Sara, I think this essay is WAAAAAY better than a B+. I'd say, at least an A, or gee, just add a + to that. I love this so much. It resonates for me, especially in the description of you in middle school. You are a fabulous writer. Your prof was right about you. Good stuff!
Oh, thank you, Nan! I did work on it really really hard and asked my husband if I was sandbagging at the end. I thought about rewriting. But then I'd have to come up with another ending!
Sara, this is A+! I am a writer friend of Wendy's and I admire YOUR work as well as hers. This is a wonderful essay--I was praised in college and at points along the way but I never embraced it (or believed it). I found myself editing others work for years. And then got serious in my own write (right)--when? Wait for it, in my 70s!
I think your essay is great! I must say this to you. I read your book It's Not Us, and it changed my outlook at that time. I had been single but felt that uneasiness of not good enough unless 'coupled'. Your story made a positive impact in my life.
Now, reading this essay, you take me back to my awkward school days and mean girls. I did enjoy the journalism class in high school. One day my teacher requested a volunteer to compete in the Academic Olympics for journalism. There were other categories too; math, cheerleading, etc. No one from my class volunteered, so he chose me. This was a competition amongst 10 High-schools. I won 1st place. I wanted to be a news reporter. Never happened. I am close to retirement age. I learned that we all have gifts to share with the world. Ultimately, what we deeply believe about ourselves is key. When you work from your heart, your work is fruitful & fulfilling.
Thank you for telling your story, as it is the story of so many people who dare not be average. My I-will-no-be-average trajectory led me abroad...then back to the US to be average. A mortgage and an 8-5 are really not that bad for me. When I told a high school teacher where I was applying to college, she told me to 'take off my rose colored glasses' that I was 'never getting in there.' Her doubt was my fuel. I went. I graduated. And it was good.
You aced it, Sara. Unlike you, I had parents who prized success in the arts, recognized my talent as a writer and pushed me to achieve. Early publication and a slew of awards in national contests poisoned my creative well, so I chose to kick writers’ butts as an editor instead of writing myself. In old age, I’ve embraced writing. Too bad it doesn’t pay. I could use the money.
Hi, Sara. I like this, especially the ending. Keep going! And yes, why was volleyball so important? Absolutely no bearing on adult life, as you point out.
Hi, Sara. I love this story and the way you told it. It resonates with me because, although I *was* picked first in gym class (the first GIRL) and was a good athlete, I was dreamy and also a bit misty-eyed by 18th-c poetry. No one pegged the high-scorer of the basketball team for a future writer, and I worked harder at becoming a writer than I ever had (or had needed to) at sports.
p.s. I figured I should google you before posting this comment and I see that your book is with TarcherPerigee. My most recent one--a graphic memoir about being an athlete who became a writer--is with Avery!
p.p.s. I have also read/taught the Lorrie Moore story a million times, but I didn't make the connection until I saw your comment! Makes me think every writer should write their own version!
It resonated with me. It's not a B+, it's an A. At least.
I was taught to write by
1. Frank McCourt (my writing teacher)
2. Walter Lord (the great narrative historian)
3. My MFA Creative Writing instructors
4. New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens (writing is pitching)
You need a little bit of arrogance and a LOT of determination. You own the strike zone. You're a better pitcher than the reader is a hitter. Freeze him with a sinking fastball or a slider that nicks the outside corner for strike three, and make him shuffle back to the dugout.
I just realized (after a friend kindly pointed it out) that there is a Lorrie Moore short story with the same title that uses the same 2nd-person technique. So apologizes to Lorrie Moore! I read that story about 3,000 times when I was in my 20s so I can’t claim I wasn’t influenced!
Love this so much. You are anything but ordinary.
oh, thank you, Paula! You helped me realize the dream!
Sara, I think this essay is WAAAAAY better than a B+. I'd say, at least an A, or gee, just add a + to that. I love this so much. It resonates for me, especially in the description of you in middle school. You are a fabulous writer. Your prof was right about you. Good stuff!
Oh, thank you, Nan! I did work on it really really hard and asked my husband if I was sandbagging at the end. I thought about rewriting. But then I'd have to come up with another ending!
Which you could do, because you're a writer!
