Sunday, November 12, 2017

Writing Prompts from November 5, 2017


THE FIVE SENSES

Have you ever been overcome by certain smells or tastes, sounds or sights in the present, that shoot you back to a time in the past and bring up a memory with certain emotions attached?

WRITE ABOUT A PERSONAL MEMORY STIMULATED BY A SENSE OF MEMORY.

OR WRITE A STORY, CHARACTER STUDY, OR POEM BY CHOOSING THREE OR FOUR THINGS FROM EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

The smell of pipe tobacco, cigar smoke, bonfires, forest fires, burnt food, stale cologne, oranges, rotten potatoes, alcohol breath, peppermint or any spice, automobile exhaust, cow manure, bread baking, musty basements, sweaty bodies, old clothes, perfume, baby diapers, vomit, old books, old church, incense, new age store, bakery, garage...

The sound of sea gull cries, glass breaking, a fog horn, fire engine siren, sea surf, baby crying, rain on a roof, rain on a car roof, thunder, vacuum cleaner, men shouting, sounds in a hockey arena, basketball court, school gym, school music class, screams, train whistle or horn, crows, screeching brakes, wind, violin, piano, choir, airplane taking off, traffic...

Textures: soft skin, rough hands, worn velvet chair, satin dress, chiffon dress, old leather jacket, bricks, tree trunk, grass, long grass, cold stone floor, bare feet in mud, sand, rocks, rocky surfaces, smooth stones, beach glass, old pebbly book cover, fresh sheet of smooth paper, keyboard, cold water, ice in a drink, rink ice, snowflakes on skin, laying in snow, dead fish, cat fur, horse's nose, eggs, baby chick, tent canvas...

Taste of a particular flavour of ice cream, hard candy, pie, cheesecake, turkey dinner, sour lemons, blood, oatmeal for breakfast, white wine, popcorn, barbecued ribs, green olives, morning coffee, spring water, cough syrup, blue cheese, warm bread and butter, hot peppers, bacon, licorice, salty potato chips...

Sight of fog, sunlight on water, twilight, moon at night, squirrels, woods at sunset, garbage on the roadside, condoms in the woods, waterfalls, rough seas, smooth seas, rapids, parched earth, dead plants, healthy well tended garden, smoke, dark room, homeless child, beggar on street, snake, spiders, fur coat, antique key, grandfather's bible, old shoes...

OR CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PROMPTS:

Touching the scratchy tweed of his worn coat filled her with (sadness, remorse, terror, loneliness, etc.)...

The scent of his cologne lingering in her room meant that he had been there recently...

He dropped the bottle of rubbing alcohol on the bathroom floor, flooding the air with its pungent smell, and sending his mind racing back to a time when...

The smell of lilacs in the spring always filled (them/him/me/the child) with...

She dragged her hand along the roughness of what seemed like a cement wall hoping she could find a door in the darkness.

She opened the box of clothing from her grandfather's house, and the smell of _____________ and ____________________ conjured up ________________...



Please feel free to share the results of your writing here.


Next, and last Meeting of the Year
Sunday, November 19, 1:30pm
Clare will be leading

Christmas Luncheon
Saturday, November 25th
Please be sure to R.S.V.P.


Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Meetings October 15th and 29th


Business

We are currently updating the website at headwaterswritersguild.com. Those who are currently with the group should either forward updated bios and pictures to the Group Administrator (Patricia) or the Internet Administrator (Shirley), or if you have not been included on the website and would like to be added, forward a bio and picture.

Judy won 2nd place in Caledon's Click, Create, Celebrate Contest for her short story "Stranger in a Strange Land". Congratulations Judy!

Harry Posner's final poetry workshop takes place on Sunday, November 26th, at 1:30pm. Please register at the Orangeville Public Library.

Patricia has ordered 250 business cards for the group. They will contain all social media and the official Headwaters Writers' Guild email address.

