By Butch Freedman
“Writing is a way of saying you and the world have a chance.” Richard Hugo
I’ve been writing since I was a teenager, and trying to get published ever since my mother discovered a returned manuscript in the mail from Playboy Magazine. She was not happy. Playboy did reject (of course) my teenage fantasy, but that (and my mother) didn’t stop my ambition to be a published writer. I’ve now published three books and hundreds of short stories, essays, and what-have-you, with more on the way. I’m not bragging (well, maybe a little), just saying writing has been a key to my existence for many years. And at some point, I decided I wanted to share what I’ve learned about getting words on paper to other folks, who either had the urge to write or have already been writing and needed a new boost to their output. So, I began offering writing workshops for adults. I’ve offered these classes a bunch of different places over the past 20-some years, including homeless shelters, my synagogue, and Inverness Jail. But since moving to the Oregon Coast, I’ve limited the classes to my own community and other nearby ones.
I love teaching these classes — probably get more out of it myself than the participants do. It keeps me engaged with the art. Writing and teaching have always kept me excited and enthused about story telling. Whether it be fiction or autobiography, or a mixture of both, I believe we all have interesting stories to tell. And given the results from every single participant in these community workshops, the evidence is clear that good writing is a possibility for almost all of us. The main requirement is a will to do it, and not just think about the possibility.
Some claim that writing is a solitary affair—the writer scribbling away in her garret, apart from the world. Emily Dickinson ensconced in her parents’ attic. But that’s not the only, or even the healthiest, way to put pen to paper or fingertips to keyboard. Working with a group of like-minded and fair writers in a supportive environment is, I believe, both more effective and productive. The writer benefits from the feedback of the group and improves their work through succeeding drafts. As Ernest Hemingway said, “The first drafts of anything are garbage.” (Actually Hemingway used a more colorful descriptor.)
Yes, If you’re willing to put in the work, I believe anybody can be a writer. And I have the results to prove it. You can come see for yourself.
This coming Thursday—July 23rd, from 5pm till 7, our Cape Meares Community Writing Group will offer a free reading at our community center (5690 4th NW) and all are welcome to attend.
We’ll even bring the wine and cheese.
