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Memory Lane

Priscilla Fagan

If my memory serves me...

I was involved with two other writer groups and was becoming somewhat disillusioned. One group was very catty and sarcastic and the other was very impersonal. I learned about WVU from a friend on one of the other boards. She gave me the link to F99. Of course we were both skeptical but hey it was free. What did we have to lose? Of course we were chastised for even bringing this up on that board.

So, I registered for F99 and a whole new world of writers helping writers opened up to me.

After taking F99 I was asked to be a Mentor....and was partnered with Karenika. I became a member of WVU at that time. I was crushed when she took the next session off from mentoring and that's when Texasjim and I became co-mentors. Talk about wild and crazy. But we were a team for four sessions, I guess it worked. Now we've moved into F2K and it's another adventure opening up.

From F99 I took the free 401 course, A Heroes Journey and liked that so much I completed taking the other three parts at WVU. Since, I've taken Creativity Lives, The Short Story, Basics, Feedback and am currently in a group doing the 52 Weekend Novel course.

I believe the highlight came last May when I traveled with my husband to Norfolk, Virginia and a gathering of WVU members and staff. I was fortunate to meet Bob Hembree, Tom Spencer, Darlene Duncan, Chet Chin, the two Jans (Jan McCarter and Jan Ravoira), Judy Hunt and Karenika (Karen Grunberg). Karen and I talked, laughed and cried as if we'd known each other for years and not just a few months. This is when I found out Judy talks to herself quite often and Bob loves his cigars and cognac. I'll say one thing, it was some staff meeting on-line that week talking with Margaret and CaL when the four of us in Norfolk were all in the same room. I don't think we've ever laughed so hard. Poor Margaret and CaL didn't know what was going on.

We've formed some close friendships. I've also met Amy Coombs this past Thanksgiving as she was passing through our town. As for Jim Kelley, we're best of cyberfriends, though as of yet have not met.

It's been a privilege to be part of this fantastic group of writers.

Priscilla