Our writing table this week was crammed with photographs: tiny sepia photos released from crumbling albums, formal studio portraits, modern-day digital shots in glossy color—all with stories to tell.
Addressing the trepidation of some writers at the thought of narrowing down their photo choices, workshop leader Judith Dupré recounted Anne Lamott’s story of her ten-year-old brother’s struggle to finish a report on birds he’d been agonizing over for months. Her father calmed him with this advice: “Just take it bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.”
Not everyone, however, was casting around for a photographic “on-ramp.” One woman told us she hadn’t had a problem because one photo “chose her.” She let her writing flow uncensored, knowing there would time to revise later on. We talked about how a story might need images to support it. Or, conversely, how a powerful image could inspire the writing. There is no right or wrong way; the job is simply to begin.
We looked briefly at the nuts & bolts of making an online book: from cover and dust-jacket design to text and image layout options. While participants have yet to download the Booksmart application to their own computers, I encouraged everyone to register at Blurb.com and explore the site.
Next week we return with written descriptions of our books, revised bios, and second drafts of the stories we began in class. Grace, our intern and photographer, will continue to take dust-jacket headshots and scan photos.
Stay with us as we continue to gather our stories “bird by bird.”
—Holly Posner, guest blogger
Photo: Judith Dupré