Tuesdays are the day that I have my creative writing class through University of Toronto school of continuing studies. I did my undergraduate degree at U of T and I haven’t been in school since I did my MBA 13 years later, to get my mind off of not being able to get pregnant! Well the baby who accompanied me to my graduate convocation is now 24 years old, if that tells you how long it’s been! I told my daughter how stressed I am with homework and submissions on a deadline, so I can relate to her current experience away at university. She’s so sweet, telling me not to be too worried and wishing me luck.
I had a coach at work for the last year, and she asked me at one of our sessions when we talked about life goals, “If you were to do one thing, if you didn’t have to work, nothing else on your plate, nothing to worry about – what would you do? ” I replied, “I would write a book.” This is a bucket list thing for me, and about checking off one of my life goals. Whether I ever publish is another thing. But at least this is a bit of accountability (I said it out loud to someone, so now I have to do something about it).
It’s very convenient to be able to take these programs remotely online. The class is small, there are only 10 of us from across Canada. Our instructor is published author Marina Nemat who is just wonderful.
There seems to be a common theme in memoir or at least the submissions that we have shared with each other, and readings that we are given as examples of the craft. Most seem based on some sort of trauma, harrowing memories and it has come up as to whether memoirs are always about past pain and sad/horrible events. Memoirs aren’t autobiographies, they are meant to be based on memories, feelings and emotions. Very personal. Perhaps it’s not unusual then, since pain is so deeply sensed, physically and emotionally. There’s also a lot more creative writing involved than I had initially thought – it’s not random musings captured as stream of consciousness typing on the laptop, which I typically write in a blog post. Writing memoir is about making your reader feel and sense what you were going through at the time of your experience. It’s a lot harder than I thought!
But it has instilled in me a renewed love of creative writing, and it’s helpful that the subject matter is something I am expert in, ie Me. I’m already looking at the next course to learn more about creative writing in general, perhaps explore other genres.
So I ask you, is there anything that you would like to do that you haven’t yet done? If you didn’t have to work, didn’t have any other distractions, what would you do?
At a time 
Wow, what a wonderful class to jump in to for you. I love reading about writing and writers, so I will cheer you on. Writing a “real published ” book is on my bucket list too, as I’ve already self published a bit.
Writing & editing is such a wonderful experience but also super hard. It takes time and commitment and love, I think, but once a text is “done” and youfeel good about it – what a marvellous feeling, right?
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That’s great that you’ve self published! Yes it is a wonderful feeling to finish a text. I think the biggest learning for me will to see how I will take feedback on something as vulnerable as my writing, something I’ve never been great at for myself, despite so many years of leadership training. It takes some maturity to appreciate that criticism with the right intent, is a gift and I am a way still a work in progress in that regard!
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It takes a bit of practice to receive critique on creativework for sure, but it is very helpful. My two tips would be to 1) remember that the person reading your text and giving feedback wants to help you get better and /or understand the text, and 2) you are not your text! This has helped me anyway.
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I’d be traveling or spend my days with creating art.
Other than that I have a huge bucket list (on the blog) I am chipping away at.
It was very interesting reading about the difference of memoire and biography. I don’t think I ever consciously understood the difference.
All the best with your novel writing. Such a huge project.
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I love travel too! I’ll have to check out your bucket list 🙂
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Yes, I guess I never thought about the difference between memoir and autobiography. So, my question would be, what if you don’t have a trauma or tragedy in your life? Are there people in your class in that situation? Can you still write a good memoir? I’m sure the answer is yes, but it’s probably harder.
I’m interested in your question at the end of the post. I’m going to think about it and get back to you.
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I do believe that you can write a good memoir without trauma or tragedy in one’s life. I think we all have moments of happiness and sadness, and moments of challenge. Perhaps that more of what it is, moments of challenge and how we overcome them -I don’t know if anyone’s life is entirely necessarily stress free. There is light and darkness in life, if a story reflects more light I think it can be just as inspiring – everyone’s life is worthy of a memoir in my opinion.
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Oh, writing a book! I think if I were to write a book I would want to write a novel, but honestly that is not something I aspire to, so likely it will not happen. If money and time were no object, I would travel a lot. I think I would put down roots in other countries and get to know the cultures a bit. With my time at home, while not dreaming of my next trip, I’m not sure. Read, play with my (for now hypothetical) dogs, go to restaurants and cook, enjoy museums, that kind of thing.
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I like your plans Julie :). Writing is tough … we talked about it in class, as a vocation you need to be so driven and dedicated and really able to be kicked down and get back up again. Passion is one thing, but to face all the rejection is another. It’s like a lottery, so many good writers, but is it a bit “found” luck to be successful.
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I’d love to foster dogs and cats and get them ready for their forever homes. There’s just no time or space for that right now, but someday…
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Karen Meg – This is wild. I have the same answer to that question as you do. I’ve been working on writing a memoir for years. I meet with a great group on Monday evenings and they give excellent feedback. While I say that I’m writing a memoir, I’m not sure that’s what it’ll end up as in the end. I don’t do a lot of ‘this is what I learned from this experience’ moments in my chapters. Much of what I write is humorous anecdotes from my childhood, particularly my high school years. Maybe it’ll just be a collection of chronologically ordered stories, some of which are sad or frustrating (I’m a middle child and there’s a good deal of irritating stuff that took place in our family that wasn’t fun). I’ve taken a few classes, but not for a few years now. I’m envious of the class that you are enrolled in. It sounds really impactful for your project. Good luck!
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I am leaning toward personal essays, at least that is what I am thinking, like yours. I don’t think I put enough skin in the emotional game for a true memoir. But we will see.
That is so cool that we have this in common!
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That’s interesting about memoir. I wonder whether a life that didn’t have trauma and was pretty smooth sailing would be boring to read about. I like traveling, but I would also like to write and publish some articles (I have it on my 101 list).
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This is super interesting – I have thought about writing a memoir. Sadly, I do have some traumatic life experiences that would make for what I think would be an interesting memoir. But excavating those memories is another story!
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