Our Christmas luncheon is on Saturday, November 25th, at the Chinese Buffet on First Street. Family members are welcome. As soon as you know, please provide Patricia with your R.S.V.P. Lunch is usually around 12:30 but time has not been finalized.

The Orangeville Public Library has informed us that Words The Orangeville Way (W.O.W.) will take place on Saturday, December 2nd, at the Mill Street location. Members of the Headwaters Writers' Guild are expected to attend to show their support and assist where needed. Anyone wishing to highlight self-published works is welcome to set up a table to showcase their work that day. We suggest a shared table.

Writing Prompts

On Sunday, October 15th, Clare brought an assortment of objects from his home as writing prompts.

The writing prompts for Sunday, October 29th, provided by Sonja are below.

Halloween Spooktacular

Write a story that begins with one of the following sentences:

1.  I didn't mean to kill her.

2.  Sometimes we must do terrible things in the name of love.

3.  He carried it with him everywhere.

4.  I met him at the crosswords.

5.  A baby's cry pierced the night.

6.  This was not the cure I'd been hoping for.

7.  The door had been nailed shut for a reason.

8.  It came out of the shadows.

9.  I'll never use an Ouija board again.

10. It wasn't the first time my alarm had gone off at 3 a.m.

11. Trust me. The only good vampire is a dead one.

12. We're all infected.

13. It started the day my keys went missing.


Please feel free to share your work on here.

Next Meeting is Sunday, November 5th, at 1:30pm
Judy will be leading.

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Sunday, September 24, 2017, Meeting


A reminder that Phil Taylor at 91.7 FM Erin Radio is looking to interview local authors for his weekly radio program dedicated to local writers (published or not published). Email him at erinradio881@gmail.com, or call or text at 905-875-8348.

Business cards are needed for the Headwaters Writers' Guild. JST Printing was recommended.

Harry Posner's last two poetry workshops take place on Sunday, October 22, and Sunday, November 25th from 1:30pm-3:30pm in the Orangeville Public Library meeting room. Please register at the library 519-941-0610.


Writing Prompts:

Viva Las Vegas!
Luck of the Draw

Pick a card from the deck of playing cards and use the corresponding prompt.

Don't like the card you picked? Roll the dice and try again. An eleven or twelve roll means you're free to choose any prompt you want.

Ace - You're in Vegas for a milestone birthday when you and your friends pass a tattoo parlour. You walk in just for a laugh and then...

Two - You're visiting The Mob Museum when suddenly the interactive display becomes a deadly game.

Three - You're visiting the Little Church of the West, a famous celebrity chapel built in 1942. When you walk in you are astonished by the ceremony taking place.

Four - You're visiting the Neon Museum at night, a two acre graveyard of the city's retired neon signs. Among all the blazing lights you spot a sign you didn't expect to see.

Five - You're playing a slot machine in the Golden Gate Casino, the first casino to ever open its doors in 1906. A man dressed in a suit and wearing a fedora approaches you. He asks you how to get out of the casino. When you turn to point towards the exit and look back again, he's gone.

Six - You're watching a magic show when your friend volunteers for a disappearing trick. When they rejoin you at the table you notice that there are two puncture marks on their neck.

Seven - You're at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum taking picture with all the "celebrities" when one of them pinches you.

Eight - You win a draw at one of the casinos and the prize is a night on the town with the celebrity of your choice - dead or alive.

Nine - You pass by an old church while taking in The Strip at night. The sound of creole jazz and laughter is coming from the open door at the side, but there are no lights on. Curious,  you convince your friend to have a look with you.

Ten or Face Card - You're staying at The Mirage hotel, a Polynesian themed hotel built in 1989 over the sites of the former Castaways and Red Rooster Nite Club. When rooms, hallways and even staff start shifting and changing you're alarmed to discover why they call it The Mirage.


We encourage you to share your results here.


Next Meeting is Sunday, October 15th.
Clare is leading

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

New Podcast, DAC Celebrations, and Extra Pulp

Check out our new podcast here: http://www.spreaker.com/show/the-sill. THE SILL: Peter Noce and I discuss issues pertaining to art and technology. The art of dialogue...

