I don't think I've told you yet, dear blog readers, but I'm the Montreal Jewish Public Library's new writer-in-residence! If you're wondering what that entails, here's the answer: I'll be doing workshop-type events at the library (for adults as well as kids), and the JPL is supporting a writing project that is very close to my heart -- a memoir about how I grew up with a secret (related to my mum's wartime experience in a Nazi concentration camp), its impact on my life, and how I uncovered the secret.
Last night I gave a memoir writing workshop called "Our Stories Matter." I probably shouldn't be the one to tell you this (haha!) but it was WONDERFUL!!! Now before you go thinking that I am immodest, let me explain -- what made the workshop wonderful was the participants. As a longtime teacher, I can tell you that you never know what's going to happen in a class because there's a kind of ever-changing magic chemistry involved, but the chemistry last night really was magical.
Before I share a few snippets I want to say what a special place the JPL is. For one thing, it's truly a public library -- open to everyone, children and adults of every background. For me, that welcoming stance is a kind of antidote to the conflict and hatred that seems to be overtaking our world. Thank you, JPL, for setting that example.
Now... those snippets I promised.
There were 13 participants. They included several poets, two retired professors, one of whom has written more books than me, an actor, a JPL archivist, a retired politician and a retired lawyer.
We started out with everyone saying what they were looking for from last night's workshop. Sherri told us, "I'm here to learn what I can learn." Brenda said, "I've dabbled on paper." Beena said, "Writing stories has always been my love."
I had prepared pointers about memoir writing. These included: narrow your focus; write in scenes; use your five senses (but not all at once in the same paragraph!); don't make yourself out to be a perfect person; consider writing in the first person and in the present tense; and read a lot of other people's memoirs.
I had also planned to do three writing exercises, but alas, there was only time for two. The first was just a fun warm-up (it worked because we had fun, and warmed up our writing muscles). The second was PROFOUND. The word memoir, of course, is connected to memory. So I had the participants remember a moment from when they were ten years old. As I've said many times before, I don't believe memories are random. I believe they are stories ASKING TO BE TOLD!
Marlyn gave me permission to quote the first line of what she wrote: "It's the same bus that we always take home from school." When she read that line aloud, we all agreed we loved it. As Maya pointed out, the line already suggests that something important is going to happen on this bus ride.
Dida wrote movingly about a haunting bedtime story her father used to tell her. And how that story has contributed to shaping her life.
Earlier in the evening, Matys shared a memory of when he was three years old, living in Europe. "I was about to steal a man's briefcase when my mother shouted at me," he told us. To me, that memory feels like the start of a story. In just one sentence, we have already learned a lot -- about the mischievous kid and his strong mother.
Though the workshop lasted two hours, it ended too soon! When I told the gang I'd be back over the summer to meet up with people individually and have a look at their works-in-progress, they said they'd prefer a follow-up workshop with all of us!! I loved that, and I'll do my best to make it happen.
Thanks to Yael Goutard, JPL's programming director for organizing last night's event. Thanks to all of you who were there. I will never forget the fun we had and the meaningful discussions. I think we proved that indeed, OUR STORIES MATTER.