close the door and go

* When people look back.

Shameless Self Promotion

Barnes & Noble at Easton Town Center- Fiction Writer's Group

May 12, 2005 - 7:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. - Mezzanine: Fiction Writers Group:
The 15-Minute Writer

This session focuses on adapting creative writing techniques, often used by
R&D and Marketing departments, for writing imaginative, exciting fiction.
These activities will help you shatter writers block and keep you writing
with energy and an exciting new perspective.

The Fiction Writers Group is a facilitated writing group that meets at
Barnes & Noble at Easton Town Center on the SECOND Thursday of each month at
7:00pm and is hosted by writer and teacher Michael Wilson. A book will be
given away to one lucky attendee. This event is free of charge!

Creative Writing Classes at Upper Arlington Lifelong Learning

THE 15-MINUTE WRITER (NEW CLASS!)

Be a part of creating Michael's next book. The 15-Minute Writer teaches you
how to find the time to write and to break down the writing process into
manageable tasks that can be completed in just 15 minutes a day. This class
provides you with the basic tools to develop the skills you need to become a
successful writer and focuses on turning these skills into marketable
writing. Learn about the seven elements of creative writing and delve into
the writing process from initial idea through publication. This basic class
is a great place for beginners to get the resources they need to get started
writing today. A workbook is included in the fee.

CLASS #: 442898 A

TIME: 7:00-9:00 PM, Tuesday

DATE: May 17 - June 7, 4 sessions

LOCATION: Rm 104, UA Senior Center Bldg #1, 1945 Ridgeview Road

COST: $45.00(R), $49.50(NR)

DEADLINE: May 10

There are three ways to register for classes at UA Lifelong Learning:

* Register online using your MASTERCARD or VISA, click the following
link: https://parks.uaoh.net/VSIWEBTRAC.HTML

* Fill out a registration form here:
http://www.ua-ohio.net/parksrec/lifelong/registration.pdf and mail it to or
drop it off (with a check or money order) at Lifelong Learning & Leisure,
3600 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington, OH 43221

* Call (614) 583-5333 between 9:30am and 3:30pm weekdays to register
using your VISA or MASTERCARD

NEW FEATURE!

Closely tied in with my upcoming presentations on my next book, The 15
Minute Writer: How to Achieve Your Creative Writing Dreams in 15-Minutes a
Day, I am going to be tracking my progress on the book, via a Blog that will
be posted on www.flashwriting.com. I am breaking down the writing of this
book into 15 minute segments to demonstrate the techniques that I present
within this book while writing it. I'll note the highlights of the blog in a
new feature here each month, tracking this latest project from conception to
publication and beyond. So watch for this next month. The journey begins
on Saturday, May 14th, so watch for it!

**********************************************************************

TO SUBSCRIBE: If someone you know would like to check out Grist for the Muse
have and possibly subscribe to it, go to the web at this URL:
http://www.topica.com/lists/Grist_for_the_Muse
Or SUBSCRIBE via email by sending a BLANK email to:
Grist_for_the_-@topica.com

OR - If you do not want to join Topica, send an email to
gri-@flashwriting.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the header. Make sure
that I am added to your address book or your "safe" list.

SUGGESTIONS or COMMENTS: Please feel free to e-mail me with ideas,
suggestions, questions, or smart alecky remarks. I love to get feedback, and
I do give all comments serious consideration. Send them to
gri-@flashwriting.com

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Please click here:
http://topica.com/help/unsub.html.bWt3aWxz
<http://65.54.172.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=5dee8d5aaa6a8c1d5b970b7169
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2ebm2Kjt%2ebWt3aWxz>

Or send a BLANK email to: Grist_for_the_M-@topica.com

SUBMISSIONS: Do you have an event you want to promote? Do you want to see
yourself in print? Send me a short article or writing exercise ideas. I
can't pay you anything yet, but maybe someday soon. Please send an e-mail
with date, time, place, cost and contact information to
gri-@flashwriting.com with SUBMISSION in the subject line. Editor reserves
the right to revise submissions.

