Finding a Writing Mentor
After reading 'This is Happiness' I wrote a gushing fan email to Niall Williams, telling him how much I loved his writing.
See the first part of this ongoing travel series.
One of the most important parts of improving as a writer is to be a good reader. I took Stephen King’s advice very early in my writing journey to read as much as you can in the genre in which you want to write. I started with the author that inspired me, Richard Russo, and kept building as I attended an amazing Writer’s Group in Safety Harbor, Florida and honed my skills.
The first Irish writer I added to my reading list in 2014 was Roddy Doyle, soon followed by Colm Toibin, Sebastian Barry and Paul Murray. There was something in the Irish style that spoke to me. I think it was the lyrical language, the sense of community and the art of storytelling.
Fast forward to 2022 and I’m finally on Twitter because
wanted me to grow my social media presence. Somehow, I followed Lone Star Mick @LoneStarMick, the account of Rick Barry, a Texan who is passionate about Irish Literature. One of his first tweets that I saw was a quote from Niall Williams’s novel History of the Rain. I couldn’t find the post in the 20K likes I have but I remember seeing it as I was waiting for my plane to Syracuse to do a book signing at my hometown Barnes and Noble. I went directly to the bookstore in the Tampa airport and there was Niall’s novel. It was fate.After finishing History of the Rain, I went on Amazon and bought four more of his novels. I found Niall and his wife, author Christine Breen on twitter and followed them. After reading This is Happiness I wrote a gushing fan email to Niall, telling him how much I loved his writing. I also offered to send him a copy of my own novel if he had the need to balance a table with a short leg. To my surprise, he responded, but he didn’t take me up on my offer.
While on www.niallwilliams.com to send the email, I saw that Niall conducts creative writing workshops in his home of Kiltumpter, County Clare. I immediately checked the box that I was interested in the workshop. I also direct-messaged Niall and Christine on Twitter and expressed my interest in attending the workshop. I liked all their posts. I kept checking in on the status of the next conference and kept up my interaction with them on Twitter.
In the meantime, I received a larger than expected bonus at my day job. I started checking Niall’s website daily to see if the applications had opened for the next workshop. It wasn’t long before they were opened, and I submitted my information. Within a few days I was asked to submit a deposit for my place in the class. I was in.
We started the process of getting our airline tickets and hotel reservations. A lifelong dream of going to Ireland with the tremendous bonus of the opportunity to learn from my new favorite author was beyond belief.
I finished reading all of Niall’s novels which increased my anticipation of being in a classroom, learning from him. I also spent weeks honing a short story that we could submit and while at the conference Niall would conduct a one on one with me, critiquing my work. I have to admit this scared me to death, but if I was going to become a better writer, I had to hear what he had to say, even with the chance that he could tell me that I wasn’t cut out to be a writer. Like almost every writer I’ve met, I was replete with self-doubt that my writing wasn’t any good, but I had to take the chance.
I was also filled with even more doubt that I didn’t belong in a workshop at this level after reading the testimonials on Niall’s website, almost all of which were from accomplished best selling authors. It was just like when I was in the Army, staring down a cliff with a two hundred foot repel and just a rope between me and falling to my death. I was going over the edge….
P.S. Here’s a great read from Niall’s website.
What a brilliant, and honest piece. I love the way you have approached this and gives me courage with my own writing.