The write stuff - they have it

A young man emulating his dog peeing up a tree masks the underlying message of waste management issues. A confused and homeless cancer ridden woman seeks conversation and help from a complete stranger during a chance encounter which forever destroys the peace and solitude many have sought at Walden Pond. A memoir of self discovery recalls a family’s flight from genocide in Armenia at the turn of the 20th century in which one and half million people were killed in the name of ethnic and religious cleansing. A successful publisher coming to terms with the reality of rising office rental forcing a rethink on business viability after 18 years and seeking a silver lining in the form of a new career. The breadth and depth of these deeply moving, emotionally charged essays, shared by email, read with passion at the Write Stuff writers group, provides ample evidence of the richness of human experience and the desire to record and share it.
We made suggestions to the authors and to each other on ways that the works could be improved. Change a sentence here, move a paragraph there, less emphasis on ideology, more emphasis on facts, less verbatim dialogue; keep verbatim dialogue. Less anger, more lessons learned. All comments were graciously given and received.
But the real lesson is that it’s not about the punctuation or grammar or the orderliness of ideas. It’s not about writing for other people to read and enjoy, though enjoy we did. It is about writing with a personal purpose. To record a family history lest they forget and time robs the mind and body of its custodian. To explain why a place that was once a sanctuary for silent thought and reflection is sullied by the guilt of helplessness and must now be avoided. To expose a hurt born of unfair treatment so that the anger may be swept away and a clear path for hope can be fashioned. And to be one with nature, on par with so called lesser animals, free from rules imposed by the wisdom of mankind.

Are you a believer

Do you believe that any religious or educational establishment can circumvent zoning laws under the MA Dover amendment law?
Do you believe that The Korean Hope Church of Boston, an ethnic religious organization, without any local community ties, and with a catchment area variously described as "Greater Boston" and "inside I495", can purchase a residential home on a 2 acre lot, in a rural cul de sac of 5 homes, with the secret intent to build a church on the lot?
Do you believe that the plan is for a church with a footprint of 6100 square feet, three stories (36 feet high excluding the planned steeple), with 250 seats?
Do you believe this residential property will be paved to provide 83 car parking spaces with only a 10 foot buffer space between them and neighboring gardens.
Do you believe that this plan is put forward as serving the neighborhood, when services start at 6am 5 days a week, choir practice, educational classes as well as services weekday evenings and of courses multiple services on Sundays?
Do you believe the arrogance of the churches legal advisor speaking for the Church, `who says "not if, but when we build it", "we have no need to consult with residents" and "people always resist change".
Do you believe these charitable organizations pay no taxes, yet add to town's tax burden and by converting residences, actually decrease the number of properties paying tax, thereby passing the burden on to their neighbors?

I not only believe - I know. I witnessed it first hand on Tuesday 21 March at 9 Acorn Lane Lincoln. The home of the Korean Hope Church of Boston

Well brothers and sister, it is real, it is happening and it could happen to a property right next to you.

Another milestone

With some trepidation, I emailed my 750 word piece - Interview 101 - to the mercy of the collective wisdom that comprises the 10 member Write Stuff critique group. My first public reading of it - indeed my first public reading - was less nerve racking than I thought it would be.
People are generally kind and helpful, unless threatened and this proved to be the case. Comments were helpful and some even complimentary. "Tightly written", "realistic dialogue", "as though sitting watching through the interview room window", "enjoyed reading it" are some of the good things said. "Continuity issues and POV slippage", "grammar errors and English idiosyncrasies" were others to be corrected.

I also learned:

• that writers require confidence in themselves
• to recognize that everyone will spot at least one error and has at least one opinion on the piece
• to write first for ones self

Write Stuff at the Library

Is it a bird, is it a plane, will it take off? Time will tell if a group of writers from Lincoln, who met on a cold March evening, has what it takes to meld into a supportive and effective critique group.
Organized by Librarian of the Year (2005) and mystery maven, Jean Bracken, the Lincoln Library sponsored group of ten met to decide their ground rules, modus operandi and more importantly, who goes first.
A round robin indicates that interests range from family memoirs, to journalistic activism and ambitions from therapy to hall of fame status with the financial trappings sufficient to pay Town taxes. If only that could be true. Diverse backgrounds and experiences bonded together by no more than the desire to put finger to keyboard and produce the 2 to 1000 words that will be shared, critiqued and probably strongly defended by four of the ten on a bi-weekly basis.
Will deadlines encourage attendance or excuses? Time and March 15 will tell.