Day two of the Summer Writing Institute was amazing. During our reflective writing time I conferenced with author Sharon Kane on my book proposal. She was wonderful to talk to and I enjoyed sharing ideas with her. After lunch (which Sharon and I had worked through) everyone broke out into small groups, depending on their grade level. It was now time to share the stories that we had been working on for the past two days. I chose to share a piece that I just submitted to an upcoming Chicken Soup for the Soul series, about learinng how my daughter had disabilities. The first time I practiced reading it to my table, I choked up and had to have a friend finish reading it for me. (It wasn't a hard piece to read, but it hit me emotionally)
When I read it aloud again to the whole group I held it together, but left my audience speechless. They were so moved, especially since most of them know my daughter personally. The class decided that I should read my story to the entire group when we rejoined everyone that afternoon, as it was an inspirational piece. Only three people were going to be chosen to share that day, so I was both humbled and slightly nervous about standing among my peers. But I knew it would be a great way to practice my public speaking skills so when everyone filtered into the college auditorium I summoned up my courage and walked up to the microphone ready to go. (Little did I know that the district superintendent was sitting in the audience at the time) Overall it went well, and a few people left a little teary eyed, which I took as a compliment that I can move people with my words.
The picture you see here was not from the writing institute, but from the public reading that I attended in July at the River's End Booktore.
When I read it aloud again to the whole group I held it together, but left my audience speechless. They were so moved, especially since most of them know my daughter personally. The class decided that I should read my story to the entire group when we rejoined everyone that afternoon, as it was an inspirational piece. Only three people were going to be chosen to share that day, so I was both humbled and slightly nervous about standing among my peers. But I knew it would be a great way to practice my public speaking skills so when everyone filtered into the college auditorium I summoned up my courage and walked up to the microphone ready to go. (Little did I know that the district superintendent was sitting in the audience at the time) Overall it went well, and a few people left a little teary eyed, which I took as a compliment that I can move people with my words.
The picture you see here was not from the writing institute, but from the public reading that I attended in July at the River's End Booktore.
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