the other mother - free writing workshop for moms

AND THE WINNER IS....

Oh, welcome back to the blog. Maybe you've been in Norway, or to a wedding in Maine, or maybe you've been sitting in the backyard eating black raspberries (in which case, where do you live? I covet black raspberries). I've been to a wedding, I've met the mayor of DC, I've watched the clouds roll in and out of the sky like show curtains. And today, at last, both kids are at school (at least for a half day) and I'm back to the desk, missing them a little, relishing the quiet.

Your entries were delicious, elegant, sad, and I thank you for them all.

Everyone who entered the contest, please send me an email at ggross@gwendolengross.com with your snail mail address and I'll send out a teeny token of my appreciation.

The winners are two, actually, because I couldn't decide between, "June, the month of ME!" (an exuberant, brave, and wonderful sentence that matches the rest of the piece) and "June is a horse race. It's the Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont all rolled into one. A thundering, earth shaking, blinders up, mad dash to the last day of school and the sweet victory of lazing in the open pastures and grazing on the blue grass of summer vacation." Wow. Just wow.

So, Lisa R. and Adrienne Campbell, please email your addresses, you are both the first ever:

MOMS WHO WRITE  Summer Contest Winners

Meanwhile, let's have at it, everyone -- and hey, if you're in my workshop and reading this and meeting up on your own for writing practice (hooray! hooray!) -- feel free to use this topic and post what you wrote:

Write about a wedding. You are in it. You are neither bride nor groom. Something at the wedding bothers you--a leaf hopper on the bride's bouquet, a cracked nail on the great-aunt's toe.

I'm asking you to stretch here, because if you can't find it in your memory, you're going to have to reach for fiction. Write about that thing that bothers you at the wedding for a good 12 minutes. Then bother us with the details.

Can't wait to hear all about it.

and the winner is...

Janeen of ChupieandJsmama

I literally put the comments in a hat (a small white straw hat embellished with flowers) and drew her name. Thank you all for your interest and enthusiasm, and I hope you'll pick up a copy of The Other Mother when it comes out in a few weeks (you can preorder on Amazon now).

Most of all, what a wonderful and wild way to meet up with all sorts of amazing bloggers and storytellers, craftswomen of many types. I'd do it again, that's for sure. Hope everyone won something good. Happy weekend!

And please, post a few writings under Judy's post, below, so I can brag to her about my students and e-friends, okay?

New topic coming soon.......

Look to the skies! (dog days o' summer)

Okay, I’ve been trying to post this for a while, but Typepad’s having woes. What? Power problems? But it’s the web, we all need web. I kid. They’ll work it out.

Anyway, what I wanted to say was this:
Dog Days of Summer Giveaway!

Everyone’s giving stuff away via their blogs. Check out Bloggy Giveaways for more contests and the chance to win more free stuff. I love the idea (and have, of course, entered several drawings).

So, I’m giving away one gorgeous, hardcover, signed copy of the yet to be released The Other Mother. Who doesn’t want free stuff? And of course, if you love the book and tell your friends, that’ll make me extra happy.

Here’s how it works: post in the comments, answering the question below. (hint: if you don’t know already, check out The Other Mother website) and make sure to include your email address. You don’t need to write a writing post, though those are welcome, of course! Just let me know you want to be in the drawing.

The comments will close on Friday, July 27, 2007 at 5pm eastern time, and I’ll put them all in a hat over the weekend and draw a lucky winner.

Okay, here’s the question:
In what state do Thea and Amanda live?

*Note:* I didn't realize, until I tried looking it up that way, that the book description on the site no longer gives the answer, though you could find it elsewhere.

So, it's okay if you answer this instead:
Where does Amanda work?

Hope you’re all enjoying the dog days, and writing up a storm! Feel free to reply to earlier topics, whenever you’re ready.

Too much

Hello, all! First, let me offer this: the first person to post on this topic wins a free advance galley of The Other Mother.

Hopefully, you'll love it and tell all your friends to pre-order or run out and get one on August 7th, 2007. Just post your writing (in the comments) (you also have to actually write to the topic), and I'll contact you for your address!

Second, we went to the fireworks despite the rain last night. The display was spectacular (even though they cancelled the skydivers, and, having never witnessed skydivers, I was a little disappointed), and reminded me of my own childhood 4ths, watching fireworks from Boston Common, listening to the Boston Pops play the 1812 Overature, scared and thrilled by the light, sound, and drunks. Not to mention staying up late.

Leaving the show last night, my daughter couldn't stop talking as we walked along the dark streets with the other satisfied audience members, noticing how quiet it was, how dark it was, how it was late, how the rain made funny sounds on her hood, and then this, which I love: "Mommy, those fireworks were so beautiful, they were even more beautiful than a banana peel!"

The thing is, I get it. She meant the shape of an open peel after you've just denuded the fruit.

Enough. On to your writing topic:

Write about too much (noise, talking, food, interference, love, swimming, sex...have at it!) for 17 minutes.

And hope you all had a spectacular 4th!

another week, another topic, and something else for free...

Hello wonderful writing women!

First, I want to mention two wonderful sites:

Great for a daily dose of something good.

Second: it's tell-a-friend week!

I know some of you are off on summer expotitions (Winnie the Pooh's word), but for those who are around: you know who I mean, that friend who writes long and eloquent emails, a writer at heart. If you will, share this blog with her, okay?

In fact, I'll sweeten the pot: the first person to have two friends post (writing posts, that is, in the comments) and mention her name gets a free advance galley of The Other Mother. My marketing manager sent me one extra, and I'd love to share it (and if you love it, maybe you'll even post elsewhere and spread the word).

Now, at last, the writing topic at hand (I've been waiting to tell you):

Write about waiting.

For a table, waiting tables, waiting for Godot, waiting up late, for birth, for test results, for the end of school, for the beginning..........you choose.

And here's a little challenge: after you read through the rules (try reading 'em out loud). Write for three minutes and make everything one sentence--that doesn't mean you have to be brief, but instead, that you link it all up with commas, semicolons, dashes, or nothing.

Don't worry about the grammar police; they're off duty for first drafts. Then, try to write for five minutes more using that same wild momentum you (hopefully) got from writing without the break of a period.

Happy summer all! Happy writing!