Seven Word Memoirs

Book Fundraiser on December 7th

sevensat7 — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:54:10 +0000

For the past year, Writers Anonymous has been hard at work and will be publishing our first book this January!! Before Twitter and the era of condensed communications, legend has it that Ernest Hemingway won a bar bet by writing a novel in six words: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Our book, Writers Anonymous: 7 at the Sevens is a book filled with 7-word memoirs and gripping illustrations by the very talented Albany-based painter, Kathleen Whipple and Darren Buchannan, an illustrious illustrator out of Cambridge. Since we are self-publishing the first edition of our book, we’ll be holding a super fabulous fundraiser party with raffles, literary trivia, and many surprises on December 7th. We hope you can make it and sincerely appreciate your support! More info here: http://sevenwordmemoir.eventbrite.com/

We Have Ignition

sevensat7 — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 17:03:09 +0000

Forewords are akin to that tour you get when you’re on vacation and you’ve landed at a bed-and-breakfast and the innkeeper is showing off the fireplace in the common room, the kitchen, and the old-timey photos on the wall, and the whole time you’re thinking, “yeah , yeah, yeah, get to the good stuff: let me see my room!”

Taking yet another unorthodox approach to our book project, we are delighted to confirm Greg Petsko will be penning our forward. For a book already filled with many surprises, this adds to the wide-spanning collective of talented individuals who will be contributing to this work. Petsko majored in classical literature as an undergraduate at Princeton in the early 1970s and as fate would have it, became a biophysicist. Apart from being a full-time research Professor at Brandeis, Greg is also currently the Chair of the Dept. of Biochemistry at Brandeis, President of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Elected Member of the National Academy of Sciences and Elected Member of the American Philosophical Society. The American Philosophical Society, founded by Benjamin Franklin, has attracted members like George Washington, John Adams, James Madison, Robert Frost, and Woody Allen. Oh yeah, and did we mention he is one of the most renowned structural biologist of the present century?

Like the other authors of the book, Greg is never without an opinion and even joined us to vote on some of the pieces that will go in our book. Want to learn more about Greg? Read his profile that appeared in The Scientist. Stay tuned for news on our upcoming fundraiser.

Microchondria, Available at the Harvard Bookstore

sevensat7 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:21:02 +0000

This February, the Harvard Book Store did something daring. They ran a competition of microfiction: stories that span 500 words or less. Hundreds of stories were submitted from all around the world. The result was a published anthology, the bookstore’s first ever published in-house on Paige M. Gutenborg, the bookstore’s on-demand print machine. The aptly-titled, Microchondria, is decadent, poignant, relevant, and best of all, a quick read!

I found out about this contest, just days before the deadline and summoned every ounce of wherewithal to create something quickly. I took a chance and submitted two manuscripts. And, guess how this story ends? I’m sitting at work last week, minding my own , when I get an e-mail telling me that two of my manuscripts were selected!

My two stories, “The Wedding,” and “Gaston” are featured in Microchondria . Also featured are the following authors:

Hobie Anthony
Anar Badalov
Shira Li Bartov
Nancy Brewka-Clark
Edmond Caldwell
Mike Campbell
Caryn Carpenter
Paula Carter
Ryan W. Cohen
Catherine Flora Con
Jennifer Carol Cook
Jane Dykema
Katherine Farrior
Nicole Fernandez
Leslie Fincke
Alex Freeman
Alayne Freidel-Sobel
Marc Goldfinger
Eiriki Gumeny
Liana Hershey-Nexon
Liana Jahan Imam
Michelle Labbe
George Lausch
Mia Lazarewicz
Melina C. McTigue
Yvonne Ng
Lauren Inness Norton
James Scott
Amy Stewart
Hillary Stringer
Cody Walker
Claudia Ward-de Leon
Adam Waterreus
Ben White
Laura Whitney
Melanie Yarbrough

Happy reading! (Time to pop open the bubbly).

A fan of Steve Almond

sevensat7 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:36:36 +0000

Hello again! I just wanted to tell everyone about a great author reading I went to the other night at Harvard Bookstore The author was Steve Almond and he was promoting his book on writing called This Won’t Take But a Minute Honey. It was probably the most entertaining lecture I’ve ever been to! Steve was very blunt and honest and wasn’t shy about dropping F-bombs. Here is a link to a video of one of his lectures. This isn’t the one I went to, but it’s in the same location and he’s promoting the same book. He has very interesting perspectives on writing. I do believe they are still selling the book, which is self-published, at the Harvard Bookstore.

