tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post4219336115032310304..comments2024-03-29T02:43:11.575-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: When the story becomes your own by Amanda Le RougetelJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-86360285697912326472020-02-16T18:53:05.705-05:002020-02-16T18:53:05.705-05:00Brenda: How lovely to find your comment here today...Brenda: How lovely to find your comment here today. Thank you so much for reading and for contributing to the conversation.Amanda Le Rougetelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224867941931236302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59735156839185486592020-02-16T11:09:58.658-05:002020-02-16T11:09:58.658-05:00What a great post. And great insight into what wri...What a great post. And great insight into what writing can mean to an author. Thanks.Brenda Whitesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04162555468154752820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-64680661063706331282020-02-15T22:34:58.843-05:002020-02-15T22:34:58.843-05:00Good point, Gigi. I like that image of pinning wor...Good point, Gigi. I like that image of pinning words to the page. That's what forces clarity... Amanda Le Rougetelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224867941931236302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61827724917052048532020-02-15T22:33:39.524-05:002020-02-15T22:33:39.524-05:00Hank: Thank you for running in at the end of your ...Hank: Thank you for running in at the end of your busy day. I am so grateful for this JRW community. xo Amanda Le Rougetelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224867941931236302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22616181731296581962020-02-15T20:46:32.436-05:002020-02-15T20:46:32.436-05:00In and out of airports all day… And running in at ...In and out of airports all day… And running in at the last minute to give you a huge hug and ultra congratulations! Thank you for this beautiful post… And for your friendship. XxxxxHank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07630366214207785339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-5862520149592465792020-02-15T18:27:26.995-05:002020-02-15T18:27:26.995-05:00Julia: Thank you for checking in and for your enco...Julia: Thank you for checking in and for your encouragement. And I'm so sorry you're down with the flu. How rotten for you. Take care of yourself! Amanda Le Rougetelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224867941931236302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78648173854927688432020-02-15T17:40:40.068-05:002020-02-15T17:40:40.068-05:00Quite often, I know what my reactions are as I am ...Quite often, I know what my reactions are as I am reading. And usually, I know that I want to talk about certain things. I just don't realize how much they bothered me or made me enjoy something until I start writing my review.Mark Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567392254011373198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-37387802836593971722020-02-15T16:18:54.732-05:002020-02-15T16:18:54.732-05:00Chiming in late because I'm down with the H1N1...Chiming in late because I'm down with the H1N1 flu and have been in bed most of the day! Amanda, this rang so true for me - I only ever know what I'm <i>really</i> writing about until after the thing is written. And I join my voice with everyone else encouraging you and Deborah to turn your experience/classes into a book! Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-64526597955716319002020-02-15T15:59:30.023-05:002020-02-15T15:59:30.023-05:00Good point- it's all too easy to just give up ...Good point- it's all too easy to just give up or leave it fuzzy. Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27147393621499505462020-02-15T15:30:20.807-05:002020-02-15T15:30:20.807-05:00Thanks for the encouragement. Thanks for the encouragement. David Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17144607647071920674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33383650626653968452020-02-15T13:56:19.255-05:002020-02-15T13:56:19.255-05:00Danielle: Isn't it interesting what we can unc...Danielle: Isn't it interesting what we can uncover about ourselves when an externally orchestrated process guides us in that uncovering? That is the value of participating in a workshop or group. <br /><br />Deborah and I do hope to run the sessions again in March; and we're contemplating developing a Part II to run in the fall for those who wish to take the process further/deeper. Fingers crossed that we get enough interest to keep on doing this! Amanda Le Rougetelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224867941931236302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17863171412826963852020-02-15T13:53:33.097-05:002020-02-15T13:53:33.097-05:00Oh, David, yes: Now is the time. The writing doesn...Oh, David, yes: Now is the time. The writing doesn't have to be epic. An ordinary notebook, pen close by. Jot down the thoughts as they come. You might well be surprised at what they construct over time. Amanda Le Rougetelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224867941931236302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17889137725510697152020-02-15T13:51:40.676-05:002020-02-15T13:51:40.676-05:00Thank you, Catriona. Thank you, Catriona. Amanda Le Rougetelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224867941931236302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16652378220105748032020-02-15T13:51:16.119-05:002020-02-15T13:51:16.119-05:00Pat, thank you so much. The issue of privacy and c...Pat, thank you so much. The issue of privacy and confidentiality with diaries is, indeed, a big thing to sort out. Do you remember the teenage diaries with the tiny locks to keep out prying eyes? I guess the other solution might be Virginia Woolf's room of one's own with a lock on the door. Or, as you do, Pat, express the thoughts through speech with friends. But express those thoughts we must...Amanda Le Rougetelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224867941931236302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31086661393081120462020-02-15T13:42:40.305-05:002020-02-15T13:42:40.305-05:00I think just thinking about something leaves it to...I think just thinking about something leaves it too undefined. We can slack off and stop thinking, relying on how we feel instead. But words pin those feelings to the page, and make us think. As we grope for the right words, be begin to define the feelings.Gigi Norwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00495357787099352860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-64440754078537621872020-02-15T13:39:29.449-05:002020-02-15T13:39:29.449-05:00Amanda, I'm very happy to learn here a little ...Amanda, I'm very happy to learn here a little more about you, your writing process and your workshop.