October Member of the Month, Chloe Sparacino. Q & A with Susan J. Farese
SJF: How did you discover SDMWA?
CS: I went to the SDMWA Free Writing Vision Board workshop they held in January of this year and immediately felt like I had met my tribe! I signed up to become a member a few months later.
SJF: Have you been taking writing classes/workshops? If so, where? Which made the most impact?
CS: Yes, I am currently enrolled and loving every moment of Marni Freedman & Tracy Jones’ Memoir Certificate program at San Diego Writer’s Ink. Hands down it is making the most impact. I have grown so much as a writer under their care and coaching. Every class teaches new writing tools and builds on the next until the writing tools we learn feel like second nature – and it all leads up to new depth and experience in writing.
SJF: Describe how writing has led to your finding your way to self-help and inspiring others
CS: Ten years ago, PLNU’s alumni magazine published an article I wrote about my freedom journey from a strict religious upbringing including my experience of coming to terms with healing from childhood sexual abuse. Writing and publishing that article brought me a freedom from my past I did not know was possible. I felt confident to value myself as lovable and acceptable no matter what someone did to me, and no matter what others thought of me. I gave the magazine with my article in it to everyone I knew to spread awareness of what I had been through and to help others who may have also experienced a similar journey to feel less alone.
SJF: What are you currently working on?
CS: I am currently working on writing a book, a memoir of growing up in a small, insulated religion no one has ever heard of! I was born into the Christadelphian community and later disfellowshipped – a process which felt like a death and eventual rebirth as I discovered how to live outside of that community. The memoir will explore the dysfunctional patterns of abuse I encountered while growing up, and what I learned about myself and about community in the process.
SJF: What are some of your favorite memoirs (or movies based on memoirs)?
CS: Frank McCourt, Mary Karr, and Augusten Burroughs are my favorite memoir authors. Reading “Blue Like Jazz”, a semi-autobiographical book by Donald Miller, was a pivotal moment for me in discovering I wanted to write my story. I resonated with his voice. I just finished reading “The Choice” by Edith Eger and was greatly impacted by her journey of resilience and her positive energy in the face of terrible tragedies.
SJF: Any advice for new writers?
CS: My advice is to keep a journal to write in every day if you can – whenever I get stuck with what to write about, or get overwhelmed by the emotions in my story, journaling is always available to me and has a deeply calming effect on my soul. For even deeper insight into the magic of your own creativity, keep a dream journal by your bed and write down your dreams as soon as you wake up.
SJF: Where can we find your blog/website?
CS: I don’t have a website or social media presence yet, but I know I will need to start building that soon. I do have a LinkedIn page and my company bio lists some of my publications and it can be found here: www.fmgleading.com/team/chloe-sparacino
SJF: Many thanks, Chloe!
Learn more about Susan J. Farese