Tell Your Story Writing Class
Tuesdays, Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1, and Feb. 8 (fi nal reading)
7-9 p.m.; The cost is $150. Quick Register: ME187
My MAC Experience By Nancy Anderson
Though I’ve always enjoyed writing I had never, in the past, thought myself a writer. Despite spending hours on, say, a letter, painstakingly positioning each word and having fun doing it, I fi gured “a writer” was one of an elite few who magically created bestsellers, was invited to book-signings and for those who really scored, were endorsed by Oprah. And though I’ll admit to aspirations of one day writing my own manuscript I had not a clue as how to go about it.
Then, one night in May of ’09 and right here at the club, everything changed. After being invited to the fi nal night of a writing class, I sat with a group and listened as the teacher, club member Tom Hallman, winner of the Pulitzer for feature writing and author of many magazine articles, introduced each student as the writer they had become. Then, amongst their friends, families and even some cocktails, everyone read stories they had worked on and showed support for the others as each story was shared.
Needless to say, I signed up for the next class. And the next class. And then the next.
I’m not alone. Right away it became apparent that repeat students are common and it’s never long before the new ones repeat as well. Hallman has a special way of drawing people in and a real gift toward helping
students “see” their story and map it out in words. Here, a true work-
shop style helps us fi nd our own writing voice and develop it from there. The goals vary. Some come to learn to write their life story for their kids and grand- kids. Some aspire to write screenplays, others a book. Carrie Stevens, who takes the class, wrote a story appearing in Goodness Magazine, and Lisa Metcalf, DVM, published an op ed. Recently I’ve freelanced for the paper, something 18 months ago I wouldn’t have been able to do. One evening Tom Hallman sent an email to his current class where he wrote
we were an amazing group of “writers.” Imagine that? Though not one of us has conducted a book signing or have been endorsed by Oprah, he called us writers! I am genuinely grateful MAC offers this class and am especially grateful Tom teaches it. Who knows? Because of this class perhaps one day I will write that manu- script.
12 | The Wınged M | NOVEMBER 2010
Everyone has a story to tell. Tom Hallman Jr., Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and MAC member, leads a class in the fundamentals of storytelling. Hallman, a
nationally known author and teacher, discusses story structure, character, dialogue, point of view and theme. The class consists of discussions, assignments and readings. Student work is critiqued by Hallman and the group. The setting is a supportive, motivating and confi - dence-building environment. Since starting the class, Hallman’s MAC students have had books written and articles published.
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