I want to tell you about a book I didn’t write but helped come to be. Writing from the Center is an anthology of prose, poetry, and art by members of the Memoir Writing Group at the Senior Center in Shelburne Falls. My role was to edit and format the book.
Contributors to the anthology are: Nancy Brewer, Marie Fuller, Debra Hoyle, Ellen Kaufmann, Caroline Mack, Margaret Payne, and Juliet Seaver.
The pieces they wrote explore life in rural Western Mass. and elsewhere. These writers have had interesting lives and shared their perspectives about them.
Here are some of the titles: As the Wind Blows; Jersey Cow Butter & Ice Cream & Whipped Cream Oh My; We Called It Devil Road; Stuck in the Middle; Stacking Wood; A Case for Time in the Kitchen; Wonder of Words.
Several contributors have been a part of the memoir group since it was founded in 2015. Previous leaders were Karen Earle and Faith Kindness, for whom this anthology is dedicated.
I came on board to lead the group nearly two years ago in March. From the start I was impressed by the writing and thought it deserved to be shared with others. So, I suggested an anthology, which has the support of the West County Senior Services District.
My role for this group is to come up with a prompt each time we meet — weekly for eight sessions in a row before a two-week break. We meet in person and via Zoom when it is appropriate or convenient.
I try to come up with a prompt that can be interpreted in several ways.
For instance, here is the Jan. 9 prompt and explanation: A song in my heart. Like other prompts this one is open to interpretation by you. It could mean a feeling of joy, hope, love, spirituality, plus what or who inspires that even when times are tough. Or perhaps it is a song so meaningful to you that you like to sing it out loud or listen to someone else sing it. And then there is that favorite song that a couple believes defines their relationship. Or a song you sing to a family member, or vice versa. And if you’d rather write about something else … go ahead.
Then the group typically has 25 minutes to come up with a piece in prose and poetry. Afterward we read aloud what we wrote and give feedback. Yes, I contribute a piece as well although I will admit this isn’t my style of writing. I believe the others in the group create much better work during those sessions.
Back to the anthology, I volunteered to edit and format the anthology. My son, Ezra Livingston, who has created several of my books’ covers, created this one. I hit “publish” at one of our recent sessions.
For those who live in Western Mass., the paperback for Writing from the Center is available for $10 at the Senior Center in Shelburne Falls. Likewise the paperback and Kindle versions can be bought on Amazon. Here’s the link.