Tar River Writing Project

Friday Feb. 22nd Writer's Group scheduled for 6 PM--See you there for sharing writing and catching up...

Members of the Tar River Writing Project (and their writing friends) are invited to attend the monthly meeting of the Tipsy Teapot Writing Group.

Jennifer and Mike, since you weren't with us for the closing day...Concensus on Thursday was to meet the last Saturday in each month instead of the last Friday night. Logic: writers will be traveling and will probably be tired. Agreement to meet on Saturday, August 25th at 10 AM. The name of a teahouse in downtown Greenville was suggested location. Could someone fill in the name, address, phone # of this teahouse. Alternative meeting place: consider Wright Student Center?

Bring writing to share, possibly post on our current blog in advance.

Our goal: to have at least 5 people to hold a first meeting. If we have more  than 6 writers, then we can break down into two smaller groups. To coordinate the first meeting: Please post on this blog strand to confirm attendance at the first meeting. Can you mark this date on your calendar and commit to attending no later than Thursday, August 23rd? Those of us who have to travel to the first meeting need this information. Let's make this happen! 

Questions to consider before or at the first meeting: Do we want to invite an interested writer who did not attend the Summer Institute to become a part of our writer's group? Discuss setting up a new Writers blog space.

If Saturdays work best for us, you might want to mark "HOLD" on the following Dates for the rest of the year: Sat. 9/29; 10/27; 11/24 (after Thanksgiving); 12/29/07...jg

Title: Japanese Art, Japanese Haiku

Goals:

To read and identify the elements of Classical haiku,

To slow down the process of seeing,

To use sensory images and apply knowledge to write a Haiku poem,

To become familiar with Modern haiku,

To create a Haiga

Timeline: 15 minutes for 1^st section, 30 minutes for 2^nd and 3^rd sections

I.  Review of Classical Haiku

We read this Haiku by the 17th century poet Basho outloud. The haiku is the Poet’s First Impression.

"In the moonlight a worm…

silently

drills through a chestnut"

I loved the monopoly game we played and the interaction between us, the fun we had playing around the table together. I liked that Mike was honest in responding to the remark I made about "This is what we did to the Native Americans," however I don’t even remember what sparked me to make that connection.

I am not comfortable discussing race relations and the conversation we had on Thursday is not something that I can call back into memory easily, because somehow I got to feeling so uncomfortable. I was missing Will coming to the rescue with his lightness and humor, wishing that Mica and Veronica were there to add their wisdom.

What I did take away from the discussion was Mike saying, "I am not responsible for the way people treated the Native Americans and for slavery. I wasn’t a participant in that process." I found Mike’s independent stance refreshing in that he doesn’t take on the guilt-by-associaton that I think many white people feel. Hey Mike, I’m glad you stood up and spoke your truth "I for one am not guilty."

I was purposeful in not entering into the discussion. I think we’ve gone out of our way to create a safe place for sharing in the Summer Institute. We’ve stayed away from discussions on race, religion, child-rearing practices, gay rights, civil rights, and all the other political topics that make up our world. We don’t cross those lines at school either.

Talking about any "hot" issue publicly that presses me to take one side or the other makes me feel uncomfortable and squirm in my seat. I don’t like to make other people take sides on those issues, where there may be no right or wrong answer.

When doors that opened for them

Slammed shut in my face.

What you gonna think ,

When you’re left standing there?

It don’t make no difference

What you do or how much you care.

Even if you think you’re smart,

That don’t make no difference either.

When those who should of known better

Treat rich folks better than you.

When that door slams in your face,

You gonna believe it, too.

...I’m just not good enough.

Up North, where folks, rich and poor, blend together,

In time, I discovered

Doors open, if you pull hard enough.

But when someone holds the door open

And says "You can walk through them, too."

How you gonna feel?

And what you gonna do?

Defining Moments in the History of Our Town

 I remember the old brick church on the corner of West Nash and Broad Streets in Wilson; that’s where I attended Kindergarten. Wilsonians took pride in Nash Street, once named  "One of the most beautiful Main Streets in America."

 I also remember the "For Sale" sign that went up on the lawn of this historic church building. The church was sold and a modern new bank with shinning glass windows, tinted bronze, was built in that once humble location. No one says "Gee, that new building stands out like a sore thumb in the heart of our historic Victorian neighborhood." Goodbye ambiance! Who let that happen?

Sat., June 23rd. 

It's almost midnight and I'm looking forward to Monday when the Summer Institute begins. My books have not arrived yet, and I haven't the faintest idea about where I'll find parking come Monday, so I'm a little nervous about that. Nevetheless,  I have been writing in my little blue Staples book, because for me, the Institute began on June 2nd when our group met for the first time. What a great first meeting!

Since then...after not meeting for the last year and a half, my old writer's group in NYC got together on June 13th. When I told the group that I intended to work on my unfinished children's book manuscripts at the Summer Institute, they encouraged me not to go down that path. Their insistence that I simply focus on writing about my own experiences--to capture what I'm living as I find myself setting down roots here in the South--inspired me to begin journaling again. Ever since the NYC writer's group meeting gave me permission to just focus on my life, the words have come pouring out like water running out of the kitchen faucet. 

This past week, I took a 3-day  Brain Gym course. Taking the class was a dream come true, as I have for a long time been  fascinated by body, mind and spirit connectivity. Which brings me to this point tonight. My intention is to use the right brain/left brain exercises I just learned, in conjunction with my writing. I believe this may turn out to be the most remarkable summer of my life. 

I'm feeling very connected to myself, right now and to my writing. I hope I can find parking on Monday!