Of all the courses I have taken or the books I have read, Literary Living reigns at the top of the list in huge letters. It has exceeded my expectations in helping me recover from “the slump.” The horrifying devastating slump. I now know I am worthy to be a writer. I have permission.
I now know that I must have things a certain way to facilitate my work. I have made my writing space conducive to my new writerly personality. I now know that meditating and fighting my hungry ghosts are a necessary part of a writer’s life. Don’t think about them and reap the consequences.
I love the new learning tool Write for Your Type. Things that you wouldn’t necessarily want the world to know about yourself, I must know.
The most important thing I’ve learned is that it is possible for me to meet the troll at the desk each day and accomplish something. (She now wants to be friends.) I find I can also work in other places, such as the living room, nearly impossible before the course.
I have loved Natalie Goldberg over the years as a personal guru. The best writing books are Steven King’s On Writing, and How to Write a Damn Good Novel by James N. Frey. I watch writers on writing via the Internet when I’m feeling alone. I read a craft book when I’m stumped.
All in all, I feel as if I have gone from a dimpled butt lady sitting in front of the fire to a roaring warrior causing the fire.
Joan Noble
Literary Living has provided the structure I needed for my fiction writing. As first a business writer, then a journalist, I was used to writing to deadlines.
When I turned to writing fiction, I struggled to write regularly and never finished anything. Now, I am writing every day.
What I found most effective about the program are the support of the Literary Living writing community, being accountable for my new fiction writing habit, and the insights I have gained about myself as a writer. The materials have all been useful and pertinent, as have the assignments. I will be using what I have learned, including how to create new, lasting habits, for many years.
Writing Is Conversation BlogErica Hanson
Can a seasoned procrastinator be cured in a 12-week program offered by Literary Living? Yes!
We all have preferred learning styles - that was one important point for me to consider. The next surge of energy I felt was when I read and deeply studied the writings from Joan Dempsey’s, "The Power of Deliberate Thinking: Five Strategies for staying at the Writing Desk." This book compelled me to change how I perceive myself as a writer. Do I want to continue as a Wanna-Be-Writer, or seriously pursue the skills and craft of writing?
All the books and papers in this course build a scaffold, a step-by-step motivator towards daily practice. It influenced my behavior, a new consciousness of awareness towards a deeper desire to express myself in stories and poetry.
Accountability was another important stepping stone in my progress to overcome procrastination. On a Discussion page classmates would check up on one another, and encourage each colleague to share their progress.
What I liked best, there was no time pressure; each person learned according to their own ability.
Studying the Personality Type from Keirsey.com, helped me analyze what makes me tick, strengths and weak points. I am still trying to process all this great information. I believe I will feel the camaraderie between the course participants, and the benefits of this Literary Living experience long after it’s over. A heartfelt thank you to the founder, Joan Dempsey.
Annemarie Timmons
“I’ve known Joan Dempsey for over a quarter-century now, and I trust her absolutely -- as a writer and as a friend. She’s one of the very few people to whom I always turn to read my work in its early stages, because she approaches writing not only with a rare intelligence and insight, but also with a tremendous compassion and integrity. She cares deeply not only about writing but also about writers, understanding from her own experience the dedication, commitment, and sacrifice that’s required to craft a writing life for oneself, and also the real joy that can arise from doing so.
Smart, supportive, funny, literary through and through: I can’t imagine anyone better than Joan at fostering a community of writers.“
Matthew Goodman is the author of The Sun and the Moon: The Remarkable True Account of Hoaxers, Showmen, Dueling Journalists, and Lunar Man-Bats in Nineteenth-Century New York, and Jewish Food: The World at Table.
Matthew Goodman
“Working with Joan Dempsey is a dream for any writer or aspiring author. She helps clarify your prose without taking away your ‘voice’ and coaches you to be the best writer you can. Her sharp editorial eye and excellent guidance brings new depth to the writing process and final product.
When I thought I couldn’t go on, Joan helped me see ways to further enrich my writing and helped me achieve my goal.“
Dr. Pardis Mahdavi is an anthropologist and the author of Passionate Uprisings: Iran’s Sexual Revolution, 2008, Stanford University Press.
Passionate UprisingsDr. Pardis Mahdavi
“Joan Dempsey is a dynamic presenter and a compassionate, creative professional.
I enthusiastically recommend her services to any writer seeking to advance craft and develop a deeper understanding of the literary life.”