Sara, this is A+! I am a writer friend of Wendy's and I admire YOUR work as well as hers. This is a wonderful essay--I was praised in college and at points along the way but I never embraced it (or believed it). I found myself editing others work for years. And then got serious in my own write (right)--when? Wait for it, in my 70s!
Thank you, Susan! Looking forward to seeing YOUR work!
I think your essay is great! I must say this to you. I read your book It's Not Us, and it changed my outlook at that time. I had been single but felt that uneasiness of not good enough unless 'coupled'. Your story made a positive impact in my life.
Now, reading this essay, you take me back to my awkward school days and mean girls. I did enjoy the journalism class in high school. One day my teacher requested a volunteer to compete in the Academic Olympics for journalism. There were other categories too; math, cheerleading, etc. No one from my class volunteered, so he chose me. This was a competition amongst 10 High-schools. I won 1st place. I wanted to be a news reporter. Never happened. I am close to retirement age. I learned that we all have gifts to share with the world. Ultimately, what we deeply believe about ourselves is key. When you work from your heart, your work is fruitful & fulfilling.
So true! Thanks for writing, Irma!
Thank you for telling your story, as it is the story of so many people who dare not be average. My I-will-no-be-average trajectory led me abroad...then back to the US to be average. A mortgage and an 8-5 are really not that bad for me. When I told a high school teacher where I was applying to college, she told me to 'take off my rose colored glasses' that I was 'never getting in there.' Her doubt was my fuel. I went. I graduated. And it was good.
Thank you for sharing that, Sandy! It is so true that sometimes the doubters push us more than the encouragers!
You aced it, Sara. Unlike you, I had parents who prized success in the arts, recognized my talent as a writer and pushed me to achieve. Early publication and a slew of awards in national contests poisoned my creative well, so I chose to kick writers’ butts as an editor instead of writing myself. In old age, I’ve embraced writing. Too bad it doesn’t pay. I could use the money.
Thank you, Rona! I just discovered your Substack and am enjoying! That ad about the flight attendants was mind-blowing!
I love the honesty of this.
Thank you!
I loved reading this! Hope you're well.
Thank you, Joe! I hope you're well too!
I love Lorrie Moore, the 2nd person, and this!
Thank you, Rebecca! Lorrie Moore is the absolute best. And writing in the second-person is somehow so much more fun than first or third!
Hi, Sara. I like this, especially the ending. Keep going! And yes, why was volleyball so important? Absolutely no bearing on adult life, as you point out.
Thank you, Elizabeth!
Hi, Sara. I love this story and the way you told it. It resonates with me because, although I *was* picked first in gym class (the first GIRL) and was a good athlete, I was dreamy and also a bit misty-eyed by 18th-c poetry. No one pegged the high-scorer of the basketball team for a future writer, and I worked harder at becoming a writer than I ever had (or had needed to) at sports.
p.s. I figured I should google you before posting this comment and I see that your book is with TarcherPerigee. My most recent one--a graphic memoir about being an athlete who became a writer--is with Avery!
p.p.s. I have also read/taught the Lorrie Moore story a million times, but I didn't make the connection until I saw your comment! Makes me think every writer should write their own version!
Hi Kelcey, thanks for writing and you're right I think every writer *should* tell this story. I am in awe that you can write and draw and do sports!
💪🏻💘 🙌🏻 All hail the B+
ha!
Great story.
It resonated with me. It's not a B+, it's an A. At least.
I was taught to write by
1. Frank McCourt (my writing teacher)
2. Walter Lord (the great narrative historian)
3. My MFA Creative Writing instructors
4. New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens (writing is pitching)
You need a little bit of arrogance and a LOT of determination. You own the strike zone. You're a better pitcher than the reader is a hitter. Freeze him with a sinking fastball or a slider that nicks the outside corner for strike three, and make him shuffle back to the dugout.
Thank you so much! What wonderful teachers you had, and good advice!
Read my Sub Stack essays, “How I Learned to Write,” for more detail. Here’s the link to the first one.
https://kiwiwriter47.substack.com/p/how-i-learned-to-write-part-1
I just realized (after a friend kindly pointed it out) that there is a Lorrie Moore short story with the same title that uses the same 2nd-person technique. So apologizes to Lorrie Moore! I read that story about 3,000 times when I was in my 20s so I can’t claim I wasn’t influenced!