ABOUT THE EDITOR: Michael Wilson has been teaching creative writing classes
and facilitating writer's groups for almost a decade and was an
award-winning Contributing Editor for The Writer's Block at Suite101.com. He
has a BA (with Honors) in English from Ohio University, and has been a
featured guest speaker at the Thurber House, the Maumee Valley Writer's
Conference and the Columbus Writer's Conference. He is also the publisher
and editor of Grist for the Muse a free monthly creative writing
e-newsletter. His first book: Flash Writing: How to Write, Revise and
Publish Stories Less Than 1000 Words Long, was published in October 2004.
You can get additional information about him at www.flashwriting.com
<http://www.flashwriting.com/> .

Copyright 2005 Michael L. Wilson. All rights reserved.

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<h1>Grist for the Muse #20 – May 2005 
The monthly creative writing resource
that gets you writing and keeps you writing.<o:p></o:p></h1>

<o:p> </o:p>

<tt>“A writer is
like a bag lady going through life with a sack and a pointed</tt> 
<tt>stick collecting stuff.</tt>” <o:p></o:p>

<tt>Tony Hillerman<o:p></o:p></tt>

<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext 3.0pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>

Musings<o:p></o:p>

It is hard to believe that May is
already here. With the crazy weather this April we went from planting flowers
outside one weekend to shivering and suffering under a wet, heavy snowfall up
on a Cub Scout camping trip the next.<o:p></o:p>

Spring around our house always
signifies some sort of spring cleaning, where we get rid of the stuff in our
lives that isn’t working. A couple of years ago, I had a lawn mower that
was 6 years-old and falling apart. If you could get it started (and each
spring, that was a big IF) it rattled and wheezed… mainly due to
several stupid things that I did to it… like when I replaced the blade
for the mower and put the new one on upside-down, causing it to rattle and
vibrate considerably, cutting the grass with the dull edge of the blade, and
then being too clueless to realize what I had done… at least until all of
the bolts on the mower started vibrating right out of their sockets, causing
major parts of the mower, such as the gas tank, to simply fall off. My
friend Matt, after taking a look at the situation and laughing at me for what I
had done, thought that the solution would be to buy another used mower, which
in his capable hands, worked great... but a week later when I tried to get it
started (after about an hour of yanking on the pull cord, wheezing and
swearing). I failed miserably. I gave up, loaded the two beat-up
and barely-functional mowers onto the trailer headed toward the Stoutsville
Auction (an annual event which raises money for the local firefighters), and
went on down to the locally-owned Toro lawnmower dealer and bought a brand new
mower with a 5 year warranty.<o:p></o:p>

And I haven’t had a problem
with it over the last three years, of course until this past weekend, after I nearly
had finished mowing the entire lawn for the first time of the season, it
started making a loud rattling noise whenever it was running, and it got
steadily louder, but it doesn’t matter, because I have the warranty to
pass this off to someone else as their problem.<o:p></o:p>

So what’s not working in
your writing life? Are you missing appointments with yourself to sit down at
the keyboard for 30 minutes each day? Is your old computer not running
your latest version of MS-Word fast enough? Are you missing deadlines
because of watching the season finales of your favorite TV shows? Are you
spending too much time writing email and not enough time writing your
novel? <o:p></o:p>

Well, May is the perfect month to
change all of that. Inventory the things that inhibit your writing. Are
you not writing because your desk chair is uncomfortable? Get a new one. Are
you spending too much time playing that addictive little Solitaire game
installed on your computer instead of writing? Delete it. Do you have a
mouse that doesn’t quite work right, or requires a lot of cleaning with
cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol? Trash it! Get rid of distracting clutter in
your writing space. Throw out magazines that you always had planned on reading,
but never have. If you can’t make the time to read them now, you never
will. Pitch those pens that don’t work. File or toss those
“important” papers that are piled everywhere. I am as guilty of
this as anyone. If you saw my office right now, you’d know this to
be true.<o:p></o:p>

