Lions and Tigers and Bears. Oh, My!

Dorothy: Do you suppose we’ll meet any live animals?

Tin Woodsman: Mm, we might.

Scarecrow: Animals that eat… s-traw?

Tin Woodsman: Some, but mostly lions and tigers and bears.

Dorothy: Lions?

Scarecrow: And tigers?

Tin Woodsman: And Bears.

Like many, I find the process of writing difficult. If truth be told, I find the process of getting down to writing even more difficult. It’s been helpful to be part of a group or class because of the discipline of deadlines for coursework or meetings. It’s with this in mind that I’ve signed up to Ripping Scripts, an evening class at Edinburgh University. The description reads:

“Why not make a drama out of a crisis? This interactive drama-writing class explores the process from page to stage. A chance to monologue, dialogue, scene-set and develop your all-round script-ability.”

I chose this class because it will stretch me. I feel a bit of fear. I still find reading my work aloud in front of others daunting. I do a lot of public speaking in my job and don’t bat an eyelid at that, but that first time I read a poem aloud, my voice quavered and I had to pause for breath. There is something so intimate, so revealing about writing from the heart, that it makes me want to resist the process. It has become easier with time, but not easy.

Another challenge is that I will be joining the second class, having not been part of the first which ran last term. And not only will I be the stranger in town, my classmates to be may eclipse me with their skill, experience and talent! So there are some lions, tigers and bears about.

I get some encouragement from Ralph Waldo Emerson when he wrote: “Do the thing we fear and the death of fear is certain.” In the absence of a blow pipe, crossbow or elephant gun, I’m digging deep for courage. As the Cowardly Lion does, I do.

Dorothy: Your Majesty, if you were king, you wouldn’t be afraid of anything?

Cowardly Lion: Not nobody! Not nohow!

Tin Woodsman: Not even a rhinoceros?

Cowardly Lion: Imposerous!