putting pen to paper

That's what I tried to do for a little while at least, in a literal sense. After a bit, I wussed out and prayed that the others in the room wouldn't mind the light click-clacking of my fingers on laptop keys, because thoughts don't seem to make the transition from my brain through a pen and down to paper as easily as they flow from my fingertips.

I spent five hours on Saturday with an amazing group of ten other women as part of a workshop in conjunction with The Momoir Project. The intro on their site reads:

Are you a mom with rich stories to tell? Always say you’ll remember this moment forever but know you won’t - unless you write it down? Recording your experiences is actually easier than you may think. It’s also fun, rewarding, and a little bit painful. Just like motherhood itself.

When I read that, I knew I simply had to take part in the one-day version of the class. (Oh, to be able to get away for the multiple-class series!!) I wasn't sure what to expect, but I knew that I would love anything that devoted hours to moms talking and writing together. Our instructor, Jessica, shared with us some basic structural components and techniques to writing 'personal essays,' and I was somewhat challenged to find a different voice from my bloggy one. We each started a piece based on the prompt, "The first time..." I wasn't terribly impressed with what I wrote in those 10 or so minutes, because I wasted the first 5 thinking of something that wasn't already played out. I opted to try to capture the first time I watched JAM play baseball last year, but I didn't choose to share that piece, because I wasn't really feeling it.

Then we worked some more on developing a personal story, the one that we feel the 'most called to write,' as Jessica kept saying. I wanted to capture the period of time that our little family unit transformed from four to five, from the initial surprise (translation: TERROR, HORROR or ABSOLUTE FEAR) to the eventual acceptance to the utter joy and completeness that our little crew brings to us today. I think I got a pretty good start to the piece, or lead, if we're going to be all writer-technical about it.

The absolute best part of the whole shebang was the amazing women who filled the room. The eleven of us brought different life experiences, cultural backgrounds, languages, and unique voices to the table, and I was positively floored by some of the pieces these women wrote. What a humbling experience it was-- I felt like a contestant on So You Think You Can Write? Of course, being a bunch of women, everyone felt compelled to give advanced warnings in the spirit of "this might not be that great.." before reading each piece, but oh man, these were some powerful and funny and deep and introspective and compelling written passages. These ladies could write.

If this sounds like it just might be your kind of thing, and you happen to be a DC area local, you're in luck, as the Breastfeeding Center is hosting two additional one-day-workshops on 6/13 and 7/18, as well as that longer series of classes. Or, if you happen to be in the Vancouver or Toronto areas (I know there are some of you Canucks checking in on this crazy American from time to time!), the Momoir Project offers classes in your neck of the woods as well. I found the class to be instructive and inspirational, and a wonderful way to focus a little bit on something just for me. (We all know how often that happens for moms, right?)

Happy writing,