Site-Wide Activity – MasteryPlus

Ellen Saunders replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

Okay, I’ll try it…

Ellen Saunders replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

All that said, I’m really looking forward to (and dreading) sinking my teeth into the challenge Steve and Tananarive issued around applying the questions of the Hero’s Journey to our own lives. Considering myself as a boring introvert, it had never occurred to me to do that (I’m no exciting hero).

Abruptly I’m seeing it as a startlingly useful…[Read more]

Ellen Saunders replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

I have similar issues with the Hero’s Journey. Not to slight Joseph Campbell or his a tremendous body of research, but it seems to me that he privileged Euro-centric storytelling in crafting the Hero’s Journey.

I read Seven Arrows by Hyemeyohsts Storm in college. It came out in 1972, and I don’t know how well it has aged, but I remember…[Read more]

Ross Murker replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

“Floggings will continue…” – Promise? (lurid eyebrow wiggle and smirk)
Seriously, I should have read this thread before now. Ah, well. I read something said to another author who struggles, something about “How dare you reject your work – that’s the editor’s job! – *You* just. keep. writing.”

Ross Murker replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

I am grateful for whatever has kept me going to this point, where all of the swirling, seemingly disparate and trivial pieces are starting to form discernible patterns, and for the teachers, especially here, who have created a safe space for this fledgling to try his wings.

Ross Murker replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

Hello!

Ross Murker replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

I’m in! Maybe a super-secret FB group/chat? (until Michael turns on the chat in here, anyway…): Went to the site, bookmarked it, will return and register 1-1-17.

Ross Murker replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

I’m in! Maybe a super-secret FB group/chat? (until Michael turns on the chat in here, anyway…)

Stina Leicht replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

I, too, like Slack. It’s great for real-time conversations.

Stina Leicht started the topic in the forum 9 years, 5 months ago

It’s a dark, magical realism, mermaid story set in Houston, Texas. A young girl and her younger sister grow up in a sexist environment. The only safe place for them–free of harassment–is underwater. They dream of becoming mermaids so that they can escape the constant harassment from men and boys. The sister finds a witch to help them. The witch…[Read more]

Ross Murker replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

Starting over at 42 – you’ve got an 11 year head start before you hit my age. If a wizard wanted to gift you a perfect day – what would that be for you?

Stina Leicht started the topic in the forum 9 years, 5 months ago

I do feel that The Hero’s Journey is a helpful tool for writing. My stance on it, however, is that it isn’t the *only* tool for writing. It has some inherent problems which, if ignored, can cause problematic writing and thinking. Like any useful tool, it’s only useful when the user is aware of its pitfalls. (Hammers are great, but they aren’t the…[Read more]

Joyce Young started the topic in the forum 9 years, 5 months ago

James Brown is a successful architect who is known world wide for his innovative designs, which feature LEED certified green buildings. He was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder as an adolescent and he has managed this disability well into his 30’s. However, even those who know him well, like his sister Tamuno and his business partner Maggie, d…[Read more]

Austin Alander started the topic in the forum Writers Workshop – Table of Contents 9 years, 5 months ago

It would be awesome to have a place to have some real time chats, set up meetings, hold writing groups etc. Do you think we could set something like that up somehow? Forums are great but have a time wall and a bit of a disconnect in conversation.

Slack seems to be working well for cruise alumni, so maybe something like that?

Thanks!
-Austin

Austin Alander started the topic in the forum 9 years, 5 months ago

Lately I’ve been trying to prep myself to start writing at least one short story every three months so I can always enter the writers of the future contest. But I feel like it would be easier if a group of us pledged to do it so we could keep each other motivated.

If you haven’t heard about the contest here’s the link:…[Read more]

RJ Taylor replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

Thanks, Steve! (and everyone!) It’s encouraging just to put things in perspective. I’m going to think more on these things and post more after our class

Ellen Saunders replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

Oh… there’s also this odd… anxiety reaction that happens when I sit down. I’ll just be getting started: say I’ve identified a character/setting/problem for a short story practice, and I’ve just started the first few sentences…

…Suddenly I’m full of anxious/bottled energy. Vibrating. And I almost without fail get up and get myself coffee…[Read more]

Ellen Saunders replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

It’s going… choppy, I guess.

On and off. Having the homework and hotseat assignment/opportunities has actually gotten me to dust off some short stories I haven’t thought about in awhile. They’re not bad. LOL. Also, I’ve been texting with a writer friend every workday morning to keep each other accountable. So I’ve at least written something…[Read more]

Ellen Saunders replied to the topic in the forum Site-Wide Activity 9 years, 5 months ago

It’s going… choppy, I guess.