Writer Group Update

So here is how it went. We arrived. We were a little awkward. Some of us carried entire manuscripts, some of us wads of paper in our back pockets, some of us giant binders. We didn't all know each other, which is both good, AND intimidating. Several members emailed me before to tell me they were excited but NERVOUS!!!! When they all arrived (everyone came!) and we arrayed ourselves around the table, I offered tea, coffee or wine. Everyone picked wine. (Jonathan had said, DON"T SERVE WINE!) We explained why we were there and what we wanted to get out of it. People were shockingly honest. It was not like a college course requirement full of sullen non-participatory people. Just the fact that everybody really wanted to be there elevated the mood. Then we read. I asked each person to bring a 2-3 page selection just to introduce themselves and their writing to the group. One woman read part of a story about her child being attacked in the face by the pet rottweiler of a friend, one woman a chapter from a memoir about her childhood in Louisianna, about abuse and her friendship with a black girl that carried her through, my fellow nanowrimo writer Leslie read the first chapter of her novel, a memoir about the summer she spent with a step-mother after her mother died. Our lone man read an essay about a lifelong encyclopedia project that he started at seven and continues to this day, documenting the weird, the warped, the disturbing, starting with martyred saints and moving up to the interests of his 40-something self. My fellow journalist read a heart-breaking story about her sister and the legacy of divorce, the beginning of a memoir, and a new friend read a chapter from her 900 page novel about the Armenian diaspora, told through four generations of women. I read from my fictionalized NANOWRIMO memoir/novel.

The talent in the group was prodigious, and scary. The evening was powerful. As one participant (an actress) said, when the words are powerful, you do not need to act. This was true here tonight.

There was something profound about the experience of reading aloud. We sat and listened together to the power of another's words. And you could feel people reacting to YOUR words.

People were supportive and also insightful in their comments.

We continue. We will meet twice a month. We will read three to five pages aloud. We decided reading aloud and having a shared experience is more important than submitting chapters for commentary. We will share sources, advice, and book recommendations. We will mix it up with on the spot rotating writing exercises. We will continue to drink wine. Not tea. (It was unanimous).

I can't speak for others, but I couldn't get to sleep I was so excited.