Tuesday, January 13, 2015

The Best Gift.

For Christmas, my husband and I decided to gift each other with a class we each wanted to take. My husband wants to take a blacksmithing class, and eventually learn to make knives. I fully support this creative endeavor and am happy to support him in a hobby that takes him away from his computer, which he sits in front of all day at work, and a lot of times, when he gets home, too.
As for me, I wasn't sure if I wanted to take a writing class or a class in mending and hemming. One is a structured creative outlet that I need, and the other is a skill that I would like to learn. In the end, I decided on writing. This past Sunday, I found myself at a writing workshop in Bethel, at Byrd's Books. The workshop was led by Judith Marks-White, a local author.
It's been a long time since I took a writing class, and I wasn't sure how I'd do. I knew that she would ask participants to share their writing, if they wished but I thought I'd be too nervous. We gathered at tables set up in the middle of the bookstore and were asked to choose from a list of prompts, and write for 20 minutes, maybe more. It felt like a long time!
And write I did. I had an idea right away after looking at the prompts, and wrote a story that had been working away in my mind for a few weeks now. Having the time and the space to write was a blessing, as I didn't think I would ever be able to get the story down on paper.
But I did. I wrote, and read what I wrote, to myself, and wrote some more, did a little self-editing, and wrote some more, until I felt that I had something to work with. I listened to fellow workshoppers read aloud before gathering my nerve. I read my piece aloud in a shaky voice, testing the tone of the piece.
The feedback was positive and affirming, and I felt like it was genuine. It was not really a setting for hard criticism but I didn't feel that people were "just being nice," one of my constant fears when I present something I've created. I felt encouraged, and motivated to keep working on my story until I have something that can be shared with the world at large.
Best Christmas ever, I think.


{Read more slices here: http://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2015/01/13/share-your-story-2/}

11 comments:

  1. Good for you! You did something brave, rewarding and self-affirming. What a great way to start the new year!

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    1. It really was. I resolved to make no resolutions and ironically, I've done more for myself than I have in the past when I've made resolutions!

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  2. Love this idea of gifting each other a class. That's an incredible present for each other. Glad you're enjoying your gift!

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    1. I think it was the best idea we've ever had and I hope we continue the tradition.

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  3. Congratulations. Often times we are our own worse critics. What a great present.

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    1. Yes, it's good to get out of my own head and let others offer a different perspective!

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  4. This is such a wonderful idea for a gift. I'm so glad you chose the writing class (I'm biased, of course). Sounds like you're finding your inner writer once again. What's that quote? I do not like writing, but I love having written. :)

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  5. Bravo Nancy. You will have to keep sharing this experience with us. Some new prompts???

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    1. I have two pages of prompts from the workshop to share! Hopefully, I'll be taking another workshop soon or signing up for a series.

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  6. Wonderful! You are an encouragement for me to take an art class! Thank you!

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    1. Jaana, I hope you do! So important to have the space for creative outlet.

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