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Writing, Put Some Respect On It!
What’s your real motivation for writing? Love? Money? The love of money? One of these don’t belong.
Sitting in a packed, small, auditorium classroom at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, I was a bit jetlagged but excited. It was late June and this was the second writer’s workshop I’d attended in 2014.
The atmosphere had a “writerly” ambiance. What? You’ve never experienced a writerly ambiance? It’s the buzz you feel when a room full of writers gather in anticipation. It’s quiet but something is stirring.
That was the air in the room as the workshop lead posed her opening question: “Do you think writing is an art or a craft?” Then, to my surprise, she pointed directly at me to answer.
I froze for a split second, my mind racing. Great, I thought, I hate answering the first question.
Forcing a smile, I replied, “Both.”
The room stirred as another participant chimed in, “It’s also a tool.”
And yet another voice added, “Oh, and a medium as well.”
The workshop lead smiled warmly and nodded. “And you’re all right,” she said, her words were encouraging and set the tone for the rest of the session as guest speaker Margo Rabb author of the bestseller, Kissing in America entered the classroom.