Thursday's Banner

Hi all. Have a look at this Thursday's Orangeville Banner. There should be an article about my newly released CD In The Event of True Happiness. Way cool!

Harry's CD Launch

Hi all. Just a reminder that Tuesday, Dec. 1st, 7 pm at BookLore will see the launch of my new audio poetry CD IN THE EVENT OF TRUE HAPPINESS. My guest is a very special musician who plays a very unique instrument. Nadina Mackie Jackson is a renowned bassoon player and is going to regale us with her brilliance. Wine, nibblies, live music, and poetry. It's going to be a very fun evening. Hope to see you all there.

Author of My Life by Nancy Rorke

It’s not that I can’t write, it’s more that it’s been difficult to find flow, when it feels like I’m taking dictation from my soul, or possibly channeling an article, story or poem.  It’s when I write every word that I hear without censoring it.

The late Robin Williams said that everything flowed through him and that he mainly channeled his work.  He also said that many writers, artists, actors, or creative people talk about being the conduit.

I prefer to write in flow, like Beethoven did, but without becoming a monster.  He was obsessive and wrote music incessantly.  Or I’d like to compose like Mozart, who penned music effortlessly, sometimes completing his masterpieces in one draft.

Or I’d rather create like van Gogh, one of my favourite masters, who painted because he must…but I could do without having the depression and committing suicide.  One year he completed two hundred canvases. Starving, penniless and sick, he generated works of art simply for the joy.

Actually, I’d like to write like Marilyn Kleiber, a fellow writer, who is prolific. She writes one or two short stories a day.  Marilyn creates the beginning of short stories with prompts given at the Headwaters Writers’ Guild meetings. She definitely writes in flow, possibly because she writes on a consistent basis.

For me, poetry sometimes arrives without any effort on my part. That’s when I rejoice. My creativity flows when I remember to write with passion and from my heart. I swear it frees the writer within me.

Whenever I become discouraged and have writer’s block, I remember van Gogh, who painted from his heart and soul, and he recognized that creativity is its own reward.

Eric Maisel, author of Coaching the Artist Within, suggests that we must coach ourselves to become the artist or writer of our dreams. Change your thoughts – change your creative life.

I’m infatuated with words, and I even doodle words. I adore journaling, seeing the blank space fill up with uninvited words.

It’s not easy being a writer. Doubt is always present, along with fear.  But I hunger for a creative life. I write for the joy of it and how it fascinates and excites me at the same time. I want to say that I lived and to record my perspective on life.

Maisel also suggests that creative individuals should write out life-mission statements. How could I have forgotten that I am the author of my life, or that I assign my life’s purpose, and my life unfolds according to my commands or the choices that I’ve made?

All this time, I waited for the Universe to tell me my life’s purpose when I should have told the Universe.

I wrote this piece in September 2008. It flowed in my journal. Even when I channel some of my writing, I still need to edit.

Written by Nancy Rorke, posted by Mary Patricia Bird

2015 Headwaters Arts Festival Authors Night

Note the new location: Orangeville Opera House

STORIES FROM ELSEWHERE

Hi gang. Just a reminder that a week from this Thursday, you have a fantastic evening of storytelling in store at the Alton Mill Arts Centre. Thursday, July 30th, 7 pm, Culture Cafe presents STORIES FROM ELSEWHERE, an evening of travelogue tales, with special guest Nicola Ross and singer/songwriter Jon Farmer. Take a look at the poster to see who else will be sharing tall and small stories from on the road. Once upon a time....

Only $5 at the door. See you there.

Travel Stories

Hi all. Who among you have great travel stories to share? I'm looking to organize an evening of storytelling with the theme of 'travel'. Zany, crazy, scary, awe-inspiring, life-changing, eye-opening. Share the wisdom!  Let me know ASAP if you can make it and share a tale or two (5-10 minutes max). Looking to do it on Thursday, July 30th, 7 pm, at the Alton Mill Arts Centre.
Contact me at harry@altonmill.ca.

Oh, and good news: I'm the author of the month for August, to be featured on the Caledon Library website. I'll also be attending the Eden Mills Writers Festival on September 13th, with a table on Publisher's Way.

Ciao for now.

HWG Meeting of June 7, 2015

One of the prompts from yesterday's meeting (June 7, 2015) was to Make a list of Alphabetical Advice. Nancy, appropriately, tackled the theme of writing. This is what she came up with.

