Editor’s note: This piece was contributed by Katahdin High School’s journalism class.
“What do I love? What is my passion?” Those are two questions that freelance writer Annaliese Jakimides said people should ask themselves as they think about their future. In a visit to Katahdin’s Journalism class last month, she told seniors about her journey to pursue her dream of writing, a journey that began at Houlton Pioneer Times with a column called “Morning Motions, Evening Exits,” what she thought of as the ‘literary’ weather.”
Now living in Bangor, she supports herself with her writing and has been published in a number of books and magazines including “Utne Reader,” “Hip Mama,” “About Face,” and “This I Believe.”
During an hour and a half discussion, she told the students that after writing her first back page essay for Bangor Metro, she wondered how she could possibly think of a new topic every month and write a 500-600 word essay. Eighty columns later, she moved on to other projects.
Jakimides said she always begins her day with music and dance before she writes in a large closet where she is not distracted by a window. She explained that all writers have their own way and her way is to begin without any specific plan.
“When I get the right first line, I feel like I’m on a train platform,” she said. “ The door opens and I get on, not knowing what’s on the cars ahead.”
She showed the students how a writer often has to write and re-write a piece, as she did with an NPR essay called “Learning to Find the Silver Linings.” From the essay, which deals with the death of her son and how she traded “the bag of rocks” of grief with one of joy, she read several drafts of the opening sentences. With each one she said she was getting closer to discovering what she wanted to say. Finally using his words “I talk to everyone I meet” as her philosophy.
As she concluded her presentation, Jakimides talked about Stephen King’s advice of “locking the gremlins in the cellar” and Tess Gerritsen’s to “keep writing until the story is all out.” She urged the seniors to be present as writers for those little moments that bring joy. She said they were so lucky to be at the beginning, “an amazing gift.”
Readers can follow Jakimides at her website www.annaliesejakimides.com.
