Writing Authentically About Difficult or Painful Topics by Wendy Brown-Baez : A WOW Blog Tour
Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler with Wendy Brown-Baez/@wendybrownbaez
Welcome to Wendy Brown-Baez’s WOW Blog tour for her new book, Catch a Dream, the fictional story of a woman’s healing journey from her homeland in war-torn Palestine to Israel.Today she will share her thoughts on writing authentically about difficult or painful topics.
Welcome, Wendy!
Author Wendy Brown-Baez
Writing Authentically About Difficult or Painful Topics
Where do we find the courage to tackle difficult topics? How can we remain vulnerable and transparent on the page while writing about painful memories? As a writer and as a writer instructor, I have noticed several things.
If we write about what is most urgent for us, it is inevitable we will tap into hurtful memories. Here is where we dig for gold, the stories that will resonate with others and where we can produce our more profoundly authentic work. Know that.
Practice writing in short spurts of spontaneous writing , using prompts, images, or things you obsess about and let the story you are compelled to tell surface. Read poetry to tap into the subconscious. Record your dreams. Journal about your writing process.
It is important to feel safe when we share . Choose a writing group or critiquing group carefully. When I lead writing workshops, we do not critique and only give positive feedback at first. We only proceed to critiquing if the participants want to publish. I share my own writing to create an atmosphere of intimacy.
It is okay to write crappy writing. Let go of expectations.
Consider the purpose : is it for self-awareness and healing or do you intend it for an audience? Ask yourself if you are ready professionally to receive a critique to improve your work.
If you are writing for healing, how will you explore the negative aspects of your experience? What I have learned is that you can go deeper and deeper into the story of what happened to you or you can take the branch of what did you learn, what does it mean, and how have you changed? Write about not only the trauma, but the healing story: your resilience, courage, and transformation. Be aware that you have changed in attitude, awareness or understanding. If you are writing fiction, you do not have to include it into the story but know it is there. Another idea is to write past the ending…for your eyes alone.
Sometimes we are writing what I call Big stories: stories that others don’t have the courage or the talent or the inclination to put into words . These include topics such as domestic abuse, incest, injustice, racism, war, incarceration, suicide, illness, bullying, gender orientation, rape, mental illness, and so on. If you are voicing a truth that is powerful and empowering, can that help get you over the fear of reawakened hurt?
P ractice in short stories, poems and essays . Try sharing them at an open mic at a friendly atmosphere such as a coffeehouse. Sometimes we are not aware of how much our stories are appreciated or how they will impact others. Develop confidence in your voice.
Take care of yourself: Speak with a counselor or friend, take deep breaths, stretch or do yoga, meditate or pray, sing, create positive affirmations, laugh, read something inspiring, make art
Other possibilities to get out of your head and into your heart:
write a letter to someone you admire, expressing your admiration and gratitude
write a letter to someone in your writing world (a writing partner, an imaginary agent or editor, a writer you admire) explaining what you are working on and your intended goals
write a letter to a reader, explaining why you need to write your story
If the material is too hard to write, write in third person and/or turn it into fiction
Sometimes we need to the distance of third person to get our emotions on the page. Turning it fiction will give us permission to explore other points of view and perspectives.
Positive affirmations: I am a big believer in them. I have them posted on my computer, over my desk, on my fridge, on my table altar, in my notebooks, and I pause to repeat them every day. They uplift my spirits and help strengthen my belief that my work matters.
Other possibilities to get out of your head and into your heart:
write a letter to someone you admire, expressing your admiration and gratitude
write a letter to someone in your writing world (a writing partner, an imaginary agent or editor, a writer you admire) explaining what you are working on and your intended goals
write a letter to a reader, explaining why you need to write your story
If the material is too hard to write, write in third person and/or turn it into fiction
Sometimes we need to the distance of third person to get our emotions on the page. Turning it fiction will give us permission to explore other points of view and perspectives.
Positive affirmations: I am a big believer in them. I have them posted on my computer, over my desk, on my fridge, on my table altar, in my notebooks, and I pause to repeat them every day. They uplift my spirits and help strengthen my belief that my work matters.
