Developing A Writing Practice: Noting Wondrous Small Things

“It’s a remarkable experience to be in Jennifer Schelter’s Memoir class. She guides the class in craft and creates a nurturing, collaborative environment for even the most reticent writer. Each person’s unique writing voice is encouraged. New members quickly feel the support and reinforcement from the group. This creates a safe petri dish to explore one’s most vulnerable and original work, unafraid of negative criticism. When freed from judgment, one can hear excellent possibilities for growing the writing for the reader’s greater engagement or understanding. The suggestions and observations are offered not as judgments but as positive options to enrich the story, the memory, or to clarify the thought. Class is positive and enlightening. We begin by practicing writing about what we see, hear, feel,  and smell. I found this extraordinarily revealing. The process opened up all kinds of writing and got me out of my head and into real, precise sensory observation. Then we have a prompt. It might be on a theme, or sentence, or some area of craft, and off we go, writing. Later, Jennifer asks who wants to read. I have been incredibly inspired by my fellow members and encouraged to continue my crafting and storytelling skills. I’m learning to find my own writing process! I am so grateful to Jennifer for opening up the possibility of my writing and helping me hone my creative process. Her approach is helping me reach my best level as a writer.” – PR