Words from a Reader

The “Writing Life Stories” e-mails I receive are such treasures. As soon as I see there is one in my inbox, I read it immediately. I look forward to them and never know how they will touch me. They can be interesting, informative, humorous, and/or touching.
Showing posts with label Darnell Arnoult. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Darnell Arnoult. Show all posts

Sunday, August 13, 2023

John C. Campbell Folk School offers discount to locals

My friend and fellow writer Darnell Arnoult is teaching Creative Nonfiction in a Flash at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC. I have known her for many years and I have taken a number of her classes. You will enjoy and learn so much in this weekend class Sept. 8 - 10. 
Visit here to learn about the class and remember, if you live in the area near the folk school, you are eligible for a 25% discount and a guarantee of a seat in the class.

Check out the writing classes scheduled for 2024. Yes, you probably should register now for those classes. Karen Holmes will teach in January. Look for her class description under Writing Classes.

No matter where you live, a week at the folk school will be an experience you will always remember. As a writer, I owe most of my success to classes I took there for over twenty years. 





Friday, July 27, 2012

A Fall Writers' Retreat in the NC mountains

Have you heard of the Duke University Writers Workshop? The name is changed but the excellent writing instruction has not.

Table Rock Writers Workshop will be held September 17-21 at my favorite retreat, Wildacres, just off the parkway near Little Switzerland, NC. I am delighted that I will be going this year.
View from the large patio between lodges

They have some openings left, so visit their website, www.tablerockwriters.com

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

I probably should not be posting this time of night when I'm half asleep and bone tired, but forgive me if I ramble.
My class last Tuesday was excellent with about ten delightful students of all ages. Our oldest is 85 and writes with the confidence of a seasoned writer. All of us are looking forward to his sharing his memories from as far back as World War II. We discussed organizing our stories in folders and writing down the turning points or milestones in our lives. One man couldn't wait to begin heading his folders. I have a good, good, feeling about this class. The trust is already there. I must confess I just love writers and being with writers, beginners or professional.

All of my life I have dealt with stressful situations by writing. Writing is therapy for me and I'm grateful I enjoy it. A few weeks ago as I waited in a room filled with people young and old starring into space, encircled by arms of loved ones, hands griped in hands, the tension and fear was thick enough to choke a person. I pounded on my Neo, a little keyboard I can use anywhere. I would later download my writing to my computer. Like a reporter at the scene of an accident I keyed in all the characters, described faces, body shapes, expressions and actions. I learned this from Darnell Arnoult an excellent writer who says she keeps a notebook with her and gets some of her best characters from watching people in waiting rooms.
I don't plan to use these people in a fiction piece, but it helped me through my waiting time to write about them and imagine what they were facing.
Do you study and examine people you see and wonder about them? Do you write about them? Most writers are observant of the people around them in restaurants, standing in lines and anywhere they can watch people. Try it the next time you have to wait in a doctor's office. Just make notes on what you see in the faces of those who are there in the room. Describe their physical attributes. Notice the difference in noses and describe them. It is fun and a good way to get your mind occupied if you happen to have a troublesome situation you'd rather not think about.
I'd love to hear from anyone who has ever done that or who thinks it might be a good thing to do.