Bad Boys, Nice Guys, and Female Gym Teachers Part 2
In Part 1 of the above, I continued the story of how I became interested in writing, from innocent rhymes to my mother to racy novellas to winning a high school award. Unfortunately, no one thought to refer me to a college with a decent writing program. I was like the Oliver Twist of writing …
At a college for future female gym teachers, I encountered the professor who wrote “See me!” on my first short story. I thought maybe I was in trouble, but he wanted to compliment me. I was thrilled, but the word mentor was not in my vocabulary.
And then a subsequent instructor trashed my romantic poems and asked why I didn’t write more like Charles Bukowski. Humiliated, I clammed up for a full year.
When I recovered, I tried sending some of my work out to literary journals. But what does an orphan know from SASEs? Most didn’t deign to answer, but one sent an angry note chastising me. It spurred another year of embarrassed silence.
In Philly after college, I found out that I had to support myself. What??? One of my jobs was in a go-go bar. I loved leaving the heat and grit of the city to enter the cool darkness there, where life seemed simple. There were drinking men and dancing women – plus really delicious roast beef dip sandwiches. Suffice to say, I learned that life could be a new kind of complicated. In a fiction class at Temple U., I was quite the hit with my stories of the Puerto Rican pimp, the bisexual actor, and the Mafia hit man. An attractive classmate, the only published author in the group, offered to personally infuse me with his admiration. Was I inspired!
I was becoming a writer.
I hit a new brick wall when a supportive feminist women’s group slammed my poetry (and I don’t mean the good kind of slam). Week after week I left in a funk, their critical comments ringing in my ears. Imagine my vindication when visiting author Alice Walker likened my work to poet Sonia Sanchez* (bam, supportive biatches!) And then at our public reading at U. of Penn, I received a standing ovation for my fiction. (Yeah, tha’s right – BAM!)
Shortly after, I sent out some poems (with SASE, of course) and was rewarded with my first acceptance letter. The day I received it just may have been the highest high of my still-young life. Another sort of rapture came when I was introduced to a local poet of some renown, and she said, “Oh yes, I’ve heard of you.”
I was Cinderella at 11 pm.
Long story short, I moved to LA to pursue writing, but I lost focus. I don’t blame the city or anyone but myself for how I allowed my dreams to be sidetracked – by bad boys, nice guys, beaches, clubs, grasshoppers and the relentless need to put food on the table. As I sampled different career paths, writing took the form of legal summaries and banking manuals, sexuality newsletters, syllabi and education journals. I planned to pursue my creative impulses again someday when I retired. Then I met nature writer/mentor Susan Tweit, who helped me to develop the idea for Licking the Spoon, my book about food, sex and relationships. I was no longer an orphan. The day I started this blog felt a little like the day I received that first acceptance letter. Because who can afford to wait for retirement?
I’ve got stories. 
*Although at the time I was flattered beyond belief by her comment, only later did I realize that it might not be such a good thing to sound ‘like’ anyone but yourself.
Yet another taste of Licking the Spoon, and loving it
And you haven’t even seen the recipes yet! 🙂 Thanks, Diana!
I wouldn’t put too much stock in the criticism of feminists. These days they tend to be more militant and attention-seeking, rather than the constructive voice of needed change they once were.
Wow!! Your accomplishments in the field of writing are tremendous and inspirational. You have motivated me to want to improve on my writing skills as well
I think the most important thing is to believe in oneself,because there will always be people in life who enjoy putting you down in order to make one look better! I had to experience that before too and its not very encouraging! However, you are a great writer and should be very proud of your accomplishments
Your writing is amazing. I can’t imagine how people could trash your work, because, apparently, your writing has substance. I’m glad you still pursued writing after all the sidetracking that happened.
Thanks Camillee – I hope to continue as long as I can!
I didn’t know you wanted to pursue writing but now that i know I can completely see it. Congrats on your work so far and good luck in the future!
–I hope you have a best selling novel so that i can say “she was my professor” haha
I would like that too, thank you!
Not just an article, but a little history as well! I left a few comments on previous articles before getting to this one, but now I know why the writing was so good in the other articles!
Thank you for the compliments. I do like to give a little historical perspective once in awhile!
Did you want to be a gym teacher? If not, why did you go to a college for future ones? When you say that I picture all of your professors perpetually holding a clipboard and wearing white polo shirts, short gym shorts, and shiny silver whistles. What were you studying at this “gym teacher” college? Was the SASE a way of copyrighting your work? It is unfortunate that we sometimes get sidetracked from our goals but I’m glad that you are working on your book. I look forward to reading it. I also suggest doing an audiobook version. It’s interesting to hear an author read their own work.
I had no clue that this college specialized in female gym teachers. I chose it because it was a state (i.e. cheaper) school far away from my parents. Luckily, though, it was 1969 and society was changing big time – even at my small rural college. The SASE was just that un-funded journals can’t afford to send their rejections back. I enjoy reading my work and will read a bit at the Culturama weekend.
Hello, Professor Hoggan!
I have to say that I honestly fell in love with your writing style. It’s very accessible and easy-to-pick up. (And hard to put-down, but that’s another story!) It’s incredibly interesting to hear your journey as a writer and educator. It inspires me how you improved as a person as well. I think the line “As I sampled different career paths, writing took the form of legal summaries and banking manuals, sexuality newsletters, syllabi and education journals.” hit me especially hard because writing can take on so many forms. A lot of people write and they hardly even realize or cherish it. I’m excited for you to read my reflection on your blog because reading your work has been an enlightening experience, and I hope that I can create something as satisfying and fulfilling as you do.
Some people don’t appreciate the little things. I can’t imagine how people could trash your work. I guess those kinds of people don’t like themselves, so their bad attitude spreads to your writing work. There’s nothing wrong with you, so keep writing!
Thank you very much! <3