Karmen Kooyers
  • home
  • journal
  • about me
  • for librarians
  • links
  • get in touch

festival of faith and writing

6/14/2014

3 Comments

 
Picture
The 2014 Festival of Faith and Writing at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, once again proved to be engaging and thought-provoking. 

Some quote highlights:
Write from a profound love of place…
The story begins with place.
William Kent Krueger

Everything comes from place – weather, climate, who the people are, what happens, how people react.
Julia Spencer Fleming

We will learn as much, or more, from our failures as we ever will from our successes.  Tap the deep roots of your own experience.
William Kent Krueger

In the midst of darkness, there is grace…there is part of you in every one of your characters, even the bad ones.
Julia Spencer Fleming

Everyone has the potential for good, but something happens along the way.
William Kent Krueger

“It is the business of writers as artists to write what haunts us…within the territory of belief.”
Valerie Sayers

What interests me?  What surprises me?
Pay attention – be attentive to every detail in describing something so someone else can see it.
What kind of work do you want your writing to do in the world?
Writing needs some provocative nature to it to be worthy of pursuing.
Reflections from Christine Byl, Peter Marty, and John T. Price

Advice is not meant to be taken; it’s meant to be considered.  Otherwise, advice would be a command.
Christine Byl

Does a story rattle your soul?  Why are certain stories retold?  Why are there certain stories in your family that you tell over and over?
Peter Orner

Community is walking side by side with those who make us feel uncomfortable.  Be biased in favor of community.  Love as best we know how.  Stories can provoke and provide powerful vulnerability.  Part of empathy is acknowledging privilege – appreciate what you have.  Try to understand everyone’s struggle.  Embrace the stories of those with whom we disagree.  Be gracious, compassionate, courageous.  Stories interweave in sacred spaces.  When you forget the people in the story, you have lost the story.
Reflections from Jeff Chu


3 Comments
Katie Van Ark link
6/14/2014 07:14:05 am

Love Christine Byl's quote about advice - I think I need to add that one to my next writing journal cover. Great post!

Reply
Wendy link
6/14/2014 11:09:27 am

I'm just starting to figure out how important place is in my writing. Thanks for these great reminders.

Reply
Karmen Kooyers link
6/15/2014 11:45:56 am

Thanks, Wendy! Author Sarah Sullivan says that writers have deep connections to a place they remember with longing, a place where they felt safe and loved, and when we write about place with emotional truth, with the stirrings of our hearts, the effect is like wood smoke rising between the lines.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Karmen Kooyers

    I am a children’s writer and youth librarian who’s passionate about literature, libraries, and art.

    The path before me unwinds in ways that surprise, delight, and befuddle.  I hope you’ll join me to see where it leads.


    Archives

    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

    Categories

    All
    Art
    Books
    Jazz
    Memories
    Movies
    On Writing
    Recipes

    RSS Feed


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Stoutcob