In other news, I'll be performing my poetry at the DAC, Dufferin Arts Council's 25th anniversary celebration and fundraiser, on Saturday, Sept. 9th, from 3-4:30 at the Orangeville Library. $10.
Be there or be a squeegee.

And in still other news... the next issue of Extra Pulp is due out towards the middle of October. Theme: Counter-Culture. It's going to be YUGE!

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Messages from Angels


As I had laryngitis at the last meeting, I did not read what I wrote from the prompts in the previous post. This is what I wrote:
~~~~~~~
Dreams or angels. Sometimes they are one in the same. Angels come to me in my dreams giving me messages. Sometimes I recognize these angels as my dad or my brother, or even my cousin, all having passed to the other side. They come to me with messages of guidance or warning.

And some dreams are just dreams, though I know they contain messages. Dreams are a way for your subconscious to work things out during sleep time, a psychiatrist told me. So when I wake up I always analyze what I have dreamed. Sometimes the message is obvious, sometimes it's confusing. I come to my own conclusions in cases like that, which is probably what we're supposed to do.

[A psychic medium told me during a reading later that day that I have a lot of questions but my guides are not going to give me the answers. I need to look within myself for those answers.]

I had a dream recently of my brother's voice - my living brother - saying that I never call. I had responded with "It goes both ways". At first I thought nothing of the dream, but as I told the dream to others it dawned on me that perhaps there was a message there, maybe even a warning.

My eldest brother passed away suddenly at the age of 56. I hadn't seen him in 8 years. I learned afterwards that a month before he had been at an event in my area, an event I was too lazy to go to. A month later he was dead. I know if I had known he would be there I would have made the effort to go.

So now I have this dream about my other brother and can't help but wonder if it is a warning that this could happen again, though I saw him last at Christmas. A warning, or just a message that I shouldn't let my relationship with my living brother slide like it did with my late brother.

This dream occurred a few weeks ago and since translating its possible message, I still haven't called him. But I will, because one never knows when our loved ones here will be taken from us and become our angels over there.

[I texted him a few minutes ago asking him to call me.]



August 13, 2017, Meeting


Quotes and prompts provided by Nancy.

If you want to write, you must begin by beginning, finish by finishing. This is the great secret of it all. Tell no one. - Jack Heffron, The Writer's Idea Book

If you can visualize it, you can do it.

Keep a dream journal. Many writers (Anne Rice, Steven King) get their ideas from their dreams.

Prompts:

1. Have you ever had an out of body experience, seen a ghost, been saved by an angel? How did it change you? If not, write about what it might be like.

2. A mysterious tablet with hieroglyphic figures had been dropped by the fleeing men.

3. Use this sentence somewhere in a short story:  Now that she is gone I was finally free to tell the truth.

4. I am thankful that God never answered my prayer.

5. Describe a dream (maybe a recurring dream) which affected you deeply.


Please feel free to post your writing.


Next Meeting September 10, 2017
Judy is scheduled to lead.

Monday, August 7, 2017

Writing Prompt: The Person I Would Most Like to Bring Back


From the prompt "The person I would most like to bring back is...", I wrote the following:
~~~~~~~~~

The person I would most like to bring back is my dad. Though I do have many visits from him in sleep time, I long to hear his voice, his laugh, to feel his comfortable embrace.

I never got to ask him questions. I heard stories from when he was a kid, but only a chosen few he repeated over and over again.

My father's father was born in England. When his parents and 13 or so siblings emigrated to Canada, Charles remained behind. At the age of 16 he lied about his age and entered the military. He was stationed in India where he met my grandmother, also from the U.K. whose father was stationed in India. My grandparents wed there (and I actually found their marriage certificate online). They had three children, then emigrated to Canada when my dad was a year old. They had one more child here.

