Writing Mamas Keep Each Other Grounded
Saturday, August 13th, 2011
I’m thrilled and so honored to have been accepted into the Community of Writers at Squaw Valley. And don’t tell anyone, but I’m also terrified and intimidated each day. I have to walk into a big room full of strangers a few times a day to hear speakers. I have to voice my critiques of work twice a day, advising wonderful writers what they need to do to improve their work. I have to insert myself at a table of strangers every night for dinner.
That’s the easy stuff. I also had to sit still and listen for 90 minutes while 11 other writers critiqued my novel. And I met one-on-one with one of the most well known editors in the business to get her comments on my nonfiction entry.
Many of us who write do not easily navigate social arenas. So Squaw is as challenging as it is fantastic. What keeps me from getting overwhelmed is walking into the great room and seeing my fellow Writing Mamas – Janine, Jessica, Kimberly and Dorothy. We often sit together but even a meeting of the eyes helps ground me. We are in different workshop groups but we have quick huddles to see how we’re all doing and provide reassurance and support to each other. They are my touchstones.
Thank you Mamas!
ABOUT THIS AUTHOR
Marianne Lonsdale lives with her husband, Michael, and son, Nicholas, in Oakland, California. She's had a variety of jobs as a Human Resources professional. She writes personal essays and short stories. Her writing teacher and mentor is Charlotte Cook, an Oakland teacher, writer and publisher.
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Hi Marianne. So someone else was feeling enough Squaw-withdrawal to blog about it today!
I have two Squaw posts at http://midlifebatmitzvah.wordpress.com.
I told my husband and daughter about the Finding the Story workshop at dinner tonight. They of course asked me, “what stories did you tell?” And I of course said, “No way am I telling you.”
OH my goodness! I can’t believe that was just yesterday! I’m home now, wiping boogers and reading bedtime stories. If you didn’t have a picture to prove it, I’d swear it was dream.
See you tomorrow?
Well said, Marianne! An awesome but sometimes humbling and scary experience. So grateful I got to share it with such great fellow Mamas. Think it will take a few days to ease back into life in the real world after leaving the Squaw bubble.
Congrats to all of you for being selected! Sounds like an amazing experience.
“They are my touchstones.” I love how we Writing Mamas support each other. One of the best parts of belonging to the group. Wonderful to see you at Squaw!
Gosh, sounds like you had an amazing time. I don’t know much about it but it definitely sounds like something I would like to do. On my wish list …