It's Great When You Can Have Fun As An Old Timer.
Posted: Monday, September 21, 2009
by Mike Fak
http://mikefak.com
Tuesday I will start another creative writing class over at our local park district. I am really looking forward to this one because I know several of the folks who have signed up and they have skills. I wouldn't be surprised if they actually are just a few ideas away from being far better than I. Such circumstances are always enjoyable to me as I find no fear or sense of failure with not being as good as another writer: or thousands of writers.
The class is going to primarily deal with memoirs, short stories and fiction writing and not have anything to do with writing punditry or term papers or PR pieces.
I was fearful that would mean few would sign up but it looks like a dozen have and that is perfect. That makes the class large enough to have a wealth of opinions and thoughts but still be small enough so everyone can become involved.
I enjoy talking to people about writing. I'm not sure I would say writing is my passion since I enjoy so many things about life. I do know I love to talk to groups and enjoy immensely receiving feedback and thoughts from others. Since the subject is one I have experience with I find a joy in telling someone something about the form that they never realized before.
But I'm sure what I enjoy most is when someone tells me something I didn't think of or realize either. I think that distinct knowledge that I will learn new things during these four weeks is something to look forward to. And that is as enjoyable as my telling someone something and watching the light inside their mind light up.
I have found over the years I truly enjoy getting up in front of a group or a crowd and talking about something, in fact anything. It is one of those things that brings me back to those school days in a crowded gym or on a field with people lined in rows in bleachers to watch my success or failure to entertain.
I imagine these chances are like reliving a bygone era in my life and I know I treasure every one of these I have an opportunity to be involved with.
I know this means I am a ham and I must have a large ego but I will suffer through that knowledge knowing that during the event, I am at my happiest.
I imagine that might mean that talking and not writing is really my passion in life.
But that is no problem in my mind as everything any person writes is the same as talking to others. A column, an article, a book is all the same as going to that person's house or gathering all the readers in an auditorium to tell them the story of what you wrote.
And there it comes just as I watch myself type this small article. My passion is being a storyteller. By words spoken or written, it doesn't really matter to me. I imagine that is what keeps me doing both and having fun.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Well keep doing both Mike and keep having fun doing it! Because we enjoy hearing from you! Enjoy your class.Thanks Brianna. I had the first one and it was a real positive distraction from a national story I have beeen covering. It will be in tomorrow. Mike
Wish I could sign up for your class! I love writing but switched majors before being able to take the creative writing course and then didn't have time! (back when the dinosaurs were roaming the earth). Enjoyed reading this. Have checked our some kids books (Scolastic I think) on punctuation. Now you can use a preposition to end a sentence with AND they totally messed with punctuation in quotations. Have to get up to speed. Marijo (Mary Jo - my dad was creative with spelling)Thanks Marijo. Writing isn't a science of exactness. If it was when you went to the library there would only be one book.Mike
Great article. Well done.I would love to go to one of your classes. But it's a bit of a long journey and would work out to be very expensive. I have looked at local writing groups and I quite fancy turning up and seeing what it is like.I'm sure it would be a bit much to come to the colonies Connor. But I'm sure if we met we would enjoy the company of each other.Mike
Hi Mike.I don't think it is ego to do something you enjoy. And you hit the nail right on the head ... it's all about storytelling. Put that way, I've been doing this all of my life. Probably you have too.Great article!Respectfully,DianneYep Dianne. Of course another word for us is Bull throwers. I'm sure I fit that category. I trust you do not.Mike
I would truly love joining one of your classes---maybe you should try something like that for the searchwarp group. I have taken internet courses at the University of Arizona and they were more fun than work!Thanks Sandra. I'm sure the two of us would enjoy they stories we have in a class setting. I do one on one but I don't have resources or can promise a specific time what with things happening when they want to, The story I will post today will show that. Mike
Mike, indeed you are a master story teller. I think it is most UNSELFISH of you to share a wonderful talent and gift to those of us fortunate to see and hear. I enjoy your style - simple, clear, concise and self disclosing. Thanks for following your passion.JohnThank you John I like the phrase self-disclosing. It sounds better than 'The dummy who will say whatever he feels with no feeling of Embarrassment'. Mike
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