I asked my mother recently if my grandparents had British accents. I never met them and was curious as this was never mentioned. My mother having dementia said she didn't know. I'm sure if she thought about it, maybe thought about a conversation they had, she would be able to recall.

A small thing, that, but something I never thought to ask my father. I have pictures of my grandparents and a general idea of their characters, but not much. They never seemed to smile and I know my sister was afraid of my grandmother.

My father had a wonderful sense of humour. He always teased his sisters, always got into trouble. "Madge," my grandfather said one night at the dinner table, "we are raising a fool." (I think it was fool, it could have been clown. I heard the story many times but my mother doesn't remember).

So not only would I like to see, feel, and hear my father again for the mere comfort of being in his presence again, I am sure he has many stories to tell that I want to hear.

I visited my mother recently and tried to reminisce about Dad.

"I was 14 when we met," she said.

"Where did you meet?" I asked knowing the answer.

"I don't remember."

I reminded her of the story Dad had told. "You were in a park, on a swing. He said he even remembered what you were wearing."

"Oh, I don't know," was all she said.

The story of my Mom and Dad walking together, eating ice cream as they crossed the bridge over the Avon River in Stratford is so vivid as my father told it a million times. It's as if I was there.

They toyed with each other, each holding a hand out to the other. "Come here." "No, you come here." My Dad held my mother's hand, but then let go. My mother toppled over the railing into the water. When she came out dripping wet my father was howling with laughter.

I can hear that laugh. My father laughed a lot and brought a lot of laughter into our lives. I could use some of that laughter today and every day. But the laughter only my father could create. And I would love to be able to hear him howl with laughter at something I said. Mostly my jokes, when he was alive, would elicit a look of surprise. Today, I would hope, that I could make him howl with laughter. Laughter we could share together... and then a hug.

John Charles Bird
November 2, 1923 - February 26, 2006

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Sunday, July 16, 2017, Meeting Notes



Harry Posner's book launch has been rescheduled. See poster below.

Authors in the Hills of Mulmur presents Canadians Telling Their Stories. This event takes place on August 20th from 1-4pm. Featured authors are Hugh Brewster, Drew Hayden Taylor, Robert Rotenberg and Sandra Perron. Tickets are $35. More information can be found at http://headwaters.ca/event/authors-in-the-hills-of-mulmur/ .

HWG member Clare McCarthy has been writing a column for the Orangeville Banner for several years. He was first asked to do one column a month, then he was asked to do two a month. He has now been asked to do 3 columns a month. Congratulations Clare!

Writing Prompts provided by Don:

1. What would you do if you were writing a book and you slowly realized that your book was being stolen as you typed?

2. The person I would most like to bring back is.... (by Jack Hodgins)

3. Thoughts flood my mind as I fall from the open airplane door.

4.  What do you think goes through a dog's mind when he goes along peeing on every telephone post and hedge he can find?

5. The old man and woman embraced, then took up their positions in the line for the last time.

6. As the torrential rains continued, the land masses dwindled to smaller and smaller islands.


Next Meeting is Sunday, August 13th, 1:30-3:30pm
Nancy is scheduled to lead.



Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Join me!

Newest novel AUROCH UNBOUND launching July 24th, along with Richard Sitoski's spoken word CD WORD SALAD. Come one, one all, and help us celebrate two new bouncing baby literaries. Wine, nibblies. FREE! At Pia's in Orangeville, 7 pm. See y'all there.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Book Launch at BookLore in Orangeville


Come one, come all. To the launch of Harry Posner's third novel, Auroch Unbound. This one's completely different (as are they all, as it turns out), being a story touched by romance, magic mazes, hybrid creatures, and a seriously skewed narrator. The myth of Theseus updated, if you will...The event is free. Come and hear some readings from the book, get a book signed, ask pointed questions, drink a glass of wine and hobnob with the literati! Altogether not a bad way to spend a Wednesday evening.


Monday, June 12, 2017

Meeting Minutes June 11, 2017

We announced the opportunity to participate in a half hour Sunday radio program with 91.7 Erin Radio, www.erinradio.org , dedicated to local writers starting in July.