ABC’S OF WRITING

 Achieving publication takes courage, confidence, and fortitude.

Be kind but especially to beginner writers or any writers.

Creativity flows the more time you spend writing.

Don’t sabotage your creative talents by not using them.

Every creative pursuit requires effort.

Forget about grammar when you’re writing in flow.

Great writers, write.

Hesitate and some other writer will write the story you always wanted to write.

I believe everyone is creative.

Juggling three jobs won’t allow you time to write.

Knock on wood might help if you’re writing a fairy tale.

Love stories are popular.

My mother always insisted that I couldn’t write, but what does she know!

Never take no for an answer if you love your story, keep editing and revising it.

Other than getting drunk when you get a bad review, edit and revise.

Perseverance wins the writing contest.

Quitting writing isn’t an option to those of us who love to tell stories.

Rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite.

Save your stories and back it up on an external device.

Tell yourself you can do this.

Ugh!

Victorious writers believe they were born to tell stories.

Writing cures writer’s block ‘cause writing begets writing. Marilyn’s hint is to drink tea.

X marks your signature on all the books that you sell.

Yesterday and every day try writing for at least twenty minutes.

Zinnias look nice on any writer’s desk.

Posted on behalf of Nancy with her permission.

Other prompts were:

1. Who am I?

2. How on earth did I get here?

3. The face I saw looking back from the mirror was not my own.

4. The path into the forest beckoned. A mist swirled among the trees, I took a step...

5. Water lapped at my feet as a voice called out from behind me.

6. He receives a note under the door and is intrigued, especially because it's the closet door...

7. With the Blues and Jazz Festival in full swing, I walked down the street and...

8. Make a list of Alphabetical Advice.

The next meeting is Sunday, June 28th. 

Judy is scheduled to lead.

An Evening of Poetry

An Evening of Poetry: Readings by Lorraine Gane

June 9, 2015, 7:00pm - 8:00pm at the Orangeville Public Library

Poems that explore the extraordinary in the ordinary will be the focus of a reading by Salt Spring Island, B.C. poet Lorraine Gane on the evening of June 9.

Gane will read from her two new poetry collections published last fall: The Way the Light Enters (Black Moss Press) and The Blue Halo (Leaf Press).

For more information check the following link:

http://www.orangeville.ca/orangeville-public-library/events/2015/06/09/an-evening-of-poetry-readings-by-lorraine-gane

Richard Scarsbrook returns to Orangeville

Author and teacher Richard Scarsbrook will be coming to the Orangeville Public Library for four Mondays this summer to offer one-on-one coaching sessions.

Go to the Orangeville Public Library Website to make your appointment:

http://www.orangeville.ca/orangeville-public-library/programs/summer-creative-writing-help-one-on-one-with-richard-scarsbrook 

You can have one session per day that he is here, first come first serve.

Two Way Cool Events

Hi all. A couple of excellent events happening at the Alton Mill Arts Centre this month. Friday, May 22nd, 6-9 pm sees the Headwaters Region Art Battle Final, pitting the winners of the previous competitions against each other in three furiously-contested 20-minute painting rounds. You get to vote for your favourite paintings. Winner gets $100 and moves on to the provincial championship round, with a chance to go all the way to the final in P.E.I. Ongoing silent auction, cash bar, partying music, and a fun time for all. Tickets are $10 online at www.artbattle.ca, or $15 at the door. Students and Seniors $10. Partial proceeds to go to Club Art, a youth arts organization. More info at: www.altonmill.ca

Then, on Friday, May 29th, from 7-9, check out Culture Cafe's THE ART OF POLITICS: Up Close and Personal, with special guests former MP Murray Calder, current MPP Sylvia Jones, Mayor Laura Ryan, Councillor Barb Shaughnessy, political activist Liz Armstrong, and moderator Andrew Welch. Get up close and personal with those who we elect. Find out what happens behind the scenes, and what life is like for someone playing the political 'game'. Explore the future of politics. Talks and panel discussion with Q&A. Only $5 by donation. For more info: www.altonmill.ca

Hope to see all (or at least some) of you there!  Cheers.

