I’m in Arlington MA teaching my Young Author’s Workshop to five superb young writers. The first part of each class works on developing a working writer’s notebook, since the focus of the class is learning to “live a writer’s kind of life”. Each day’s topic deals with observation and noticing the world around us. Yesterday’s topics were “snatches of talk” and “mind pictures”. The children were instructed to “look and listen” throughout the next twenty-four hours and come in this morning ready to record some “snatches of talk” and a “mind picture” they encountered. We had talked about sitting in the midst of strangers at a restaurant or playground or pool or wherever their day happened to take them, because listening to people we don’t know provides the most interesting “snatches of talk”.
Tonight I was supposed to have dinner with a friend, but she had to cancel. The family at the house where I’m staying was going to be out and busy for dinner also. I was all by myself. I decided to take my own writing advice and make it an evening to collect ideas for future stories. I ventured into the town of Lexington and went to a restaurant I ate at with my friend the last time I was here in April. I remembered they had great grilled chicken salads.
I entered the restaurant and told the hostess I’m only “one” so I’ll sit at the bar and eat. I spied an end seat, by the wall, where I could write and eat without being noticed or in the middle of things. I climbed up on the barstool with visions of a crisp white wine and Caesar salad floating through my brain. Glancing at my surroundings that were to be my dinner company, a scrawl across a chalkboard opposite the bar read: Owner’s Reserve and on that list was a 2012 Frog’s Leap Sauv Blanc.
Cool. I’ll try that. While ordering, my very accommodating bartender rattled off a list of specials that I told him my husband would order every one of if he were here. (They all dealt with clams and trout.) I told him to wait on my dinner. I’d just like to enjoy the Frog’s Leap first.
To my left, one seat over, a couple was conversing. They were discussing wedding plans. But….what if she suddenly leaned in, grabbed his arm, and said, “You do know we have to make people believe this wedding is real, don’t you?”
“Yes, I know, I know! Calm down and get your claws out of my arm.”
“How can I calm down? The “event” depends solely on everyone believing in this wedding and us being the “happy couple”. I get a little nervous having so much weighing on the two us.”
Haha! Fun, isn’t it? I think I’ll order my Caesar now – with steak tips – and…maybe…dessert?
Have you ever gone out with yourself? Try it sometime. You just might find you enjoy your own company.
And so, as another day goes by, I practice what I teach, and…I have written.
Info on Young Authors Workshops for children can be found at:
iTeach
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