Finally met in person the fabulous Cindy LaFerle, who I have known for months via the internet. She invited me to be on a panel of writers and editors free and open to the public for the writer’s series she hosts as Writer-in-Residence at the Royal Oak Public Library. It was the perfect way to get my feet wet as soon I’ll be speaking in libraries and other public places about my work. I’d love to see any of you who live in the area there next Thursday, from 7 to 8:30.
I was the only poet on the panel. Well, ex-poet. Cindy asked each of us to talk a little bit about how we started our writing careers, what were the first things we published, and how we made it happen. We had a lot of panelists, maybe 10. Two or three were local magazine and newspaper editors, a few were columnists, most were freelancers. One or two wrote children’s fiction and one other person mentioned that she had written a novel.
They all seemed to know each other, many had worked together, some were long-standing members of DWW. It was a little odd to be the lone life-time fiction writer, but I was not bothered by that. I’ve been the new person in groups a lot in my life, and almost nobody I know writes fiction. What I liked most about meeting these new writers was hearing their stories.
Everybody (writer or not) is interesting to me. It’s always been that way. I wonder if it’s a trait of the fiction writer. Anyway, the experiece was great, lots of people took my card. I didn’t bring any fliers because I’m having some scheduling challenges in October. But next week I might bring something that announces the November workshop I’m facilitating for DWW.
Wanted to mention that the practice I did for a few weeks to get rid of my long-standing fear of public speaking (an exercise from Ainsley MacLeod’s book The Instruction) really worked. When I did my spiel the other night, in front of a full house, I was totally relaxed. Same for my first day lecture, which always used to make me totally anxious. It is wonderful to be free of this phobia!
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