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Thank you,Wendy, for sharing these valuable tips for writing about difficult or painful topics.
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Book Summary
A woman’s healing journey begins in a country embroiled in relentless turmoil. In Israel, the first Intifada has just begun. Palestinian frustration for a homeland erupts in strikes, demonstrations and suicide bombings and Israel responds with tear gas, arrests, and house demolitions. Lily Ambrosia and Rainbow Dove arrive in Haifa with their children on a pilgrimage to sow seeds of peace. Lily’s fascination with Jewish culture inspires her to dream she can plant roots in the Holy Land. She falls in love with the land itself, with its people, and with Levi, a charming enigma, dangerous but irresistible. Eventually she is fully immersed in Israeli life, earning her way as a nanny, hanging out in cafes with friends, and attending Yom Kippur in the synagogue. Her son rebels against the lifestyle she has chosen and war with Syria looms on the horizon. Will she be able to stay? What does she have to give up and what will she be able to keep?
Print Length: 196 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publisher: BookBaby (March 24, 2018)
ISBN-13: 9781543925579
Catch a Dream is available as an eBook at BookBaby and Amazon .
About the Author
Wendy Brown-Báez is the author of a poetry CD Longing for Home, the full-length poetry collection Ceremonies of the Spirit (Plain View Press, ’09), and chapbooks: transparencies of light (Finishing Line Press, ’11) and Elegy for Newtown (Red Bird Chapbooks, ’14). She has published both poetry and prose in numerous literary journals and anthologies, both in print and on-line. She received McKnight, Mn State Arts Board and Saint Louis Park Arts & Culture grants to bring writing workshops into non-profits and community centers.
Wendy has facilitated writing workshops since 1994 including at Cornerstone’s support groups, the Women & Spirituality conference at MSU Mankato, Celebrate Yourself women’s retreats, All About the Journey healing center, The Aliveness Project, Unity Minneapolis, El Colegio High School and Jacob’s Well women’s retreat. Wendy received 2008 and 2009 McKnight grants through COMPAS Community Art Program to teach writing workshops for youth in crisis. The project at SafeZone and Face to Face Academy developed into an art installation showcasing their recorded writings. When it was noted that students’ reading scores improved, she was hired as Face to Face’s writing instructor.
In 2012 she was awarded a MN State Arts Board Artist Initiative grant to teach writing workshops in twelve non-profit arts and human service organizations. She continues to teach at Pathways: a healing center, in Mn prisons, and in community spaces such as public libraries, yoga studios, churches, and cafes.
Wendy has taught memoir at MCTC continuing ed and through Minneapolis community ed.
In addition, Wendy has managed shelters for the homeless and visited incarcerated teens. She is trained as a hospice volunteer and as a facilitator of Monologue Life Stories. Wendy studied alternative healing, ceremony, and spiritual traditions with Earthwalks for Health and lived in Mexico and Israel. She has collected wisdom teachings from these diverse cultures, as well as written memoirs of her adventures.
You can find Wendy Brown-Baez at:
Website: www.wendybrownbaez.com
Blog: www.wendysmuse.blogspot.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wendybrownbaez
GoodReads: www.goodreads.com/wendybrownbaez
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wendybrownbaez.author
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/wendybrownbaez
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How about you? How do you find the strength to write about difficult or painful topics. Do you have any tips to add to Wendy’s suggestions? How do you find your authentic voice?
We’d love to hear from you. Please join in the conversation below~
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Next Week:
Monday, 6/11/18:
”Reading, Writing and Taboo Topics by Memoirist Nancy Richards.
Nancy is the author of Mother, I Don’t Forgive You and a sequel, Mother, It’s Hard to Forgive You: Ridding Myself of the Family Scapegoat Mantle.
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WOW Blog Tour Dates (in Chronological Order)
May 21st @ The Muffin
Grab a muffin and a cup of coffee and read Women on Writing’s interview with author Wendy Brown-Baez and enter to win a copy of the book Catch a Dream.
