Pivotal moments

By Cindy Etherton

Writing my memoir, The Blue Beating Heart, and working on a novel called Beware of Arkansas, have created space and the perfect circumstances in which to reflect on how much of life turns, shapes, and transforms, hinged upon a few critical moments. These can be big or small, but they change everything.

So much of life – working, eating, sleeping, loving, looking for keys, and wondering why people behave as they do – can seem routine, maybe even mundane. And yet, now and again, among the everyday, comes a moment that diverts the course of your life. Sometimes it arrives with a bang, sometimes it is revealed in a whisper. 

And these pivotal moments, of course, show up in our writing. Some examples from my own life, which appear in my memoir: a kiss meant to land on the cheek missed its mark and instead brushed lips and the electric sensation thereafter couldn’t be unremembered however hard the difficulties that followed. Or, sitting in court during a high stakes trial, watching the jury listen to massive amounts of evidence from multiple witnesses, lawyers and experts and noting the exact moment when it’s clear that one fact or word has decided the verdict.

There’s more: hearing a fellow writer in a writing group talk about finding a wooden spoon that held all the poignant memories of her mother. And the man I coached whose whole life became blighted by mockery when, in a school performance, he was made to dress as a mushroom. His name was Vincenzo. 

All of these moments underpin a powerful narrative and determine what happens next.

And there’s meeting Victoria in the park.

Sometimes you don’t know what’s missing in your life until you find it. And I needed someone to share my thoughts and ideas about writing with another writer. I’ve learnt so much from Victoria and she assures me she feels the same about me. With that mutual exchange in mind, we decided to widen our conversation into Real Writers Circle. If there is one thing that writers love, it’s talking all things writing with other writers. The learning and pleasure of the company we keep at RWC is deep and delightful.

At Real Writers Circle we explore themes that enrich our writing, and, hear from each other, drawing insights from our pool of expertise across forms, disciplines and backgrounds. We have so much to share. If you would like to join in our exchange, click here.