But, sometimes you just need a
little fresh air and some encouragement to get rid of the bad habits that have inhibited
your writing during the long winter months and start spring with a clean slate.
So make that list, and start cleaning!<o:p></o:p>

--Michael <o:p></o:p>

</div>

<h3>Sign up for the Write(Now) Newsletter<o:p></o:p></h3>

<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext 3.0pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>

Nita Sweeney’s wonderful
monthly newsletter lists events of interest to writers in the <st1:place w:st="on">Central
Ohio</st1:place> area, including book signings, writing classes,
writer’s groups, writer’s conferences, poetry readings, and more.
To subscribe click on this link: <a href="http://www.nitasweeney.com/id4.html">http://www.nitasweeney.com/id4.html</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

</div>

<o:p> </o:p>

<h1>FLASHWRITING
UPDATE<o:p></o:p></h1>

I am still working on the content for
the Flash Writing website. The Writing Exercise page is almost done,
along with content for the enhanced Links page. It has descriptions of dozens
of links of interest to flash fiction writers and writers of all kinds.
The “official” launch date is June 6th, so be sure to
check it out and bookmark it!<o:p></o:p>

<div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext 3.0pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>

<o:p> </o:p>

</div>

<o:p> </o:p>

<h1>Writing
Exercises<o:p></o:p></h1>

<![if !supportLists]>1. <![endif]>List the things in your life
that you’d like to get rid of. List the things that clutter your
mind as well as your home. Why are you better off without them?<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>2. <![endif]>Write about losing something
important to you. How did it make you feel? What were the consequences of
this loss? Are you different now? How did other people see this loss?<o:p></o:p>

<h2>Quick Topics<o:p></o:p></h2>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Hand-off<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Lingering<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Sunless<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Scars<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Cafeteria<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Insult<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Flattering<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Smorgasbord<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>In the cards<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Solicit<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Punks<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Fingertip<o:p></o:p>

<h2>Story Starters<o:p></o:p></h2>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>I’m late…<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>When Alfred went to…<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>A few months ago, I…<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>When I lost my husband…<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Close the door and go<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>When people look back…<o:p></o:p>

<h1>Shameless Self Promotion<o:p></o:p></h1>

<h2>Barnes & Noble at Easton Town
Center— Fiction Writer’s Group<o:p></o:p></h2>

<o:p> </o:p>

May 12, 2005 - 7:00 p.m.
To 8:00 p.m. - Mezzanine: Fiction Writers Group: 
The 15-Minute Writer <o:p></o:p>

This session focuses on adapting
creative writing techniques, often used by R&D and Marketing departments,
for writing imaginative, exciting fiction. These activities will help you
shatter writers block and keep you writing with energy and an exciting new
perspective.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

The Fiction Writers Group is a
facilitated writing group that meets at Barnes & Noble at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Easton</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Town</st1:PlaceType>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> on the SECOND
Thursday of each month at 7:00pm and is hosted by writer and teacher Michael
Wilson. A book will be given away to one lucky attendee. This event is
free of charge!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Creative
Writing Classes at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Upper Arlington</st1:City></st1:place>
Lifelong Learning<o:p></o:p>

THE 15-MINUTE WRITER
(NEW CLASS!)<o:p></o:p>

Be a part of creating Michael’s
next book. The 15-Minute Writer
teaches you how to find the time to write and to break down the writing process
into manageable tasks that can be completed in just 15 minutes a day. This
class provides you with the basic tools to develop the skills you need to
become a successful writer and focuses on turning these skills into marketable
writing. Learn about the seven elements of creative writing and delve into the
writing process from initial idea through publication. This basic class is a
great place for beginners to get the resources they need to get started writing
today. A workbook is included in the fee. 
 