Anyone interested should contact Phil Taylor, who contacted the Headwaters Writers' Guild directly. A reading and possible interview would be pre-recorded for airing at the show's scheduled time. You do not need to be published. Poetry, short stories, part of a novel, memoir or children's stories are welcome. You may not want to be interviewed, just read from your work. Alternatively, you may not like the sound of your reading voice and can have someone else do the reading for you.

In the case of poetry, a discussion regarding the nature of the poem(s) would be the best way to record this. If two poems are read, there could be a brief music break in between.

Contact Phil Taylor at 905-875-8348. This is a cell phone. He will accept text messages. Or you can contact him via email at erinradio881@gmail.com

***

Don suggested we use a timer for reading our work to the group so that everyone has a chance to read their work and to ensure we don't run out of time to do the writing exercises.

We will look into doing this for larger groups and Don is willing to bring in a timer for us.

***

Diane, Don and Nicky read from their current works in progress

***

Thanks to Diane for compiling the lengthly and highly detailed information from the Saturday June 10th Workshop with Nora Zylstra-Savage and to Patricia for posting the information and pictures. Well done ladies!

***

Here are the prompts from the meeting:

Headwaters Writers’ Guild
June 11, 2017
Family Matters


Family – set of parents and children or of relatives; person’s children; members of household; all descendants of one lineage; group of kindred peoples; related objects; group of allied genera of animals or plants
                Oxford Dictionary 1984



Write an essay on what your definition of family is.


Or


Choose one of the prompts below relating to family connections and relationships.

1.       I always think of my mother when…

2.       I never knew how much I was like my father until…

3.       It was a shock to find out that my best friend was the father/mother of my adopted child.

4.       I always had to smile when I saw the plaque that hung above the toilet in Uncle Bob’s cabin. “Home is where the fart is.”

5.       When I’d sent out the DNA kit to Ancestry Inc., I never imagined the results I would see.

6.       I thought that when I married him/her I’d finally be part of a loving family.

7.       Sometimes the best family members aren’t human.

8.       If a family is like a tree, then there are some branches that should just be cut off.

9.       My sister/brother was my best friend and worst enemy all rolled into one.


10.   When my brother/sister suggested that we’d be better off without our parents, I thought he/she/ was just on one of his/her tirades again.

***

Our next meeting will be Sunday June 25th at 1:30 p.m.  Clare is scheduled to lead.

Saturday, June 10, 2017

OPL & HWG Writing Workshops, June 10, 2017


June 10, 2017 – Workshops with Nora Zylstra-Savage

Nora Zylstra-Savage
Nora is the owner of Storylines which is an organization that promotes personal self-worth and community appreciation of individual life stories and experiences.

These writing programs and workshops assist individuals and groups in listening, sharing and documenting their personal life stories. Nora provides memoir and creative writing courses, recording and content editing services for the past 20 years.

Nora has created and currently facilitates intergenerational memoir writing programs with well, frail and seniors with dementia working with high school and middle schools for the past 14 years. The program is called Bridging the Gap, Intergenerational Memoirs. These programs encourage seniors and youth to discuss and compare their life stories and are captured in different media.

Nora brings enthusiasm, humour and sensitivity to all art forms.
(from Storylines website www.myhousememories.com)


Beginner Group 10am - Noon
·         Group members who attended:   Patricia, Diane, Don

Agenda:
Warm Up
Show – Don’t Tell
(break)
Writer’s Block
Closing

Patricia and Diane both chatted about the Writing group before we got into the workshop.

Warm up: 
We took 2 (or more) words from a box and did a rapid write for 8 minutes. Those words are triggers that bring out ideas, memories, or thoughts. We used them to write a piece either from a memory or made up.
When we were done, we went back and underlined lines from our piece that we liked to see what has come up in our writing. Underlining makes you focus on a word or phrase that could be a jumping off point for a new piece or even in a current piece.
Something else may come up while we wrote and we don’t recognize it until we go back and read over our words.

