This event will be free and open to the public and writers of all ages and abilities. We hope you will mark your calendar!

Another month, and another positive experience sharing our stories.  No matter whether we tackle memoir, fiction, or even
poetry, our writing represents who we are and mirrors how we view the world. We are happy to announce that Michael Czarnecki and Steve Coffman plan to offer a Writers’ Workshop on July 17 at our usual monthly meeting time.  Michael and Steve have been offering their expertise to all who have attended their fruitful workshops for more than ten years. We look forward to another opportunity to glean writing tips from each of them.

Our writers were hard at work this month.  Our suggested assignment was Shore Stories.Three totally different approaches were read.  We heard about the joyful memories of vacationing in Panama City Beach and an account of a most unjoyful experience at the Jersey Shore.  A unique poem sharing favorite images of Jersey Shore experiences mimicked the structure of the poem, Litany by Billy Collins.

A poem honoring a daughter’s 25 wedding anniversary delighted us.  Hearing an account of teaching 26 at-risk teenagers during a 6th period class kept us in suspense, providing a bit of shock, laughter, and admiration for this teacher. We also cruised along the Chesapeake Bay in a 42 foot boat named Tockwough.  Our adventurous writer also shared a second chapter of his coming of age ex-
periences in the Toms River area of New Jersey.

Our next assignment:  One or both of these may stir your thoughts—  feather, or time.

Our next meeting:  May 15 1:30 in the library

We welcome anyone interested in joining us and finding out that we are enthusiastic and welcoming to all new members.

On the first day of spring we notice piles of snow, and wind, and
winter.  It was mentioned that last year on this very day we had 81 degrees.  The
one thing we must accept in life seems to be change and our weather
provides all of the change we can absorb.  But, signs of spring surround us.  We hear calls of the geese as they return, and the days are lengthening.  Blue skies and warm weather will arrive.  Life is stirring and when the snow finally melts green buds will be opening and all kinds of life will emerge, singing, buzzing,
calling, and crawling.Over more than ten years that our Writers’ Group has been active we have seen many writers come and go.   Our group expands and contracts and continues to remain healthy and open to one and all. We are always pleased to add new members.  This month we welcomed a new member into our fold

Over more than ten years that our Writers’ Group has been active we have seen many writers come and go.   Our group expands and contracts and continues to remain healthy and open to one and all. We are always pleased to add new members.  This month we welcomed a new member into our foldAll writing is appreciated.  We usually offer an assignment as a prompt, although this is only for those who benefit from an idea which will stimulate their personal thoughts.  It is always amazing how a one word prompt can encourage such an enormous variety of written ideas, whether prose or poetry. In this month’s meeting we heard a memoir based on gardening, a coming of age moment in the life of a seventeen year old, and two members are extending their pieces to several chapters.  Both of these writers are writing extended pieces based on early memories and steeped in the details of places that they have known so well. We also had a political parody, and finally an account of a personal experience with a bobcat.  You must admit that much territory was covered during this meeting.

Next Meeting:  Wednesday, April 17    1:30 in the library

Look forward to seeing new faces in April!

This winter must have provided a good period of time to stay at home
huddled over a computer or a writers’ pad and compose, compose, compose. We had a  prolific bunch this month and we all enjoyed listening to various styles and  ideas.
Amazing how on such a cold afternoon we could create such warmth and
enthusiasm inside our Indian Lake Library.

We heard about how one can win frequently at an Indian Lake, Tricky
Tray.  We had two memoir pieces, one initiated by the title of Window Watching,
and the other a family history of Valentine’s Day.  We had an inspirational
poem about windows in homes and churches.  One of our writers’ has begun a   fiction piece based in Brooklyn, while another writer has begun a semi nonfiction piece based on the disappearance of a long time ago friend.  Finally,another writer shared a sad tale of historical significance which has since been
wiped out of existence.  Is that variety for you?

Assignment:  We are hoping for additional tales about the unique
qualities of life in Indian Lake.
Previous assignment which no one has tackled:   Layers
New idea:  This idea comes from the Universal Class on Creative Writing.
Choose a random noun and then a random adjective.  Put them together
and FREE WRITE.

**Adirondack Center for Writing offers a Literary Award for writing fiction, poetry memoir or non fiction.  Read details on their website. Entries must be received by March 8.

Next Meeting:  Wednesday, March 20   1:30

FREE WRITING:
“For many writers, free writing or stream of consciousness writing is the way
to find the trail.  This is especially true if we have negative memories of
someone’s harsh criticism, if we have writer’s block, if we’re afraid to write
what we feel, if we’ve lived the life of daily chores too intensely, or if we have
lots of ideas but don’t know how to begin.”
“Pick a word—a noun, something concrete—and put it at the top of the page.
It could be an arbitrary word: Onion.  Feather.  River.  Sponge.  Or it could be
something you need to think more deeply about:  Father.  Time.  Love.
Now,begin to write everything that comes into your mind.  Keep at it for at least two pages.  Let yourself wander, anything — especially if it’s bizarre and crazy—goes.  Follow the path, don’t be afraid if it veers off somewhere
else.  Afterward, go back and jot down next to your free writing links, the journey from one thought to another.  Uncover the connections that you made.  After all, writing is meandering—sometimes a stroll, sometimes a fast walk—to a place  ofdreams, memories, and thoughts you didn’t know existed.”

from:  Writing Toward Home   by Georgia Heard   p.62-63

Interested in volunteering?  Always looking for strong people to schlep books on Friday morning (early) before the sale. Call the library for details.