In 1994, SLWP held its first writing marathon in New Orleans, drawing on Natalie Goldberg’s
Writing Down the Bones and Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast.

 

Natalie Goldberg conceptualized the “Writing Marathon” in Writing Down the Bones:
“Everyone in the group agrees to commit himself or herself for the full time. Then
we make up a schedule. For example, a ten minute writing session, another ten minute
session, a fifteen minute session, two twenty minute sessions, and then we finish
with a half-hour round of writing. So for the first session we all write for ten minutes
and then go around the room and read what we’ve written with no comments by anyone.
. . . A pause naturally happens after each reader, but we do not say ‘That was great’
or even ‘I know what you mean.’ There is no good or bad, no praise or criticism. We
read what we have written and go on to the next person. People are allowed to pass
and not read twice during the marathon. Naturally there should be some flexibility.
If someone feels the need to pass more often or less often, that is fine. What usually
happens is you stop thinking: you write; you become less and less self conscious.
Everyone is in the same boat, and because no comments are made, you feel freer and
freer to write anything you want.” (150)

 

Hemingway contributed a sense of place tothe “Marathon” concept in A Moveable Feast:
“The story was writing itself and I was having a hard time keeping up with it. I
ordered another rum St. James and I watched the girl whenever I looked up, or when
I sharpened the pencil with a pencil sharpened with the shavings curling into the
saucer under my drink. I’ve seen you, beauty, and you belong to me now, whoever you
are waiting for and if I never see you again, I thought. You belong to me and all
Paris belongs to me and I belong to this notebook and pen.” (6)

A “New Orleans” style writing marathon combines Natalie Goldberg and Ernest Hemingway
with a format developed by Richard Louth at the Southeastern Louisiana Writing Project.
Every year since 1996, Writing Project teacher-writers have met in New Orleans to
hold writing marathons lasting up to three days long. The basic format is always the
same.

 

Writers begin a marathon by turning to each other and saying, “I’m a writer.” We split
into small groups to go to restaurants, coffeehouses, parks, etc., where we eat, write,
and share our way across the landscape. We spend about an hour in each place, then
move on. If the place is particularly good, we may stay longer. We follow Goldberg’s
basic rules: allow about ten minutes of uninterrupted writing time, share, and limit
responses to a simple “Thank you” after each reading. While there is always time for
socializing, the emphasis remains on the writing, and doing it for yourself.

 

Groups find their own path. Groups can cross paths, join, and turn into new groups.
Some writers break off to do an hour of writing just by themselves. At the end of
the day, writers often gather to share and celebrate their work. Just keep in mind
that the emphasis is on giving yourself time and space to write and about doing it
for yourself.

 

We’ll work in small groups of your own choice, mixing in food, drink, and local color.
Our intention is to give everyone a chance to write on anything they want and to share
their writing while experiencing the city. Try to keep the groups small (three to
five persons) in order to get quick service at restaurants, etc., and go to places
with good acoustics. Don’t fret if your first piece of writing seems forced. That’s
not unusual. Just relax and keep at it.

 

If stuck, just look around and record what you hear and see. As Kim Stafford advises
in The Muses Among Us, become “a professional eavesdropper,” who listens “to the muses among us.” And whatever
you write, enjoy yourself! You may want to write for longer than ten minutes once
you get started, and that’s fine. Remember these four steps: 1) Write. 2 ) Share writing
without response. 3) Socialize (eat/drink/talk). 4) Move on.

Suggested Schedule:

• It’s suggested that you keep it loose, let your small group form naturally, and let
  your feet lead you to your first writing spot.

• First Hour: Split into small groups. Find a spot. Write about ten minutes (you might
  designate a timekeeper), and read to each other without response. Then socialize.

• Then: Find new place each hour for group to write/share/talk. You might choose to
  write a bit longer each time.

• Read-around: At end of the marathon. Voluntary. Time and location TBA.

 

Writing Marathon enthusiasts often blog about the experience. We have several special radio shows devoted to previous New Orleans Marathons, along with several major publications.In addition, we have put together an interactive website devoted to the writing marathon.