I have had a life changing experience, one I may never get over. I will be thinking about this experience for months to come, relishing in what I have learned, which is, basically, I have much yet to learn.

Yes, even at my age. There is so much more knowledge begging to be acquired, and while I feel I am running out of time, I also know it’s not too late to begin. Still, urgency remains in my desire to acquire more knowledge at this late stage in my life.

Attending a Writers’ Workshop

During the summer, I attended a writers’ workshop at a local college. I have driven by this pristine, historic campus hundreds of times without ever setting foot on these grounds. It is charming, accessible, and full of intelligent, accomplished people. I attended because I wanted to hone my craft, writing. Thinking I was a smarty-pants. Knew some stuff. Let me repeat, I have much yet to learn.

It was both a humbling and inspiring week.

When I walked onto to campus to register, I was feeling confident and self-assured. Like I belonged. In truth, I didn’t. I looked exactly like what I am, a middle-aged, suburban homemaker (a.k.a. Stay-at-Home Mom). I couldn’t hide, and I couldn’t deny it. And I didn’t fit in. Initially.

I Have Much Yet to Learn about Fitting In

It took me almost two full days to gain trust and find friendships, and I had to make myself vulnerable to do it. Through my writing, of course. The first few days were rough, freshman year of college all over again. I came in knowing only one person; everyone else knew everyone else. It was a lonely place to be standing, quite literally. No one would sit with me at lunch. If my friend who agreed to attend the workshop with me was late to the lunchroom, I was alone at a table, feebly inviting people to sit with me. By day three, a feisty 71-year-old woman took pity on me, sidled up to my chair, and instantly we were surrounded by people. If you build it…

I think I am easy to talk to, and I like asking questions, finding out about people. But because I didn’t look like anyone else, I initially made people uncomfortable. Or maybe I was the awkward one. Either way, I am certain I came across as the preppy prom queen played by Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club, unintentionally, of course. Never a queen a day in my life! However, if I could see past our diversity and cultural differences, age gaps and life choices, couldn’t they possibly too?

They could, and eventually they did, but not before I cried during workshop reading a very personal piece. Over the next few days, more tears were shed by other participants, more personal stories exposed, and more understanding from everyone.

What I Learned Along the Way

In addition to learning how to fit in and make new friends, I learned new terms like Chapbook and Beta Reader and small press. I learned about editing, agents, and publishing. Additionally, I heard published authors speak, had them sign copies of their books, and chatted with them about the industry. I learned it takes time to make new friends, but common interests do bring people together. Also, I learned it is never too late to learn, although I do feel a bit behind.

Besides learning that I have much yet to learn, I learned a great deal about humanity and how we all struggle independently, from one another, in secret, and in plain sight. Keeping our sorrows to ourselves. Finally letting them emerge through our writing.

Writing is a powerful tool, and these people were no slackers. Smart, sharp, and ready to write. Different genres, different styles. What emerged out of a classroom of ten diverse people when they trust, really trust, was amazing. I soon realized we were all holding secrets: childhood abuse, gender and race discrimination, alcoholism, life-threatening allergies, and death of loved ones.

When a room of ten eclectic people come together for the same purpose, magic and friendships do happen. If I learn nothing else, but I certainly hope I do, I learned that community can be found anywhere, even in a short period of time. I am forever changed.

Thanks to those friends who let me talk about this experience a bit extensively and to those who didn’t get tired of me referencing my experience at this workshop for several weeks post attendance. You know who you are!

The words do not always flow easily, so as a reminder, here is short piece written three years ago expressing the frustration over not being able to express one’s self as a writer: Writer’s Block for the Ages – scribingwithscout LLC