January 2022 Muse
January 2022
“Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window.” — William Faulkner
Editor's Note:
The Strathcona Writers Muse is a forum for members of the Writers Foundation of Strathcona County to provide an opportunity for members to publish their works. Anything published in our letter is eligible to receive a publishing credit. We accept poems and short stories of 1000 words or less normally but longer pieces can be accommodated if they can be published in parts. We are always in need of new items for each month so don't hesitate if you have something we can put into our publication.
Send submissions to wfscsherwoodpark@gmail.com care of Henry Martell, editor.
Important Dates
Writers Circle Virtual Sharing Meeting online
Next date December 7, 2021
RSVP on the website and the link will be emailed to you prior to the meeting.
https://www.wfscsherwoodpark.com/event-details/writing-circle-meeting-online-13
Next Board Meeting: January 4, 2022
Newsletter Submission Deadline: January 25, 2022
Monthly online Creative Writing Workshops
Held last Saturday of every month from 12:30 to 2:30 pm
Go to the website to register - click the RSVP and the link will be emailed to you prior to the workshop.
https://www.wfscsherwoodpark.com/event-details/creative-writing-workshop-online-14
Poets in the Park
Poets in the park meets the third Wednesday of every month online.
Reply to the link on the WFSC website
www.wfscsherwoodpark.com
Next scheduled meeting Jan 19, 2022
Children's Creative Writing Workshop
Second Thursday of each month
Next Meeting January 13, 2022
Reply to the link on our Website
www.wfscsherwoodpark.com
This Month's Submissions
The Tree
by Henry Martell
The snow is falling heavily as I cross the field. I can still see clearly enough, the flakes are large and fall softly to the ground where they cover everything in an airy, fluffy cover. The air isn’t severely cold and doesn’t catch one’s breath of freeze the eyelids. When I was younger and made this trip with my dad, we had some days that were worse than this and dad always said to just dress properly.
As my sister got old enough, she joined our fun expedition and for years we all went out together across this same field to the forest at the far end. That forest had a multitude of spruce trees to choose from, and we could cut a tree down each Christmas and never run out of trees. Those days were the best times, everyone happy and excited. We tried to pick a clear and sunny day, not bitter cold. Mom would pack us a lunch with thermoses full of hot drinks. We would be out most of the day crossing the field, picking out a tree, cutting and hauling it back to the house. Once there, we had to trim it to fit, put it into the stand and then into the house.
After set-up, we would huddle around a fire in the fireplace and talked about our great trek and decorate the tree. Needless to say we would fall exhausted into bed afterwards. Today, all the old excitement and anticipation is gone. I hate the way things are now. I hate the truck that spun