Aspiring writers are given a chance at recognition - Features

Aspiring Writers are given chance at recognition
By Ashley Woods
For The South End

By day, Patrick Smith, an IT professional and a Woodbridge resident, works on a master's degree in computer science at Wayne State University. His few, stolen moments are spent penning a manuscript of autobiographical fiction, titled "Window to the West."
"I know it's hard to make a living as an artist or a writer, but that's what I really want to do," said Smith, 34. "I'm going to try to get published."
Like-minded writers can join Smith at the Detroit Creative Writing Institute's Fall 2007 Workshop, sponsored by the Detroit Institute for Creative Writers.
According to workshop leader Peter Markus, the classes aim to "expose students to the cutthroat nature of the publishing world while developing their talents."
In an intimate workshop setting, students will be guided through all aspects of the manuscript process, from editing to query letters and proposals to an analysis of the writers' market. The workshop will conclude with a trip to a literary agents' conference in New York City to meet one-on-one with publishing industry agents. The workshop runs weekly from September 19 to October 17.
"It always takes a second or third eye to see all the missed opportunities in a book," said Markus, the Spring 2007 writer-in-residence at the Institute of Creative Writing. He said many young writers aren't open to the possibilities an editor sees, which can lessen the quality of their writing.
"That's where a good workshop can come into play, or at least a reader who will say, 'Yes, this is pretty terrific, but there are parts here that aren't as good as they could be.' He made me realize that, what I considered insignificant, just my experience growing up, was my life story, and I should tell that story," explained WSU law school graduate Tony Paris, who now works as a labor rights attorney.
Paris also attended the Spring 2007 Workshop led by Markus, which focused on writing about places, specifically Detroit and the metropolitan region. Paris said the workshop led him to write more personal and political essays and gave him the confidence to begin writing songs for his garage-rock band, The Sons of Adray.
"The writing is so different than what I was doing in law school," he said. "But what I like about my job now is that it's about stories, and Markus taught me how to look for those stories."
The workshop concept was the creation of Mariela Griffor in 2003. Griffor co-founded the Institute for Creative Writing at WSU.
"There was a tremendous need for informing writers in the Detroit area about the publishing world and its issues," she said. " Everybody knew a bit about magazines and newspapers, because Wayne graduates so many journalists, but nobody really knew anything about publishing people with marketable work."
She said the workshop combines different disciplines of writing to foster creativity among students. Griffor, who also operates Marick Press, a poetry publication focusing on Midwestern writers, said she hopes to continue the workshops in the future.
"We're facing a challenge because the interdisciplinary studies program is closing," she said. "I've been in contact with different departments...No matter what, we're going to try to keep the programs independent of what happens to the department."
Griffor and Markus both cautioned students to keep in mind that workshop attendance does not guarantee publication. Markus requires students to bring a working manuscript to attend the workshop.
"I don't really address the issue of publishing very much with very young writers," Griffor said "Publishing is not the point."
The workshop method of discussing stories requires students to develop a thicker skin.
"If you're not stubborn, you're not going to succeed." Griffor said. "You need to have a certain amount of perseverance. The amount of rejection you're going to face is . . . huge."
She said the conference in New York City, while daunting, is a great experience for any writer.
"There are so many different people there representing the world of publishing...and they're available for questions, and panel discussions," she said.
Since publication isn't a guarantee, Smith said, participants are motivated in other ways.
"There's not a lot of literature coming out of Detroit," he said. "I think that's going to change, but it's only going to happen organically."
Smith said he feels that participation in workshops could help build a scene for writers in Detroit. He recommended workshops at Detroit's Scarab Club and open mic nights at Midtown's Beans & Bytes for aspiring young writers to hone their craft, as well as creative writing classes taught by Professor Christopher Leland.
Markus said the workshop was a pleasant experience for all of the writers who gathered at the Undergraduate Library.
"My favorite student last spring was a gentle old man by the name of Charles Novack," Markus said. "He was in his 80s, I believe, and had more stories in him than anyone else I have the good fortune to know."
Novack, an immigrant to Detroit who became the chief engineer for the People Mover, recently passed away.
"I suppose the failure there, of course, was that he didn't live quite long enough to get all of those stories written down," Markus said. "The real pleasure is the doing, the sentence-making and the sense of finding your way as you go."
He advised committed writers interested in developing their talent to take advantage of the workshop.
"To rush into print just so you can say 'I'm published' is silly and ultimately meaningless," he said. What's meaningful is entering into a text that hopefully is unlike any other text yet written. That, for me, is the point of all this, of any workshop."
The workshop meets weekly from September 19th-October 17, from 6:3o p.m. to 9 p.m. All sessions will be held in the third floor Community Room of the Undergraduate Library. Tuition is $200. Space is limited to the first 25 writers. Please contact Mariela Griffor at 313.407.9236 for more information.