Uncategorized – Page 8

Naps and Cuddles

ammatte Uncategorized 10 February 20129 juin 2012Creative Writing, toddler, Writing 1 commentaire

Rohan et Arianne, par Catherine Bonenfant

Early morning love cuddles with my toddler today reminded me of the golden days of maternity leave, when baby and I would nap together. It may have been the hormonal haze, but I got the impression that Rohan slept better when next to me.

By the time he was four months old (and me being awaken nights became routine), Rohan took his afternoon naps alone – and I took time to write. Given that I returned to writing in earnest while pregnant and kept at it during mat leave and beyond, my son will be able to claim that he is directly responsible for the effervescence of my creative being. (Double meaning purposeful.)

These days, Rohan is doubly-times-triply more active than his newborn self and his naps are shorter. But his funny, clever, demanding little self still lets his Maman write from time to time – though now is not one of those times. He is slapping my knee to draw me away from the computer screen; he requires Cheerios.

Writing Challenge

ammatte Uncategorized 6 February 20129 juin 2012app, challenge, Creative Writing, iPad, iPhone, non fiction, toddler, Writing 0 commentaire

Newest writing challenge: write a short piece of non-fiction, no more than 100 words, ensuring to name actual names. Here’s a result:

Modern Family

Rohan becomes an iPad expert as soon as we get one, familiarizing himself with the apps and identifying his favourites. While I struggle to find what I need on the apparatus, Rohan swishes through the screens, surfing YouTube with one finger. We quietly confer with our Apple devices side by side, too often for hours before we interact again. Despite his own easy grasp of technology, he won’t let me indulge: he shuts my laptop onto my fingers and grabs them in his, saying: “Maman, cow.” And my toddler and I play with his toy farm until dinner.

My Writers’ Group

ammatte Uncategorized 18 January 20129 juin 2012Creative Writing, feedback, notebook, writers, writers group, Writing 2 commentaires

Ironically, it is difficult to capture and express how I feel every month when going to meet my writers’ group. I look forward to it for 30 days, I scramble to create or further a piece for my fellow writers, I both anticipate and dread their feedback. Led by the joyful Sophie, we gather in a coffee shop – occasionally the Green Beanery, lately Urbana Coffee (which is great, a block from my home) – and dish about writing: the fiction, the nonfiction, the technical, the non-existent. And whether or not each of us brought a piece to share, we enjoy the company, the kinship, the renewal of confidence, the knowledge that we are not struggling with the muses alone. We leave the oh-too-short meets elated, reinvigorated, and, for myself, already beginning to compose the piece to share next month.

If only I had a French writers’ group, too.

A passion for reading, writing and theatre

ammatte Uncategorized 9 January 20129 juin 2012Creative Writing, Michel Tremblay, Molière, reading, Shakespeare, théâtre, Writing 0 commentaire

I loved books before learning to read, and reading quickly became my favourite passtime – along with writing. Before I handled a pencil, I produced plays with my little brother in our living room, where we presented our masterpieces to our parents, for the low cost of 5¢ – per ticket.

Great classical playwrights such as Shakespeare and Molière guided my first plays (Des fous et des femmes, 1992; Colour Me Mythed or The Myth of Many Colours, 1993; A Child’s View of Shakespeare, 1992; Les fourberies de Molière ou Le Molière imaginaire, 2001). Studying Michel Tremblay’s works also had an impact on my writing (Peau des ongles, 2002), as did my love for Broadway musicals (La Reine a cassé sa pipe, 2005).

Stories from near and far

ammatte Uncategorized 9 January 20129 juin 2012Creative Writing, La face cachée du bonheur, travel, Writing 0 commentaire

My trips to Europe, in the Middle East, in North America, and, above all, the people I’ve met during my travels, have influenced my writing. Some of them may recognize themselves in characters of Intolérance au velours and La face cachée du bonheur.