Field's End: A Writers' Community

Writer’s Block – 10 Stumbling Blocks to Writing

Field's End — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:37:41 +0000

Have you ever had writer’s block? There are 10 basic stumbling blocks to writing. Writer’s block has happened to any writer regardless of the genre, the age, or the experience of the writer.

Lack of confidence

Lack of skills and tools

Lack of motivation

Limited vocabulary and/or ideas

Perfectionism and self-criticism

Laziness

Procrastination

Worry about criticism from readers, reviewers, etc

Inability to fine tune dialogue

Character development

Recognizing where you are on the list helps you at least say, “Hey, I’m stuck!” How do you deal with each factor is a highly individual thing. Thomas Mann once wrote, ” a writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.”

So what can you do about the dreaded Writer’s Block? Some people take a walk, go to the gym, or garden. Others take a refreshing nap and come back with a new perspective or renewed energy and motivation. Whatever the root cause of your writing block you will get through it…just like every other author…just don’t give up!

Think of writer’s block as a pause in preparation for the writing to come. Get over it, push through it. Don’t get Velcro Butt! Take a break and come back. Your plot, your characters, your outline, they will be waiting! Perhaps Nathaniel Hawthorne said it best, ” Easy reading is damn hard writing!”

RE: Want to capture your travels in print? Learn how with Nick O’Connell

Tamara Sellman for Writer's Rainbow — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:06:39 +0000

Instructor: Nick O’Connell

You’ve taken the trip, but how do you recreate the experience for others? Good travel writing utilizes all the skills of creative nonfiction: dramatic scenes, character sketches, concrete detail, point of view, and scene-by-scene construction. In Session 1 of this class, students will explore these elements through lecture and discussion as they begin writing a 750- to 1000-word manuscript on a trip they’ve taken. In Session 2 of this class, students will center on revision of their completed manuscripts through feedback from the instructor and their peers.

TRAVEL WRITING
Number of sessions: 2 ~ Dates: Saturdays, November 7 & 14th ~ Time: 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ~ Tuition: $120 ~ Location: Library Meeting Room, Bainbridge Public Library
Registration information

Last minute plans change? Come out tomorrow to see Jurgen Wolff!

Tamara Sellman for Writer's Rainbow — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:35:06 +0000

We have a few seats available and have decided to open up registration to drop-ins for our upcoming fall event, “Fueling the Creative Mind” with creativity coach Jurgen Wolff. The event costs $85 at the door. Field’s End representatives will accept checks or cash only from 8:30 to 10:00 am. There’s an ATM in the Pavilion common area for those who need it. We hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a wonderful event with a rare visitor to the Pacific Northwest!

More information about Fueling the Creative Mind

Registration update for “Fueling the Creative Life” with Jurgen Wolff

Tamara Sellman for Writer's Rainbow — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:55:45 +0000

Remember, tomorrow is the closing date for all registrations sent through our PayPal service. Make sure you sign up before midnight on October 15 to guarantee a seat! Event and registration info

Reminder: Mail-in registration for Jurgen Wolff’s FUELING THE CREATIVE MIND ends Saturday October 10

Tamara Sellman for Writer's Rainbow — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:38:24 +0000

FUELING THE CREATIVE MIND
Featuring world-renowned creative writing expert Jurgen Wolff, author of Your Writing Coach

Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: Registration: 8:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
          Presentation from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
                 (lunch break from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m.)
Location: Bainbridge Pavilion Cinemas
                 403 N. Madison, Bainbridge Island
Cost: $85 regular registration (after August 31)
         $60 group fee (5 or more people registering together)

In a presentation by this popular writing coach, writers will be led through a series of connected seminars to explore four innovative, right-brained ways they can prepare their creative minds for the acts of writing and revising.

To Register by Mail:

1) Complete a registration form. Registration forms are available at the Bainbridge Public Library, Eagle Harbor Books, or click here to download a blank form (Word document) that you can print.

2) Write your check or money order, which should be made out to Field’s End.

3) Mail your form and check to: Field’s End Registrar, Bainbridge Public Library, 1270 Madison Ave. N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110; final accepted postmark is October 10, 2009.

ONE CALL FOR ALL helps us thrive!