<o:p></o:p>

CLASS #: 442898
A<o:p></o:p>

TIME: 7:00-9:00
PM, Tuesday<o:p></o:p>

DATE: May
17 – June 7, 4 sessions<o:p></o:p>

LOCATION: Rm 104, UA <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Senior</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
Bldg #1, 1945 Ridgeview Road<o:p></o:p>

COST: $45.00(R),
$49.50(NR)<o:p></o:p>

DEADLINE: May 10<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

There are three ways to register for classes at UA
Lifelong Learning:<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Register online using your
MASTERCARD or VISA, click the following link: <a
href="https://parks.uaoh.net/VSIWEBTRAC.HTML" target="_blank">https://parks.uaoh.net/VSIWEBTRAC.HTML</a><o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Fill out a registration form
here: <a href="http://www.ua-ohio.net/parksrec/lifelong/registration.pdf"
target="_blank">http://www.ua-ohio.net/parksrec/lifelong/registration.pdf</a>
and mail it to or drop it off (with a check or money order) at Lifelong
Learning & Leisure, 3600 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington, OH 43221<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Call (614) 583-5333 between
9:30am and 3:30pm weekdays to register using your VISA or MASTERCARD<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

<h1>NEW FEATURE!<o:p></o:p></h1>

Closely tied in with my upcoming
presentations on my next book, The 15 Minute
Writer: How to Achieve Your Creative Writing Dreams in 15-Minutes a Day,
I am going to be tracking my progress on the book, via a Blog that will be
posted on www.flashwriting.com. I am
breaking down the writing of this book into 15 minute segments to demonstrate
the techniques that I present within this book while writing it. I’ll
note the highlights of the blog in a new feature here each month, tracking this
latest project from conception to publication and beyond. So watch for
this next month. The journey begins on Saturday, May 14th, so
watch for it!<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

**********************************************************************<o:p></o:p>

<pre>TO SUBSCRIBE: If someone you know would like to check out Grist for the Muse have and possibly subscribe to it, go to the web at this URL: <a
name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a
href="http://www.topica.com/lists/Grist_for_the_Muse">http://www.topica.com/lists/Grist_for_the_Muse</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Or SUBSCRIBE via email by sending a BLANK email to: <a
href="mailto:Grist_for_the_-@topica.com">Grist_for_the_-@topica.com</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre> 
OR – If you do not want to join Topica, send an email to gri-@flashwriting.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the header. Make sure that I am added to your address book or your “safe” list. <o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>SUGGESTIONS or COMMENTS: Please feel free to e-mail me with ideas, suggestions, questions, or smart alecky remarks. I love to get feedback, and I do give all comments serious consideration. Send them to gri-@flashwriting.com 
 
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Please click here: <a
href="http://65.54.172.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&;lah=5dee8d5aaa6a8c1d5b970b7169a803ec&lat=1076887042&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2ftopica%2ecom%2fu%2f%3fa2jb2H%2ebm2Kjt%2ebWt3aWxz"
target="_blank">http://topica.com/help/unsub.html.bWt3aWxz</a><o:p></o:p></pre>

Or send a BLANK email
to: <a href="mailto:Grist_for_the_M-@topica.com">Grist_for_the_M-@topica.com</a> 
 
SUBMISSIONS: Do you
have an event you want to promote? Do you want to see yourself in print? Send
me a short article or writing exercise ideas. I can’t pay you anything
yet, but maybe someday soon. Please send an e-mail with date, time, place, cost
and contact information to gri-@flashwriting.com with
SUBMISSION in the subject line. Editor reserves the right to revise
submissions. 
<o:p></o:p>

ABOUT THE EDITOR: Michael
Wilson has been teaching creative writing classes and facilitating
writer’s groups for almost a decade and was an award-winning Contributing
Editor for The Writer’s Block at Suite101.com. He has a BA (with Honors)
in English from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Ohio</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, and has been
a featured guest speaker at the Thurber House, the Maumee Valley Writer’s
Conference and the Columbus Writer’s Conference. He is also the publisher
and editor of Grist for the Muse
a free monthly creative writing e-newsletter. His first book: Flash Writing: How to Write, Revise and Publish
Stories Less Than 1000 Words Long, was published in October 2004.
You can get additional information about him at <a
href="http://www.flashwriting.com/">www.flashwriting.com</a>. <o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Copyright 2005 Michael
L. Wilson. All rights reserved.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

</div>

</body>

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------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C554D9.2F416B20--


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