by Theresa Garee | Aug 8, 2018 | Blog
A SENSE OF PLACE: Exploring New Mexico Through Words
a retreat with NATALIE GOLDBERG & ROB WILDER
January 27 through 31, 2019
Santa Fe Writers Lab
Santa Fe, NM
Every piece of writing is grounded in a sense of place, whether it’s a metaphorical space or a physical setting. In this retreat we read the writers of New Mexico then go on excursions to explore the territory and places they have written about. Experience New Mexico’s particularities–the dry cold in winter, red earth, snowy peaks (if snow comes), deep river gorges, Sangre de Cristo mountains, tiny towns tucked in valleys or plateaus, and, yes, also the landscape of hardships that come with drought, poverty, and decades of social disparity. We take this all in and wake up to the Southwest. Read more.
by Theresa Garee | Nov 1, 2014 | Blog
“All the words I use in my stories can be found in the dictionary—it’s just a matter of arranging them into the right sentences.” – Somerset Maugham
Shortly before Ed and I moved to New Mexico, a friend gave me a going away present. It was a tiny dictionary. In the front she wrote, “So you’ll never be at a loss for words.”
Right now I have the opposite problem. After I completed another pass through the ginormous manuscript about running my first marathon, the word count stands at 114,400. This is down from 190,000 words, but still.
Last night when I couldn’t sleep I pulled up memoir after memoir on amazon.com and looked at the page count. Multiplying by the approximately 250 words per page confirmed my fears. The word count of book after book totaled something close to 80,000 words, 34,000 fewer than my current manuscript.
I have options. I could turn the story into two books. I could ignore editorial wisdom and let the book stand at nearly one and a half times the conventional word count of most memoirs. I could pay someone else to figure out what to do. I could put it in a drawer and start something new. Or I could do the thing I most dread: cut more words.
You know what I’ll choose. Wish me luck! And if you have any tips for whacking still more of my precious prose from this document, please send them my way.
by Theresa Garee | Feb 3, 2012 | Blog
“Shut up about ideal conditions. I am tired of hearing myself whine about needing a writing shed—and, frankly, I’m tired of hearing you whine about it too.” – Patti Digh in a blog article on Sheila Bender’s website
In 1996, I attended my first writing workshop with Natalie Goldberg. By June of 1997, I had convinced my adventurous husband that we should put our house on the market and move to Taos, New Mexico so I could study with Natalie year-round. Now, mind you, Natalie didn’t have any kind of plan for people to study with her year-round, but I thought, if I just got out of Ohio, I could write. I mean, the sun! The moutains! The fresh, high-altitude air! What’s not to love about a tiny art town in the mountains of New Mexico? Well, one day I intend to write a book answering that question, but suffice it to say, when we moved, I brought my chronic depression and poor writing habits along.
Fast forward three years. The house in Taos was sold and we were back in central Ohio. Hubby would have preferred California or Hawaii, but I was convinced only Ohio would do. And guess what? Writing wasn’t any easier back in Ohio.
Don’t get me wrong. I benefit from a good change of scenery every once in awhile, especially if said change of scenery lacks internet connection. But I don’t kid myself that a geographic cure will fix the problem. Writers need to be able to write when it’s time to write no matter where they find themselves. For several years the best writing spot was whatever doctor’s office waiting room I found myself in as I accompanied my mother on her visits to a variety of physicians. I’d take earplugs or headphones and my laptop. I’d tune out the other patients and caregivers and write. I didn’t have a choice. I was getting my M.F.A. and the deadlines weren’t flexible!
The moral of the story was put eloquently in the blog article quoted above. Wherever you go, there you are. If you can’t write in your three-bedroom ranch in central Ohio, chances are you won’t be able to write in the mountains of New Mexico.
What about you? Have you ever attempted a geographic cure? Have you ever been lured into the notion that “ideal conditions” could solve your woes? As always, I’d love to hear about it.
by Theresa Garee | Jul 3, 2011 | Blog
“We make sacred pact. I promise teach karate to you. You promise learn. I say. You do. No questions.” – Mr. Miyagi from “The Karate Kid”
Are you ready to share what you know about writing? Upper Arlington’s Lifelong Learning Program (UALL) is looking for new writing instructors. But you’ll have to hurry. The deadline is July 11th. They want to include any new courses in their Fall catalogue.
I’ve been teaching there since 2001, shortly after I moved back from New Mexico. They make teaching easy. They enroll the students and do most of the advertising. I post flyers around town for my own courses and include all of their classes on my website. They rent the facility and collect the money. I show up and teach. Their courses are marketed to folks who want to enhance their lives. The participants are eager to be there. Most are adults although I do teach the occasional mature teen.
When I was getting ready to move back from New Mexico, Natalie suggested I teach. “Pass on what you know,” she said. In order to teach something, I have to really understand it myself. So now, my writing has become a two-fold activity. While part of me writes, a second part of me thinks, “How could I teach this to my students?” It makes for a fuller writing experience.
If you’ve ever thought about passing on your writing skills, here’s an opportunity. UALL is especially looking for folks to teach fiction or methods for making money blogging. But they’re always open to new ideas, especially during the Fall session when they try out new classes. To apply send a resume and brief class outline to dmosely@uaoh.net.
by Theresa Garee | Sep 23, 2006 | Blog
Did Bones change your writing life? Here’s your chance to celebrate in Taos, New Mexico with Natalie Goldberg!
Filmmaker Mary Feidt and authors Rob Wilder and Eddie Lewis have planned a November bash to celebrate the 20th Anniverary of Natalie’s groundbreaking book, Writing Down the Bones.
The party begins the evening of Friday, November 10 with a viewing of “Tangled Up in Bob: Searching for Bob Dylan,” a documentary featuring Natalie Goldberg. A Q&A and reception with Natalie and Mary Feidt will be held after the film.
On Saturday, November 11, Mabel Dodge Luhan House will host a limited seating luncheon with Natalie. In the afternoon, Natalie will lead a discussion about the book. A benefit champagne dinner will follow to support Natalie’s scholarship fund which brings people of color and other disadvantaged individuals to her workshops in Taos.
Natalie will read Saturday evening and then all guests are invited to the Sagebrush Inn for dancing.
The Mabel Dodge Luhan House is located in historic Taos, New Mexico on the edge of pueblo land.
For more details, call Mabel Dodge Luhan House at 1-800-84-MABEL or go to Mabel Dodge Luhan House
