What a beautiful day for a writing workshop!

As the airplanes flew overhead, we discussed the world of writing and publishing our work.

We opened the workshop with Rich Brocchini, a Fire Captain, business owner, and self-published author.  He told us the story of how his book came to be and shared his concept, research, struggles and success with the group. 

Rosie Lynch, creator and editor of the lifestyle blog Life on Sugarberry, also shared her woes and triumphs.  “If I’m not learning, I feel like I’m dying,” she said.  So, Rosie taught us about the Blogging world, tagging, advertising, ways to get your work read and so much more.  The lesson:  the internet is a large world with much opportunity. 

Jenny Minniti-Shippey, Managing Editor of Poetry International gave us a look inside the Publishing World.  She gave advice about literary submissions, guidelines and how to survive a rejection and/or acceptance letter.

The workshop was more informative than one of our typical Creative Cusp workshops, where we write all day.  There was much discussion and creative ideas shared.  It was a great way to showcase the talent of the Cusp Guest Writers as they shared their expertise with the workshop participants.

Excellent workshop!

Who else is a little sun-kissed?

Write on!

Abbie

Abbie Berry is the owner of The Creative Cusp and hopes that you will join us for one of our upcoming workshops in San Diego.  Sign up here:

http://creativecusp.wufoo.com/forms//writing-is-a-muscle-work-out-with-us-this-year/http/true

Our relaunch is official! 

Yesterday, the first workshop in our warmer weather series, “Writing is a Muscle” was held indoors due to some cooler weather.  Ha Ha!  OK, so San Diego weather isn’t perfect but you can’t beat it 95% of the year.  How many cities can say that?

Character development was our focus and we tried to dissect the characters we chose to create.  “Who the hell is your character anyway?” was our first prompt, which had each writer listing all sorts of character traits from favorite things to biggest fears to pet peeves.  Then we wrote about our characters having a “good day” or a “bad day” depending on the story that needed to be told.  After that we discussed our character’s biggest secret.  The juicier the better, because we brainstormed ways to tell that secret using metaphor.

Our conversation:  what the heck is a metaphor anyway?  How can I use an object or an issue to layer that metaphor into my prose?

We finished our day with discussion regarding what to do next.  Once you attend one of our workshops, you write some prose, you have a bunch of ideas, but what is the next step?  Hopefully, you’re writing at home and developing that character and their big bad secret.

And, of course, we hope that you will come to one of our upcoming workshops where we will get you writing, help you finish a piece, show you editing techniques and give you advice on how to get published.

Sign up here.  I dare you!

http://creativecusp.wufoo.com/forms//writing-is-a-muscle-work-out-with-us-this-year/http/true

Abbie

Have you always wanted to start writing, but you’re afraid?  You’re not sure how to begin?  Have you been writing all your life but you crave something fresh?  Do you fall somewhere in between?

Our workshops are for writers of all skill sets!  They are a safe and creative way to find your voice.  Our workshops are for everyone.  Come join our collaborative group of Cusp writers!

We are offering 50% off to the first two writers to sign up!  (No discounts available for the 5/22/11 workshop)

We have eight fresh, thematic workshops planned over the next few months:

Saturday 4/9/11
“Writing is a Muscle” - with Abbie Berry
A typical Creative Cusp workshop - a day filled with writing prompts
$33

Sunday 5/15/11
“Writing the Self” - with Deniz Perin & Abbie Berry
Work on your voice while you write from a place of personal experience
$49

Sunday 5/22/11
“This is Not Your Typical Workshop” - with Rosetta Lynch & Abbie Berry
An advanced workshop where we will complete a 3-5 page piece you have been dying to finish
$60

Saturday 6/11/11
“Young Adult Workshop” - with Abbie Berry
Designed for young writers who would like to develop their creative writing skills
$49

Sunday 6/26/11
“Write a Mile in Their Shoes” - with Jenny Minniti-Shippey & Abbie Berry
Anything goes here as we mess with age, space, gender and branch out of the comfort zone
$49

Saturday 7/2/11
“Are We There Yet?” - with Abbie Berry
Experience self and peer editing techniques and leave with a short complete piece of prose
$49

Sunday 7/31/11
“Publishing 101″ - with Jenny Minniti-Shippey & Abbie Berry
Learn how to get your work in print in the Literary & Blogging worlds
$49

If you or a friend would like to attend, please use this link to sign up:

http://creativecusp.wufoo.com/forms//writing-is-a-muscle-work-out-with-us-this-year/http/true

Our all-day workshops are held in Ocean Beach (weather permitting).  Scholarships are available.  Special group prices are also available.  Referrals are rewarded.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at creativecusp@gmail.com

Read more about our Guest Writers here:  http://www.creativecusp.com/blog/?page_id=10

Follow us on Twitter:  @creativecusp
Like us on Facebook:  The Creative Cusp

Write on!

