Writing, Laughing, Crying and Growing Together

Our last 4 month writing group series - Inventing the Rest of Our Lives - came to an end ... until next time.  We had a great group - lots of wonderful stories, poems, and connecting.  The spiral continues to move outward in our lives when we begin .....

Sharon Elliott will be starting new classes soon, so stay tuned.  Also, check her website: sharonelliott.wordpress.com

Abby, Sherry, Marilyn, Sharon, Chrs

She's Ba - a - a -ck!

Our Leader - Our Guru - Our Mentor - Our Coach ------

The All Write Now group of women is glad to have Sharon Elliott back in town.

Yes, our one and only Sharon is back from Vermont and staying put (we hope) here for a good while!

Ok. It wasn't complete desertion ...... even though we did feel a great loss when she moved to Vermont with her husband.

Sharon kept smiles on our faces and pens in our hands as she trekked back and forth from the Vermont snow to the Florida sun on a monthly basis just to keep her growing group of women writers happy. (I think she missed the beach too)

Now that she is back, a new series of classes are beginning and we are all thrilled to be a part of these new and exciting sessions. Pick one or more - they all inspire the soul.

All Write Now - Writing with the 4 Elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water)
Artistic Living - Inspiring Creativity in Writing and in Life
Inventing the Rest of Our Lives - Feminine Creativity After 50
The Artist's Way - Creativity Workshop

Sharon can be reached at milletday@yahoo.com; or see http://sharonelliott.wordpress.com/

My first class started yesterday -- (Inventing the Rest of our Lives) Surprised? :)

With this powerful group of women I am off to a great start and our creative energy is surging. Let me share a picture of my group and a couple of the writings from yesterday.


Sherry, Joan, Christine, Sharon, Abby, me (on the floor) ---

See the power and the creative energy?? I bet you do!





Now, let me share two of the writings from our first class!

“The Way Back” by Joan Neigler

As I make my way back
I falter. I stop.
Stunned and in shock

As I make my way back
Think of what was where
Wonder what is there

As I make my way back
Memories slipping
Melancholy gripping

As I make my way back
Happy yet frightened
Far from enlightened

As I make my way back
What’s happening now
Shifting and misty
Is a feeling of WOW!

As I make my way back
With hope and some doubt
Reality slights me
Within and without

As I make my way back
And I want to, so badly
I’ll wait ‘til I’m ready
But start the trek sadly

As I make my way back
I was there and am here
Nearness is where?

As I make my way back
Spirits are sinking
I’m finally thinking

As I make my way back
Nothing has changed
And everything’s different

As I make my way back
I stop in my tracks
And now know, so clearly

I am the way back
Here in the moment
The future is mine
A living experiment

And once I’ve experienced
What life has in store
I’ll think of the past
Likely wish for more

The circles
The cycles
The seasons
The years

We’re all on a journey
With smiles and tears

As I make my way back

************************

Writing by Marilyn Ashe Wilson

Good Morning. I don't see you.
Good Day. Not a passing glance.
Good Evening. I think I've missed it.
All because I was not Writing.

When I'm not writing,
I'm not thinking, beyond
the given moment.

The chatter filling my clogged brain,
Isn't stilled or observed
Unless I'm writing.

I pay little attention to the daily grind,
And the loss of all my precious time,
Unless I'm writing.

Events actually pass, in an obscure
and fleeting way
Without notation or emphasis,
Unless I'm writing.

I may even age a bit
or gain a pound or two,
But I always miss the reflection
Unless I'm writing.

You say, I love you, and I say
Me, too.
Yet the feelings escape me
Unless I'm writing.

With all that said,
It seems obvious to me,
I simply need to be writing.

So, I'm here again to take it up
And to remember that my life
Is worth the writing.

I'll remember the days
The hours gone by, and shall taste them later.
Because I'm writing.

Today, I am able to say...

Good Morning,

Good Day, and
Good Evening..
Because I see you now, I hear you now, I taste you now

I am Writing!

***********************************

Thanks and Bye for now.

Skits and Scripts - Act One

My dude-man was all decked out last night for our 'spur of the moment' Saturday night outing.

What a fun last minute evening we had at FCCJ Wilson Center. A perfect example of 'Word of Mouth' Networking.

Saturday morning, I understand, Kathy told Sharon, then Sharon told Kate, then Kate told Carolyn and Sam, then Carolyn told me, and then, and then, and then -- we had 12 friends from the beaches showing up at the Wilson Center for the Script Readings and Short Plays.

The local playwrites were sharing their scripts and stage plays with the community. A free theatre production was being staged! What a blast.

It was Ian Mairs (Kathy's friend from high school) and New Yorker, Jacquelyn Reingold presenting eight silly, sexy, summery plays. The actors included: Simone Aden Reid, Robert Arleigh White, Al Letson, Kevin Roberts, April Daras, Staci Cobb, Matt Mercurio, Johnathan Ross, Tracy Selvig and Kasi Walter.

Charlotte Mabry even did an awesome intermission percussion arrangement for the crowd. (That's Sam and her husband with Ian.)

The very untraditional evening consisted of 8 scripted plays ranging from a full blown gay ego-maniac, to Bee-sex, to Archie Bunker attitude, to lost love, to love on an airplane, and there was one more, but my mental age is showing and I can't remember the other one.!!! Help again anyone!

Each of the skits were only 6-8 minutes long and at times, we just couldn't get enough of a few and others were just right, making the expected impact and thrilling the crowd.

Thanks actors and writers for sharing with us your talent and creativity. What fun!

I'm sure glad I was part of the 'party-line,' because the evening was spectacular!

THE 4 ELEMENTS

EARTH, WATER, FIRE, AND AIR!

When these ladies get together and combine the FOUR ELEMENTS -- creative energy bursts into the air!

Sharon Elliot's Writing Circles have been a mainstay in the Atlantic Beach area for several years now. The women here share their stories, write their truths, and laugh raucously together at each gathering of their Writing Circle.

Tonight, we closed the chapter on the last 3 months, and, eagerly await the next series - One in July and then full force in September.

Our closing night was made especially wonderful by our hostesses, Carolyn Drazien and Barbara King-Hall.

Carolyn hosted the evening at her home in Atlantic Beach allowing all of us a glimpse of her fascinating decorating style and welcoming charm. After all, she is Queen Diva of her Funky Shui Diva Decorating Business, so this was a treat of treats. As co-host, Barbara shared her passion for cuisine as we delighted in a healthy and extraordinarily delish meal.

The nine of us - Carolyn Drazien, Woody Winfree, Sharon Elliot, Donna Christensen, Barbara King-Hall, Diana Otani, Christine Lester, Sharon Qualls, and Me :) certainly had a great and fulfilling evening! Our only one regret -- we missed our 10th lady - Lucy Lynch -- we held her in spirit and know we will all be together again at the next circle series.

We all keep writing, keep sharing, keep laughing, and keep connecting for the women everywhere who hear us!

If you are interested in being a part of the Writing Circles, please let me know or email Sharon Elliot directly at milletday@yahoo.com; and for Funky Shui Divas, the best in decorating expertise, email: rickdraz@yahoo.com.