<br />Writing about a situation has often helped me to clarify my ways.<br />When I retired, I wanted to write but it didn't work too well. So last fall when an autobiographical workshop opened, I decided to attend. In doing so and in sharing my experiences with the group, I discovered things about me that I haven't never thought about.<br />Will you and your friend repeat your workshop experience ?danielle-momohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02004302871652952720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-60061826329739568962020-02-15T13:38:51.530-05:002020-02-15T13:38:51.530-05:00What to do with journals? Well, Warren's manu...What to do with journals? Well, Warren's manuscripts and such are in the collection of the University of North Texas, and they apparently want any and all of my stuff that would inform research into his life and writing. So my journals are going there but only after I'm good and dead.<br /><br />And thank you, Ann, for your very kind words! Lucy, too. I would love to see a book about the things Amanda and Deborah teach.Gigi Norwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00495357787099352860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48293052788426937102020-02-15T13:23:12.687-05:002020-02-15T13:23:12.687-05:00Shalom Reds and fans. Shalom Amanda. I enjoyed rea...Shalom Reds and fans. Shalom Amanda. I enjoyed reading your post this morning. I am a “slow” reader and writing is almost painful to me. Several times in my life, particularly after I turned 40, I had a friend who was willing to read with me. We’d buy 2 copies of the same book, usually a novel, and alternately read aloud, a page at a time. We’d do it daily (on the phone if necessary) and we would only do 20 minutes to a half hour. Before we had blogs or podcasts, I remember listening to Isaiah Sheffer hosting on NPR, Selected Shorts at Symphony Space on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. I equally loved, The Fiddlehead or Glimmer Train. <br /><br />I have several tales, some actual experiences of mine, some just from my imagination, which are waiting for me to set pen to paper. I tell myself, now is the time; I am not getting younger. Thank you for your post this morning.<br />David Squireshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17144607647071920674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68333717991548265522020-02-15T12:33:09.485-05:002020-02-15T12:33:09.485-05:00What a wonderful insight into your process and you...What a wonderful insight into your process and your progress. I am so pleased for you.Catrionahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217540850489785630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-40665702457008915992020-02-15T12:29:26.893-05:002020-02-15T12:29:26.893-05:00Writing does clarify things as it is WORK to figur...Writing does clarify things as it is WORK to figure out the issues and write them out in an orderly manner. Which is probably why I avoid it like the plague. I had a brief dalliance with keeping a diary way back in elementary school. My big brother cured me of that when he got into it and put his comments in. That's an issue. Writing such personal musings and keeping them private. I'd rather keep them in my head until I meet up with close friends I can go back and forth with. Unfortunately none of them live here! Oh well. I may try writing out some of my frustrations in trying to find my happy place to move to and why it's been such a logjam. At any rate I really enjoyed reading what you had to say today, Amanda.Pat Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12732230586783432052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-66884165062718340502020-02-15T11:36:13.565-05:002020-02-15T11:36:13.565-05:00Thank you, Deborah. We are, indeed, lucky (and gra...Thank you, Deborah. We are, indeed, lucky (and grateful) to have each other in our writing pursuits. As for the retreat, it came to me suddenly one day that such a thing didn't have to be complicated or involve long-distance travel! Just the commitment to do it regularly. Amanda Le Rougetelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224867941931236302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-31761053857105009992020-02-15T11:27:49.986-05:002020-02-15T11:27:49.986-05:00Diana: Thank you. Local bookstores that offer work...Diana: Thank you. Local bookstores that offer workshops are splendid, aren't they. I'm not writing either a novel or a memoir -- yet; for the moment, I'm focused on posts to my blog that tend to be about an event or situation in my own life that I think will resonate with a larger audience (for example, in one post tell the story of not being able to find the cat; in another, I tell the story of my wedding). I suppose such snippets might be called memoir-esque? I think, eventually, I'd like to try my hand at a piece of fiction, if only to see if I can learn how to build and sustain the arc of story telling through multiple characters and chapters. Amanda Le Rougetelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05224867941931236302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-505019717075763422020-02-15T11:05:56.914-05:002020-02-15T11:05:56.914-05:00Me, either, Roberta!
And to clarify, I wrote in ...Me, either, Roberta! <br /><br />And to clarify, I wrote in shorthand notebooks, but in longhand. So my mother, God, and everybody could read them, unfortunately. Karen in Ohiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18002794561817071780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-72691731698578145212020-02-15T11:03:39.909-05:002020-02-15T11:03:39.909-05:00Amanda, what a wonderful post on so many levels! Y...Amanda, what a wonderful post on so many levels! You and Deborah are so fortunate to have found kindred spirits, and so generous to share your insights with others. I have never journaled as regularly as I'd like, in spite of my addiction to pretty books, but I can see--sometimes only after the fact--that I often work out personal issues in my novels. I've also been very lucky in having a couple of friends with whom I regularly share writing, and I'm always amazed at how much things can be clarified just by talking through a plot point or a character arc. I'm very envious of your retreat, however! I think Rhys has a great suggestion on the novel!Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61998407021499866192020-02-15T11:00:41.376-05:002020-02-15T11:00:41.376-05:00Amanda, how wonderful it was to read your guest po...Amanda, how wonderful it was to read your guest post since I often read your comments here. Your writing group sounds perfect! We have writing workshops at a local bookstore too. Are you writing a mystery novel or a memoir? Please let us know when your book is published. I will check out your blog.<br /><br />DianaBibliophilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07764234701385787238noreply@blogger.com