Workshop:
Six Conversations for Writing Creative
Journals
Excerpt
from Puerto Rico, Feb 23, 1968, by
Denise Levertov
“…You see how it is—I am
angry that they feel no outrage. Their feelings flow in the wrong directions
and at that wrong intensity. And all I can bring out of my anger is a few
flippant rhymes. What I want to tell you—no, not you, you understand it; what I
want them to grasp is that though I understand that Mitch may have to go to
jail and that it will be a hard time for him and for me, yet, because it’s for
doing what we know we must do, that hardship is imaginable, encompassable, and
a very small thing in the face of the slaughter in Vietnam and the other
slaughters that will come. And there is no certainty he will go to jail.”
The
well-known guidelines for solid nonfiction are still the basic who, what, when,
where, and how, but the undergirding purpose is why.
Curiosity—Communication—Connection.
Nonfiction
sings when curiosity begins a dialogue of interest. When an author has a connection
with their topic and a desire to share, then trust is built.
Focus on the heart
of your topic, your potential audience age, the questions you need to research
for clarity, confirmation of truth, vocabulary, and the impression you desire
to share from your specific experience.
“People
are always interested in other people.” Jane Fitz-Randolph
Find
the Angle. For example, Deloris
Jordan wrote a memoir story for children of her famous son when he struggled
playing basketball at the neighborhood park one particular summer, and how his
commitment turned his despair into success. This one specific insight into this
gifted athlete opened up a whole new generation to recognize love, family,
perseverance, and faith through this true story.
Be
interesting to a broad range Audience. Regardless
of your immediate intended audience look for the themes that are universal and
ageless, and their truths will cross age, race, and culture. Life matters.
Be
Authentic. The research needs to be
solid. If you include interviews be sure to get permission. If you are doing
historical research and find conflicting material give the reasons for the
discrepancy and why it is an issue.
Find
fresh material or Application. For
example, women played a much more dangerous role in many battles, such as World
War ll, that were not acknowledged or revealed at the time due to danger for
them and their work.
The
movie Hidden Figures unveils the three women math geniuses that played such an
important role in NASA. Why did it take so long to release their stories? What
factors will connect to your specific audience and age group? What do you want
to be made open that was hidden?
Action Steps:
Begin
to ask the questions now. Use the italic outline to write
down potential ideas.
1. Who is your intended target audience?
2. What will be the reader expectations be that
you need to include?
3. What overall effect do you want your
readers to leave with?
a. Hope? What kind: emotional, physical,
spiritual?
b. Solutions? What kind: cost, time, and/or
relational?
c. Entertainment: Why? Long term—short term?
4. Write up a
sample outline for an interview to fill in either in person or for research
material.
Share: What did you
choose in step three and why?
Read deep, marcy
A Few Interview
Suggestions
1. Be clear regarding what you want to
discuss.
2. Do the interview in a location that will
make both of you comfortable and at ease without interruptions.
3. Be clear on boundaries and time
commitment.
4. Ask if you can record.
5. Don’t interrupt but note where you would
like more details and ask later for clarification.
6. Build up to any difficult questions. Wait
until the end to ask them.
7. Be considerate of any emotional trauma
your questions create and be sensitive.
8. Offer to show share the material once you
have written it to be sure it’s acceptable to your interviewee before you
publish.
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