Messy Mondays: One Less Smocker.

I know this post is coming a bit later than usual. However, I've been running around like crazy trying to get my mind right for my vacation this week. Speaking of vacation, you may notice that it's me--Riv--instead of Ralph on the 1's and 2's this Monday. Ralph is on a short hiatus in the great FL, but he'll be back in full effect sooner than later.

The smockers met up at Panera once more--sans our huge breakfasts' which was replaced by HUGE conversation. Jeff is working on choosing pieces worthy of a poetry compilation, Thierry is coming along great with his graphic novel development and even looking for an illustrator, and Ralph and I are working more than diligently on our manuscripts. Smockers were a FORCE this week!

Our topic was change for the week and everyone had an incredible way of penning evolution. Theirry shared an emotional piece on how a tragic event revolutionized his entire world, Jeff shared a piece he wrote at the start of the New Year in his Shakespearian wonder, and I shared a piece about a negative change happening in someone I love.

After short contemplation on our pieces, we exchanged banter of change and evolution within all of our lives. Relationships, interests, rocket scientists, the past and so many more topics lingered near our table of discussion.

Although its only been a few months, I feel like we've become a little writing family. The fact that things flowed smoothly sans Ralph proved this to me. Smockers unite? Word(s)

-riv-

Week One with Writer's Smock in My Life.

Before I got smocked, it seemed that writing was such a lonely pursuit. I'm exaggerating y'all; the pen nor paper talk back to me, but when they marry their talents, it talks vicariously though my voice box from when arranging a few letters to form words; words that form sentences. These sentences form the paragraphs that visualize my personal stroke.

But now, I have strength in numbers. I got Jeff writing poetry and being a burgeoning writer in his own right. Theirry learning how to hone his craft for public consumption (and doing a great job with the spotlight on), and Erica, my constant companion in volleying fresh ideas when hitting the writer's wall.

Here is a sum of the writing week that was for me:

1. Got focused on reading. Reading only enhances your skill as a writer and here are some of the selections that I devoured:
- Waiter Rant by Steve Dubilanica
- Why We Make Mistakes by Joseph T. Hallinan
- Thinkertoys, Second Edition, by Michael Michalko

This jumpstarted my creativity, and got my imagination running wild. I learned many pertinent nuggets within the texts and look forward to reporting them on the smock blog and my own blog as well.

2. Erica taught Jeff and I the foundations in performing poetry slam. Slam's are when you perform an original work and you have a grand total of 3 minutes to use mannerisms, your voice box, your mind, and your thoughts to convey the message. To say we got thrown into the fire is an understatement. Our first performance is April 13th. Yikes.

3. Made a dent in my first crack at a novel, Muse of a Maneater. Seems so close but yet so far.

4. Wrote numerous short stories, for myself, and for public posting

5. Learning the basis of Spencerian Script, a technique developed by Platt Rodger's Spencer, who wanted an easy uniform script system that was inspired by the signers of the Declaration of Independence. I had a good first week, where I learned half of the lowercase letters. I'll report my progress as time elapses.

At the very least, smocking it out as got me focused.

Until Next time. Our next meeting.

Ralph - Numero Uno Mother Smocker.