The Gold Watch

                                                                             

This photo is the Tomato Biscuit Gang--a writing group that grew out of a class I taught years ago. I have fond memories of that class--and of many others as well. My life has been greatly enriched by such as these.       

Most of you who read this blog are probably aware that I've been slowly stepping (pretty much the only way I step, these days) away from teaching commitments. There are several reasons--the ongoing pandemic and my grandmotherly responsibilities are part of it. Plus, as I near 80, there just isn't the energy I should be bringing to a class. 

Great Smokies Writing Program has been a constant in my teaching life for almost fifteen years. I've had the privilege of working with a wonderful assortment of writers, and I suspect I've learned as much from them as they have from me.

The new great Smokies Literary Review has an embarrassing amount of print dedicated to me on the occasion of my retirement. See HERE.

But wait, there's more! An INTERVIEW and a lovely bouquet of KIND WORDS from former students and colleagues. Really, those kind words are balm to a teacher's soul. 

Many thanks to all who had a hand in this--and to Tommy Hays who took a chance on an unknown many years ago.

                                                      

Writing to Picture Prompts

 

Back in 2010 there was an ongoing series in the blogosphere called Magpie Tales, the brainchild of Tess Kincaid and her blog Willow Manor. A photo prompt (above) would be given, and any number of folks would respond with prose or poetry. I had way too much fun with these and, as it happens, I'll be offering a class beginning next month through Great Smokies Writing Program, doing much the same thing. (For information, go HERE.) The following example shows how much fun a writer can have, just being silly.

Ceiling fans stirred the sullen heat of a Kenyan midday, setting a-whirl golden motes of the inescapable African dust. It rose in a shimmering haze and then settled back on the heads and shoulders of the three men gathered on the veranda of the Colonial Club. Humming insects and the barking of baboons in the bush vied with the Victrola's tinny jangle -- the Quintet of the Hot Club of Paris. Unnoticed, the hot animal smell of the jungle prowled and sniffed at the edge of the clearing

A silent native attendant in crisp white garments brought yet another round of gin and tonics to the men engrossed in examining the curious ivory carving that Nigel Cholmondelay, fourth Baron Delamere, had just produced from the capacious pocket of his dusty jodhpurs.

"Ever seen one of these, you chaps?" he asked, setting the little thing in the center of the round table.

Dickie Pembrocke screwed in his monocle and leaned over for a closer look. "It's a bloody elephant -- Of course, we've all seen elephants!  What are you playin' at-"

"Steady on, Dickie, old boy."  The third man laid a restraining hand on his irascible neighbor. "I think what Delamere is asking pertains to the function, rather than the form, of this object.  Am I correct?"

The taciturn fourth baron nodded and quaffed the rest of his drink.  The native attendant silently materialized with another round.

"Mtu huyu atalipia kila kitu,"* said the third man to the native, pointing to the baron. 

"Yes, Bwana. As you wish." The native grinned at the noted white hunter, a man known to be as at home in the savannahs and forests of East Africa as the natives who had given him the name Bwana Nguruwe for his great strength and messy eating habits. 

Reaching for the strangely elongated carved elephant, the white hunter ran a reflective finger along the upraised trunk.  "Where did you come by this, Delamere? If I'm not mistaken, it's one of only three in the world -- used in the traditional wedding rituals of the Samburu tribe."

Shaking his head very slightly, the white hunter set the thing back on the table and drained his glass. "Bad show, Delamere.  Old Ijumaa, a witch doctor up near Lake Naivasha, swore that Kubwa Tembo, the king of all the elephants, would track down anyone who dared to steal the sacred-"

"I say, what's that beastly sound?" Dickie Pembroke's monocle fell from his eye and shattered on the table. Beneath the tan, his foolish, rabbity face was deathly pale.

An angry trumpeting rang out in the clearing around the club house and heavy footfalls thundered toward the veranda where the three white men sat beneath the slowly turning fan.

The golden dust of Africa danced in the air.

