Guest post by Wildfire Writer Desirée Wright offers insight and wisdom for every writer hesitant about taking that bow . . .

Back Stage, Front Stage

by Desirée Wright

When my daughter landed her first speaking role in a high school play she was ecstatic, and she should have been. She stuck with auditions and volunteering behind the scenes until the dedication paid off and she was cast.

I picked her up from late night rehearsals and she was non-stop with the theater “drama” and the weird and wonderful things that take place “behind the curtain” as a show develops. Her stories reminded me of when I was in theater.  As her parent I was just happy that she shared her experiences.

I went to the opening night performance. It was awesome, of course, and I cried, of course. Since it took the cast an additional hour after the show to clear the set, get out of costume and listen to “notes” I waited in the car. When she came out I told her how great the show was and how proud I was of her. She smiled and then started to tell me all the little details that went wrong or happened differently than they rehearsed.

As a former actor I understood, but as an audience member I didn’t want to hear. I wanted to put my hands over my ears and say “lalalalala” for as long as she talked. I wanted the escapism and journey I just took for two hours to stay enchanted.

After a few minutes I stopped her and said that as her audience I had no idea what was in the script. I was oblivious to the missed cues and props that were glaring mistakes to her. The show was so good and engaging that once I was sucked in  I was in!

The little things went unnoticed. They were big things to her since her blood, sweat and tears (oh so many tears) were invested in the show, but to me, the show was simply great.

As a writer I’ve listened to some amazing, soul touching stories and after, when I’m still basking in the glow of their storytelling the author says “I left this out” or “this didn’t really happen like that.” Kill. Moment. Now.

The rule that applies to actors and their performances also works for writers: don’t tell what happens back stage or behind the curtain.

What you write is your creative gift to the world, true or not. Don’t ruin a good thing by over-sharing and basically telling your reader that the journey they took wasn’t really the right one.

Keep backstage, backstage. No excuses required. If you feel a need to come clean and tell all the dirty details that were changed or didn’t play out like you wrote, find someone other than your readers or audience. Otherwise, bask in the glory of a good story.

You are the writer. It’s your show. You don’t owe anyone an explanation.

Just take your bow.

Last week, three volumes showed up on my doorstep – anthologies by lovely, local small presses.

Pacific Northwest small publishers are made up of living, breathing, dynamic, literary heroes.

Drawn to Marvel is a hoot, expansive, and fascinating. It features my prose poem, “Pencil Boy,” which first appeared in Dixon Ticonderoga, a zine edited by the illustrious Stevan Allred of the small press, Red Cat Press.

Because of Drawn to Marvel, I can now say I’ve been published alongside Sherman Alexie, one of my uncaped heroes whose work is featured here.

These are poems inspired by comic books, with all the humor and kapow! you would expect. Edited by Bryan Dietrich and Marta Ferguson of Minor Arcana Press.

Ghost Town Poetry, Volume II, is a collection of poems penned by participants in the Ghost Town Reading series. This is a literary series hosted by the fabulous Christopher Luna and Toni Partington of Printed Matter Vancouver, who edited the collection.

The book celebrates a decade of their caring, brilliant efforts nurturing emerging poets alongside those nationally renowned.

Luna and Partington expand the heart of every poetry lover and community builder in the Vancouver/Portland area. I’m delighted that my poem, “On the Path,” found a home here.

I was also pleased to be a part of Ghost Town Poetry, Volume I.

The Night, and the Rain, and the River is an alluring collection of character-driven, voice-driven short stories, edited by literary powerhouse Liz Prato and published by Forest Avenue Press.

This press is making a name for itself as the place to get published in Portland. Dynamo Laura Stanfill shines a spotlight on every author, and Tuesday’s release at Powell’s was no exception, giving me the chance to autograph my story, “The World, the Flesh, and the Devil.” Below I’m with Tracy Stepp, copy editor.

Guess you could say I’m Drawn to Marvel at Ghost Town Night Rain. Thank you, wonderful small presses.

Photo by Laura Stanfill.