Part 2 of free online writing workshop this afternoon
Thank you to those who’ve made comments here (and sent to my email at anacastilloworkshops@gmail.com)
Why didn’t I use Zoom? Not because my skills are at Jitterbug Cell Phone level but like many these days–I’m just not up to being ‘looked at.’
I also wanted participants to focus on the writing & not their hair. Social media places a huge emphasis on showing off our best selves through filters, makeup, etc.–and this is about getting to your writing.
I’ll respond to any comments made in good faith here this afternoon as promised regarding the prompts I offered on Monday. Gracias.
Stay safe, comunidad, be well.
7 Comments
DeLyssa Begay April 01, 2020 - 20:43
FEAR #3 — Not believed
As a child, I dreamed about the future and the present. I did not know how to articulate it, or to know how to make sense of it. One morning I woke and the light in the room was grey. Was it early morning or late evening? I immediately walked to the window to see if the sun had risen or set. In my dream, my father read the newspaper, and the light was grey, so I could not tell if it was morning or evening. I saw the bold caption, “100 YEAR WAR HAS BEGUN.” My father had already read the first page and now he was on to the second page. I watched him in wonderment because he was not paniced or afraid. In the dream I asked my father what he thought about the war. He asked, “What war?” I said the war on the front page. He said there is no war. I asked if he believed me, and then I woke to a grey morning.
My grandfather looked at me with his cataract-clouded eyes, and he said, “Go run to the east. Do not sleep when the sun comes out, and yell so you are heard.”
I ran and returned home. Throughout the day, I looked at newspapers and magazines, looking for news about a 100 year war. I went to my dad, and I asked him if he read the paper with the news. He smiled at me and gently shook his head, “No, shichee (daughter), there is no war. You’re a little girl and worried about war.” Even though he comforted me, I felt like it was the truth because I had dreamed it but I did not know how to say that.
Ana Castillo April 01, 2020 - 21:06 – In reply to: DeLyssa Begay
Thanks for sharing.
Did this come from one of the workshop exercises on Monday here?
DeLyssa April 01, 2020 - 21:21 – In reply to: Ana Castillo
Yes, the prompt is from Monday, Ana — This is based on the post for Fear #3. I worked with my third fear on my list and pictured meeting it in the future — or as close to it as possible. Thank you for these prompts. I’m surprised at the stories that are coming out. I’m a teacher, so this time to write without interruption is pretty awesome. This prompt #3 Fear — is fiction, and has little bits of personal details from my life. I now understand what it means when writers say that the character takes up a life of its own. Wow!
Ana Castillo April 01, 2020 - 21:26 – In reply to: DeLyssa
Wow, is right. I have enjoyed the writing you shared and invite anyone reading this to comment, too.
Ana Castillo April 06, 2020 - 19:40 – In reply to: Ana Castillo
Have a blessed Holy Week–however you have traditionally spent it and however you are having to do so now. In a week or so I am going to offer a free virtual poetry workshop here–stay tuned. Thank you again for participating.
DeLyssa Begay April 01, 2020 - 21:14
Part 2 to Fear #3:
Future Me:
One day a friend called me and said, “The funniest thing happened today. I thought I ran into you at the store. There was a woman who looked like you. I thought maybe it was you, but you don’t have little streaks of grey in your hair. So maybe it was your aunt, your father’s sister, Nola, but no. It was the weirdest thing….”
I remembered a dream about a woman who walked in my dreams lately. I thought it was an ancestor sharing comfort as my heart mended. I had recently broken off an engagement to a man who entered my life and subtly changed my life. He wanted his goals and dreams to become mine. I stopped dreaming at night, and he did not care. When we dated, I told him my dreams and he shrugged them off — “Foolish,” he said, “I don’t remember my dreams; I have real life.” And then slowly, my sleep became a blank slate. He did not believe my dreams, and soon I stopped listening to them. My poor friend must have been heartbroken that I ignored her.
Finally, a heavy ball in my stomach held me down. I cried and cried because I could not dream, and I knew. I knew I had to negotiate the relationship — please, let part of me live. He was so angry- rage twisted his face, and the insults came. He said I was a pitiful and pathetic woman who was indecisive, high maintenance, and selfish. I sobbed and sobbed, and I think he wanted to spit on me. My heart was heavy like ceramic, and I walked away. But my dreams slowly returned, like a friend I’d hurt and now they cautiously returned..
When my friend said she saw someone who looked like me, I asked her where and when. I grabbed my keys and drove to that store. I waited.
She did not show up. I drove away to my mother’s old homestead– into the sandstone hills and canyons. I parked my car, and walked to the water springs. The water seeped out of the sandstone walls and cooled the alcove. There was the sagebrush nearby, and I saw a woman gathering the grey-green plant. She’d kneel around the plants, and gently pulled them out. I did not want to stare, but she did look like Aunt Nola from the side. Her hair pulled back in a thick hair bun, and I could see some streaks of grey. I moved my head forward to look closer.
She turned and looked at me. Her eyes were like mine – the creases a little deeper. My round face soft, but young, and she smiled at me. I wanted to run – who would believe me? I was terrified, but curious. I waited as she rose and walked towards me. I forced my shoulders down as to not cower, and she chuckled gently, “You are so afraid, even as you hold yourself up. It tires you, right?’
DeLyssa April 01, 2020 - 21:19
Yes, it did, Ana — This is based on the post for Fear #3. I worked with my third fear on my list and pictured meeting it in the future — or as close to it as possible. Thank you for these prompts. I’m surprised at the stories that are coming out. I’m a teacher, so this time to do this without interruption is pretty awesome. This prompt #3 Fear — is fiction, and has little bits of personal details from my life. I can understand now when writers say that the character takes up a life of its own. Wow!