I need a catalyst to get writing about being the poorest kid at a private school. My father, an auto mechanic, serviced the Rollses and Bentleys owned by my class-mates' fathers. (It's more complicated and less cliched than it sounds and my trauma such that it was represented a small fraction of what was out there.) I wrote about 60,000 words in a fever a couple of years ago but set it aside. Some stories (not mine) were gut-wrenching. Your work and commitment and Cathrin Bradbury's are inspiring me to get back in the game.
Gare, I love the poorest kid at the rich kid school story — it’s a fiction classic. Countless examples. I think you need to drag out that file and dust it off and see what you find. I have more to say on this — how to pick up an abandoned project/false start and make it go again (or not) is such a fascinating question — one that nags in the hearts and minds of all serious writers. Short answer: False starts are part of the process. Long answer to follow in a post! Thanks for giving me the kickstart to write it!
I wrote my memoir,to the age of 18, 2 years ago as a self help book really.I’m not a writer so I wrote it in short choppy sentences ,keeping things simple and factual.I’ve always appeared grown up and independent to people from an early age.I ve been angry and ambitious all my life and writing my memoir helped me understand why .I burst into tears at one point during the writing.The last time I cried was about 15 years previously. It was a cathartic experience.I’d always felt a bit sorry for myself,after writing the book I came to the conclusion that I should “get over myself and be an adult” Ha! I’m nearly 63 ,about time.
Anyway I’ve let about eight or so people read the book/pdf and they say they “enjoyed it” .
So if you’re thinking of writing a memoir I’d say yes do it even if you’re the only one who reads it.
This is so interesting! I just signed up.. I’ve been through some personal turmoil over the past few years dealing with the death of my sister, then my dad ( who was a bipolar alcoholic). My mother is still alive ( age 86) but we are estranged because after my sister died, at 53 from breast cancer leaving two young adult sons, my parents tried to sue her estate for money they wanted- essentially trying to steal from their grandsons. Yes I know - truth is stranger than fiction. My sister worked in daycare not a lot of $ in her estate . So I just got back on July 17 from a great trip to France & England where I scattered my sister’s ashes in the Seine and at my cousin’s farm in England . My English cousins and I talked a lot last week about my parents & their harsh upbringing in England.. I’ve been thinking for a few years I should write this story but I’m not a writer.. so this is a very cool idea! Plus I love your writing Leah. As a Toronto gal I’ve been reading your work since the 90s - I’m about 10 years older than you.. so here I am .. looking forward to the journey. Victoria
Welcome Victoria! Thank you for joining, and for sharing your story, which is indeed stranger than fiction.... families are SO complicated, I will never cease to be amazed!
Hello Leah. I teach a high school English class called “True Stories and Real-Life Writing.” I’m intrigued by what you are offering here. Wondering if you have any thoughts on how this might intersect with a classroom experience to benefit young writers (Grade 11 & 12).
Hi Mick, Gosh that is a *fascinating* question. Creative writing in grade 11/12 was hugely formative for me as a writer -- I have very vivid and positive memories of it... I think much of what I'm saying in here would apply at that age HOWEVER I do think that memories and experience often takes time to gestate (obviously do not try telling that to a 17 year old!). If I were teaching Gr. 11/12 writing I think I'd encourage journaling (like in a hand-written book or closed word file -- rather than documenting your life on TikTok etc. not that social media can't be creative or an outlet, it's about the perceived reader/viewer, public as opposed to private). I was an obsessive journal writer from a very young age but going back over them it's fascinating how I skim over what I now realise were the more important, formative (often troubling or confusing) aspects of my experience and instead focus on passing stuff that ultimately didn't hugely matter, which is instructive in itself. I think at that age the most important things I was taught was a) how to read (like a lot, and consciously), b) how to structure a sentence/phrase (basic grammar and avoiding pretention in favour of direct communication, as well as rhythm and tone), and c) how to observe and take mental note of the world around you. There is an excellent book called The Art of Noticing which I keep in my downstairs loo and has brought me endless delight -- I think your students might like it. http://robwalker.net/noticing/
Cannot wait to be part of the divine inspiration.
