Thursday, May 1, 2014

The Tomato Biscuit Class


The ten-week writing classes (that's ten once-a-week meetings) that I teach through the Great Smokies Writing Program are always fun. (What, always? Well, almost always.) But occasionally a group comes together that just clicks with a special synergy -- synergy being the interaction of  elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements. And there they are, less two who had to miss the final class


This was a class for beginners -- and though most of them arrived with some ideas and some of them had already made a good start on a novel,  they were all eager to improve on what they had. And very quickly they caught on to the class structure -- read the pages presented and suggest what you think needs improvement.


In order to give and receive critique, it really helps to feel comfortable with the group and this group quickly took on the general demeanor of a bunch of rowdy old friends at the pub. Even though there was no drinking.

There was a fair amount of food -- mostly in the writing, alas. One of the works in progress is about a caterer and sumptuous party food was described (ceviche martini, anyone?) Another story dealt with a restaurant -- again, more great food. And there was a mystery about a woman trying to lose weight -- while eating in the LSU cafeteria which, the writer assured me, really does serve amazing Cajun food. I think I gained weight just reading about the gumbo and the etouffe and the pirogues (stuffed squash.)

And about those tomato biscuits -- they cropped up in yet another story and several of the class members had never heard of such a thing.  So the writer (at the suggestion of her husband who really deserves a lot of credit) brought tomato biscuits to our last class. That's what we're holding in these three class pictures -- a big fat biscuit with mayonnaise and a slice of an amazingly delicious tomato.


There was a lot of food but the writing was varied in subject matter -- women's lit, a coming of age story, a time travel story, a detective story, relationship stories, kinda chick lit, stories with woo woo (supernatural elements,) and without. And one very steamy scene on a golf course that had our two guys thinking there might be more to women's fiction than they'd thought.


The group wrote settings and dialogues and action scenes and character sketches and query letters and elevator speeches and, by the last class, almost everyone was pretty sure they had a novel underway. They hope to continue meeting as a group now and then -- and I really hope they do-- to take advantage of the synergy thing.

A really great bunch of folks -- and I'd have said it even if they hadn't brought me the pretty rose in the other pictures.

Happy May Day -- and remember to get wet when/if it rains!

10 comments:

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

What a fun class and I'm glad to read people are writing about food. And tomato biscuits, what's not to love about that !
Sam

Carol Crump Bryner said...

I will try to get wet today, and since I'm on the east coast this week I think it's possible. What a jolly looking group. Your classes must be so much fun and so interesting. I've never heard of a tomato biscuit, but will definitely keep this treat in mind. I so enjoy reading your blog, Vicki. Wish I lived closer so I could take a class.

Barbara Rogers said...

What a great summation of literary greats of tomorrow. Can't wait till they publish, and I'll eat a tomato biscuit in their honor.

Jime said...

Yum, tomato biscuits. Gotta try that. Your classes have to be fun.

Brian Miller said...

its cool to create that kinda energy between writers...and solid crit is a huge advantage as well...glad they all gelled so well..

Glenda Beall said...

Someone in your class said it was a great one and I can see why. I do love tomato biscuits.
I wish I were close enough to take your classes, Vicki. I'm sure I'd learn much that I need to know.

Stella Jones said...

I'm sure they all enjoyed the class Vicki and took it seriously enough despite their moments of mirth! I've never heard of tomato biscuits, but since tomatoes are so good for us, they are worth a try, I'm sure.

Juliet said...

It sounds like a great class. It's nice when a group melds like that.

NCmountainwoman said...

How thrilling it must be when a class comes together like that one did. I never cared much for tomato biscuits. (Perhaps because my mother made us use old biscuits instead of fresh ones.)

Lise said...

The class was indeed great fun, and we learned so much along the way. If I were still going to be in town, I'd already be signed up for your next class. Thanks for the memories Vicki, you are truly an inspiration!