Another brilliant piece from a GUNNAS WRITING MASTERCLASS writer
Feeling like I’m at an A.A. meeting, not that I’ve ever been to one but imagining its very much like this. Where a group of strangers of various ages and backgrounds room together for a day to share snippets of their life stories, seeking validation, permission and inspiration to write.
The room is overheated and I have typically overdressed. I am distracted by a lady 2 seats down from me tap, tapping on her laptop .
I’ve now been looking at the faux rawhide wallpaper that decorates the walls of our private room and find it odd I have a strong need to touch it. It seems out of place in an area designed for imagination and I find it overly distracting and its manliness makes the softness of the conversations hard.
I haven’t experienced as much writing envy as I’d forecasted and pleasingly the room is not filled with arty farty types or those perennial course takers , these are real people and indeed interesting people, living amazing lives full of imagination and vigour and I’m captured by the plethora of stories bubbling up into conversation.
Whilst I’m here to improve my writing skills , it’s interesting the timbre of my voice has been highlighted by the attendees.. I’m not sure if this means I’m better suited to the role of narrator rather than a writer. Perhaps there is no hope!
The common theme is people are looking for something creative in which to invest their time. Perhaps our busy , stressful lives where doing the doingand then doing more has dumbed down our creativity. If we look back in time storytelling is part of the human experience: we need to know we are not alone , are comforted by shared experiences.. we share the desire for love and to be loved .
Creativity and writing are about spontaneity, simplicity and just doing it!
It would seem whilst competition is healthy, in writing terms it’s not about being the best writer or the highest awarded writer it’s being able to silent your greatest critic … yourself!
I will leave today with a sense of purpose, with my creative voice which had previously been a whisper now SHOUTING to me to have a voice .
So to you Dear Reader, I begin the next chapter..
Twitter @Tick The Box Oz