Show – Don’t Tell:
“Nice” is a label, but is it a nice look, that you treat someone well, that someone takes you out?
What does it MEAN? PROVE IT – give an example.
Write so your reader can FEEL it. Externalize emotion so your reader can see what your character is going through. Give emotion physicality.
If you can’t express it, ROLE PLAY the emotion. How do YOU react?
For example:
Excited:  arms in the air; hands clenched and arms clutched to chest; bright eyes; eyes closed tight or scrunched; skin red; jumping up and down; sweating under arms, lips, brow; squealing; kicking feet; licking lips.
Nervous: wringing hands; wipes hands on pants; toys with fingers, hair or jewelry; biting nails; holding stomach; heart racing; shaking hands, fingers, legs; breathing shallow; short breaths; voice uneven; stuttering; tapping fingers or toes; sweating at brow; eyes downcast; eyes darting; no focus; clearing throat.
Sad: head forward, chin to chest; gaze at floor or away; no eye contact; sighing; blinking away tears; cough to keep from crying; drifts away from others to be alone; hugs arms around body; slow moving; eyes red; face red; sniffling; moaning; holding breath; can’t speak; tears; head in hands; body hunched over; food tastes like soggy cardboard; licking lips; clearing throat; don’t see color; falling to knees; downturned mouth.

More specific wording gives readers stronger emotional responses.
Should be able to reach conclusion about character’s mood by descriptions.

BE SPECIFIC – adds to your writing. Add in the pet’s name, woman’s name, place (where are they?), date, time period, age, description, items.

Writer’s Block:
How to get past it:
·         Rapid write
·         Word box “words”
·         Tv shows or books “lines”
·         Write everyday
·         Headlines
·         Storylines or Dr. Phil issues/themes
·         Visualizations
·         Conversations
·         Music
·         Sounds effects (purpleplanet.com – royalty free music and sound effects)
·         Imagining – “what ifs”
·         “phrases”
·         Memorabilia – objects. What is the story behind them?
·         Passions; what Annoys you?
·         Photos

Always as “so what?” & “why?”
Slow the moment down. Flesh out the emotion. Ask questions. Write specifics. Show.




  

Intermediate Group 1pm – 3pm
            HWG Members who attended:  Clare, Judy, Don, Sonja, Patricia, Diane, and Nancy

Agenda:
Intros
Warm Up
Clustering
(break)
Dialogue
Closing

We had a brief introduction to everyone and talked a little about the writing group.

Warm Up:
We took 5 words from the box and used them to rapid write for 8 minutes. We could use the words individually or as one overall concept or central idea.
Rapid writes – short bursts of writing (8-10 minutes in length) that help to see what’s inside you.
Can be from prompts /music/words.
Don’t get too attached to it, you can toss or keep it, or keep some of it.
Underline words or phrases as spring boards to deeper work. What came up for you?
Memoir writing – easiest to do 10 minute memories.
Read our pieces to our neighbour.

Clustering:
A great way to get out of the box. Starts with a single word. From there, draw a connecting line from it to connect to a new word. For example:
Blue—sad—tears—wet—pain—umbrella
Blue—sky—clouds—looming—foreboding

From there, you can choose the longest thread and use all the words in once piece. You can also select random words to use for rapid writing or the last words in all the lines for different effects and possibilities. Or just close your eyes and pick words at random.

Dialogue:
Purpose:
·         Move the story forward. Can set the scene by having characters comment on surroundings and time period. Provides additional information about events, characters, location, etc.
·         Characterization. Gives depth and understanding to characters through their speech and inner thoughts. Insight into relationships – what is and is not said.

