February 2021 Member of the Month, Vincentia Schroeter. Interview with Laura Engel, SDMWA President
LE: Congratulations Vin! We are delighted to introduce you as our February Member of the Month. How did you first discover SDMWA?
VS: I heard about SDMWA from my writing coach, Marni Freedman
LE: Have you always been a writer?
VS: I wrote professional articles in my field of psychology but have only gotten into more creative writing in the past five years.
LE: Have writing classes made a big impact on your writing?
VS: Classes have taught me many skills, which have improved my writing and provided a supportive community of other writers. Without the community, I would procrastinate even more than I already do and I would feel too isolated in writing.
LE: Vin, we would love to hear about what you are presently writing.
VS: I am on the third draft of a memoir about my journey through infertility. I wrote a chapbook called, Tilt: Seeking Balance in Troubled Times. It is made up of reflective posts about coping in 2020. I added original artwork for each chapter and am excited to launch Tilt soon.
In 2018 I wrote a self-help book called Communication Breakthrough: How Using Brain Science and Listening to Body Cues Can Transform Your Relationships. It provides tips for best communication practices. The tools are based on my career as a somatic psychotherapist and my studies in neuroscience.
LE: I highly recommend your book Communication Breakthrough. It is a excellent book! So Vin, what are you presently reading?
VS: I am reading Gloria Steinem’s book, My Life on the Road
LE: That book is on my list to read! What are some of your favorite memoirs? And Favorite authors?
VS: My favorite author is Anne Lamott. I read everything she writes. I liked the memoirs, Educated by Tara Westover and Wild by Cheryl Strayed.
LE: What advice would you give new writers?
VS: My advice for new writers is to hang out with other writers or writing teachers, in order to support your passion for writing. We write alone. A writing community, like the one which I have found in SDMWA, provides the encouragement to keep going and the warmth and camaraderie of fellow/sister travelers.
LE: How can our members find you? Website, Social Media?
VS: My website is vincentiaschroeterphd.com I am also on Instagram: Vincentia Schroeter. Twitter: @Schroeter-Vin
LE: Once again, Vin, thank you for being an outstanding member of SDMWA. We are thankful for all you do and are honored to write along side of you.