Abbie

Cusp Writers:

My friends get involved and put on readings and workshops and other events that you should know about.  I am proud to forward on some info on some cool events happening soon:

A creative writing workshop — “The Art of Poetry and Translation” with Brian Henry on Sunday, Nov. 7th, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Ink Spot (710 13th Street). The cost of this workshop is $20.

For registration info, please contact Meagan Marshall, marshall_meagan@yahoo.com.

A Reading (with our very own Creative Cusp Guest Writer, Deniz Perin), on Monday, Nov. 8th at 7 p.m. at SDSU’s Scripps Cottage on the SDSU campus.  This event is free and open to the public!

Write On!

Abbie

Hello my name is Ruth and I’m a local San Diego writer in need of writers who are willing to submit short stories.

I’m putting together a collection on the True Military Spouse Experience. I’m looking for non-fiction stories that show the real life experiences one may face before, during, and after a deployment.  The military does its best to prepare couples, for dealing with such deployments, but I don’t think it’s enough.

I’ve been a Navy wife for over eleven years now and I married at nineteen. My military experience has been part of my personal journey and growth into womanhood. Thinking back on how I reacted to things at 19 and knowing how I react now at 29, shows that I  have changed greatly.

I believe a collection of stories that range from first deployment to sixth could be a powerful tool to help young and new military spouses. This might help them see that they are not alone in the emotional up-hill battle of loving and coping with a military spouse. Not to mention the headache that comes along with being launched into a world of dealing with the government on such a personal level, for the first time.

If you would like to have a voice, but do not write, I will be conducting, descriptive interviews and I will be putting together profiles that may be used as well.  In addition, if you were once a military spouse, but are now divorced, I encourage you to tell your story as well and help give back to the next wave of spouses.

This is all on a voluntary basis. No money will be paid for these stories. It is simply a chance to have a voice.  Stories should be between 750-2000 words. All who are interested in submitting should focus on one pivotal event or problem before, during, or after deployment that changed you in some way; could be you as a person or maybe a belief system. You may submit more than one story. Please submit a contact number and/or email so I may notify you if your story or profile has been selected.  

Thank you and I look forward to your submissions and/or interviews. If you are interested, but have questions, please feel free to e-mail me.  

Thank You.
Ruth Spickelmire
San Diego, CA
spickelmires@yahoo.com

Been a while, hasn’t it?

This spring I got to live a writer’s dream - 2 months in Paris. With a little luck and a lot of Craigslisting, I found my dream pad, a fully furnished apartment in the heart of the Left Bank student district. Even though I was working full-time while I was there, there was plenty of time to indulge in the city’s art and food scene, and of course write.

One of the huge highlights of my trip was being invited to guest teach at Anna Pook’s writing workshop at the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, the heart of the city’s English-language lit scene. Even though the current store isn’t at the same location as Sylvia’s shop where Hemingway, Joyce, and the rest of the jazz-era writing crowd hung out, it retains the analogue feel of another time, and as ever there are writers and working living there.

We put on the workshop in one of the upstairs rooms, which is about the size of a large suburban bathroom. In the European tradition of limited personally space, there were fifteen of us that night. The writers came from all over - England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and America. From serious students of the craft to travelers who wanted to try something new. It reminded me of a Creative Cusp workshop, just a little more intimate. The workshop was a blast, and I think most of the attendees had a good time and learned a little about writing dialogue.

Speaking of Write on the Cusp: Abbie and I are putting on the next installment of our Write on the Cusp workshops this weekend, July 11 and 12. If you’re a writer in San Diego looking for help with your writing, new ideas on how to approach the craft, or just a space to be inspired and share your triumphs and struggles with your fellow writers, I hope you’ll join us at the beach for two days of learning, sharing, writing and fun.

Abbie tells me that Jenny will be joining us on Sunday. Jenny was a Guest Writer at several of our workshops in the last year. She’s got a big personality that I adore, and she’s smart as hell too. And she will get you writing poetry. If you’re a poet, or better yet if you’re a fiction writer who gets a little nervous over writing poetry, you’re going to get a lot out of The Jenny Show.

You can email me for more details on the workshop, or visit our website. Hope to see you Saturday!

- Jon O

Jon Oropeza had been a Guest Writer at Creative Cusp Workshops since summer 2008. He’s a San Diego writer and entrepreneur, and enjoys siren songs, winter recess, and cooking in the nude - sometimes all at the same time.

Are you contemplating writing something new?

Have you been strengthening your writing muscle and you’re ready to show off your talent?

Are you trying to write, but you’re not sure where to start?

Do you wish you knew other writers you could collaborate and share ideas with?

Well, we have the perfect weekend for you.

Our next Creative Cusp workshop will take place July 11 & 12. We have two entertaining, inspiring, prompt-filled days planned for you. Jon Oropeza and Jenny Minnitti-Shippey will be joining me in leading the weekend’s exercises. Our exercises will be aimed at getting started and providing inspiration, making them appropriate for writers of any level.