What is Writer’s Anonymous? A Prologue by Kelly.

sevensat7 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:36:30 +0000

Hello Readers! I stumbled upon Writers Anonymous while looking for something resembling a social life. I had just relocated to the Boston area from Washington state and knew pretty much nobody outside my workplace. A lot of east coasters assume that because I’m from Washington, I must be from Seattle and have Starbucks coffee cup permanently glued to my hand. Looks of disappointment abound once I tell people I’m from Eastern Washington where there’s no trees, no rain and not a whole lot to do…and I don’t drink coffee. In reality, its a perfect incubator for development of one’s imagination.

I was absolutely ecstatic to find a group of people who love writing just as much as I do. The atmosphere of our meetings is nothing less than superb. We’re following in the footsteps of famous writers who gathered in pubs and hotels all over Boston to pretty much just BS, chat a bit about writing and the goings on of the day. We do it all in Beacon Hill, an absolutely gorgeous neighborhood where several famous writers lived…Emerson, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Alcott. Our group is great about sharing ideas and resources and providing encouragement to each other not just with writing but also in our personal lives.

I hadn’t really thought about becoming a writer professionally when I was younger. It was just something I liked to do…a hobby more or less. Then one day in the fall of 2005, I suddenly found myself without a job. I was frantically searching for work and found an ad in the classifieds calling for freelance writers. I had nothing to lose so I called the phone number that was listed and before I knew it I was sitting in a meeting room with other hopefuls. I was told that the job was for freelancers for a new weekly newspaper. I had never had ANY training in journalism and only took a few creative writing classes in high school and college. We were given a quick tutorial on inverted pyramid style and then given facts and told to write a story. We were also given a list of subjects the newspaper would cover and told to check off the ones we were interested in. I checked off all the sports and arts and entertainment. Several hours later I got a call from the editor asking if I would like to cover hockey for them. YES! Of course I would! I had been playing since I was 13 years old. I wasn’t paid very much and the publication folded six months later but it showed me that I might actually have a future as a professional writer.

In the future I’d love to try my hand at novel and travel writing. One thing I am looking forward to about getting old (which is still quite a ways off since I’m only 26) is writing my memoirs. Maybe I should just start now and add to it as things happen.

I have a few recommendations for resources for writers. One is www.languageisavirus.com. It is a fantastic website with a lot of interesting and useful articles. I also really enjoy the book Naming The World, edited by Bret Anthony Johnston, which I picked up from the Harvard COOP. There are some great articles by a bunch of different writers that help provide some inspiration and good pointers.

This entry is currently being typed up in the Teele Square Cafe in Somerville, MA. This is my first time here so I’ll give you a writer’s review of it: There is FREE wifi, great selection of coffee, juice, and food, but only a select number of power outlets. They also only accept cash. Overall my first experience is pretty good.

Thanks for stopping by the blog and we’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Coffee is to writing as spots are to giraffe.

sevensat7 — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:50:03 +0000

Since when did anyone ever turn down reading a top 10 list?

Never.

Lists are fun. They’re like sneaking a peak into someone’s wallet or refrigerator. Whether you find ticket stubs to a Fellini movie or a bottle of Kimchi—it’s a good way to find out a lot about a person without putting in a whole lot of effort. Here’s a list of the four coffee shops in Boston/Cambridge I frequent when the writing muse hits:

1)1369, Inman Square-1369 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA.
The car-less Bostonian or Cantabrigian will probably find the 1369 in Central Square easier to get to, but one summer afternoon, I followed a strange instinct that summoned me to get out of my comfort zone (my comfort zone being the 1369 branch in Central) and I found myself biking to Inman Square after a day at the office. And boy…was I relieved that I did! One double latte later, I was a short story richer. I am a strong advocate of either café. They both offer delicious, well-crafted beverages and a panoply of people watching options; however, on a weekday afternoon, the original 1369 seemed more toned down with regard to vagrants, noise, and general distractions than its Central Square sister. Funny thing was, as I was leaving, I ran into another writer friend of mine who was seeking the same refuge. Stay here, I instructed him and wished him good luck. http://1369coffeehouse.com/

2)Trident Booksellers & Café- 338 Newbury Street, Boston, MA.
The Back Bay is teeming with coffee shops, so it can be hard to pick out the good from the great. Within a two-mile radius there are half a dozen Starbucks and almost as many independent shops that serve up better coffee and ambiance. Spend one minute in Trident and you’ll quickly realize it has everything a writer/reader could want: great people watching, greasy food, plenty of books, heavily discounted book counters with good titles (I’m not sure how they do it, but they do!), late hours (for Boston, anyway), and a long counter where you can sit elbow-to-elbow with artists, students, and assorted regulars clacking away at their laptops late into the night. http://www.tridentbookscafe.com/

