april 19

Voice

The reading features writers who studied 

with the late legendary Tom Spanbauer 

in his Dangerous Writing Workshops. 

. I could never get into Tom’s novels

but I saw him read once and he was understated 

and heartbreaking. There are four readers,

all of them taking their mentor’s advice

to write what they know. Barely-disguised 

autobiography from well-meaning people 

whose lives have been dull and privileged.

There is nothing dangerous or even mildly compelling 

about any of it. The last reader is the man

who organized the event, an ancient gentlemen

with thin, slicked-back white hair

who reads from his 750 page magnum opus.

I want so badly to love this man and his bravery, 

but I’m struggling. One of  Tom’s tenets, 

which his protege shares with us, is that 

the story is not as important as the voice telling it. 

I agree, but this doddering old man’s writing 

is dry and predictable without a unique voice. 

Perhaps a good editor could shape this 

into something. But how much time 

does this man have left? My heart aches. 

I want so badly for him to succeed, 

for his story to make it out into the world 

in a way that makes him happy. But lord is it dull. 

Everyone should write about their lives, 

but not everyone should share it.