Tamara Sellman for Writer's Rainbow — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:42:02 +0000

: ONE CALL FOR ALL 2009

Dear readers, writers and library supporters:Please keep Field’s End in mind while checking the boxes in your
One Call For All red envelope. One Call for All supports many Island
non-profits, including Bainbridge Public Library, which is funded only
through donations. Field’s End: A Writers’ Community, is an all-volunteer
committee of the Library. Field’s End receives support for its programs
(free monthly roundtables, classes, special events, annual conference)
through your generous donations to the Bainbridge Public Library.
During these tough economic times, please consider the
Bainbridge Public Library when you make your One Call For All
designations this fall. It really makes a difference!Thank you!

Reminder: only a few spots left for the Priscilla Long workshop, BRASS TACKS

Tamara Sellman for Writer's Rainbow — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:52:53 +0000

: Photo by Liz Gadbois

If you’ve ever taken a writing workshop with Priscilla Long, you know just how fun, comprehensive and useful they are for writers of every style, form and genre. Don’t miss out on her latest; sign up soon!

BRASS TACKS: THE RIGHT SENTENCE AND THE TELLING DETAIL
Instructor: Priscilla Long
Description: First-rate writers use all the sentence forms and choose them to carry particular meanings or emotions. This hands-on course is designed for writers of all levels—beginner to advanced— interested in revising several short works or books-in-progress. We’ll scrutinize brilliant sentences and paragraphs and apply our discoveries as we reshape our own works to intensify content. Diction (word choice) is equally important. Students will explore techniques for gathering language that is more original, more resonant, and still true to one’s individual voice.

Dates: Mondays, October 19 & 26 and November 2 & 9
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Tuition: $160
Location: Library Meeting Room, Bainbridge Public Library
More info and to register

Oh no, he didn’t…? BI’s Jonathan Evison wins WA State Book Award!!

Tamara Sellman for Writer's Rainbow — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:36:18 +0000

Yes, we’re pleased to report a “local boy does good” story.

BI’s own Jonathan Evison, author of All About Lulu, has landed himself a prestigious prize: The Washington State Book Award.

This award is sponsored by the Washington Center for the Book at the Seattle Public Library. The prize, which includes a $1000 cash purse, go to outstanding Washington authors for books from several distinct categories published the previous year.

Evison will join the other winners in picking up their awards at an Oct. 14 ceremony.

For a complete list of the winners and finalists in each category, go to the Seattle Public Library web site.

Congratulations, Jonathan!

Free tips for writers at the upcoming Jurgen Wolff conference

Tamara Sellman for Writer's Rainbow — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:49:44 +0000

Sign up for the creativity seminar, “Fueling the Creative Mind” with Jurgen Wolff, Oct 17, 2009 and receive two great tip sheets from the world-renowned creative writing coach:

1. The Writer’s First-Aid Card (Stuck? Here’s how to get your writing flowing again) [11 tips]

2. Ten tips for beating procrastination and finishing every writing project you start

For more help, get Jurgen Wolff’s bestselling book, Your Writing Coach, published by Nicholas Brealey and available online and via book stores. YWC will also be available for sale at the October event. Also, check out Jurgen’s writing blog, www.timetowrite.blogs.com, and the book’s website, www.yourwritingcoach.com.

To register for the October seminar: http://www.fieldsend.org/Roundtables

Jennifer Culkin discusses how journaling led her to “A Final Arc of Sky”

Tamara Sellman for Writer's Rainbow — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:24:08 +0000

Island memoirist Jennifer Culkin won a Rona Jaffe Foundation award last fall for her first book, A Final Arc of Sky: A Memoir of Critical Care. I promise you, if you read this book, you will always think of her when the Life Flight leaves Bainbridge Island. She’ll be visiting the Field’s End writers’ roundtable on Tuesday Sept 15 to discuss how keeping a journal ultimately led to the writing of this amazing book.

What: “How Does the Journal Feed the Memoir?”
Where: Bainbridge Public Library
When: Tues Sept 15 at 7pm
How much? Free

Jennifer Culkin is an MFA graduate of the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University. Her essays and stories have appeared in the 2006 Jack Straw Writers’ Anthology, The Atlantic, The Georgia Review, Utne Reader, Stories with Grace and other publications.