Living abroad can be great, and it definitely has its challenges. I am constantly looking for ways to dive deeper into the local experience and it isn't always easy (as one might think!). It seems I am always pushing outside that comfort zone, whatever is left of it. My latest effort has been an on-line writing workshop at Oxford. Yeah, I was a little intimidated by the sound of Oxford, but like everything else, I closed my eyes, crossed my fingers, and jumped right in. How could I not?
The 10-week course just finished up and I'm so relieved to have my schedule back to myself -- just in time for the holidays. Oxford offers lots of continuing education and short-term learning opportunities. This particular workshop focused on writing about real life, I might even call it a branch of journalism. While I have done tons of corporate writing and reporting, writing about life has been a welcome new twist. It includes intense emotions, sets a tone and scene, and turning facts into a treasured story. This includes genres such as memoirs, travel journals, biography, and family history. I have a few personal goals in these areas that involve crafting a tail of adventure for my little nieces to read when they are older. I'm also interested in how I can incorporate this type of writing into future freelance projects. Even corporate histories are interesting to me - ack!
Anyway, the coolest thing about this course for me was the amazing diversity of students. There were about 25 of us stretching out around the world: France, Egypt (Cairo no less, poor girl), Thailand, Laos, Oxford,even Dallas, Texas! Ages ranged from 17 to 70, several nationalities including Indian. Interacting with them and reading their writing was a real privilege and joy. The other joy was in the learning, I'm sure I'll be taking another workshop again soon. Creative Writing anyone, maybe Poetry?
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