THE WRITTEN WORD: Balancing life, teaching for love of the craft
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Kara Fox, kfox@tahoe-world.com
August 10, 2005
Truckee-based author Joanne Meschery says the
surrounding landscape influences her work, so it is no surprise then
that she is part of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, having led
workshops for 20 years during their fiction week and currently serving
as vice president of the board.
"The title of the conference
says it all," Meschery said. "There is emphasis on community. This is
an opportunity for people who work in solitude to come together."
The
only local author this year to lead workshops during this week's
Community of Writers, Meschery says she enjoys the time she spends at
the workshops helping other writers grow.
"It has been a
wonderful thing for me," she said of the Community of Writers. "I
really feel like I have a family here. ... It is wonderful to see the
progress of the writers, some of which get published."
When
Meschery isn't spending one week in the summer at Squaw Valley, she is
splitting her time between homes in Truckee and Calpine, Calif. Having
lived in Truckee since 1975, Meschery has seen the town's shift go from
a small town to a place where housing prices have skyrocketed and
tourists flock to. She says she likes the quiet of Calpine, making it
easier for her to write.
The author of three novels and a
self-published "History of Truckee," Meschery has been focusing on
teaching for the past five years at San Diego State University,and
writing personal essays that have been published nation-wide. Although
she is half-way through her fourth novel, "House Calls," Meschery says
teaching takes all of her energy.
"When I teach, I use myself
up," she said. "Writing a novel is arduous work. I lose weight when I
write a novel. I need a lot of energy when I write a novel."
Her
first novel, "In a High Place," took her a year and a half to write.
She had small children and was able to complete her novel with the help
of a fellowship through Stanford University.
"I was trained to write seriously as a young mom,"
Meschery said. "I would write when I put my kids to bed. I've seen the
sun rise more than most people I've known."
Her second novel, "A
Gentleman's Guide to the Frontier," which was nominated for a
PEN/Faulkner Award, took her seven years to complete because of the
research involved, she said.
"It takes as long as it takes,"
Meschery noted. "It is hard for me to write fast. Sometimes I am way
too careful. You have to learn to write badly to write well."
Just
as her surroundings influence her work, so do current events. She said
"writers should tell a story with relevance," but that fiction writers
take awhile to digest what is going on. She said that there hasn't been
a good 9/11 novel yet, but that "it will come."
"There's no
need to write unless you feel an urgency," Meschery said. "I care
what's going on in the world. All writers can do is constantly remind
readers and themselves that we can do better."
Community of Writers' free public events
Thursday, Aug. 11
1 p.m. The Doctor Is In: Anne Lamott
2 p.m. Louis B. Jones : Characterization
3
p.m. Panel on Roots: Dorothy Allison, Rabih Alameddine, Michael
Jaime-Becerra, Anne Lamott, Regina Louise & Amy Tan; moderated by
Mark Childress
5:30 p.m. Readings: Leslie Daniels & Sandra Scofield
8:15
p.m. Special Event: Writers Read & Talk about Their Work: Dorothy
Allison, Karen Joy Fowler and Dagoberto Gilb (Reception and booksigning
to follow. Seating is limited for this event. Please call to make a
reservation at (530) 583-5200.)
Friday Aug. 12
1 p.m. John Lescroart: The Thriller
2 p.m. Alan Cheuse: Point of View
3 p.m.
Panel on the Short Story: Michael Jaime-Becerra, Dagoberto Gilb, Elissa
Schappell, Gregory Spatz, Jay Gummerman; moderated by Andrew Tonkovich
7:30 p.m. The Invitational Follies
Saturday, Aug. 13
9:30 a.m. Published Alumni Reading: Luke Tennis & Waimea Williams, followed by Closing Talk: Al Young
Most
events take place in Squaw Valley at the Olympic Village Lodge, except
for Thursday's 5:30 p.m. event, which takes place at the Plaza Bar. For
more information, visit www.squawvalleywriters.org or call (530) 583-5200.
