Writing Wit & Wisdom #4

The Iowa Summer Writing Festival changed my life.

Here is my latest Writing Wit & Wisdom post that I welcome you to read, comment on, and share. And here’s a LINK to Ransom Notes where you can view the articles I’ve posted so far. Thank you!

A writing cartoon

Writing quotes

“A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people.” ~Thomas Mann

“Good writing gets the point across. It's clear, detailed, and well structured. Great writing makes good writing come alive. It's graceful in its austerity, with just the right length, words, and particular dramatic flair that allow the words to be felt rather than merely read.” ~Author unknown

“Writing is the only thing I do that when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.” ~Gloria Steinem

And more…

I left IBM in Rochester, MN, in 1995 to take a job with a software company based in Santa Monica, CA. I had what I considered a satisfying career at IBM. I was a technical writer my first 12 years and for the next 13 years held various positions including management. Though there were many things to like about the company change (a headquarters position, more money, etc.), I gradually became unhappy with my lot in life.

I have always believed that I am in charge of my happiness, and it’s my job to turn things around if things aren’t going well. I do a lot of “writing to myself” to help clarify what’s wrong and what can improve things. Here’s a note-to-self I wrote in January 2001: For the past six years I have been working at jobs I can do well, but that I don’t enjoy and don’t provide satisfaction. I feel that I am wasting my time on things that don’t matter. I decided that family history and company history writing were things that mattered to me. But I wondered, How good a writer am I? Can I possibly make a career of it?

In 2001 I signed up for the Iowa Summer Writing Festival at the University of Iowa. Since 1987, the festival had welcomed writers from all 50 states, from every continent, and from all levels of experience. (It continues today. LINK) Dozens of sessions (each lasting a week or taught over a weekend) on all genres of writing were offered from the beginning of June to the end of July. After perusing their catalog, I signed up for the week-long “Writing Lives” session taught by Kate Gleeson. There were eight students in the class, each interested in memoir writing.

Kate was a masterful instructor who provided the perfect balance of teaching, correcting, and encouraging. She had co-written two excellent books with Janusz Bardach, a survivor of Stalin’s labor camps. (The book titles: Man is Wolf to Man and Surviving Freedom.)

“Writing Lives” instructor Kate Gleeson

All participants brought writing examples to the workshop, and each day Kate imparted her writing wisdom and students took turns reading their works in progress to the group. It was a powerful experience to hear their words and even more powerful to receive their comments on my work. Also, each day guest presenters shared writing experiences and advice as part of The Eleventh Hour Lecture Series held in Phillips Hall auditorium on campus.

I had never spent as much time focused on writing with so many people who were so passionate about it. I had found a group with whom I felt at home. Most importantly, the week gave me confidence that I wrote well. Kate’s parting assessment included: “You are definitely a writer and have a real gift of expressing yourself. Every one of your essays touched my heart. I hardly feel I can say anything else except what a lovely writer you are—don’t change!”

The Iowa Summer Writing Festival is held on the University of Iowa’s campus.

I returned to Rochester energized and determined to begin a second career as a self-employed memoirist and freelance writer. I rented office space, printed business cards, created a marketing brochure, joined the National Association of Personal Historians, and began giving presentations and teaching writing workshops. Over the next several years I developed a website, a Facebook business page, and recently this Ransom Notes publication.

Since the festival, I have written 26 memoirs with my clients, seven company and organization histories, three books that provide advice and encouragement, and 34 personal profile magazine articles for a regional magazine, Generations of Today. (My website contains more information about me and my writing portfolio.)

What a gift the festival was. It provided a reminder that if I’m unhappy, I need to figure out why and then do something about it!