3) 1369, Central Square – 1736 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA.
This is the closest I’ve come to feeling within the realm of a true beatnik coffee shop on the East Coast. The downside: it can be down-right noisy, hard to get a seat, and no offense intended, but there are a lot of wackos that hang at or around the 1369. Sometimes, I’m a bit of a wacko, but when you’re set on doing some writing, over-the-top distractions can be the last thing you need. Bottom line: Come here after 7 on a weekday night and enjoy a laid-back super friendly staff and a homey vibe.
http://1369coffeehouse.com/

4) Simon’s –1736 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA.
I used to live within five blocks of Simon’s and now that it’s five times as far, I’m a bit sad I didn’t frequent it more when I had the chance. C’est la vie. Simon’s exposed brick walls are comforting, the coffee is always spot on, and I don’t ever recall it being too crowded or noisy, but then again, I write at odd hours (usually after work and never on a Saturday afternoon when the rest of the world is out armed with strollers, shopping bags, and Uggs). Nestled halfway between Harvard and Porter Square, Simon’s is within walking distance of a super cool video store, an Asian shopping mall, and assortment of convenient stores and shops, which is convenient if you need to run errands before or after writing or you’re facing a severe case of writer’s block. http://www.yelp.com/biz/simons-coffee-shop-cambridge

5) Sugar Bowl Café – 857 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA
Hey Gen-xers: The mid-90s called and they want their coffee shop back! Though I’ve yet to “officially” have the pleasure of writing in the Sugar Bowl, I’ve had the coffee and were it not for other obligations the past two times I’ve stopped in, I could have easily sunk down in one of their overstuffed chairs and let the afternoon go by, just me and my laptop and cup after cup of joe. Coffee? Good. Atmosphere? A combination of vintage, kitsch, homespun, velvety, and very writerly. My goal for 2010? Spend an afternoon writing at the Sugar Bowl. http://www.yelp.com/biz/sugar-bowl-cafe-dorchester

Have a favorite writing spot?

Writer’s Almanac

sevensat7 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:49:19 +0000

After the gym, I come home and wonder when I became such a health-obsessed, semi-routine-loving writer. I remember the days when I’d rush home to wolf down two bites of dinner and embark upon my half-a-pack nicotine fix at 5 o’clock.

Most of the time, I was washing things down with a shot of Jack Daniels, neat. These days I casually measure my lack of invincibility.

Well, before I began to get down on myself for being lame and rushing home–not to galavant or drink scotch or lean out my window and watch the night with cigarette in hand–but, instead, to make a Thai-butternut squash soup, I heard something that was reassuring to me. I had my radio turned to my local NPR station and heard Garrison Keeler’s daily installment of the Writer’s Almanac. For those of you not privy to hearing it on the air, there is a little nifty website where you can catch everything Keeler’s got to say in his 10-minute ditty.

Turns out today is Haruki Murakami‘s birthday and Keeler was discussing Murakami’s rather healthy routine when writing the book, Norwegian Wood. Made me feel a little bit better about my personal search for semblance.

–claudia

wow. life altering stuff here.

sevensat7 — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:22:13 +0000

I remember on Sunday afternoons in college at the local pub with
friends, or as a young professional at some hole in the wall
establishment having all those life altering, deep and philosophical
conversations, the ones where we were so sure we were onto something
big and on our way to figuring out the meaning of life and how they
always seemed to continue on until 4AM at our favorite 24-hour diner.
Now some of us get to do this Tuesday nights!

–michael

Hello, my name is Claudia, and I’m a writer.

sevensat7 — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 08:23:40 +0000

A support group for writers? Who on earth ever heard of such a thing? And why wasn’t I the genius who started it? It was the dead of another hard, Boston winter, and I was a lonely writer in search of other writers.

Unbeknownst to me, what I needed was a support group.

I needed to shake off my writer’s block, and fast, before I began questioning my dedication to my craft . I needed companions who could talk Hemingway one minute, films, the next. I swallowed my pride one Tuesday night, and though I was tempted to keep on walking, I walked up to the door of the pub, and sauntered in.

–claudia

Welcome to Writers Anonymous

sevensat7 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:02:12 +0000

Great writers had support groups. Let’s face it: writing is a lonely pursuit, not unlike riding cross country solo, it can get discouraging. Dickens, Longfellow, Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson frequently met at Boston’s Omni Parker House for their “Saturday Club.” Our support group was birthed from a similar need I speak for the rest of the group when I say that what we all desired was: a familiar face in the crowd, people who wouldn’t mind shooting the breeze about films, books, politics, and the symbiosis of it all. How tough is it starting at a blank sheet of paper? It’s one of the toughest tasks in the world. Weekly conversations with strangers who share a love for the craft over a cold pint eventually leads to friendship, camaraderie, motivation to read and write more, and impetus to publish, publish, publish. One year later, a project was born. This is our story. Stay tuned.

–claudia