Norman — As a writer, Dana Loy found that the class on memoir writing her friend’s mother was taking sparked an interest in her.
“It got me thinking about it, about how rich people’s lives are by the time they’re 50, 60 years old,” said Loy, a University of Oklahoma Spanish instructor.
She wanted to help people get their memories and stories catalogued so they could be shared with generations to come. She also wanted to provide people with a chance to revisit times from their past. So she began instructing memoir writing workshops.
This April will mark her fifth time to teach the class, geared toward women, with the Performing Arts Studio. She also has conducted two workshops at the Norman Library.
In the four years she has spent teaching in Norman, Loy said she has been impressed with the caliber of writing produced by the women in the class. Because the stories hit so close to home to the authors, they are told with vivid details that really bring the tales to life.
“They write some of the most amazing stories,” she said. “I can hardly wait from one person to the next to hear their stories out loud.”
Loy said her primary role is just to inspire and facilitate the writing. She presents writing samples and creates starting points to help the women form their thoughts. What she doesn’t do, however, is edit or proofread stories.
“It’s not a preparation for publication class, but it’s definitely a writing class,” Loy said.
Although it is not a publication preparation course, Loy said some of her former students have had their work privately published. Others have created illustrated journals with old family photos or memorabilia from their childhood.
Ann Craig, an Edmond resident who has attended all of Loy’s workshops, said an especially cherished memory exchange for her took place after her brother died. She had written a story about him for Loy’s class. After his funeral she made a copy of the story, attached a related photo and presented it to his daughter.
“She was thrilled,” Craig said of her niece. “That was a part of her dad’s life she had no knowledge of.”
Loy said that while many women get into the class to document memories for their families, they also learn much about themselves. It allows them to reflect some of the most significant moments of their lives.
“It’s almost like they discover a part of their life for the first time,” she said.
Loy said the class is open to all levels of writers and that sharing stories is optional for attendees.
The class is limited to 18 women age 55 and older. The workshops will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursdays, beginning April 1, at the Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave.
Cost for the workshop series is $75. The registration deadline is March 30. To register or for questions, e-mail donna@thepas.org or call 307-9320.
Aaron Wright 366-3533 pop@normantranscript.com
