My So-Called Writing Career (2)

I was born and raised on a Vermont dairy farm … I left as soon as I could.

My dream was to become a writer. In my mid-twenties, I realized I WAS a writer – but instead of novels or short stories, I wrote magic acts, clown acts, magic clown acts. Those counted.

I attended Clown College. I performed with “The Victims of Circus Dance Theatre Group.” I decided to pursue standup comedy.

I moved to San Francisco.

Early in my career, a headliner told me, “You’re not really a standup comic – you’re more of a storyteller.”

I thought, “I’ll show you!”

For years, I suffered for my Art. But not as much as my audiences did. I attended workshops. I hired instructors. I found Neil Leiberman, “The Comedy Coach.” Working with him, I learned to write jokes.

I performed at open mikes. I hosted my own monthly showcase. I won a comedy competition.

I was ready to take my show on the road.

I didn’t want to go.

I wanted to do more than write “set-up / punchline.” I wanted to make people laugh, sure, but also to think, feel, even weep.

Turns out: I was more of a storyteller.

I earned a Master of Arts in Writing at the University of San Francisco. I took essay writing courses with Laura Adair. I took community college memoir and essay courses.

I discovered Anne Helmstadter’s “The Sellable Book Inner Circle.” Exercises and a supportive and encouraging writing community of fellow writers.

Now, I’m working on Becoming Super Rog, a collection of essays about my experience transforming myself from a brainiac nerd into, well, what exactly is hard to say.

Maybe writing the essays will answer “who WAS Super Rog?”

Maybe not.

If you would like to know, please join my mailing list. It will include progress reports on my writing as well as essays not necessarily related to the collection.

But fun.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.