JHS English Honor Society
18 Feb 2009
Whistle.. Koosh Ball Thanks for having me… Cerro Gordo…Famous Author’s Day. Shakespeare, J.K. Rowling, me.
First theme: Mrs. Smith.. Perry 5th grade.. “Whatever you do….” --------I wrote anyway....I wrote about things like monsters and dragons, and space ships....Then I started writing about the people I grew up with Grandpa...2 fingers cut off 2 donkeys...1 bucked Aunt Lizzie into a tank of water Grandma...cutting chickens head off...backed her into a bush
I’m not sure what you wanted me to speak about today, so I’ll talk about writing.
The life of a writer.
A few random notes…I like to write.
I enjoy writing a play, more than I do producing it. Writing is the dessert I save myself after a day of trying to convince 7th-graders that “She was like…” is not a verb phrase.
I seldom read a column I’ve written because I can’t change it. I’ve never watched one of my plays on video. The best education for playwriting…sit in the audience.
I would rather write than anything I know. Nothing more satisfying. . Audience response is nice, but…….Private shouts of joy which only my computer can hear are far better. Journal.. every day since 1969. Many shouts of joy in it.
I think the creative process is the most enjoyable experience in the world. Tour of Switzerland: evening walk around a small village.. Barb: the Alps all around us.. Mary Phalen.. shop windows.. Lucille: chatting with ladies on park bench.. All I could think about: I can’t wait to get back to the hotel to write about this. I thought: Either I’m crazy or I’m a writer.
My fantasy.. small cabin in Wales or Ireland (no income tax for writers). Piano. Computer. Dog (never had one before). (I’d probably give him away, but I’d like to give it a try.) A wooden desk. No phone. Lots of books. Pump water. Problem: I can’t fix anything. I’d probably starve or freeze, or get bitten by the dog. But I’d like to give it a try.
This is unusual today… I’ve nearly stopped speaking on how to write. My answers are often unsatisfying. Spoke to writers’ conference at Sangamon State. Introduced me: I’d written over a hundred plays.. most produced author of school scripts in the US and my answer to “How do I write?” I don’t know. I pray and sweat and it comes.. Not satisfying for the PhD’s congregated there.
I write a newspaper column..the Coonridge Digest.. 14 papers. Speech contest material. Plays.. My favorite is whatever I’m working on at the moment. Five books published…. My favorite…Miss Homer…is called “Homerville”
Being published is dangerous. A Sermon Diary.
The downside of being a writer: My mother once had her check questioned.. Freida Marie…. Judge a speech contest at a distance. Hard to get a break for signing autographs. My students hear this and think what’s the big deal. Two little boys at the urinal.
Roger Ebert.. Les Miz.
Quandry… often invited to see a production of my show.. seldom like it. What do you say? Black urban school… Toad in the Hole.. Tode in da Hoe
Newspaper column… a real temptation to write what you know will please. Angry lady from Chandlerville… writing about her drunken uncle, she thought. Crazy Aunt…. Brunhilda Liddy… Lady from J’ville. “My Aunt! You described her perfectly! She’s nuts!” Two subjects which draw the angriest mail… Religion and politics.. “God may not be a Republican” letter from Senator from Virginia… “I’ve been waiting twenty years from someone to write that column.” My own hate fan-club in Peoria… Militia members.. Don’t like my remarks about equality of the races. My lawyer says they haven’t threatened my life, so I can’t do anything about them. My revenge: I wrote them back… picture of a black lady with Star of David.
Stuck for an idea? That’s because you haven’t put yourself under enough pressure. WORD TENNIS THAT DARNED WHISTLE THE BRAIN
The best compliment you can get as a writer: When the reader or listener says.. “Yeah. Cool. That’s just how I feel but you put it better.”
The hardest part about being a teenage writer. How can you write about your true self when you’re still not sure who you are?... Easy: just do it. That’s how you’ll find out.
Who are you writing to please? HINEY THE MULE
Quest class…Test of Who You Really Are.
Let’s workshop a little… see what stories you have inside you.
--How many of you… one big step before getting in bed --Used to cover up everything except a breathing hole? (Look what just happened in this room?) BALL TOSS: What used to scared you the most when young? Your most insane relative?
If you could get one big worry off your mind right now… A defining moment…changed your life forever.
Do you realize that THESE are the stories the world wants to hear?
If you can write well, you already have an advantage over 90% of your classmates. Keep writing.
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