I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Not true – I’ve always wanted to be an author. I can write well but I’ve never had the discipline to write every day and I didn’t know whether I had a “voice.” Several times I enrolled in an online creative writing course (like those at Gotham Writers) and didn’t keep up. I only gave myself permission to write when everything else was done. When, ever, is that?
This summer I decided to try an in-class creative writing experience. Linda and I started SmallTalks not only for the content but for the human interaction. There is no aspect of humanity that cannot be experienced online — you can learn, visit friends, watch someone cook a meal, listen to music, or fall in love — but is it the same as being present with other human beings? No. We are social animals.
I get the irony. I’m talking about social connection in the context of the loneliest profession, creative writing. Must write that in my little notebook to explore later.
I took two classes in the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies: Creative Writing: Introduction and Creative Writing Through Reading. Both were excellent. The teachers were professional writers and very passionate about their work. My classmates, most of whom were much younger than I, were smart and thoughtful. I didn’t want to miss a class.
Both classes are available online as well but they wouldn’t be as good, or good for me. And the evidence shows that I would stop attending an online class no matter how much money it had cost.
We’ve had a few people ask if we plan to record our SmallTalks so that they can view them online. The answer is no. You have to be there.
— Jennifer