AUGUST 2011

VOL. # ONE ISSUE #1

Awesome Writers

SO IT BEGINS
Still in the beginning stages. Where to next?
I have watched this group grow, all the way from its conception, when a group of three friends wished for a place to share their work and communicate. That place? A Facebook group. The group is still there, mainly used for chatting. (And posting prompts while the website was under construction.) This little Facebook group has evolved into more members and a full functioning website. I will not lie. I am a little proud of the new website... OK, more than a little proud. I did create it, after all. My point is: we have grown and will continue to do so! Surely I am not the only one excited about this? We need to keep expanding! Get the word out! Invite your friends! Put up fliers! Anything! We want to share our love of writing with the world! Though locally would be best if we wish to continue having meetings at Starbucks. Please, please, please send feedback not only on this newsletter but on the website as well. I want both to be as absolutely close to perfect as possible! ~ Wendy Hayworth

COMING UP
You've heard about it and it's just around the corner. That's right, folks. National Novel Writing Month! Every November thousands of young writers buckle down and write 50,000 words in ONE MONTH. It is an absolutely amazing month of creative exploration and I implore each and every one of you to at least attempt it! Mid-September we will begin exercise to help develop our plots and characters. More information will be given as the month approaches! Please, make your account now! http://www.nanowrimo.org/

CONTACT US
awesomewritersgroupmail@gmail.com

"Fill the paper with the breathings of your heart" ~ William Wordsworth

http://www.wix.com/awesomewriters/officialsite

THOSE WHO INSPIRE

Andrea Gibson By Cayla Garfield

I never feel more connected than when Im writing. There is never a time I feel closer to the heartbeat of the world. Its a practice that has to be nurtured and committed to and there is always something to write about. -Andrea Gibson Andrea is an activist and a world changer. She speaks for the rights of kids who are bullied, US soldiers, LGBT community members and much more. As a political activist many of her poems tear at the seams of what she calls the system. Gibson works, through her poetry and performances, to offer hope and encouragement by getting people to ask questions and challenge our culture and system. As a member of the LGBT community, Gibson believes its so important that that we constantly remind people that no matter what they are feeling, they are not alone. Gibson has struggled with depression and anxiety and believes it is her responsibility to help others by giving a voice to whats strumming inside of us. Gibson performs at numerous events across the country including: Take Back the Night, LGBT events, PrideFest events, Trans events, peaceful anti-war rallies, as well as her role in the traveling performance group Vox Feminista, whose political messages have made waves across the nation.

This is a shout out to Hugh Laurie whose amazing vocal and musical skills adds life to our past prompts page. In the near future more of his songs will be added to the other pages of the website because they are that awesome.

MUSIC
A writer's best friend ... besides coffee.
What is the first thing you do as you sit down to type? You crack your knuckles, open up a document, play your tunes, and take a sip of coffee. Am I right? Of course I am. Maybe I'm weird, OK I am, but surely I'm not the only one who can't stand to write in complete silence, right? Writing is a passion, it's about releasing your innermost thoughts. How can I do that in dead silence? No, I need to be singing my lungs out to my favorite songs. There is nothing like music to give you the inspiration you need to keep going! So, rock out and write on! ~Wendy Hayworth

FEATURED

A Picture Worth Exactly One Thousand Words

Shelby Meyers

A woman sits on the floor. A carpet, gray and stained. Stained, but loved. Loved by this woman. No. This girl. This woman is not yet a woman. Her face is young, untouched by age. This girl is no more than twenty years old, no less than fifteen. Her face shows youth, but great maturity. This girl is beyond her years. She knows things. Perhaps, shes the one with A+s in all of her classes, and not one scratch on her disciplinary record. She has never done anything her parents wouldnt approve of, not because they are strict, but because she has no desire to break laws, have sex, or test authority. Her greatest fear is failure; disappointing loved ones, or, most of all, herself. Of course, these are all inferences based on her face. Her mature and wise, but innocent and young face. Her face, in this moment of frozen time, looks peaceful. Her eyes are open, looking toward the ceiling. Her head is turned slightly, toward the right corner of the room. She conveys unmistakable hope. Perhaps she prays for happiness, or world peace, (how clich) or love. Perhaps, she is pondering. Perhaps she dreams of flying, like a bird. Perhaps she hopes she will leave home soon, and start her life, and become an important person. Perhaps she is absent minded, and the camera man caught her at just the right moment (eyes wandering about the room, landing on the ceiling, happening to look hopeful). Perhaps the position was staged. But that is doubtful. She just looks so sincere. Does she always look to the right corner when she sits upon