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/
May 22nd @ Memory Revolution
Jerry Waxler relates to the main character in To Catch a Dream as if she was a real person. His post reflects on lessons learned in this fertile ground between “memoir” and “fiction-based-on-fact.
May 23rd @ World of My Imagination
Exercise your imagination over at Nicole’s blog The World of My Imagination where she reviews Wendy Brown-Baez’ bookCatch a Dream.
http://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com
May 24th @ Jill Sheet’s Blog
Make sure to stop by Jill Sheet’s blog to read Wendy Brown-Baez fascinating guest post on conflict and peace. The author answers the question – is peace possible without forgiveness?
https://jillsheets.blogspot.com/
May 24th @ Rebecca Whitman’s Blog
You should also stop by Rebecca Whitman’s blog where Wendy Brown-Baez talks about free spirits and belonging. What if home is not where we come from but where we feel we belong? What are we willing to give up to stay?
https://rebeccawhitman.wordpress.com/
May 25th @ Margo Dill’s Blog
Come by Margo Dill’s blog to catch another guest post by author Wendy Brown-Baez. This moving post is about motherhood and how can we be a good parent and yet fulfilled as a woman?
May 26th @ Mommy Daze: Say What??
Come by Ashley Bass’ blog to check out Wendy Brown-Baez guest post on trauma and healing. How can we stand up for ourselves? How can we reclaim our voice when we have been silenced by trauma?
https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/
May 27 @ Beverly A. Baird’s Blog
Make sure to stop by Beverly’s blog to find out her thoughts about Wendy Brown-Baez book Catch a Dream.
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com
May 22nd @ Memory Revolution
In a second post, Jerry Waxler will share Wendy Baez’s own words about the choices she made to publish her true life story as a fictional novel.
May 29th @ Mari’s #JustJournal! Blog
Stop by Mari’s blog to read Wendy Brown-Baez guest post on journaling and self-reflecting writing. A must-read if you love freewriting or journaling!
http://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog
May 30th @ Story Teller Alley
Come by Veronica’s Story Teller Alley blog and find out how Wendy Brown-Baez book came to be in the Story Teller Alley feature “Where Do Stories Grow?”
http://storytelleralley.com/blog
June 1st @ Words from the Heart
Come by Rev. Linda Naes’ blog to read Wendy Brown-Baez guest post on the topic loving someone who is not good for us.
https://contemplativeed.blogspot.com/
June 2nd @ McNellis Writes
Come by Margaret’s blog when she shares Wendy Brown-Baez guest post on the subject of travelling in countries during times of unrest.
June 3rd @ Margo Dill’s Blog
Stop by Margo’s blog where she reviews Wendy Brown-Baez book Catch a Dream.
June 4th @ Mommy Daze: Say What??
Come by Ashley Bass’ blog and find out her thoughts on the moving book Catch a Dream.
https://adayinthelifeofmom.com/
June 5th @ Madeline Sharples’ Blog
Take a look at Wendy Brown-Baez guest post over at Madeline Sharples’ blog where the author talks about writing to heal. A must read during these troubled times!
June 7th @ Memoir Writer’s Journey
Stop by Kathleen’s blog where she shares Wendy Brown-Baez guest post on writing authentically about difficult or painful topics.
June 8th @ Words from the Heart
Take a heartwarming journey over at Rev Linda Naes’ blog Words from the Heart to find out her thoughts on Wendy Brown-Baez book Catch a Dream.
https://contemplativeed.blogspot.com/
June 14th @ Become Zen Again
Come by Shell’s blog Become Zen Again where she shares her opinions on Wendy Brown-Baez moving book Catch a Dream.
http://www.becomezenagain.com/the-book-shelf
June 18th @ Strength 4 Spouses
Stop by Wendi Huskin’s blog Strength 4 Spouses where she shares Wendy Brown-Baez guest post on writing to heal.
June 22nd @ Strength 4 Spouses
Stop by Wendi Huskin’s blog where she shares her thoughts on the book Catch a Dream. A must read for your upcoming summer vacation!
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