Rules:
Prune away dull bits, repetitions, everyday talk. Keep only the essence.
·         Create interesting, informative exchange between characters
·         Try not to use dialogue too often – it loses effectiveness
Dialogue modifiers – “she/he said”
·         Between two people, only one takes the modifier and only every so often
·         She/he said should be used ¾ of time
Descriptive modifier – she shouted, exclaimed, moaned, etc
·         ONLY use descriptive modifier when it is needed to show how it is said.
·         What is said is usually more important than how it is said.
Gesturing and action – physical action to create a mood, look or tone of voice
·         Use to portray a character, to develop mood in the story, emphasize a dramatic moment, or a pause between dialogue
·         Gestures and dialogue should match, avoid too many, they should have a purpose
Narrative – intersperse short narrative to create a more realistic conversation versus a question and response scenario.

Exercises:
1.      Create a scene/ dialogue in a restaurant between a couple about a recent trip that one of them has taken.
a.      Use dialogue modifiers and gestures and action as needed to create a tense or angry mood.
b.      Use the columned paper – ONLY write in the centre column with “External Dialogue”
c.       SHARE

2.      NOW… use the other two columns for “Inner Dialogue”
a.       Label column on the right for your first person
b.      Label column on the left for your second person

c.       Write “inner” thoughts and feelings for each person as the “outer” dialogue takes place.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Great news! I am chuffed to the bollocks to accept the role of first Poet Laureate of Dufferin County. It was officially announced tonight, and I'll be meeting with Nanci Malek of the Dufferin County museum to work out PR and public appearances over the term of service. As Laureate I will be given opportunities to promote poetry, literature and the arts in different settings - public, educational, etc., and will be expected to produce a number of  significant new works. What a thrill and challenge this will be. Stay tuned, as I will no doubt be in touch around various projects and events that I'll be dreaming up in this strange brain of mine. Thanks to all who have supported my writing/performing over the years. It takes a community to encourage artistic endeavours of any stripe, and I have the fortune to live in a fantastic community that takes the arts seriously. So, let the poetry shine! Write a poem, read a poem, share a poem. Let's make this next year one in which new ears and eyes are regaled with fantastic words by those of us who revel in the beauty and inspiration of language that touches the heart and the gut. And... go!

Monday, May 29, 2017

Meeting May 28, 2017

I don't know if I qualify as a senior but I will try to attend this event at the Orangeville Public Library. It looks good.


Writing Prompts by Judy Zarowny

1. The dog had save her life; she was sure of it.

2. Catching the wrong bus, she found herself in an area of town where...

3. Answering the ad for __________ had changed her life in ways she never could have imagined.

4. Finding the abandoned cabin was an accident, but now she found herself in the middle of ...

5. After the accident, he couldn't connect with anyone or anything until the _________ came into his life.

6. His brother's laptop sat open on the desk, with a strange looking cryptic code racing across the screen.

7. The clairvoyant cautioned her against staying in the house any longer.

8. The crystal she had purchased at a stall at a market woke her in the middle of the night emitting an eerie glow.

9. After I dug up the gold cuff bracelet when I moved the rhododendron bush, the ___________ started to happen.

10. The walkway was clearly a corridor to ___________

11. She nearly broke her tooth on the diamond ring she found in the ___________

12. If you were part of a dying race after a nuclear war and could leave a letter behind to those who would some day learn from you and your civilization's failure, what would that letter contain?


Next Meeting is Sunday, June 11, 2017
Sonja is scheduled to lead.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Writing Prompts from April 23, 2017, meeting


Several people shared their writing. Then Clare played 4 different musical numbers from CD's and had us jot down what the music made us feel. We discussed each. There was little time left at this point so Clare handed out a page of prompts for us to take home. These are listed below:

1. He/she had absolutely no memory of the strange things he/she had done.

2. The recurring dream from her/his childhood had returned with increasing intensity and always woke her/him at the moment when ____________________

3. All it takes is one crazy old farmer to __________________________

4. He grabbed the satchel and ran like hell...

5. The Doberman growled and yanked against its chain. I heard a snap. Then I was off!

6. The spinning tires kicked up a shower of gravel as the car took off.

7. That Friday the 13th was a day I'll never forget.

8. "Now you see it, now you don't," the magician cackled as my wallet disappeared in a puff of smoke.

