Pamela Leavey

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Writers On Writing: Phillip Lopate

When writing a first-person narrative, we can turn to Phillip Lopate’s essay “On the Necessity of Turning Oneself into a Character” (Griffin 15) for ideas on how we can use our “character” to tell our story. In his essay, “On the Necessity of Turning Oneself into a Character,” Phillip Lopate writes on why he feels it is necessary to “turn oneself into a character” when writing nonfiction from the first person narrative perspective.

Indeed, Lopate posits that “the people on the page—it scarcely matters whether they appear in fiction or nonfiction—will need to be knowable enough in their broad outlines to behave “believably,” at the same times as free willed enough to intrigue us with surprises.” (Griffin p. 15) In other words, readers need someone or something to identify with and connect with when they read a nonfiction essay or a piece of fiction.

We are all unique beings, and as Lopate says, “Who wants to read about that bland creature, the regular Joe?” (Griffin p. 16) My thoughts when reading Lopate’s essay drifted to my own characteristics and behavior that sets me apart from others. It is precisely because I am a “character,” one who is unique and different, as so many who know me say, that I write sometimes with ease and other times with trepidation, from the self, sharing my idiosyncrasies’ in the form of the word. I write to unburden my heart and soul. I write in speculation, to share my life, my knowledge and my experience that I might touch even just one person with my words that they may know there is someone else out there who might feel what they feel and cannot themselves commit to words.

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Daily Affirmations: I Have Enough

Prior to writing and publishing my own daily affirmations online since the late 1990’s, I found Julia Cameron’s affirmations from her book Blessings to be great inspiration. Here’s one of my favorites:

“When I count and encounter my blessings, I experience a sense

of fullness, safety, and satisfaction. I have enough. My heart is

bountiful. My life is dowried by rich companions and rewarding

experiences. As I experience the power and the goodness of the

universe, I experience my own power and goodness. I experience

flow, increased flow and expanded flow. Opening to receive this

flow, I become larger and more magnificent. I am part of a

grand and glorious design. A grand and glorious design is part of

me. I celebrate the grandeur of this fact with a humble heart.”  

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Praise for Saffire

Sigmund Brouwer’s Saffire hooked me right from the start. An interesting historical read about the building of the Panama Canal, peppered with a little mystery and intrigue as well as some romance.

The book’s protagonist James Holt is a fascinating character straight out of the turn of the 20th century wild west. I found it hard to put this book down.

I love the way author Sigmund Brouwer wove distinct tidbits of the culture and history of Panama into this fascinating a tale.

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Find Yourself in Nature

Nature is always my go to place when I am troubled. So many people I know feel “Lost” right now. Go lose yourself in nature and you will find some solace…

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Lost
by David Wagoner, from Collected Poems 1956-1976  (more…)

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Quote Of The Day: Anais Nin

When we are young girls we often dream of being a mermaid, as grown women we realize that shallow living holds nothing for us, it is the depths that drive us…

Mermaid Quote Anais Nin

From Anaïs Nin’s 1950 novel, The Four-Chambered Heart, based on her life: “I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living.”

The Eastport Mermaid: Photo by Pamela J. Leavey

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Writers on Writing: Jane Bernstein

Reading Jane Bernstein’s essay “How and Why” brought to mind my own very speculative mind and spirit that is in constant query as to the how and why’s of things. As a writer, my speculative mind and spirit causes me to look deeper into my own heart and mind, and I feel that it also grants me a strong intuitive mind that understands what is deep within other minds, connecting me to depths of humanity and life itself.  Reading “How and Why,” I could identify with Bernstein’s running, in that I walk, to clear my mind and “mull” things over. (Griffin p. 11)

When I am walking outside in nature, I lose myself into the landscape that envelops me as though I am one with it. When I am walking outside in nature, I tune out any extraneous real world soundtrack and tune into the concerto of bird song or the rustle of the leaves or marsh grasses whispering in the soft breeze or perchance keening in the wicked wind. My mind becomes clear, empty in that process of immersing myself in nature and it is then that I mull, as Bernstein does when she is running. There is a space in a clear mind that creates from a point deeper, more connected to the soul, which is a vital point of connection needed to write in the first person about one’s self and life.

Jane Bernstein’s essay “How and Why” is available in Connie Griffin’s book “To Tell the Truth: Practice and Craft in Narrative Nonfiction.” This book has been my go to book throughout the past two years studying Creative Writing at UMass Amherst University Without Walls. It has also served as textbook and reference book for four classes I have taken with Connie Griffin, including two core classes, Frameworks of Understanding and Writing for Experience, as well as Magazine Writing and Creative Non-fiction. 

The practice of reading other writers on their struggles with their craft is so helpful. All writers struggle with finding their voice, creating the right space to work in, shutting out their inner critic and getting past self-doubt. Those are just a few of the issues that writers face. As I continue to work through my own issues with writing and work to shape my first memoir, look for more posts here on Writers on Writing.

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