My first readers were my teachers, and over the years they formed, unbeknownst to each other, my writing community. There was Coach Mac, a stocky middle school football coach with a long scar down his face who reamed erasers and told me I was a good writer, and Mr. Gioia, the highschool English teacher who let me write my weekly 500 word essay on anything I desired, and a pot-smoking history teacher who paid me the high compliment of accusing me of plagiarizing my paper. In college, I found my first thinker, a fascinating professor of Religious Studies who insisted we call Mr. Tyson rather than Dr. Tyson and the ineffable Max Steele, who remains my mentor in his spirit. I will always write for Max. My mother didn't fit into that community; as she hungrily scanned the manuscript for spelling errors she missed the story entirely, and although my father said the words that made my spine tingle, "This sounds like something you'd read in a book," he has probably never read one of my books. He just doesn't read books.
Although I was in several writing classes in college and in the MFA program at BU, I didn't really have a community of writers until I went to writers' colonies: Yaddo and The Fine Arts Work Center. After two years at FAWC, I came away with a handful of trusted friends whose opinion I honor. Equally important, they know first-hand the fragility of our work, the need to keep it going, and essential solitude required to hammer it out. As I began to publish, editors joined my community, most them as exciting and wonderful as big brightly wrapped packages under the Christmas tree. Now, in the MAPW program, I've added students to my community. Although they don't read my work in the workshops, I learn so much from reading theirs and discussing it with them.
When I told Mr. Tyson that I was going to be a writer, he cocked his big head, sending the tweed hat precariously to one side, and , "It's a lonely business. What are you going to do about that?"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I'd love to go to Yaddo one day. And there is the coolest low-residency MFA program at Bennington . . . I wish our MAPW program did a bit more to help build community with department-wide opportunities to gather together. Still can't believe we don't even have a MAPW program newsletter! Seems rather ironic to me.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Kathleen. I'll ask Dr. Elledge about the newsletter in the fall.
ReplyDeleteWhat a quote! "Writing is a lonely business. What are you going to do about that?" What strikes me as rather ironic is that the stereotype of the writer is the individual locked in his or her garrett with a typewriter while living on black coffee and cigarettes while the story pours out in sheets on the floor. Then the genuis emerges, bleary-eyed but trimuphant, to sleep and do it all over again. Given that stereotype, It was shocking to me to discover that community is vastly important in writing. As I continue to grow, however, this community becomes increasingly valuable and precious.
ReplyDeleteKristi I completely agree. When I dreamed of being a writer as a kid, I pictured myself in a small cottage in Ireland with a tea pot full of Earl Grey, a dog at my heals, and a typewritter (okay, that dates me!)writing in quiet aloneness. However, I have come to realize that to write well you need others - for ideas and inspirations, for feedback, and for companionship.
ReplyDeleteSince I've been in the PR business for authors, one of the things I love reading are the acknowledgments pages. It really shows the depth of community it takes to get a book out into the world for the masses. Of course, being left of of that page after pouring your blood, sweat, and tears out for the author is heart breaking. I, too, love how a writing community adds to the work. So note to self everyone, don't forget to thank that community in print. :-) I just loved that about A Pearl In The Storm. Her acknowledgments acknowledge that by thanking specific people she might lose other friendships (those she forgot to thank). Oh how true that is! Tricky thing, the acknowledgments.
ReplyDeleteMelanie - what is Yaddo?
Also, I believe that Denae Eagan (MAPW student) is working on a blog and/or Facebook page for our program to have updates, information, etc. to build a stronger MAPW community. Hopefully that is coming soon.
Jessica Q
Jessica, I agree with you about the acknowledgments pages - it's always really interesting to see who the author thanks and that it takes a village to get a book published. And google Yaddo when you get a chance - it is an artists' colony in New York that looks so cool to me. I'd love to one day be good enough to get to go there.
ReplyDeleteMelanie
ReplyDeleteI love what you wrote about your parents reading your work - I never let anyone in my family read my stuff - I live with three young men and my husband - they don't get what I write about anyway. Was your mother an English teacher or just a grammar meanie! When I first came to the English department I used to hear teachers talking about students and their writing ability and it would make me mad, no community going on there. I have noticed it changing and real mentoring is happening. Or I didn't see that at first.
Jessica, I read Jeff Stepakoff's first draft. I was so honored and he put me in his acknowledgment page - and spelled my name wrong! But it was interesting to me that he came to me to read his first novel, he said I was only 2nd to his wife reading it. He incorporated changes to his novel based on my observations. Later, He would come in my office and go through my Georgia Writers files and found email addresses for all the authors he wanted to blurb his book or write reviews. He would ask my opinion on the cover and the title. I was really honored to be asked for my help, but we have some great discussions about writing and marketing. It is exciting to see it doing so well.. I asked him who was going to play the lead in the movie version - he wouldn't tell me that...
Melanie,
ReplyDeleteI love the tribute to your teachers. It is wonderful to know the impact a teacher can make on a student.
toni