the carpet, and ponders, or prays? Now the rest of her body conveys a similar message, (hope) but changes things. Changes things drastically. Changes the message in the picture. She rests her hands on her lap, and they clutch each other. You can almost sense the movement there. She is wringing them. Or at least she has been. Perhaps this is a habit of hers. Perhaps she has just finished worrying and her hands are still frozen there, giving away that this girl is not care-free. So, perhaps she realized that her roses have not bloomed yet, but she knows they will eventually. Perhaps her stomach is growling as she waits for her soup, and hopes it will soothe her sore throat. She has a reason to be pondering, or praying. You can tell it is important. Perhaps she has pondered or prayed about it before. Perhaps she hopes that she might cure cancer one day; or invent something that will solve everyones problems. Imagine with me now, her long and slender legs. They are crossed. Is this significant? This could signify that she does yoga, giving us an even better idea of who she is. If she is indeed flexible, and does yoga, perhaps she has to work hard to remain hopeful, peaceful. But, her legs probably only signify that she preferred, at that time, to sit cross-legged. What she wears conveys a message about her, too. She has on solid colors; clothes that are comfortable, flowy, stylish. No designer brand name. Not flashy or showy. She is not interested in conveying wealth, if she has it. Just simple, and nice. She is not interested in bringing attention to herself. This makes her beautiful. She wears no makeup.

Or at least too little to be noticeable. She is naturally rosy-cheeked, with big eyelashes and blonde wavy hair. A piece of it drapes over her left shoulder, and covers a little of her cheek. It doesnt seem to bother her much. Perhaps, she dreams of cutting it off one day, but cannot bring herself to do it, not quite yet. Perhaps, shed like to dye it brown, or get highlights. Perhaps, she recently dyed it blond, and wonders what her friends will think. But that seems unlikely. She seems like the kind of girl who is happy with the way she is, and not so concerned about what others think. Like I mentioned before, you can just tell that, she knows things. Maturity is a gift that she possesses. Zoom out on the scenery. A cluttered room. Books scattered everywhere. A spool of yarn, connected to a scarf. She likes to use her hands. Create things. She is an artist. A scrapbook sits near her, open to a page entitled Jordan <3. A pair of scissors sit next to the book, and a marker sits upon the page. That is what she must be thinking about! Perhaps dreaming of her wedding day, while she scrapbooks about her Jordan. Oh, but, no. No, no, no. Now, you must notice a police report near her knee, and a newspaper clipping. The newspaper reads: Abusive boyfriend case put to rest. This girl. She must have escaped this horrible Jordan. This Jordan who abused her, is now being punished and thus removed from this girls life. She doesnt have to deal with him anymore. That would explain the hope for the future on her face, and the worry of the past in her hands. That would explain why there is no tape around to put pictures into the scrapbook.

Continued on next page....

Each issue (hopefully these will be monthly soon) we will vote on our favorite submission. The entry chosen will be featured in our newsletter along with a short blurb about the author and their inspiration behind the piece. The Chosen One (ha) will also have their picture displayed.

AUGUST 2011

VOL. # ONE ISSUE #1

Continued

She is getting herself prepared to cut the pages out. We wonder how long it took for her to get to this place. A place where she could look at his face, look at where she had glorified him in her memory book, back before she knew how horrible he would be. And to a place where she could remember the horror, but get past it, and cut him out. She can cut his pictures out. She will cut him completely out. Out of her memory. She is safe. She may never be completely whole again. Her emotional scars may be so deep that it takes many years to feel it, but she is safe.

Now we hope she is close to a point where she can eventually be completely free.

Who is Shelby?
My name is Shelby. Nothing special about the name... it can be a boys name, too. Though the only boy Shelby Ive ever heard of is Reba Mcentires son. I was named after the Shelby in the movie Steel Magnolias. You know, the movie where she gets married, but dies because she is very diabetic, (and always has been) and had kids when she wasnt supposed to? Yeah. But a great movie, nonetheless. I guess my mom and dad decided it was a good name, but it weirds me out that she died. Now, on to the important part about the writing... because the blurb about me was just about my name and you dont really care! My inspiration was, surprisingly, the prompt! (OH, the sarcasm.) The ending wasnt really planned out. I just wrote. I discovered the photo just as the reader did. Piece by piece. I knew I would surprise us all with the true meaning at the end, but I didnt come up with the boyfriend part at first.

I knew when I began writing that it wouldnt be very difficult to have no dialogue because of the way I was telling my story, so it came from my heart and flew into the computer smoothly. If I made you feel emotional, and care about her, then I accomplished my mission. I thought of this joke, just now. The photo (of horrible Jordan-BOO) inside the photo of the girl. PHOTOCEPTION. Yes, its lame, but I had to say it. (: Much love, Shelby

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. ~Ray Bradbury

PLEASE SEND FEEDBACK

awesomewritersgroupmail @gmail.com

Thank You for Reading!

http://www.wix.com/awesomewriters/officialsite