The first Writers’ Afternoon was held at David Dryden Duff’s home in Kyoto on the afternoon of January 31. Four people attended.
Participants:
Abby Deveney, a member of WiK and contributor to the sixth Anthology, is in Kyoto for Japanese learning though she is usually based in London (she worked for the Guardian). She is researching women in the early 20th century in Japan, and found several useful books in David’s extensive library.
Ellen Airhart, now based in Osaka, is a journalist with a scientific background (degree in Biology from University of Texas) who worked for Wirecutter, a site which rates items for consumers. She is working on a novel.
David Duff (host, who opened his home and library to the group) hails from Virginia and has been living in his present home north of Shimogamo Shrine for eight years. A Former Marine and self-proclaimed hippie who was in the anti-Nixon (anti-war) movement in 1969, he has seen a lot of them come and go, and written several different pieces as well. He is a founding member of WiK. We are grateful to David for sharing his home so generously with us for many events in the group.
Rebecca Otowa, a writer and illustrator, will be familiar to WiK members for reviewing many books and doing writeups of events. She is a published writer who also enjoys drawing. She lives in rural Shiga Prefecture, across Lake Biwa from Kyoto, and has been based in this area of Japan for over 40 years.
Amid lively conversation, the participants of the writers’ afternoon introduced themselves and got down to writing. Two prompts were given: verbal prompts beginning “Kyoto —,” i.e., Kyoto pottery, Kyoto fabrics, etc., or finding a sentence in an existing book (David allowed his library, which is mainly non-fiction with some fiction mixed in, to be used for this) à la Steve Martin’s essay “Writing is Easy” from Pure Drivel: “Go to an already published novel and find a sentence that you absolutely adore. Copy it down in your manuscript. Pretty soon your own ideas will start to flow.” Participants either used these prompts or worked on their own writing.
After about 1 1/2 hours of writing participants shared what they wrote to the group. (This is optional, I hasten to say!) Abby wrote a poetic piece after visiting a Kyoto workshop which makes fabric pillows. Ellen wrote some character work-up to put in her novel. David wrote a non-fiction piece about the Kamo River. Rebecca used both types of prompt, the one about Kyoto entitled “Kyoto Second Floors”.
A fine time was had by all. The afternoon passed quickly, aided by some drinks and snacks.
It would be great if this were a regular event, with a fixed time so whoever wants to drop in can do so. The thought is to make this gathering, for this year anyhow, the last Saturday of odd-numbered months, from 1–4 p.m. at David’s place. That would mean that the March meeting is March 28 and May is May 30. Please tell us if you are coming, to my email rebecca.on.her.way@gmail.com or to my name on Facebook Messenger.
See you there! Let’s spend some time writing together!