9. The lights blinked off one at a time until I was in complete darkness.

10. When I threw the live skunk into the outhouse I knew that Aunt Mabel would _____________



Next meeting is Sunday, May 7th, 1:30pm
Don is scheduled to lead

Monday, April 24, 2017

Writers' Open Mic Night, April 20, 2017




The Headwaters Writers' Guild in partnership with the Orangeville Public Library held a Writers' Open Mic Night on Thursday evening. The evening was a huge success as you can see by this photo:

Our esteemed host, Spoken Word Poet and author of 4 published books, Harry Posner opened the evening with a poem he wrote, "From the Crotch of the Invisible World", a rant about the electronic world. Many thanks to Harry for being Mr. Personality.

Harry first introduced Headwaters Writers' Guild founder Nancy Rorke who shared the history of the Headwaters Writers' Guild and emphasized that new members are always welcome.


First up was HWG member Donald Bowles who read from his current work in progress.


Mike and Sandy Bergner have recently moved to Mulmur. Mike read a children's short story, "Child's Fantasy", written by Sandy.

HWG member Judy Zarowny followed with three poems: "My Face Fell Off", "Forfeit" (a sonnet), and "Old Age".

Okssana Crawley made the drive from Brampton to share her series of children's books called "Super Hammy", a box set of 15 teachables which she also illustrated.

Amanda Cirinna read from her children's short story called "Never Eat Spumoni Ice Cream Twice", the moral of which is 'don't make the same mistake twice'.

A brave 14 year old, Vanian, was introduced with her quote, "I used to be a liar but became a writer instead." She read two poems, "Heartbroken" and "Half-Brother".

Our feature reader, U.S.A. Today best selling author and HWG member Diane Bator closed out the first half with a reading from the second novel in her Gilda Wright Mysteries series of novels.

HWG member and Banner columnist Clare McCarthy started the second half of the evening reading a short story he wrote from a group writing prompt. The prompt was "He tied a rope to the bag and lowered it carefully from the second floor window at the back of the old house". The title of the story, "It's In The Bag".

Emma Pink read from her newly published book "It's Going to Be a Really Good Day" about her struggles with bi-polar disorder.

We were then blessed with a second reading from feature author Diane Bator, this time from her yet-to-be-published novel "Steeped in Trouble". This will be Diane's 10th published novel (if I haven't lost count).

Following Diane was Matt Griffin from Collingwood. Matt's writing is a little on the eccentric side. I can only describe his performance as humorous, along the lines of stand-up comedy.

Winston Uytenbogaart read a collection of poems he wrote. This was his first performance and he did great. He read two poems entitled "When I Was Young", "Leonard 11/10/16" in honor of the late Leonard Cohen, "The Red, Red Rose", "Good-Bye Old Molar", "The Festival Roadie Blues", "The Farmer", and "Leo's Song" in honor of his late brother.

M.J. Moores has published a series of novels called The Chronicles of Xannia. She delighted us with her beautiful singing voice in a-capella before reading from "Cadence of Consequences". You can check out her website at mjmoores.com.

Nancy Rorke returned to the floor to read a short story on her experience surrounding learning to ride a motorcycle.

Our final performance of the night was from former HWG member Jenn Crole who we hope will be returning to the group. She read a poem she wrote called "The Awakening".
(sorry for the poor quality as this picture is a snip from a video)

We would like to thank the Orangeville Public Library for co-hosting this event with us and for providing delicious cookies, fruit and beverages. Added props go out to group Administrator, Patricia Gallant (aka Mary Patricia Bird), pictured here with Diane Bator. She, Harry and Nancy worked hard with the Orangeville Public Library to put this event together. And thanks to Judy Zarowny for providing photography.

Thank you everyone who came out to support our writers. We hope to see you at the next Open Mic event. Stay tuned.