I love my writing groups. I’m pretty sure I’ve written about this before, but teaching and/or facilitating writing classes, workshops and groups is my addiction. (At least one of them ;) When a writer says out loud, “maybe I am a writer” I get all tingly inside. Of course they are…everyone is. But being present when someone actually knows it for themselves is so rewarding, because it feels like they’ve acknowledged their own creativity.
Sharing our creativity can be difficult—we know we like our work—but will others? We write in secret or for ourselves and rarely do we share it; it’s so private. I began drawing pictures of ants representing words over 50 years ago. Occasionally I thought I’d try to publish them or do some other project with them, but it’s never gone anywhere. I liked them, but I didn’t think they were very “artistic.” It’s not like I can draw very well. But—I like them. And every once in awhile, I’ll find an opportunity to share one of them—like above. Artists, writers and creators (or creatives) were always other people—not us. But you know what? I don’t think that’s true anymore—we all have some creativity inside us, whether it’s writing, drawing, composing, singing…and when we share it, bring it out into the world, we become creative.
This issue is going to highlight a couple of writers from my groups who have done just that—shared their creativity as writers. Their work below—both of them responses from prompts. I hope you enjoy them. I love them.
Prompt: “A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” Thomas Mann, Essays of Three Decades
Of course writing is more difficult for a writer. A writer is their own worst critic. Writing for someone who is not a writer means putting words on paper. For a writer, it means allowing the words to draw an image in one’s head. It means projecting a specific tone through each and every line. It means going back and re-reading, and editing, and scrapping the product altogether when it’s not working out the way it needs to. Writing is a lot of responsibility. People will … or will not… read the writer’s work and may feel a connection. And if they don’t, they may not read that writer’s work again.
Writing for someone who is not a writer is a thing to check off a list. It’s done for a specific task, and then left alone. But for a writer, the content lives in the thoughts and frees the mind when it comes out just right. The words carry others, and the writer themselves, into a brand new world full of possibility. A writer has the power and the opportunity to save people. Writers are superheroes. Writers are challenged by and released from struggles with each project.
For a writer, a person who is sitting in the audience is a person we want to hear our message. It’s sometimes even our very own selves. And a writer is working to communicate and share, but sometimes the words won’t come out. Sometimes there’s a block that allows our words and thoughts to get jumbled up and then we have to sort them out before we can go back and let the words come out onto the page. It’s freaking rough. And yet, a writer will be a writer so long as the writer is writing. Maybe not day to day. Or week to week. But a writer simply has to write. But someone who is not a writer writes because they have to.
Sara Hall
Prompt: “The only journey is the one within.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke
I’ve been “on the move” for most of my adult life. Externally, my activities appeared to be journeys, but sitting still now and looking back, I think their primary or internal purpose was to keep me too busy to ponder my purpose in life. It was much easier to just keep going on to the next thing than pausing, reflecting, and planning some life goals. I like much of what I’ve done from technology to teaching, but it seems more like responding to the moment than executing the steps of a life’s journey. I now think the true journey is within—facing the reality of what I’ve done, who I am, and who I’ll never be.
Betsy Tea
Writing Groups & classes at Writual
I may add a couple of classes in early November—I’ll post them on my website and email the info, too. Here’s the website: http://cindyeastman.com/writual.html
The Saturday Morning writing group is ongoing. You can check it out at the link above or—if you’re ready to register—here you go: https://forms.gle/MFL1Z6YueRLN5toH8
I’ll be back at the Woodbury, CT Library in November and December facilitating a writing workshop on Writing Through Grief. I’ll post more info about that, too, as it gets closer, but here’s the link for that, too, if you want to tuck it away: https://woodburylibraryct.org/event-keeper/
More Writing Opportunities
Also at the Woodbury Library on October 21st, a Confluence of Readers and Writers will showcase local writers by offering panels, author talks and a movie screening. I’ll be moderating the Food Writers panel—Yum! I hope they bring samples!
And just one last thing…if there’s something you’re interested in or want more information on, please let me know. Or, if you know of other writing opportunities or have a book you’d like me to share, let me know that, too. I’m happy to help spread the word about other writers, workshops—all of it. It’s so much fun, isn’t it? ;)
See you next month!
xo
Cindy
I have been part of a writing group for an amazing 39 years. It has morphed and rearranged numerous times. Members and teachers came and went. We are now a hardcore group of four friends who meet to talk not solely about writing, but to share life's ups and downs, break bread, and give support and hugs when needed. Yes, I LOVE my writing group. :-)