Carolyn Martin should need no introduction; but for anyone who’s not been to one of Carolyn’s Writers’ Mill workshops before, she’s a Portland poet with an absolutely beautiful website (just follow the link in her name), and some equally beautiful books of poetry, including a Penchant for Masquerades, which has only just come out. Continue reading Inspiration with Carolyn Martin, April 2019
Category Archives: inspiration
Writers Mill Minutes 201904
Writers Mill Minutes April 28th 2019
Nearly 20 people, including several new members, were present on Sunday to enjoy Carolyn Martin’s inspirational poetry session . Much poetry was written by all. Much inspiration was shared. And some fascinating and amusing discussions ensued. Rohan’s Indian snacks were a great addition to the meeting too. Thank you! Continue reading Writers Mill Minutes 201904
Carolyn Martin on Inspiration – Writers’ Mill Minutes 201807
Writers’ Mill Minutes, July 15th 2018
A small group met this month, braving the heat to enjoy a very inspiration-filled writers’ workshop led by the ever-popular Carolyn Martin. Continue reading Carolyn Martin on Inspiration – Writers’ Mill Minutes 201807
Writers’ Mill Minutes 201803
Writing Exercise (from Teri Brown): Teri handed around scent vials during our meeting. Maybe just stand at an open window (on this lovely spring day) and see what smell reaches your nose. Then write for 10 minutes and see what story reaches the page. Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes 201803
Writers’ Mill Minutes 201801
Writers’ Mill Minutes Jan 21st 2018
Our first meeting of 2018 was fairly sparsely attended with only 12 people present. We blamed the weather, and invite anyone who wasn’t there to weigh in on the questions below:
- What do you want to achieve this year? (Feel free to add your goals to the box at February’s meeting.)
- What do you want from the Writers’ Mill this year? (Feel free to email admin@portlandwritersmill.org with your requests.)
- How important are speaker engagements to you?
- How important is it to have regular critiques?
- How important is it to have regular writing exercises at our meetings?
Where Inspiration Comes Sliding Through – notes on a talk given by Carolyn Martin
Where Inspiration Comes Sliding Through – notes on a talk given by Carolyn Martin
How do you start a poem (or a story)?
- Put pen to paper?
- Put finger to keyboard?
- Write and/or change the first line of something you remember, then see where it goes.
Continue reading Where Inspiration Comes Sliding Through – notes on a talk given by Carolyn Martin
Writers’ Mill Minutes 201711 Where Inspiration Comes Sliding Through with Carolyn Martin
Writers’ Mill Minutes 11/19/2017
Wow! What a meeting. Twenty-four of us were there to listen to, work with, and be inspired by Portland poet, Carolyn Martin, whose return visit was so popular we’re already asking when she can join us again, again. Continue reading Writers’ Mill Minutes 201711 Where Inspiration Comes Sliding Through with Carolyn Martin
Mining Your Life Story, Notes from Nancy Linnon’s Talk, March 2017
Notes from Nancy Linnon’s Writing Your Life Story Workshop
Opening question: If you were to write a memoir or personal essay, what would it be about? Continue reading Mining Your Life Story, Notes from Nancy Linnon’s Talk, March 2017
Writers Mill Minutes 201703
Writers’ Mill Minutes March 19 2017
Twenty people enjoyed a fantastic workshop from Nancy Linnon (http://www.themovingpen.net/) on March 19th at the library. A gifted speaker, teacher, editor, writer, writing coach and more, Nancy came armed with excellent handouts including a great list of resources, and she invited us, right from her very first question, to look more deeply for stories in our own lives and those of our characters. Lots of members left energized and excited to realize they just might have a story worth telling in their past. Continue reading Writers Mill Minutes 201703
Writing and Appreciating Poetry with Carolyn Martin – from her talk in February 2017
Writing and Appreciating Poetry with Carolyn Martin
Carolyn began her talk with some groundrules:
- Don’t believe everything you hear unless it resonates in you.
- Ask lots of questions
- Daydream – she once went to a poetry reading and became distracted by a poem she needed to write … called Purgatory!