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Brown Bagging It with North County Writing Addicts

Hello, my name is Kia. I am a Word Junkie. It has been approximately 5 seconds since I last wrote.

In order to maintain my writing high, I meet once a week in an undisclosed North County location to soak up the words of other writers. One of these guys, tired of me drinking his beers, told me about San Diego Writers, Ink.

"Go check 'em out, try their stuff. Trust me. It's all good."

I like how some people think just because I'm a freelance editor/writer/word junkie, without the restraints of a "day job," I can just traipse about Paradise, looking for my next hook-up, hanging out with writers and maybe even toss together some WORDs.

Apparently, my informant is right - San Diego Writers, Ink has a mother lode of groups and activities for writers. They can provide writers and word junkies with a fix nearly every day. Take a peek at their amazing calendar to find a wide assortment of groups, workshops and events. There were only 6 days in August you need to go WITHOUT any.

Luckily for me, I have topass through Del Mar on a Friday afternoon when Victoria Melekian is holding a Brown Bag at Book Works in the Flower Hill Promenade. SDW, Ink has been offering a Brown Bag down at the Ink Spot for a while, ignoring, neglecting and leaving North County writers to their own devices. (Don't they realize what sort of trouble we could get into? We might even try it on our own.)

Now, no one ever gave me the skinny on Book Works in Del Mar before. As a transplant, who came from a very special, nay magical used book shop on a lake in a fabled land, I haven't been much interested in funky book stores, oh no, not me. I sure don't appreciate the worn wooden floor or the old piano and other quirky collectibles, which gives Book Works "ambiance." I would never enjoy sitting under posters of DH and Gertie while writing about "What I Didn't Say" "It's Complicated" or from the point of view of a bird. Nope, don't send me to meet creative new folks in a coolio bookstore, just minutes from my home. Don't throw me in the briar patch, you old rascally Br'er Bear.

It was something of a slow day for Victoria as there were only four willing victims, er participants. The game plan was simple, but not so easy as it sounded. Victoria tossed us a nugget and timed our manic reactions.

I couldn't do more than scribble a little something with the first hit. I felt kinda lame. Especially when we passed it around the table. Richard exhaled a character sketch, which read like the beginning of something larger. Carol and Victoria read pieces which remind me they have been partaking on a regular basis. Next, Victoria gave us two choices and off we buzzed for ten minutes. I was a little more relaxed and enjoyed sharing. Richard was really starting to make me feel like a slouch though, as he wove Prompt 2 with Prompt 1. Carol "cheated" out-right, using the piece the rest of us didn't.
Since the group was small there was time for more flash fiction than usually happens with anywhere from eight to fifteen writers are all letting their Muses out to play. Richard offered up a "bonus round" prompt and off we dashed in five minutes! I was ever so relieved he didn't mix this up with what he had going before. Having editorial proclivities, I was itchy for feedback. The abruptness of not verbalizing after reading will take some getting used to. I think I can handle it to be part of this group.

And, you know what else? Victoria and these Brown Baggers have corrupted me even more; I wrote with strangers. There seems to be no end in sight for my downfall as I headed south, venturing into the unknown territory of Hillcrest for SDW, Ink's Open Air Literary Salon on Sunday, August 10th. Maybe I can maintain my North County isolation, to avoid filling my every waking moment with writing or writers. I dunno, it's time to check the forums on San Diego Writers Online. Those folks at SDW, Ink have hooked me.

*this article in no way claims the other folks have a serious writing problem, as Kia freely admits to these days

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