Student Liz Marquardt in Response to Prompt: Everyone Needs...

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Everyone needs someone in their life who keeps them humble. For my husband, Bill, that person is me. I am not sure he knows how important a job that is, or how good I am at doing that for him, but apparently he appreciates it since he has stayed with me for the past 22 years.

To say Bill is fastidious or meticulous when it comes to his clothes is an understatement, even though those words are rather extreme. I think he is nuts about his clothes, but I do recognize my greatest fashion accomplishment is getting out the door without my shirt on backwards or inside out. One of the most important women is his life is the lady who owns the dry cleaner that presses his clothes, so his life priorities are clear.

Bill is always the best dressed guy at Home Depot. Last time we went there to get a new garden hose because he didn’t like that ours had gotten dirty, he wore Cole Haan loafers, a crisply pressed button down striped Brooks Brothers short sleeve shirt, and a pair of exquisitely creased and pressed Tommy Bahama shorts. He looked like somebody who walked in there because he needed something for his yacht and he mistakenly thought it was a marine store.

Last Friday, Bill left for work wearing black Hugo Boss jeans and a white long sleeve shirt that was so perfectly starched and pressed, it actually looked shiny. I found the outfit hilarious, but didn’t say anything as he said goodbye and walked out the front door. I waited until he called me later in the day when I said, “Did you go out for lunch today?” 

“No, why?” he said.  

“Oh nothing,” I said and laughed.  

He said, “That didn’t sound like nothing.”  

“Well,” I said, “I was afraid that if you were in a restaurant in that outfit, somebody might ask you for a menu.” 

“Duly noted, next time I will wear a shirt with color.” He said.  

It is rare that I score any humble points when it comes to Bill and his clothes, so I need to seize those rare opportunities when they arise. Particularly since I know that it will only take me a few days until the next time I have my dress tucked in my underwear, and Bill will smugly point that out.

Show Notes for Episode 39: Get Out of Your Way and Write

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On today’s episode we’re talking about getting out of our own way when writing a story. The writing process starts with getting the truth on paper. We write about situations or problems we’re dealing with or have dealt with, things we’re still trying to understand or resolve. The goal is getting to the reason we’re writing the story and what the story is really about.

Andrea is a huge believer in writing and rewriting. That’s her process. A first draft is usually shit. Then the second draft all the way to the 222 draft, is usually still shit, but those drafts are critical for telling the story well. But with all this writing and rewriting, we can get in our own way.

In this episode, you'll hear student Misha Mehrel’s story Bad Breath. Misha brought this piece to class a couple of weeks ago and it needed very little editing. You will also hear an interview with Misha about his writing process. Misha was wary of writing about his father’s cancer diagnosis. What he did instead was start by writing about physical problems that had been bothering him. He wrote graphically and intimately about his breath and bowel movements, which served to free him up to write about his dad.

Two prompt ideas to help you, the listener, loosen up. Body Odor or Menstrual Blood. See where that takes you.

Listen to other stories by Misha in Episode 36 about Hurricane Irma (https://soundcloud.com/writing-class-radio/episode-36-hurricanes-and-stories-define-us-since-the-beginning-of-time) and another in Episode 16: Comfort Zone where he told a story about his hairy ass.

 

(https://soundcloud.com/writing-class-radio/episode-16-step-out-of-your-comfort-zone-where-the-magic-happens).

 Writing Class Radio is a podcast that brings you true, personal stories written in an actual memoir writing class and a little instruction on how to write your own stories.

Writing Class Radio is co-hosted by student Allison Langer (www.allisonlanger.com)  and teacher Andrea Askowitz (www.andreaaskowitz.com). This podcast is equal parts heart and art. By heart, we mean getting to the truth and by art, we mean the craft of writing.

Writing Class Radio is produced by Virginia Lora, Andrea Askowitz and Allison Langer. We are sponsored by and recorded at the University of Miami School of Communication.

Our fall writing contest is officially on! The prompt is Secret Pleasure. Deadline is Feb. 14, 2017. Details at writingclassradio.com.

Theme music by Ari Herstand. Additional music by Kevin Myles WIlson

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There’s no better way to understand ourselves and each other than by writing and sharing our stories. Everyone has a story. What’s yours?