Muriel Bart

N. Y. Life Times Ten Muriel Bart

When does a person decide to become a writer? At age ten? In high school? At college graduation? Not for this group. The need to earn a living cancelled that possibility. Later on the demands of family and home rendered this goal even more unlikely. At retirement, however, the curtain rose on a new setting. The children were grown, the mortgage was paid, and the time was available. Writing skills were unquestionably rusty. Our group, though, had one distinct advantage over other would-be writers. With an age range of 55 to 89 we had a wealth of experiences on which to draw. We set realistic goals. Not the Great American Novel-yet, but family histories to leave for our grandchildren. We told of holidays and days of decision, memories evoked by colors and smells, and people and places important to use. We met weekly for two hours, read our works, and critiqued on another's. We came to realize that the more we wrote, the better we wrote. This was slso recognized by the judges for "Reflections," the UFT's annual publication of the best works issued from the creative writing classes. The group from Queens-us-won most of the places. We sought additional modes of expression. A few of us wrote poetry; others, short stories. We organized some of our work about the City-as-theme and, herewith, our first book.