Skip to content

Mystery Deb

A Writer's Life: Business and Personal

  • Website
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • GitHub
  • WordPress.com
Mystery Deb

Tag: creative nonfiction

How Writers Open My Eyes to the World

Pixabay Photo

I’ve been a facilitator for creative writing workshops, offered by my local community center, for a decade. One of the best things about this job is reading and listening to the stories of attendees who seek feedback for their memoirs, creative nonfiction, novels, and so forth.

What I’ve learned over the past decade is that being born and raised in Canada, has pretty much given me a sheltered life compared to others. I’ve worked with writers from Iraq, France, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, India, Australia, and other countries that have suffered greatly from war, droughts, violent misogyny, racial prejudice, disease, and poverty on a scale I couldn’t have imagined until I heard their stories.

I watch a lot of national news, which tends to capture short segments of hardships in other parts of the world. But these stations play the same clips over and over without digging much deeper except for the occasional documentary. Yes, the images are heartbreaking and shocking, but making a lasting impact is diminished when those images are constantly replaced by commercials for Ford trucks and super soft toilet paper.

I’m grateful to these writers for opening my eyes in vivid, excruciating detail. I hope they all publish their books one day, and then I will tell you about them and hope that you read them.

Author debrapurdykongPosted on November 3, 2021Categories Things I'm Researching, WritingTags books, creating great stories, creative nonfiction, creative writing workshops, creativity, editing, editorial feedback, novels, reading, shared experience, stories, Writing, writing and editing, writing memoirs3 Comments on How Writers Open My Eyes to the World
Follow Mystery Deb on WordPress.com

NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

https://sendfox.com/debrapurdykong

Casey Holland Mystery #6

CONTACT DEBRA AT:

dpurdykong@gmail.com

About Debra

Categories

  • Book Promo Stuff
  • General Interest
  • Guest Bloggers
  • reading
  • Things I'm Researching
  • Travel Stuff
  • Uncategorized
  • Writing
  • writing events

RSS Debra’s blog

  • BookFunnel Promotion Results
    A year ago, I decided to try regular promotions of my books through BookFunnel. For those who are unfamiliar with the site, it’s a selling and promotional tool for books in various formats. The site helps you to grow your mailing list, sending out ARCs, and other things. You can be either exclusive to Amazon … Continue reading "BookFunnel Promotion Resu […]
  • Appreciating Breaks in the Routine
    2023 has been a daily routine of editing, writing, sorting, and recycling. The sorting and shredding part is already tedious, so I’m switching to bookcases this week. This photo shows just one third of a bookcase that fills the entire wall. I’ve managed to clear out a bookcase outside my office over recent months, but … Continue reading "Appreciating Br […]
  • Starting 2023 with Nostalgic Recycling
    I certainly can’t complain about 2023 so far. It’s gone smoothly and Vancouver is back to its normal rainy but mild weather pattern. To prepare for our move later this year, I’ve been going through file folders and recycling papers I no longer want to keep. It’s turned into an interesting and nostalgic exercise. Before … Continue reading "Starting 2023 […]
  • A New Year Awaits
    Photo by Gerd Altmann on Pixabay Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I hope you all enjoyed a restful and/or fun break from your busy routines. It was a happy day at our house, and I’m so relieved that the weather cooperated so my family could be here. The icicles melted and the snow is … Continue reading "A New Year Awaits"
  • Holiday Greetings
    Pexels photo by Laura James Another Christmas is about to arrive, and I’m so grateful that my family will be together this year. Two snowstorms earlier this week wreaked havoc on the roads and at the airport (still are), however, the temperatures are forecasted to warm considerably by Saturday. My hubby and son have shoveled … Continue reading "Holiday […]
  • Prepping for Christmas
    It’s that time of year. Decorating (the ornament in the photo is one of my favorites), shopping, wrapping, and Christmas card writing (yes, I still send a few out) are in full swing. I participated in my last craft fair on Saturday and after five weekends of bookselling, I’m ready to call it a year. … Continue reading "Prepping for Christmas"
  • Updates, Discounts, and a Question
    Great news! We have now officially purchased the house I mentioned in last week’s blog. 2023 will be another hectic year but in a different way. As we won’t actually be moving until some time in the spring, I’ll be spending Jan. and Feb. sorting, recycling, and packing. As advised by a good friend, we … Continue reading "Updates, Discounts, and a Questi […]
  • Just When You Think…
    Just when you think you have things all worked out, life takes a couple of turns in the road. I had planned to spend the fall solely focused on bookselling at craft fairs and writing, however, plans have changed slightly. It’s partly due to time-consuming medical tests I hadn’t anticipated when I committed to the … Continue reading "Just When You Think… […]
  • Bookselling, Christmas Shopping, and Grandkids
    I’m relieved to say that my bout with Covid lasted only ten days before I tested negative, and I was feeling much better before that. The only side effect is more fatigue than usual but that’s fine. I’m a big believer in napping. Because weekends in November and December are busy with craft fair markets, … Continue reading "Bookselling, Christmas Shoppi […]
  • Writers and Illness
    Last week, I tested positive for Covid and have been living a sequestered life and resting a lot. I picked it up from my husband before his symptoms appeared. The moment he started feeling unwell at work, he masked up, left work, and segregated himself from my son and me once he came home. He … Continue reading "Writers and Illness"
  • Website
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • GitHub
  • WordPress.com
Mystery Deb Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Mystery Deb
    • Join 497 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Mystery Deb
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.