Jim Salhany is a writer and editor for Fine Lines and also a songwriter and musician. He wrote the son “Write On” with Fine Lines in mind. He sent this along as well —
“The lyrics for the song ‘Write On’ are motivational, in that they offer a bit of a cheer for writing. The attached song ‘Poetry & Song’ is one I wrote and produced for the Samba Caribe CD several years ago . . . . I recently had the occasion to listen to it again, and was struck as to how it might compliment the “Write On” song. The theme in ‘Poetry & Song’ focuses on the Shakespeare’s idea of immortality in verse, here the words in poetry and song. This song offers a purpose and a focus to write on. If you think this will work on the FL Website with “Write On,” you may have this track with my compliments, and add it to the site.”
Creativity takes practice and time. Ira Glass, the host of the radio show This American Life, has some wise thoughts on the subject. Check it out and enjoy. (And the words and sentences flying around in the video are just a bonus.)
First-time Fine Lines Mike Faran contributor penned the following poem, and it seems like just the thing for a pleasant August weekend. The latest Fine Lines edition is just a click away.
David Martin put the following together to provide some perspective on the 2016 edition of the Fine Line summer camp for writers. Check it out below.
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“All good things which exist are fruits of originality.” John Stuart Mill
Fine Lines creates summer writing camps for students of all ages who find peace in language. Our camps are places where writers of all abilities share stories, essays, poems, art, dance, and songs. These small writing communities become centers of metaphorical wisdom.
As “Woody” Gruber, one of our best camp storytellers, likes to say, “Each writer brings a candle of light and insight to the written page, and when those sources of energy are united, they create a lighthouse that shines into the darkness and helps ‘those alone on ships at sea.’ Years ago, Archbishop Fulton Sheen used to have a television show called The Christophers, and his motto for each program was, ‘It is better to light just one candle than to curse the darkness.’ The most important thing writers can do is to light their candles by writing.”
Mary Pipher has the right idea. We should use our writing to change the world. Wouldn’t it be nice if our words brought a little more light of understanding to our own corner of the world? Someday, our campers’ writing might reduce the world’s inequalities and darkness.
Fine Lines’ Creative Writing Summer Camp #17: 2016 Camp Attendance:
Grades 3-6 39
Grades 7-8 43
Grades 9-12 59
College & Adults 48
Total Campers 189
2016 Feedback from Campers:
“I wanted to tell you how much fun my two kids had at camp this year. They made friends from other schools and really enjoyed it! Thank you for everything, we will be attending next summer for sure and usually talk friends into attending as well. It was awesome being at UNO this year!” –Tricia F.
“Thanks for another wonderful week of writers’ camp! I really enjoyed my time with Fine Lines writers. Have a wonderful 4th!” –Julian A.
“Thank you! My daughter will definitely return next year. So glad we heard of this camp! Thanks, again!” –Ann C.
“I cannot fully express the joy of being at camp. That freedom to just write and the challenge of ‘You have 15 minutes left. Now write.’ It was so much fun. Thanks to you and all the Fine Lines team who made it possible. I am blooming. A most excellent week! Thank you.” –Janet B.
“I did it! I wrote on and on. Attached is my poetry submission for a future Fine Linesissue. Thanks for an inspirational week!” –Kathie H.
“I am writing you a tiny letter from the Crimea, looking at the wonderful Black Sea and the mountains. I wanted to thank you for my last publication in Fine Lines. It is a big honor to be a part of this project. I hope that your summer camp went well. I will attend next year. I wish you a good summer!” –Katya D.
“Glad to see the Fine Lines camp has grown. Attending for the first time, years ago, was a defining moment in my life. It taught me that I am a writer! The skills and encouragement I gained then made it possible for me to earn money on a regular basis, as a freelance author and editor. It boosted my desire to help others through the Fine Lines scholarship that allowed me to attend. I reserved a seat for myself and provided for another student, as well. Thank you for creating this amazing opportunity! I live in Illinois and flew in for the week.” –Rhonda B.
“Great week. Great camp. We did it! You started it! Thanks for everything, David. The younger writers, in particular, just blew me away in 2016! Elena, the cancer survivor, is startlingly wise beyond her sweet years. Just wow. I am so glad that my family and I cut short our vacation in Argentina to attend. This was a memorable experience.” –Maria H.
There is a spirituality in performance. There is a holiness in creative composition. There is freedom in communication. We like people who color outside the lines and write outside the box. We like people who think in original ways. We like people who know what creativity is and how to reach it. We like people who celebrate intuition. Our campers are these people, and they are in the write/right place in our Fine Lines camp.
Fine Lines supports increasing literacy in this community. It is a big job and takes a team effort to achieve these goals. UNO’s English Dept. is part of this team. We look forward to next year’s camp – #18.
“Nothing happens unless first a dream.” –Carl Sandburg
A great question to start with is “So what?” Writer Anna Wobset runs with that in her short essay that follows below. It appears in the current issue of Fine Lines, too. Wobbler is a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Fine Lines contributor Becky Breed also authors a blog. Her “Writing in Community” is a great place to visit and get inspiration. The link — http://writeincommunity.com. In the blog’s about section is a tremendous call to writers of all kinds. It reads — “Whether you are a beginning writer or one with many publications to your credit, this blog is your invitation to join the writing community. Our wish is that it will serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement, and that it will help you reach deep within and write to your fullest potential. Welcome!”
David Martin sends out reminders about sending in stuff to Fine Lines. Yes, this information is available on the website in other places, but it follows below, too. If you are on the fence about sending something in, please consider this a push. Send that poem or story or essay or photo in and see what happens. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
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“Calling All Writers!”
In 2016, send a submission to Fine Lines.
Fine Lines is a national, literary online journal devoted to the publication of poetry, prose, and writing across the curriculum. Our non-profit quarterly seeks:
* to provide insight for people in all disciplines.
* to encourage discussion of communication in ways that cut across definitions.
* to increase written literacy by all members of the community.
What to Submit. We welcome articles on reflective writing about interesting life experiences, along with photos and drawings. Our editors encourage a broad variety of approaches, methodologies, and styles. We accept practical articles that describe innovative approaches to life’s challenges. We are especially glad to receive submissions, stimulating dialog that crosses traditional rhetorical and disciplinary boundaries, forms, and roles. We provide a forum for professional writers and first time authors.
Submission Requirements. Submissions must be sent via email file attachments, CDs, or laser quality hard copies. If replies are requested, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope, or mention this in the email submission. Please use the MLA format. If the author’s work is filled with too many punctuation, grammatical, and mechanical errors, the submission will not be reviewed. It would be helpful for authors new to Fine Lines to include a head and shoulders photo and a short auto-biographical statement.
Our mailing address: The Editors Fine Lines
P. O. Box 241713
Omaha, NE 68124
Jim Salhany is a writer and editor for Fine Lines and also a songwriter and musician. He wrote the son “Write On” with Fine Lines in mind. He sent this along as well —
Fine Lines contributor Becky Breed also authors a blog. Her “Writing in Community” is a great place to visit and get inspiration. The link —
