Creative writers with whom I work, whether in classes, workshops or individually, are typically active professionals who have a short story in the bottom drawer, a half-written novel on the computer or notes and poems in a series of journals.\u00a0 They\u2019ve reached a point in their careers where they have time and resources to devote to efforts that were previously pursued haphazardly and in private.\u00a0 Generally, students have a high level of education, graduate and terminal degrees and a level of discipline that comes from such study. This was also my path into writing fiction.<\/p>\n
However, I have come to believe that none of this, ultimately, matters. \u00a0I have worked with students who can barely spell. \u00a0This is not an exaggeration. The primary starting point for any creative person, whether in writing, painting, architecture or music, etc., is, I believe, to be in possession of an original\u00a0take<\/em>\u00a0on the world. We each have such a take. \u00a0But the artist moves more deeply into that crevice. \u00a0Sometimes this internal geography is entirely unknown to the writer. Sometimes it is flagrantly obvious from the start. What I look for in a prospective student is a willingness to explore that personal crevice, an exploration which, more often than not, requires courage. Considerable formal education can be both a help and a hindrance to such an exploration. This willingness to explore is something I foster in my classes, workshops, and when I coach creative writing privately. I also encourage it when I edit. \u00a0I believe it is from this unique and personal crevice that all brilliant work comes. \u00a0It is from this crevice that the work the world longs for, comes.<\/p>\n I am open to working in all prose forms, however my strength is in the novel, story, memoir, prose-poem and essay. \u00a0Academic work (books, articles and addresses) is a new interest for me. \u00a0My reading and teaching experience is limited in the area of mystery\/thriller, sci-fi, children\u2019s, young adult, travel, self-help and gothic romance.<\/p>\n One-to-one sessions, editing and workshops can be taken in either a face-to-face format or online depending on the student’s needs and preferences. Online options can also be tailored and hybridized to include face-to-face time.<\/p>\n I work with writers I believe in. \u00a0Since, in my view, this has almost no correlation to external achievements, educational level or training, I encourage anyone who is interested to contact me.<\/p>\n Haunting and profound,\u00a0The Memory Room\u00a0refracts personal history and puts it back together as powerful art…. Rakow has written a daring, brilliant book. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Creative writers with whom I work, whether in classes, workshops or individually, are typically active professionals who have a short story in the bottom drawer, a half-written novel on the computer or notes and poems in a series of journals.\u00a0 They\u2019ve reached a point in their careers where they have time and resources to devote […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"template-fullpage.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-531","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n\u2013Howard Norman, author of<\/em> \u00a0The Museum Guard\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0The Haunting of L<\/p>\n