Hey Cindy, Yes certainly most of the time I know this to be true; but I took a writing class many years ago and there was a little insensitivity within the process that I found to be unnecessary; perhaps that was my misperception and of course this is not a perfect world.Cindy B. wrote:Just so you know, James, a writer's group such as Nadie's is only concerned with the art and craft of writing and not with personal issues giving rise to the work.
( But " this " was what raised my concern. ):
From Nadie's first post:
To which Clemsy replied:I am in the midst of revising/rewriting it and have been advised of the following:
"I sense that there are two Nadie's. The un-reconstituted one and the more beautiful, self-designed one. The latter being whom you've turned yourself into, in order to fashion a meaningful life.
"While you write, it has to come from the primitive self as much, no, more than from the advanced self. Simply because the advanced self is never interesting. It lacks humanity. By that I mean, the shadowy wetness, messiness and rawness that draws the reader in. In your picture I see a kind and compassionate woman. Someone I would feel drawn to, feel safe with. But when you write, you must set her aside and let the beast come out, the bete noir. Let her come out and, over the course of your memoir, write her from her dark beginnings through to her later transformation."
"You cannot write compellingly about the dark from your perch in the light. I recommend strongly that you use a grounding practice so this process doesn't discombobulate you too much. That said, if you're not seriously stirred up by your writing, you have not yet tapped the emotions before the date when they became transformed in your personal development process."
And, Nadie, I would like to add that when composing your own memoir, your own hero's journey, the bottom line is to tell your story. I don't know about "unreconstituted" and "self-designed" selves. We are who we are in the moment we exist, and in the end if one is tell the story of one's life, then one must be a storyteller.
The hero's journey is an archetype, so it will find its way out of you as a storyteller.
( And ):
I hope I can find you a reference. I'm sure someone in the JCF would be aware of what might be out there. I will forward your query and get back to you as soon as may be.
I wish you all the best in this pursuit. As an English teacher I often encourage my students to write the stories they would want their children to know. It sounds like yours are anxious for your story, so I truly hope we can be of assistance.
I realize as you point out that this may all be a matter of how this is construed in relation to the constructive criticism of the craft; however Nadie was concerned about what was recommended and sought advice here. From her request it seemed that she was unsure about what direction she should pursue and the thread continued on from there.
But yes of course I agree under normal circumstances I'm sure that would be the case.