ABIGAIL THOMAS, an esteemed figure in the writing community, has been guiding aspiring writers through workshops and assignments for over fifteen years. Her expertise extends to teaching in the MFA Creative Writing program at the New School University and the low-residency MFA Writing Program at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Previously, she led the renowned Tuesday Night Babes workshop on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and now hosts writers from the Woodstock Wool Company in her Woodstock, New York home.
In her reflective piece “Getting Started,” Abigail muses on the distinction between fiction and non-fiction, a question that has intrigued her throughout her writing journey. Drawing primarily from personal experiences, she finds that some stories demand the directness of non-fiction, while others call for the structural freedom of fiction. Reflecting on her past ventures into fiction, Abigail recalls the exhilaration of creative exploration, tempered by the eventual need for structure and coherence.
For Abigail, writing serves as both an anchor and a compass, a means to navigate the complexities of life and seek clarity amidst chaos. She emphasizes the pursuit of truth in her writing, acknowledging the inherent challenge of confronting uncomfortable realities. Through candid introspection and the guidance of trusted confidantes like her sister, Abigail delves into the depths of her memories, weaving together fragments of her past into a cohesive narrative.
She shares insights into her writing process, including an assignment she often gives to her students—to condense ten years of their lives into two pages, each sentence restricted to three words. This exercise not only challenges writers to distill their experiences but also encourages selective storytelling, highlighting the importance of omission in crafting a compelling narrative.
Abigail’s narrative journey is marked by moments of revelation and self-discovery, guided by a relentless pursuit of authenticity and emotional resonance. Rejecting conventional storytelling conventions, she embraces the unpredictability of life and the nonlinear nature of memory, allowing her writing to evolve organically with each new revelation.
In closing, Abigail reflects on the essence of writing, echoing Bruce Springsteen’s sentiments on the power of storytelling to connect with audiences on a profound emotional level. Through her own writing and teaching, she seeks to evoke moments of pure experience that resonate with readers, inviting them to explore their own inner truths and confront the complexities of existence.
From her humble beginnings as a young girl dreaming of becoming a writer to her current role as a mentor and guide, Abigail Thomas’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling and the enduring quest for meaning in the written word.