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 [email protected] 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.......

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!