A Novel Journey with Jeff Turrentine

by Halie Rosenberg

If you've ever thought about writing a novel, you're not alone. Here at Writing Pad many of us are working on such a feat, including journalist and critic, Jeff Turrentine. Jeff has been a contributing writer and editor at Architectural Digest magazine since 2006, and he's reviewed dozens of novels and short-story collections for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post.

When Jeff decided to write his own novel, he called Writing Pad! Well actually, Jeff's wife bought him the five week So You Want To Be a Writer (SYWBW) class series as a birthday gift! He liked the classes and Adel's delicious soup shooters so much that he came back for a second session. Jeff workshopped parts of his novel during the SYWBW classes and came away with usable insights. "The feedback from Marilyn, and the rest of the group, was very helpful."

Writing Pad helped Jeff muzzle his inner critic. "I've reviewed scores of novels over the years, and by now I'm so hyper-conscious of how good (and bad) stories are constructed that it has become quite difficult for me to let go of my inner critic and just keep writing." To combat this, Jeff reminds himself of Writing Pad's number one rule: "sitting down and simply writing, immediately and unself-consciously, without worrying at that moment about whether it's any good or not. The class taught me that what you're able to get down in those first few minutes of spontaneous writing, however unpolished it may be, often contains the embryos of your characters, plot, tone, etc."

Jeff is currently completing his novel which is a three part story set in Dallas, Texas about the breakdown of utopian political visions. One part takes place in the 1850s, one part in the 1950s, and one part in the very near future. Fascinating! You can check out some of Jeff's amazing reviews at The New York Times, The Washington Post and Slate.

And don't hesitate to let us know if you have a recommendation for our next Writing Pad Awesome Alum!

One Woman Show Stopper: Julie Brister

By Halie Rosenberg

Meet Julie Brister: a very talented actor, teacher, and writer! Last year, Julie wrote a one woman show called “Fat Parts.” Julie wrote the first draft of this show in the So You Want to be a Writer class with Aaron Henne at Writing Pad. She has been performing "Fat Parts" to sold out performances at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre over the last 9 months. This January, she also performed the show at San Francisco’s Sketchfest, one of the country’s top comedy festivals!

Julie says, “I'd known tons of people who'd done solo shows over the years, and the thought of doing one myself thoroughly terrified me.” Julie started looking for writing classes to help her develop her show online. When she came across Writing Pad, she got “jazzed.”

"I liked that at Writing Pad, there were people working on different kinds of things - memoirs, poetry, novels. One lady in my class was working on a self-help book. I found that more inspiring and interesting than if everybody was wanting to wag their neuroses in people's faces on stage like me." Julie also raved about the gourmet desserts offered in the class. Her favorite treats were the home-made gingersnap ice cream sandwiches and Adel’s sticky toffee pudding.

Julie used the writing prompts and workshopping feedback in her Writing Pad class to sculpt her characters and develop the story arc of her show. “If it weren't for the Writing Pad and the helpful, positive, constructive feedback I received from Aaron, Marilyn, and the entire group, I undoubtedly would have flung the script for my show across the room a long time ago and never picked it up again." Julie loved the class so much she now calls herself "a Writing Pad evangelist - spreading the good word about the classes and Adel's wonderful food to everyone interested in becoming a better writer."

For more information on Julie, go to her performer page at the Upright Citizens Brigade. If you have a chance, we also recommend that you go see her show at UCB. It's a terrific show!

Also, please let us know if you have a recommendation for our next Writing Pad Awesome Alum!