Tag Archives: fiction

November 1st – Happy National Author’s Day!

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I just found out today is National Author’s Day. How appropriate!  The creative writing club I started at school met this afternoon at the end of the school day.  There is never a dull meeting.  They are so passionate about their interests, including but not limited to writing.  I’ve watched as members have bonded over music and other media.  It is inspiring how they support one another, too.

In the online school environment, there aren’t quite as many opportunities to strike up friendships with classmates as in brick and mortar.  Personally, I think that is why school clubs are so vital in an online school environment.  Last year, my first year teaching online, I watched as students planned for weeks and even months for the in-person prom held at the Lansing Center.  Students attended from all over Michigan. The pictures, conversations, and friendships made that evening were discussed repeatedly as the school year came to a close.  I can only hope that that same can be said when I reflect on the creative writing club at the end of the school year.

In my first year as mentor and creator of the club, I sought to find the best possible resources for aspiring high school writers.  Luckily, my online classroom set aside for our new club allowed me to do just that.  It is now a place where students can collaborate, offer one another and seek encouragement, as well as find resources and inspiration.  I can only imagine if I had had such a resource in high school.  I admit, I’ve had too much fun setting things up.  So far, my entire experience with the creative writing club has underscored the importance of community as a writer.

Face it:  Writing can be lonely work.  Over the years, I’ve always enjoyed meeting other writers.  I can’t imagine where I’d be as a writer without Mid-Michigan Writers.  I’ve learned so much from other members over the years, and I would not have discovered Delta College’s general writing certificate program if I hadn’t attended MMW’s Gateway to Writing workshop with other writers who raved about the experience.  If my students take away anything from our creative writing club, I do hope that they realize the importance of community for writers.  Brainstorming works best with others!  At some point, we could all use a second opinion.  We all have to learn from someone.  I can’t imagine not having my very own community of writers and readers. Happy National Author’s Day!

Oh, and happy first day of NaNoWriMo. IYKYK.

Book Review:  The Wedding People by Alison Espach

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I’m not sure exactly what I expected when I started this book, but I did not expect to enjoy it so much, especially given the gritty nature of the subject material covered.  I don’t want to give too much away, but it does deal with such loaded subjects such as suicide, infertility, grief, and love.  Yet, it is witty and realistic as well.  There is definitely humor amongst all the drama.  It is well worth a read.

My favorite is the contrast between our protagonist, Phoebe, who inadvertently crashes a swank wedding week in Rockport, Rhode Island, and Lila, who is a bride-to-be about to kick off a week of wedding activities.  Phoebe has just left everything behind, including her husband, job, house, and cat.  Lila couldn’t be more different, and she is determined that nothing, including an uninvited guest, will ruin her wedding.  Intending to marry in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic and losing her father, Lila spared no expense or experience for her guests.  Will it be enough?

Much of the plot revolves around the emotional and social lives of these two women.  The characters, and I do mean all of the characters, are wonderful, even if the reader isn’t inclined to love them all.  They are deeply flawed and human.  One of my favorites is Juice, Lila’s soon to be step-daughter.  While I love the characters and many are highly developed, well beyond just the protagonists, I would not go so far as to say this is a character-driven novel.  It simply isn’t.  The plot really drives the action, and a lot happens in a week.

I’d love to say more, but I do not want to give away major plot points.  While the action certainly hinges on wedding events over the week, the title itself is a bit misleading.  The book is about so much more than just a wedding or even marriage.  It gets hilariously messy, but it is worth it in the end.  Check it out!

The Writing Life – Act Two

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I don’t understand.  I adore writing, and I have no shortage of material.  In fact, I came across my blogging notebook today.  Page after page full of great ideas I have not yet written.  I also came across another binder of writing projects, as well as my writing portfolio from one of my favorite writing classes, a class I took at Delta College nearly a decade ago.  What to do with it all?  It is time to bring it all together.  Why is it so difficult for me to write consistently for long stretches of time?  Why did I abandon poetry again?  I came across some wonderful pieces.  Pieces that need a home.

Then there are the larger projects.  Mom and I need to finish her series of children’s board books, abandoned nearly nine years ago.  I still love them.  Over the last several years, I’ve toyed around with the idea of writing a book about the canoe livery.  It is time to put in the research.  I need to interview my parents and former employees before it is too late.  I do not want those stories to be lost, even if they are never published.  There are simply too many good ones.

So, what is getting in the way?  Quite simply, life.  Accepting a position as a 10th grade English teacher at Michigan Virtual Charter Academy (MVCA) back in August, I’ve been busy.  While I subbed at MCVA most of last school year, I am now a full-fledged faculty member who hadn’t yet experienced the start of the school year – and all that brings (I started in early October last year).  In other words, I’m now getting back to finding time to write.  Just because you have prepared for a new school year in a brick and mortar school does not mean that you know the ins and outs of preparing for a new school year at a virtual school.

One highlight of the school year is creating an official high school creative writing club.  I am passionate about it.  So far, I’ve been able to create a safe online space for students interested in creative writing.  As a club, there are no academic expectations.  We are writing for the sheer creative power of it.  By the way, MVCA offers a creative writing course as well.  This … this is something different, something special.

Thus far, I’ve curated websites that might help budding high school creative writers.  I’ve also shared my favorite quotes and books on writing.  There is space for students to share their work amongst themselves.  I can’t imagine what I would’ve done with those resources, all online and free, and such a nurturing community.  The best part is the enthusiasm of my students.  I’ve watched them form fast friendships over favorite music, video games, books, movies, and more.  They are so supportive of one another.  I can’t wait to see all that we will accomplish this year.  That includes getting back to my own writing.