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Saying ‘Yes’ to life’s possibilities
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Elie Wiesel personally depicted the harsh realities of existence while trapped in the Auschwitz concentration camp in “Night;” Tobias Wollf’s adolescent adventures were expounded in “This Boy’s Life;” Jack Kerouac molded his existence into a modern myth; and Maria Dahvana Headley took readers on a year’s worth of dates. Each of these pieces of nonfiction works are memoirs. A small piece of the author’s soul is spread across a few hundred pages.
“Everyone has a story to tell,” Headly said.
Maybe it’s time to share your own.
Maria Dahvana Headley, a play-writing Boise native and author of “The Year of Yes,” will lead a two-day workshop focusing on the art and business of memoir writing in conjunction with the Boise Contemporary Theater. The full-day workshops will allow a group of writers to not only share their life defining stories but also learn how to progress toward their goal of publication. In a rather intimate setting of 20 participants, the event promises to be interactive, educational and fun.
Though she refers to herself as extreme, the 30-year-old Headley comes off as more warm, witty and wise. She laughed as she discussed her life in literary works: she wrote poetry first, moving on to the personal essay, after which she found her calling in playwriting. She never expected to write a memoir. Her book, “The Year of Yes” – the story of how she put her love life in the hands of fate and refused to turn down a date for an entire year – is just a series of funny stories she wanted to share.
“It’s a coming of age story,” Headley said. “It’s about figuring out who you are. The message isn’t just about romance and finding love. It’s about going forth and seeing what is possible, saying ‘yes’ to the world and all its possibilities.”
Though she doesn’t outright encourage anyone to duplicate her actions, it is obvious that Headley reflects on her year of yes experiences with fondness. The book’s described period covers her 20th year, during which she was going to school full time and working three jobs while trying to adjust to living in New York after growing up in Boise.
It seems a year spent being more open and less judgmental taught the talented and comical Headly a lot more than she would have ever expected.
Headley’s memoir workshop presents a great opportunity to individuals with publishing aspirations.
Over the two-day class period, participants will learn creative and literary techniques regarding how and where to start when attempting to compose their memoirs.
The importance of writing exercises, such as breaking down one’s own life story, will be addressed. The significance of essentially simple and manageable practices will be key in building a foundation for an entire literary work.
Attendees will also be privy to Headley’s business insight regarding selling and publicizing literary works. Instruction on how to compose a pitch letter, book proposal and get an agent are all on the workshop agenda.
The information to be presented in this workshop is of priceless value to students of today who wish to become published authors. The chance to get ahead of the game and be better prepared for the challenges involved with real world publication is within grasp – perhaps now is the time to follow Headley’s lead and say, “Yes!” to the possibilities of what this workshop and life might bring. You may never know who’s waiting to read your story.
For ticket information contact The Boise Contemporary Theater at 331-9224 ext. 205 or infor@bctheater.org.
The event will take place 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 29, and Sunday, March 30. Regular ticket cost is $250. BSU students (with current ID) must pay $225. BCT members and season ticket holders, members of OSHER Institute, Log Cabin Literary Center and Literacy Lab may also enjoy the discounted $225 ticket price.
KAYLA CHRISTOPHERSON
Culture Writer