Swahili Guide*

Mbaya Hatari = big danger
Mtu huyu atalipia kila kitu.  = This gentleman will pay for everything.

Nguruwe = giant forest hog

Ijumaa  = Friday
Kubwa Tembo = big elephant
Gari langu linaloangamu na mikunga. = My hovercraft is full of eels.

New Online Writing Class

I'm sorry to say that I won't be offering a class at John C. Campbell in late May as planned. I'm not comfortable with the risk at this time. 

But, beginning  January 28, I'll be leading another critique workshop for UNC-Asheville's Great Smokies Writing Program. Completely online, it's a chance to join in what is always a very enriching experience for a writer. And since it's online, we could have folks from Boone to Brasstown to New Bern and points in between joining in. (Or beyond, but it's a tad pricey for out of state folks.)

Here are the details.:

Lang 473: Workshoppers at Home: Online Creative Prose Workshop

Instructor: Vicki Lane
Starts January 28, Thursday evenings, 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Here’s your chance to have up to sixty pages of your creative prose – novel excerpts, short stories, essays, memoir – carefully line edited by the instructor and thoughtfully assessed by a group of your fellow writers, concentrating on what is working and what needs attention. And all in the comfort of your home! We will meet online though Zoom, a venue that allows you to see and hear your fellow classmates.

This fifteen-session workshop is aimed at writers with work (novel, short stories, memoir, or other creative prose) in progress, almost completed, or completed but in need of a final polishing. Each student will submit up to sixty pages (twenty at the beginning of the course, twenty during weeks 6-10, and the final twenty during weeks 11-15) for discussion and critique by the class and close editing with written comments by the instructor. We will focus on the effective use of key techniques such as creating an intriguing opening line and a compelling first chapter, creating a likable and/or engaging protagonist, weaving in back story in small, manageable doses, setting up a dilemma that begs to be resolved, making the most of action scenes—in general, producing a page-turner. We will attempt to weed out the mistakes that mark the amateur writer and turn each student into a discerning editor of their own work.  The goal will be to polish those pages till they are ready to catch the attention of an agent, an editor, a publisher and make them ask for more. The reference text will be the highly acclaimed Don’t Sabotage Your Submission by career manuscript editor Chris Roerden (Bella Rosa books –ISBN 978-1-933523-31-6.)

   If you have questions about the class, I'm happy to answer. You can learn more HERE

The pictures are of Lake Logan--from the archives.

Zooming Away . . .

 

Every semester Great Smokies Writing Program does an event called Writers at Home with readings by current faculty members at Asheville's wonderful bookstore Malaprop's. Unfazed by the pandemic, this Sunday at 3 (Eastern Time,) the event will be held by Zoom. 

If you're interesting in hearing the readings, follow this link https://forms.gle/C4j9KrCdY2vg89nW6 

 I, of course, will read a bit from the forthcoming And the Crows Took Their Eyes.

You sign up (it's free) and Malaprop's sends you an invitation with a link to join the event. (I don't know if it will be recorded or not.)

Getting familiar with this Zoom thing. My critique class is going quite well--it helps that they are all amazing writers and excellent critiquers--and I think there is almost as much personal connection and spontaneity as in regular classes.

(Though I must admit to a bit of a problem last night when my internet went wonky and appeared to be mired in molasses. I ended up phoning in and participating by audio only. I think I've spotted the problem now.)

I hope I have as I'll be doing more Zooming 0n October 16 with my book launch--also via Malaprop's. And I'm hoping to do a Zoom event through our county library after local folks have had a chance to read the book. I'll be looking for some discussion.

I even got an invitation to speak at our local Rotary Club via Zoom. Since the meeting's at 7:30 am, I'm especially happy not to have to travel any farther than upstairs to my workroom   er, studio. (Note my adjustable desk and quaint sound baffling techniques.)

Great Smokies Fall Writing Workshops--All Online

Beginning August 27 on Thursdays from 6 to 8:30, I'll be leading a 15 week workshop  for writers of creative fiction who have up to sixty pages in need of careful, compassionate scrutiny from me and their fellow workshoppers. 