I need a catalyst to get writing about being the poorest kid at a private school. My father, an auto mechanic, serviced the Rollses and Bentleys owned by my class-mates' fathers. (It's more complicated and less cliched than it sounds and my trauma such that it was represented a small fraction of what was out there.) I wrote about 60,000 words in a fever a couple of years ago but set it aside. Some stories (not mine) were gut-wrenching. Your work and commitment and Cathrin Bradbury's are inspiring me to get back in the game.
Gare, I love the poorest kid at the rich kid school story — it’s a fiction classic. Countless examples. I think you need to drag out that file and dust it off and see what you find. I have more to say on this — how to pick up an abandoned project/false start and make it go again (or not) is such a fascinating question — one that nags in the hearts and minds of all serious writers. Short answer: False starts are part of the process. Long answer to follow in a post! Thanks for giving me the kickstart to write it!
I wrote my memoir,to the age of 18, 2 years ago as a self help book really.I’m not a writer so I wrote it in short choppy sentences ,keeping things simple and factual.I’ve always appeared grown up and independent to people from an early age.I ve been angry and ambitious all my life and writing my memoir helped me understand why .I burst into tears at one point during the writing.The last time I cried was about 15 years previously. It was a cathartic experience.I’d always felt a bit sorry for myself,after writing the book I came to the conclusion that I should “get over myself and be an adult” Ha! I’m nearly 63 ,about time.
Anyway I’ve let about eight or so people read the book/pdf and they say they “enjoyed it” .
So if you’re thinking of writing a memoir I’d say yes do it even if you’re the only one who reads it.
This is so interesting! I just signed up.. I’ve been through some personal turmoil over the past few years dealing with the death of my sister, then my dad ( who was a bipolar alcoholic). My mother is still alive ( age 86) but we are estranged because after my sister died, at 53 from breast cancer leaving two young adult sons, my parents tried to sue her estate for money they wanted- essentially trying to steal from their grandsons. Yes I know - truth is stranger than fiction. My sister worked in daycare not a lot of $ in her estate . So I just got back on July 17 from a great trip to France & England where I scattered my sister’s ashes in the Seine and at my cousin’s farm in England . My English cousins and I talked a lot last week about my parents & their harsh upbringing in England.. I’ve been thinking for a few years I should write this story but I’m not a writer.. so this is a very cool idea! Plus I love your writing Leah. As a Toronto gal I’ve been reading your work since the 90s - I’m about 10 years older than you.. so here I am .. looking forward to the journey. Victoria
Welcome Victoria! Thank you for joining, and for sharing your story, which is indeed stranger than fiction.... families are SO complicated, I will never cease to be amazed!
Hello Leah. I teach a high school English class called “True Stories and Real-Life Writing.” I’m intrigued by what you are offering here. Wondering if you have any thoughts on how this might intersect with a classroom experience to benefit young writers (Grade 11 & 12).
Hi Mick, Gosh that is a *fascinating* question. Creative writing in grade 11/12 was hugely formative for me as a writer -- I have very vivid and positive memories of it... I think much of what I'm saying in here would apply at that age HOWEVER I do think that memories and experience often takes time to gestate (obviously do not try telling that to a 17 year old!). If I were teaching Gr. 11/12 writing I think I'd encourage journaling (like in a hand-written book or closed word file -- rather than documenting your life on TikTok etc. not that social media can't be creative or an outlet, it's about the perceived reader/viewer, public as opposed to private). I was an obsessive journal writer from a very young age but going back over them it's fascinating how I skim over what I now realise were the more important, formative (often troubling or confusing) aspects of my experience and instead focus on passing stuff that ultimately didn't hugely matter, which is instructive in itself. I think at that age the most important things I was taught was a) how to read (like a lot, and consciously), b) how to structure a sentence/phrase (basic grammar and avoiding pretention in favour of direct communication, as well as rhythm and tone), and c) how to observe and take mental note of the world around you. There is an excellent book called The Art of Noticing which I keep in my downstairs loo and has brought me endless delight -- I think your students might like it. http://robwalker.net/noticing/
LMx