Thursday, June 25, 2015

Lit: Uniquely Portable Magic

Mini-me is off to the Juniper Writer's Workshop this week. I'm proud of him for putting himself in a position to get this opportunity and even more proud of him stepping way out of his comfort zone and going off to do it.

University of Massachusetts
Amherst library
There's a reason I've nicknamed this one "Mini-me." Had I been given the opportunity to do something like this, I'm not sure I could have screwed up the courage to go. So many things that would need to be done that I'd never done before and there would be multiple people critiquing my work. He's much the same way but it's something I've encouraged him to work through and he's much more brave than I am!

He's been great about checking in (better than I would have expected), but he's been kept busy and even has "homework" when he's not in sessions so we haven't had much chance to talk. Can't wait for him to get back so I can get all of the details and read some of what he's been working on.

 During the day they are working on writing; in the evenings there are readings. The first night he was excited to hear James Tate, Pulitzer-prize winning poet, read and was impressed with Mitchell S. Jackson, who read from his book The Residue Years (so much so that he bought the book). I'm sure he'll come home with one or two more books tucked in his bag.

Have you ever done anything like this? The whole idea of taking a week to hone your writing skill has me giving NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) some consideration. I've got these idea percolating away in my brain...




Posted by Lisa at 1:30 AM
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11 comments:

  1. Linda PJune 25, 2015 at 3:49 AM

    It's a great opportunity to be able to take part in workshops and hear readings from prize-winning poets. Good for Mini-Me. I think he has determination to learn his writing craft and he has a literature-loving family, which is a good support. I had the support of hubby and my Mum (who looked after the kids) when I did a degree as a mature student and I've been enthusiastic about life-long learning through courses ever since. I hope you get involved and enjoy NaNoWriMo.

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    1. LisaJune 25, 2015 at 9:33 PM

      I've been longing to return to school and am really torn between computer classes and writing/literature coursework. I'm thinking the computer classes would be more practical but I would love to be able to write better, if only for myself.

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  2. Literary FelineJune 25, 2015 at 10:19 AM

    It's an awesome opportunity for your son. I haven't ever done anything like it, not even for a weekend. Like you, I am not sure I would be able to step out of my comfort zone and attend something like this.

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    1. LisaJune 25, 2015 at 9:34 PM

      Talked to him tonight and he said the being out of his comfort zone is really exciting. He is having so much fun and making friends from all over the country. Thanks to social media, he'll even be able to keep in touch with them.

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  3. TiJune 25, 2015 at 11:02 AM

    I see Joyce Maynard's invitations to attend her writer's workshop in Guatemala every year and I seriously stop to think about it every time I see it. http://www.joycemaynard.com/Joyce_Maynard/Write_By_Lake_Atitlan.html

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    1. LisaJune 25, 2015 at 9:35 PM

      Well, as beautiful as that campus is in Amherst, I think Guatemala would win for setting, hands down!

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  4. Katherine PJune 25, 2015 at 6:00 PM

    I have no inclination to write but I'm always fascinated by those that do. This sounds like an amazing workshop. How awesome that Mini-me is getting the opportunity to be involved with it and how exciting that he's really loving it.

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    1. LisaJune 25, 2015 at 9:36 PM

      Even if you took away the writing, all of the other things he's done (like flying for the first time by himself) would be such a great learning experience.

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  5. AthiraJune 25, 2015 at 6:08 PM

    I would love to take part in a Writers' Workshop. It's been a dream of mine. Glad your son is getting to do it all.

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    1. LisaJune 25, 2015 at 9:37 PM

      I'm not sure my skin is thick enough to ever do something like this but I have always wished I could attend one. Can't help but think that I could write at least as well as the authors of some of the books I've read!

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  6. JaneGSJuly 1, 2015 at 11:37 AM

    One of the things that makes me happiest as a parent is when my kids have the guts and drive to do something I wanted to but never got the nerve to do...like audition for a play and sing in public, being the two biggies that spring to mind.

    Kudos to your son. Putting your writing out there to be evaluated and critiqued and analyzed takes guts and drive, two things that I admire so much.

    I know several online friends who have done NaNoWriMo but that kind of intensity just doesn't fit into my schedule--maybe when I retire!

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