I led this same class back in the spring and when the virus shut things down in March, we transitioned rather seamlessly to an online meeting.  I found that the platform (we were using Google Hangouts) allowed plenty of spontaneity and that personalities came across loud and clear. Plus, there was the advantage for me of not having the hour plus drive there and back, comfy clothes, AND, no mask needed!

All the pertinent info about the class is HERE. But if you're interested and still have questions, ask them in the comments or email me (vicki3laneATgmail.com)

I'd love it if some folks who are too far away to commute to Asheville would join us! And I'll be excited to see how writers are responding to this challenging time.

On Line Class

As you may know, my spring writing class moved online a while back. Night before last was our 6 or 7th meeting and I asked the group for a candid assesment of the online format. All of them agreed it was better than not having the class at all and all of them indicated that they would not be opposed to taking another online class with Great Smokies Writing Program. Some even said they preferred the online format -- no commute, wear whatever, have a glass of wine with class...

I agree. I've been pleasantly surprised at how personal the format can be-- see and hear the speaker, meanwhile others can insert comments in the captions at the bottom of the screen. And the normal commute for me is about an hour each way so it's nice not to have to do that. Plus the bedroom slippers.

I told the director of the program all this and he was pleased. The summer classes will all be online but no real decision has been made for fall. I suggested that there might be some who'd be happy for the online alternative, even if the university was offering in person classes. He asked if I'd like to lead another online critique workshop. Of course I would.

So we're going to give it a go. It will begin in September and meet one night a week-- probably Tuesday or Thursday -- from 6 to 8:30 E.S.T. Over the years, a lot of my online friends have said they'd like to take one of my classes--if only they didn't live so far away. Well, this is your opportunity . . .

Tentative class description:

Workshoppers at Home: Online Creative Prose Workshop - 15 weeks

Here’s your chance to have up to sixty pages of your creative prose – novel excerpts, short stories, essays, memoir – carefully line edited by the instructor and thoughtfully assessed by a group of your fellow writers, concentrating on what is working and what needs attention. And all in the comfort of your home! We will meet online though Google Hangouts, a venue that allows you to see and hear your fellow classmates with the option of captions as well.

This fifteen-session workshop is aimed at writers with work (novel, short stories, memoir, or other creative prose) in progress, almost completed, or completed but in need of a final polishing. Each student will submit up to sixty pages (twenty at the beginning of the course, twenty during weeks 6-10, and the final twenty during weeks 11-15) for discussion and critique by the class and close editing with written comments by the instructor. We will focus on the effective use of key techniques such as creating an intriguing opening line and a compelling first chapter, creating a likable and/or engaging protagonist, weaving in back story in small, manageable doses, setting up a dilemma that begs to be resolved, making the most of action scenes -- in general, producing a page-turner. We will attempt to weed out the mistakes that mark the amateur writer and turn each student into a discerning editor of their own work.  The goal will be to polish those pages till they are ready to catch the attention of an agent, an editor, a publisher and make them ask for more. The reference text will be the highly acclaimed Don't Sabotage Your Submission by career manuscript editor Chris Roerden (Bella Rosa books --ISBN 978-1-933523-31-6.

The classes are through University of NC-Asheville. They are for credit and tuition is charged. You can find more info HERE

A Fun Class

Last night was the tenth and last meeting of my Wordplay class -- and what fun it's been! The students have written to prompts of taste, touch, smell, sound, and sight, as well as situational prompts -- a family gathering, a significant loss, an unexpected fork in life's road. They've written pieces that  began with a dictated sentence: "Looking back, ___realized that he/she should never have . . ." or "If only . . ."

And the writing has been consistently good. Funny, touching, insightful -- amazing what got produced in brief (5, 10, or 15 minutes) bursts of writing.

Last night they each brought in a prompt for the class. They were all good but one of the most unusual was this. Write a story in 26 sentences. The first sentence begins with A, the second with B, and so on.

