Extreme Writing Now Network | Episode 1 | Memoirs

Extreme Writing Now Network ~ Episode 1, Memoirs

Sunday, July 25th 2010, Extreme Writing Now went live with the inaugural episode of the Extreme Writing Now Network radio show on Blog Talk Radio. The show opened up a weekly broadcast that can be heard every Sunday at 6:30 EST (-5 GMT) at Extreme Writing Now Network.

The weekly thirty minute show is manned by Bev Owens and myself and will be a relaxed call in affair generally covering topics relevant to the EWN social network. Each week we hope to have readings from individual members of EWN, as well as a guest.

The first episode was themed memoirs and titled Writing Your Butt Off With Memoirs. Kim Ort was our guest as we talked about her vividly active group at EWN, Memoirs Writing, a group motivated by Natalie Goldberg’s book Old Friend From Far Away: The Practice of Writing Memoir. We also featured a memoir reading by EWN member Karen W.

Kim’s group has had some pleasantly surprising impacts on the site, not the least being the opening up of the writers here. As we mentioned on the show, there seems to be an air of freedom in the writing. Almost as if the memoir prompts have given the writers permission to pour it all out.

Kim quoted Petunia with what is most likely the most on target assessment of what an impact that the memoir prompts have had on the participants:

So much more than just an exercise Kim. They started out like a lovely walk down memory lane, evoking some wonderful, touching memories from so many of the wonderful writers here.

But once you dust off those cobwebs, there’s more that surfaces. With memoirs like Bev’s and Alex’s you can feel those darker memories awakening.

With “sound” I had drafted a blithe tale of the sounds of the city, laid over sarcasm. But searching through those sounds brought up a deep buried memory that overshadowed my draft and compelled me to write about it.

Yes, so much more than an exercise indeed.

Bev recapped the last four weeks at EWN, the time span the doors have been open to the public, by listing the four contests we have held and the winners of those contests. In the past four weeks, members have won four books and the fun ain’t over yet.

There will be a week long contest this week. Keep your eyes peeled for details to be released later on today.

There was also talk about the show’s Producer, Correen, as she created a spectacular Zazzle store for the network.

Co-producer, Kim Horton, was among the attendees of the show and her efforts at the site did not go unmentioned as we talked about her thrilling 55 word fiction series, The Long Road Home.

The chat room was visited by the likes of Mimi, Squidrich, the ever gracious Carrie, and others.

Join us this coming week, and every week as we wind down the day in a relaxing fashion. If you miss an episode, you can catch the recorded version at EWNN, or look for a player in the side bars here at Extreme Writing Now.

Enjoy!

Years ago I started writing Flash Fiction for just the sheer enjoyment of writing, and now it has turned into a full blown addiction. I can't quit the horse, man! Another dirty little secret about me is my ability to write all kinds of web content. SEO content, articles, blog posts, manifests; you name it, I'll write it. Looking for some help? My gun hangs at r.alex.crabtree@gmail.com