Love, lust, laughter and baby bottles. Life is too short not to share it with others, and that is exactly what a small group of creative writers is doing. For the past two years, a group of writers has met in Malibu for a creative writing class that teaches how to write contemporary poetry and prose.
Sponsored by Santa Monica College and the Emeritus College state system, several senior citizens from the area have the opportunity to write and workshop their narratives with each other, for free.
Like an extended family, the group of roughly 18 critique each other, inspire each other and help write prose or poetry in several genres and styles.
Using models and examples from contemporary writers, they use techniques from poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoirs and children’s books to write and stimulate their own vision.
Preaching their inspirations and sharing the memories from years past, the students use contemporary sonnets, pantoums and more to turn their memories and emotions into prose and poetry.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for us and a great outlet for writing,” teacher Ellen Reich says.
Reich, a former elementary school teacher, was invited by Bill Robertson’s literary class in the Malibu Library to lead the course, and has for the past two years. With short breaks between sessions, the class meets every Tuesday to workshop and help market their writings.
Many of the students joined because of Reich and her talents, and her encouragement as a teacher.
From accountant, hypnotherapist, painters and past schoolteachers, each student shares equally, regardless of writing level or age. They joke with each other about their ages, weight and life past as if one big family.
“It is so wonderful to be a part of this class,” longtime Malibu resident Jane Hemenez says. “Ellen is such a great teacher and there is a lot of amazing talent in the class. It makes me appreciate all we have around us.”
But more than just an outlet for writing, the class also helps workshop each other emotionally. Each student brings to the class experiences from the Great Depression, both world wars, life in their homeland or present political disagreements.
“When I first started the class, everything I wrote was pretty down and full of sorrow,” Marvin Marshall says. “I was still upset over the death of my wife, but because of the encouragement I get here, I’ve grown as a writer and person.”
But the subject of the writing isn’t always sorrowful or serious.
“I smile,” Mei Meimandi wrote. “I smile for health, wealth and prosperity of myself and others-it is contagious.”
Meimandi, 78, was born in Iran, but came to the United States 20 years ago. Although a quiet man, he speaks three languages.
“They’re all so talented. I try to help give them a market for their writings and help them publish if they want to,” Reich says.
Reich herself has published hundreds of poems and will be publishing a book of her own later this year.
The class starts with Reich reading a poem or piece of work from a contemporary writer and letting the class write from their impressions of what they can recall.
“Often it’s the immediate impression that has the most creativity in it,” Reich says.
If they want to, she lets each person in the class read his or her writing exercise, but without comment from the rest of the class. If the student wants, the following week he or she can bring it back for discussion after it has been edited.
Based on the morning’s selected reading, the class is then given a homework assignment centered on the author’s style or form used in the piece. They are asked to draw from their own experiences.
But not every student writes for the poetry. Several students are enrolled in the class to help workshop their memoirs.
“I never really tried writing before, but I wanted to write my memoirs,” student Mildred Jarrow-Riley says. “I have lived through a lot and three husbands. I knew I was fortunate enough to have such a great life, I wanted to keep the memories alive.”
Jarrow-Riley grew up in the Depression and moved to Los Angeles when she was very young. She now resides in Malibu and creates digital pictures.
The class meets every Tuesday at the Methodist Church in Malibu. The next session begins Aug. 27. More information can be obtained by calling Ellen Reich at 310.457.3585.