Write-in No. 5

Sadly, last month's Write-in No. 4 was cut drastically short by lightning, torrential rain and wall clouds hovering over the city. In fact, I believe it lasted just long enough for Brittany to collect her free (read: paid for by Sarah) soy mocha for winning Write-in No. 3's Haiku Havoc. Luckily, everyone seemed especially productive at Write-in No. 5.

I'm sure you've all been on edge wondering what your favorite local writers have been up to for the past month. Lucky for you, I have the answers.

• Joselyn's been editing her script and is preparing to send it out to readers next week.
• Sarah finished up a first draft of one script, a second draft of another, and started attempt No. 2 to adapt her 2007 NaNo into a lovely, little indie screenplay.
• Our virtual attendee, Matt, has been working on a new novel along with some episodic fiction between bouts of soul-crushing illness.
• And Brittany's been toiling away at The Blood of Renatus.

We had two more or less new participants last night: Daren and Jerry. Welcome!

And, of course, we had the return of Haiku Havoc and Metaphor Melee.

Metaphor Melee
On Determination
Matt Marko: Determination is your cheerfulness in spite of my best efforts.
Brittany Froeschle: Determination is the last paragraph of the last chapter in your first book.
Sarah: Determination is a blank page and a nonfat, sugar-free, chai tea latte with a double shot of espresso.
Daren Froeschle: Determination is doing anything you can to win this Metaphor Melee including playing up to the judges' emotions: X-Files is the best television series ever, There Will Be Blood is the best movie ever, Ben Folds is the best singer/songwriter ever and Daren is the best ever.

Also, honorable mentions from our truncated June write-in:
On Desperation
Matt Marko: Desperation is believing that faith will see you through.
Brittany Froeschle: Desperation is thinking up a metaphor for desperation quickly so that I can go work on my novel.
Jennifer Varner: Desperation is a sunflower who turns in all directions in hopes of reaching the sun.

Haiku Havoc
(from June & July)

Matt Marko (1)
family pictures
gathering dust--who can see
the pain in a smile?

Matt Marko (2)
dark skies blot the sun
inside the light darkens also
and takes me from you

Brittany Froeschle (1)
Freshly made and dipped
Chocolate covered strawberries
sent to the Froeschles'

Brittany Froeschle (2)
Books depreciate
When ceilings flood and collapse
But I still love them

Jennifer Varner
I hate moving lots
I want to throw it away
I just don't know how.

Sarah
Ignoring the "no"
Pressing forward to a "yes"
Each a stepping stone

Daren Froeschle
I hope no one else
Writes one of these because then
I'll win by default.

Vote on your favorites in the sidebar. Winner gets a free drink at next month's write-in.

If you'd like to make an appearance at one of our write-ins, either to do some writing yourself or to see some local writers in action (you can say you knew us before we were wildly successful), feel free to join us from 6 p.m. to closing time on the first Tuesday of each month at Doozen's Coffee in Lee's Summit. You can also find us on facebook.

Write-in No. 6, wherein Matt has promised to write a happy haiku, is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 5.