astoria writing workshop

Writing Workshop in Astoria March, 7

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Writers:

On Saturday, March 7, I will teach a writing workshop at our usual spot in Astoria. The workshop is called “Firing Up Your Writing Project” and the idea is to take whatever writing project you are working on (or contemplating) and move it forward.

We will sit around a table, think, write, talk, share, pitch, laugh, listen. We will complete exercises in fiction and nonfiction that will help stimulate your creativity and discover new ways to fire up your project. Sometimes writing one sentence in practice or hearing a tidbit of discussion can help unlock the magic.

I feel it essential for writers with projects in mind or development to come together in a relaxed setting, write for writing’s sake and articulate your passion for your project. I believe it helps writers finish and build a community for the projects. It’s also how we make new friends.

The workshop will run from 1-3:30 p.m. And hopefully we can have a little social time afterward.

The cost is $50.

Let me know if you are interested. The class caps at ten writers.

Matt

Kindness and Gratitude Sent Out

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Several months ago, the writing group I lead in Astoria put our heads together to form a new literary organization and produce a print publication. The details of this project are below. If anyone is interested in reading or distributing this unique publication, please make a $10 donation to the Meditations blog and I will mail you five copies. I derive no profit whatsoever from this transaction, as is the case with all my writing since I began writing. I urge anyone out there reading this to contact The League via email and join us for a workshop.

The League of Intertidal Writers announces the release of its debut publication, Kindness and Gratitude. The publication is free and has been distributed around Clatsop and Pacific Counties for the public to read, keep, pass on, mail to friends and family. It features poems, short essays and memoirs that explore the theme of kindness and gratitude.

The League of Intertidal Writers, is a group of writers (and one dog) from around the Pacific Northwest that meets on a monthly basis in Astoria to write, talk, laugh, think, drink, eat and listen in a private Astoria home with a magnificent view of Youngs Bay.

Kindness and Gratitude was the outcome of a kindness and gratitude-themed writing workshop and the culmination of ten other workshops on various themes. Approximately 10-12 writers meet for each workshop from a total membership of about 20 writers. Participants in the workshops feel the presence and contributions of other writers adds originality and richness to the experience of creation.

The group plans to release other publications and invites other area writers to join The League. All writers from poets, songwriters, essayists, novelists, greeting card writers, bloggers, journalists and historians to teachers of writing are welcome. For more information about gatherings and workshops, email leagueofintertidalwriters@gmail.com

Kindness and Gratitude can be picked up at the following locations: libraries, liquor stores, bakeries, driftwood forts, bookstores, coffee shops, Gulley’s Meats and Fort George Brewery in Astoria. The publication is also available as a PDF download to read on a digital device or be printed at home.

Kindness/Gratitude Writing and Publishing Workshop in Astoria

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(Season’s greetings readers. I will take a break from the blog until the New Year. Thanks for reading and making contributions to support the effort.)

Writers:

At one of our recent workshops, I proposed the idea of producing a small print publication with a specific non-fiction theme. The idea was warmly received and we tentatively settled on kindness/gratitude after some stellar writing and sharing on the topic.

I want to propose a kindness/gratitude writing/publishing workshop Saturday, Feb 3 from 10-2 in Astoria. At the workshop, I wold run us through a series of prompts/readings/discussion topics and a process for making editorial decisions about the publication (e.g. naming it, size, color, etc).

Basically, it would work like this: participants would write their pieces (approximately 200-300 words in length), email them to me, I would edit, email it back for a final revision, and then the pieces are returned to me. Then I (or someone else with better skills) will design the publication (probably a two-page, front/back, 11” by 14” broadsheet), have it printed, and then we all distribute a thousand copies in our various communities or wherever we go. We could even hold a little event to publicize the release. I envision the publication coming out in the spring.

The cost of the workshop/publishing venture is $80 and that includes the printing cost for the publication. We need about 10 paying people to make this project fly and have enough voices in the publication to provide the desired variety of perspectives. If you cannot attend the workshop but still want to participate in the project, I can email the prompts and work with you that way. The writing has been so wonderful and unique this past year and deserves a larger audience. Let me know if you want to join and of course, if you want to recruit a writer friend to join us in this endeavor, by all means invite. Email me through the blog or at my email address and let me know if you want to join this project.