6: Wendi Tells the Story of her Ex-husband’s Murder. Writing Is an Exercise in Trust.

Today we give you Wendi Adelson the way she revealed herself in the first semester. Andrea talks about hot topic, cold prose, a writing technique where the narrator pares down the writing in a difficult moment. The story is told without sentiment. It’s just reported. Two weeks into the semester, Wendi came back with some of the answers to students’ questions. In her first story she hinted at not feeling like she can publicly express how she really feels, a theme she repeated in the next story. In her writing though, she seems to express how she really feels. Wendi responds to the prompt: What is the story you tell about your relationship with your mom?

Sometimes prompts bring up memories we don’t consciously realize are still affecting us. In response to the prompt Lies, Wendi realizes people think she’s happy even when she’s not. And later in the same class Wendi responds to the prompt: Your last intimate moment.

Andrea says, “I think Wendi’s working on a bigger story. More than just what happened, which was that her ex-husband was murdered. Her bigger story is about what it means for her to be authentic. Wendi writes a lot about how people react when they hear her story. She also writes about her own reactions--how she wishes she could be as true in person as she is in her writing.” Andrea spoke to Wendi about her experience in class. Wendi said she felt good about the classes’ reaction. She says she felt empowered to tell her side of the story.

Writing Class Radio is a podcast where you’ll hear true personal stories and learn a little about how to write your own stories. Writing Class Radio is equal parts heart and art. By heart we mean the truth in a story. By art we mean the craft of writing. No matter what’s going on in our lives, writing class is where we tell the truth. It’s where we work out our shit, and figure out who we are.

There’s no place in the world like writing class and we want to bring you in.

Writing Class Radio is co-hosted by Allison Langer (www.allisonlanger.com) and Andrea Askowitz (www.andreaaskowitz.com). Writing Class Radio is produced by Diego Saldana-Rojas, Andrea Askowitz and Allison Langer. Thank you to Tobi Ash and Alejandro Santiago for your help on this episode.

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