Theatre at the Alton Mill

Hi all. Just a reminder of a very cool (and very wordy) event this Friday, 7 pm, at the Alton Mill Arts Centre. Yours truly will be hosting and performing in an evening of monologues, one-act plays, and spoken word, entitled THESPIONAGE. Featuring Pam Hewitt, Andy Ingram, Ricky Schaede, Barb Stasiw, Kristian Warburton, Andrew Welch, and Jay Wilson. From Shakespeare to Groucho Marx, it's going to be a fun and engaging evening. $10 at the door or online at www.altonmill.ca. Hope to see you all there! Cheers.

HWG Meeting February 22, 2015

Just a couple of things of note from today's meeting.

Caledon Public Library is holding a short story writing contest "Pan Am Style". It is free to enter and open to writers of all ages. Prizes include cash as well as tickets to attend a Pan Am/Parapan Am event. The theme of the short story is, of the course, Pan Am/Parapan Am. Submit entry to Caledon Public Library from March 1st to April 30th, 2015. Check the website at caledon.library.on.ca.

Tuesday, February 24th at 10:00pm, Harry Posner will be interviewed on the radio station 89.5 FM CKRG regarding his new book "Little Exits". Be sure to tune in.

This week's leader was ill so Patricia stepped in with her little box of prompts she purchased - The Storymatic. You may want to check out their website at www.TheStorymatic.com, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

The next meeting is Sunday, March 8, at 1:30pm at Tweedsmuir. Clare is scheduled to lead.

Harry on the Radio

Hi all. Just want to let you know that I'll be interviewed on 89.5 CIUT-FM on the program Tuesdays at Ten, at 10 pm on Tuesday, February 24th. Valentino Assenza will be interviewing me about my new book LITTLE EXITS. Info and books available at www.posnerbooks.com or at Booklore.

In other news, next Friday, February 27th, 7-9 pm, sees the next Culture Cafe presenting FEMMES MUSICALES, an evening in celebration of the female voice, featuring the low down blues of Orangeville's Nicole Robertson, the indie soul of Orangeville's Erin Bolton, the alt rock of Alton's Hannah Chapplain, and the heartfelt pop of Guelph's Sue Smith. Nibbles by Shaw's Creek Cafe. $10 at the door. Come out and support our local musical talent.

Why write? Today, I want to share some quotes from writers on this subject which I hope you'll find inspiring.

 

"Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it's about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It's about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy."

-- Stephen King

 

"The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something."

-- Kurt Vonnegut

 

 

"Any writer worth his salt writes to please himself... It's a self-exploratory operation that is endless. An exorcism of not necessarily his demon, but of his divine discontent."

-- Harper Lee

 

 

"Why am I compelled to write? . . . Because the world I create in the writing compensates for what the real world does not give me. By writing I put order in the world, give it a handle so I can grasp it..."

-- Gloria E. Anzaldúa

 

"Writing is thinking. It is more than living, for me it is conscious living."

-- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

 

"Writing is the only thing that when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else."

-- Gloria Steinem

 

"Writing may or may not be your salvation; it might or might not be your destiny. But that does not matter. What matters right now are the words, one after another. Find the next word. Write it down."

-- Neil Gaiman

 

Happy writing.

 

All the best,

Nancy

Creative Writing Now

 

http://www.creative-writing-now.com

 

 

Culture Cafe's WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES

Hi all. A cool event I'm organizing at the Alton Mill Arts Centre may be of interest to some of you, if not all. It's called WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES, and is happening on Friday, January 30th from 7-9 pm.  Four artists from different disciplines will be taking the audience through the creative process from the moment of inspiration through the trials and tribulations and false starts, through to the final result. Giving us an inside look at how artists approach their muses, how they break through blockages, how they stay open to the unexpected. We have a set designer, Andrew Welch, who is also the Town Crier for Caledon, a wonderful mixed media artist, Andrea Trace, who often weaves text into her creations, exceptional singer/songwriter Zoltan Stewart, great energy, beautiful soul, and an obscure and under-appreciated poet named Harry Posner. Tickets are only $5 at the door. There will be nibbles and drinks available courtesy of Shaw's Creek Cafe.  So, come on out, be inspired, ask zany questions, and otherwise have a blast.

Book Launch for LITTLE EXITS

Come one, come all! January 28th, 7 pm, at Booklore, Harry will be launching his newest book of flash fiction, LITTLE EXITS. Food, wine, readings, and a special Mystery Guest... Free! See y'all then.