The workshop will be held outside in the Ocean Beach summer sunshine. Additional information can be found here, or you can email me at creativecusp@gmail.com.

Scholarships are available.

I’m excited to write with Jenny and Jon and to meet all of you!

We’re back! Hope everyone had a good holiday season. I sure did - lots of relaxation, a few presents, some time hiding under the covers from our six-week winter, and more than my share of eggnog cocktails.

Now it’s back to work. Our first Write On The Cusp workshop of 2009 is on the second weekend in February - that’s less than two weeks away!

The lineup

In keeping with the spirit of the new year, the units I’ll be teaching will center around new beginnings. In one exercise, we’ll study the opening moves of various authors and how they succeed in hooking their readers from word-one. Another exercise will involve a new technique I’ve developed to start writing no matter what.

Abbie always surprises me with something that gets me thinking about fiction in a new way. She hasn’t told me what she’s going to teach yet, but I’m sure I’ll learn more than a few things. She has a serious knack for getting right to the heart of an idea or sentiment, and showing others how to do the same in their work.

Making a return to Write on the Cusp this time around will be Jenny Minniti-Shippey. If you’re poet, you don’t want to miss her fun, insightful exercises. If poetry scares you, you really don’t want to miss Jenny - what better way to start the new year than by charging your fears head-on? When Jenny taught with us last summer, I left with a number of new ideas that led me in directions I’d never been. She’ll be teaching with us on Sunday the 8th - I have it circled on my calendar as “Jenny teaches me to be a better poet.”

I hope you’ll join us in February. And because you’re a friend, we have a 25% discount for ya. How’s that for a New Year’s present?

See you soon,

- Jon O

Jon Oropeza is a co-founder of The Creative Cusp. When he’s not hiding under the covers or tapping code, he can be found scribbling poems in our city’s libraries and cafes.

Our Write on the Cusp weekend workshops are all about exercises, ideas and inspiration. We focus on building confidence and getting you writing through new approaches to telling stories and describing the world.

FC2’s Writer’s Edge takes another approach to writing workshops. Their seminar-style programs feature workshops and panels on innovative fiction, a faculty reading, open mics for participants, and myriad conversations about experimental prose.

This year, the FC2 Writer’s Edge will be held in conjunction with the American Book Review (ABR) Writer’s Conference, held March 16-18, 2009.  The deadline for applications for the fourth annual Fiction Collective 2 (FC2) Writer’s Edge Workshops, held March 19-21, 2009, in Cuernavaca, Mexico, at the Universidad International, is January 21, 2009.

Official FC2 site

I attended this seminar in 2006 and 2007 in Portland, OR and I highly recommend the experience.

Write on!

Abbie

Abbie loves San Diego as much as she loves Peanut Butter.  Do you?

I’ve anticipated each Write on the Cusp more than the last one. It’s not just the opportunity to teach, as big a joy as that is. It’s the opportunity to learn. It amazes me how I’ve been able to evolve my own prose and verse styles using the lessons I’ve learned from some of San Diego’s most exciting writers.

This next workshop coming up on November 15-16 has me giddy already. Saturday we’re doing our very first Rock on the Cusp, a songwriting workshop taught by Bobby Shaddox of the San Diego bands Bobby Fantasy and Billy Midnight.

I saw Bobby Fantasy for the first time a few months back at The Stage downtown. They rock. People show up, they dance, they drink , they shout at the band. It’s like a throw-back to dance hall days, only the sound is modern, and the lyrics are insightful - Let’s change things. Move in a new direction. Question the old ways, because we should, because it’s our duty as thinking people.

The other night I had a chance to spend some time with Bobby for the first time over coffee at Rebecca’s in South Park. He’s a total character. One of those guys you want to follow around, just to see what he’ll do next. He’s also put together a great lesson plan for Rock on the Cusp: A little background and history of rock to start us off, then a flurry of fast-moving exercises that are going to be a blast.

Me, I’ve never written a song before. I’m a total newb. But I’m ready. I want to write a Pulp song, something witty and scathing and romantic as hell, a Pink Glove or an Underwear. I want to write something Frank Black would be proud of, irreverent lines that sum up to something totally apart from their parts. I want to write my own Judy is a Punk. My own Tango Til They’re Sore. My own Stacy’s Mom.

I’m looking forward to Sunday as well. Sunday will be a fiction and poetry oriented Write on the Cusp day. As I’ve written before, I didn’t believe in writing workshops for a long time. But I’ve seen the effect that collaborating with others has on my own words. And I can’t wait for this one.

I hope you’ll be there too. Sign up here. Quick, before we fill up…

Jon Oropeza is a San Diego writer, a co-founder of the Creative Cusp, and man enough to cop to weeping like a wee lad during Barack’s acceptance speech.