I couldn't believe how well the resulting stories flowed. I doubt that anyone reading them would have noticed the pattern if they hadn't been told of it.

Dialogue worked quite well: For example:

"Again I tell you, I'll do it!"

"But you never-"

"Can't you hear me saying I'll do it?"

"Don't promise something you can't carry out."

"Extra effort is all it'll take -- that and a little luck."

"Foolish to count on luck . . ."

"Great, thanks for the vote of confidence, pal."

If you keep on, it turns into a story. There were some hilarious ones.

Folks said they enjoyed the class -- the spontaneity, the lack of homework or stress. One noted that it was good practice in reading your stuff aloud -- something that's difficult for some folks but this good humored, non-critical gang was a great place for a shy reader to gain confidence.

Great Smokies Writing Program has asked me to offer a 5 week version of the class this summer. (Information HERE.)

I'm looking forward to it!

From the Department of Shameless Commerce

Another reminder of some classes/workshops I'll be leading this summer. 

Wildacres Writing Workshop  July 7 - 14, Little Switzerland, NC. This is a critique workshop for serious writers with a novel in progress (or even just begun -- but at least 20 pages worth.)

Wildacres folks were thrilled to learn that the Wildacres Writing Workshop was listed recently in National Geographic's 100 Places That Will Change Your Life.

John C. Campbell Folk School  June 10-16, Brasstown, NC. This is a writing boot camp for all levels including beginners.

Great Smokies Writers Program (Asheville) --  Writing to prompts -- a no-stress, no homework short class (5 meetings) Tuesdays, 6/5,6/14. 6/26, 7/3, 7/17, 6-8:30.  My class has just been added and may not appear on the schedule yet but will be there soon. You could always call the office and ask to be added. 

If you're interested in any of these opportunities, follow the links or ask me about the offerings. (vicki3laneYOUKNOW WHAT GOESHEREgmail.com

Who knows, one of these classes might change your life!

Word Play

This semester in the Great Smokies Writing Program, I'm offering something different. After hearing from various would-be students that they just didn't have the time to devote to critiquing others' writing as well as producing their own, I've come up with something painless and fun. It's a class called Wordplay: To Get you in the Mood . . . for Writing.

This is the brief description: When you're not ready to commit to a lengthy piece of writing but welcome the chance to discover or reignite the flame of creativity, Wordplay is for you. No take home assignments at all -- just brief in-class writing in response to a wildly varied series of prompts, adaptable to any ideas you may already have and all based on different ways to tell a story. Voice, imagery, mood, setting, dialogue -- we'll explore and discuss these and more, as well as inspiration, research, and process in its many manifestations. Who knows where this no-stress, no guilt workshop will lead you?

I plan to begin with a physical prompt -- a mysterious object concealed in a box which each person feels -- not to identify the object but to write about what it makes the writer think of.  I got this idea from a psychology experiment I participated in when I was in college -- it's amazing how the sense of touch can lead one into free associating.

Later we'll explore the other senses -- look what the taste of a madeleine dipped in tea did for Proust.

And there will be of the prompts will be for scenes that reveal character -- a family holiday dinner, a brush with the supernatural/inexplicable, an argument with a friend, a conversation with a deceased relative . . .

And, as they say, many, many more.

If you're in the Asheville area and this sounds like something you'd enjoy, follow THIS LINK for more information (Go to Class schedule and scroll down.) Classes begin February 20 and meet every Tuesday for 10 weeks at the Riverlink offices in the Arts District, 6-8:30 .

Writing Is A Lonely Business . . .

But critique requires company.  

There is still room in the 15 week critique workshop I will be leading beginning next week. If you are a writer in the Asheville area and you'd like some good feedback on your prose, check out SYNERGY CENTRAL -- an advanced creative prose workshop offering students the chance to have up to fifty-four pages( eighteen pages at a time) of their work -- fiction, non-fiction, memoir, or any combination thereof -- critiqued by their peers and line-edited by the instructor. 

