I read this book many years ago. I need to revisit it. I remember her talking about getting up and going to the gym, a habit she was religious about because it was an important part of dancing.
Yes, she talks about that in the first couple of pages! And then she talks about the things that can get in the way of rituals like that: fears! So this came from the first chapter.
This is one of your most powerful posts! Seeing some of my fears echoed in those of your students makes me feel empowered to shoot down my fears and follow the example of your students.
(I'm with you on the Galaga instead of suicidal demons in bodies of innocent pigs--Gen X forever!)
I relate deeply to the fear that creative pursuits are a waste of time, because I should be doing something that'll make money. The fear seems valid at first glance, because it's never cost me more just to survive and keep the debtors off my back. It's usually enough to stop me from doing anything creative, especially since I'm that whatever I create won't be "good enough" (by some unrealistic standard). But that student's response - which was along the lines of, "there's more to life than just keeping the rent and the bills paid" - also rings true. Moreover, if whatever we're doing on this earth is to be worthy of the term, "living," then that sentiment *must* be true.
Yes! The person who wrote that is a single mom with a lot of responsibilities. But I loved how she acknowledges that she's not alive only to pay bills!
This kind of blew my mind. So many of the students fears embody my own, particularly in writing about myself. I’m still learning how to overcome this fear, and in doing so, writing some of my best work. I will return to this post every time I have doubts so thank you to you and your students for sharing.
Yes, there were so many overlaps among the students fears--things that resonate with me too! I am so glad they let me share their notecards, and am glad it might connect with you too!
This is great. When I wrote/painted my visual memoir I was so afraid about what the response of my family might be. I think I just muscled my way past the fear by imagining "what would you write if there was no fear". The memoir was mainly about my mother and her dementia but there was one panel in a graphic memoir piece that had to do with my (late) Aunt, and one of her sons came and saw the show when it was mounted. He loved it. He called me and said "You're right—my mother was awful. You could have gone further". As for the rest of my family, I needn't have worried because to this day I have no idea if even my brother has seen it (the show is down, but of course it's all on my website). Not exactly art lovers, my family 😅.
Wow, this is a great story for many to hear! How interesting that even your cousin validated you. Sometimes I let myself write something and decide later whether to include it. There are some things I wish I would have kept, and others I think may have been unnecessary to include, but most are what I needed to say.
I definitely wasn't expecting the validation I got from my cousin! But I'm sure glad I got it. When I was writing the memoir, I read lots of books about writing (such as Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, and Stephen King's On Writing), as well as books on memoir writing in particular. Somewhere in my reading I did also see the advice to write it all down anyway and decide later what to keep, so I was likely keeping that in mind as well. I think that's excellent advice... and I'm also thinking now of Anne Lamott's "shitty first drafts". It's so important to just get it all out, because if you're fussing over every sentence as you're writing your initial drafts, you're not going to get the same results.
For sure! And I tell my students, “What happens in creative nonfiction STAYS in creative nonfiction.” Meaning that they should feel free to experiment and tell the juicy details even if they later choose not to publish it.
I have this book. It’s inspirational! Glad to see another writing teacher is enjoying it as much as I am.
Yes! I’ve really enjoyed using it! Lots of good discussions!
Love this, Kelcey. I enjoyed this book. I just read Twyla’s other book, Keep It Moving, which I thought was good as well.
Oh I didn’t know about that one! I’ll check it out!
Good Stuff! Dump those fears and reframe them. I love it.
Exactly! Thanks!
I read this book many years ago. I need to revisit it. I remember her talking about getting up and going to the gym, a habit she was religious about because it was an important part of dancing.
Yes, she talks about that in the first couple of pages! And then she talks about the things that can get in the way of rituals like that: fears! So this came from the first chapter.
This is beautiful. Thank you and your students for sharing!!
Thanks, Catie!
Another SO GOOD ONE, Kelcey!
Hi Tom!!!!! Thank you!
This is really good!
Thank you!
And I love the presentation!
Tharp is indeed an inspiration!
Yes, I'm enjoying having a book club of sorts with my students!
This is one of your most powerful posts! Seeing some of my fears echoed in those of your students makes me feel empowered to shoot down my fears and follow the example of your students.
(I'm with you on the Galaga instead of suicidal demons in bodies of innocent pigs--Gen X forever!)
This is absolutely amazing Kelcey! 😭
Thanks, Jamal!
I relate deeply to the fear that creative pursuits are a waste of time, because I should be doing something that'll make money. The fear seems valid at first glance, because it's never cost me more just to survive and keep the debtors off my back. It's usually enough to stop me from doing anything creative, especially since I'm that whatever I create won't be "good enough" (by some unrealistic standard). But that student's response - which was along the lines of, "there's more to life than just keeping the rent and the bills paid" - also rings true. Moreover, if whatever we're doing on this earth is to be worthy of the term, "living," then that sentiment *must* be true.
Yes! The person who wrote that is a single mom with a lot of responsibilities. But I loved how she acknowledges that she's not alive only to pay bills!
This kind of blew my mind. So many of the students fears embody my own, particularly in writing about myself. I’m still learning how to overcome this fear, and in doing so, writing some of my best work. I will return to this post every time I have doubts so thank you to you and your students for sharing.
Yes, there were so many overlaps among the students fears--things that resonate with me too! I am so glad they let me share their notecards, and am glad it might connect with you too!
This is great. When I wrote/painted my visual memoir I was so afraid about what the response of my family might be. I think I just muscled my way past the fear by imagining "what would you write if there was no fear". The memoir was mainly about my mother and her dementia but there was one panel in a graphic memoir piece that had to do with my (late) Aunt, and one of her sons came and saw the show when it was mounted. He loved it. He called me and said "You're right—my mother was awful. You could have gone further". As for the rest of my family, I needn't have worried because to this day I have no idea if even my brother has seen it (the show is down, but of course it's all on my website). Not exactly art lovers, my family 😅.
Wow, this is a great story for many to hear! How interesting that even your cousin validated you. Sometimes I let myself write something and decide later whether to include it. There are some things I wish I would have kept, and others I think may have been unnecessary to include, but most are what I needed to say.
I definitely wasn't expecting the validation I got from my cousin! But I'm sure glad I got it. When I was writing the memoir, I read lots of books about writing (such as Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, and Stephen King's On Writing), as well as books on memoir writing in particular. Somewhere in my reading I did also see the advice to write it all down anyway and decide later what to keep, so I was likely keeping that in mind as well. I think that's excellent advice... and I'm also thinking now of Anne Lamott's "shitty first drafts". It's so important to just get it all out, because if you're fussing over every sentence as you're writing your initial drafts, you're not going to get the same results.
For sure! And I tell my students, “What happens in creative nonfiction STAYS in creative nonfiction.” Meaning that they should feel free to experiment and tell the juicy details even if they later choose not to publish it.
We’re all a little afraid! How weirdly affirming❤️
Right?! Even as the teacher, I'm like, WOW I FEEL THAT TOO! ❤️
Wow! So helpful, thank you for sharing with all of us.
Thank you!