Shonna Milliken Humphrey is the author of the forthcoming novel Show Me Good Land (Spring, 2011, DownEast Books). You can visit her website at www.shonnahumphrey.com.Shonna Milliken Humphrey
“A few years ago, when I was well into my forties, I returned to college to pursue a master of creative writing degree. Joan Dempsey, as part of the same intensive program, immediately demonstrated natural leadership abilities that helped our cohort group (or class) bond together in an exceptional fashion. For example, even before any of us attended our first seminar together in Southern California, Joan took the initiative for everyone to meet on-line and begin a collective dialogue that would last for years. She exhibited a clear love for the art of writing and, significantly, a special empathy for those seeking the same writerly path. Again, Joan’s passion and respect was a key catalyst in creating the special synergy of our group. Of the two dozen of us who received our MFA in Creative Writing together, Joan and I were the only two who continued on to earn a Post MFA Certificate in the Teaching of Creative Writing. Beyond her knowledge of craft,
Joan Dempsey has a rare combination of attributes as an innovator and leader. She is one of those rare people who not only lives her passion but has the special ability to help others give substance to their voice and vision.“
Scott MacFarlane is the author of The Hippie Narrative: A Literary Perspective on the Counterculture and a contributer to The Storyteller Speaks: Rare and Different Fictions of the Grateful Dead.Scott MacFarlane
“Since meeting Joan Dempsey at Antioch University during our MFA studies, I have had the distinct honor of watching her emerge as more than a talented writer. It is true that Joan is dedicated to her craft and has cultivated a writing practice that facilitates her ultimate goal of living a literary life. However, Joan has done so much more since gaining her MFA. She inspired me and two other women to form a group that meets online monthly to review and discuss the work we’ve done as writers. The four of us have been doing this without fail since our graduation in June 2005, and this would not have happened without the wisdom and dedication that brought Joan to initially organize our group. She has both a keen eye and ear and, though she is “trained” in fiction, she is one of the best readers of my poetry I’ve ever had. Part of Joan’s goal each month is to help each of us women to meet our individual goals and assists us by reading and helping to edit / revise our work. Though I am the only poet in the group, Joan never leaves me out, and, in fact, has assisted me in some of my best rewrites.
Truly, Joan Dempsey is an inspiration in that she has found a way to live the literary life, and is dedicated to enabling others to live the same.“
Christa Mastrangelo is a writer, poet, and yoga instructor. For a sample of her published work, visit Umbrella.Christa Mastrangelo
“Joan Dempsey was one of the first-round professional content editors on my novel Bombardirovka. With her deep experience with story structure, Joan was able to point me in the direction of solving chapter-level plot issues in my work. Her insights helped me move my manuscript on down the line. Timely and thorough,
Joan is a pleasure to have on your side, both for her love of writing and for her mastery of its essential elements.“
Learn more about Crystal Allene Cook at www.crystalallenecook.com.Crystal Allene Cook
“I worked privately with Joan Dempsey for a two-year period and can attest to her dedication to writing and writers. Because former Kenyon Review Editor Nancy Zafris recommended her to me, I knew Joan would possess the kind of talent I was seeking in a mentor.
My expectations were exceeded in every way. Joan Dempsey is caring, professional, honest, and knowledgeable.“
Mary Beth Di Cori is a writer and teacher working in Indian Shores, Florida.Mary Beth Di Cori
“In the summer of 2002 I became interested in my family’s history, especially my grandfather’s life. He was a hermit in the backwoods of New Hampshire. I always wondered, along with many others, what made him decide to live his life the way he did, isolated from society. As I researched his life I discovered a story too fascinating to keep to myself.
My first intention was to write Grampa’s story for my large extended family only but the deeper I delved into his life the more I realized that this was a story worth sharing with a larger audience. I had all the facts and knew what I wanted to say, my problem was - I had no writing experience or knowledge on how to proceed to create the book I wanted to write!
I spent the next few years floundering around in my attempt to put my thoughts on paper. I bought several “how to” books on writing, I spoke to other ‘would be’ writers, I tried one writing class but found none of these really helped me grasp the knowledge I would need to author a book. Writing is such a personal issue and I found I just couldn’t adjust the concepts I tried with what I needed to do, which was to find something tailor-made just for me to help me to understand the writing process.
I was losing hope that I would ever be able to figure out how to write the book I knew I had in me. Then I met Joan Dempsey!
I found Joan’s name on a bulletin board at a local bookstore. I called her, we met at a small café and right away we clicked. She totally understood what I needed. I felt I could explain myself to her and she “got it.” She was able to explain the writing process to me in a way I could comprehend. With her help I was able to put my thoughts on paper. She helped me to understand how to go back over what I had written and fix what needed fixing.
Sometimes she edited what I wrote but she always explained why and still helped me to keep it all true to my voice and what I felt was important.
With no previous writing experience I was able to finally write a 300+ page book on my grandfather which I titled Perley - The True Story of a New Hampshire Hermit.
The local Historical Society decided to publish my book in 2008. Since then we have sold almost 4,000 copies, my book has gotten great reviews and recently the local high school decided to make it the summer reading for the junior and senior classes! Though I expected the book to only be of interest to local people, we are realizing it has an appeal to a much wider market and we are receiving orders from other parts of New England. Its still going strong!
I don’t know if I could have written my book without Joan but it sure went quicker, easier and better with her help. If I can write a book with no previous writing ability anyone can! It just takes drive, determination, hard work, time and a good mentor! I highly recommend Joan Dempsey!”
Sheila Swett Thompson is the author of Perley – The True Story of a New Hampshire Hermit, 2008, Cheshire County Historical Society.Sheila Swett Thompson