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