 There will be brief in-class writing sessions but the focus will be on responding to each writer's work with thorough and constructive critique. It's been my experience that the synergy emerging from groups like this can inspire, energize, and propel a writer to the next level.

The class will meet at The Asheville School on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:30, beginning August 30.

For info on signing up, go HERE.

Writers and Their Day Jobs -- Another Class Ends . . . -

Wednesday night was the last meeting of my 15 week prose  class.It will be nice to have a little time off but I'll miss these folks and their fascinating stories. 

It was one of the strongest groups of writers I've had yet and one of the most thorough and generous when it came to the attention they gave to their classmates' pages.

The submissions ranged from memoir -- growing up in a large Roman Catholic family in Boston; growing up in middle class, small town Appalachia; growing up poor and gay on the streets of NYC -- to alternate reality fantasy set in another version of Asheville -- to  beautifully crafted short stories about ordinary people . . . and some not so ordinary.

And there were novels in progress -- a thriller about a woman vs. the Medellin Cartel; a YA with supernatural elements that moves between Nazi-era Vienna and present day Atlanta; a coming of age/road trip/buddy story with excursions to the past; the story of a woman faced with the loss of the illusions that have supported her; the story of a heiress, tangled in a web of deception; and the story of a woman on the verge of brilliant success, forced by family circumstance to abandon her passion and find a new means of fulfillment. 

Every writer puts something of themselves into their work, whether it's fiction or not. Sharing your writing with others is opening yourself to criticism -- and learning to accept suggestion for change. It's a scary thing to do that requires a bit of bravery and a thick skin, even when the critics are trying to be kind. 

 One of the group made the remark that the class had been, in a way, like a therapy session.

And then someone else commented that at least half of the class were or had been practicing therapists of one kind or another. (I would include the hair stylist in this group.)

I'd never thought about it before but I have, indeed, had a lot of therapists/social workers/psychologists in my classes over the years. 

What is it, I wonder, that draws this group to writing in such numbers? A habit of introspection? An interest in the human condition and the twists and turns a person's life may take? The many stories they've heard in the pursuit of their practice?

Or is it a reaction to dealing with difficult clients -- a relief to work with characters on the page, who will behave, at least most of the time, as you want them to?

What New Adventure?

. 

September and time for another class. In my years of teaching with Great Smokies Writing Program, I've had the pleasure of reading works in progress of all kinds -- speculative fiction, chick lit, cozies, westerns, military thrillers, mysteries of every ilk, Appalachian, historical, alternative, humor, and quite a few other types of fiction, some of which I'd be hard-pressed to put a name to.  The writers have ranged from very experienced to rank beginners. But, and this is the amazing thing, all of them have something to teach me and the other class members. And we always have fun. 

There are still a few places available this semester -- if this sounds like something for you, check out the GSWP site HERE. And you are welcome to message me here on FB if you have  questions. (About the course, that is. The meaning of life, the existence of God, and the stock market are right out of my area of competence.)

Bring me your space-opera, your coming of age story, your quirky mystery, your sweet romance, your scary tale of horror -- whatever you're working on that's longing for the light of day will be welcome. 

September 15 (First meeting) 6-8:30 pm at the Riverlink offices in Asheville.

Forty Pages -- a class through the Great Smokies Writing Program on UNC-Asheville

This ten session workshop is for those writers with a novel in progress, almost completed, or completed but in need of a final polish. Each student will submit up to forty pages (half at the beginning of the course, the rest during the sixth week) of his work in progress for discussion and critique by the class and close editing with written comments by the instructor. We will focus on the effective use of key techniques such as creating an intriguing opening line and compelling chapters, creating a likable and/or engaging protagonist, weaving in back story in small, manageable doses, writing realistic dialogue, setting up a dilemma that begs to be resolved, making the most of each scene and, in general, producing a page-turner. We will attempt to weed out the mistakes that mark the amateur writer and turn each student into a discerning editor of his own work. The suggested text is the highly acclaimed Don't Sabotage Your Submission by career manuscript editor Chris Roerden (Bella Rosa books --ISBN 978-1-933523-31-6.)