It Is Never Too Late: Morphing As a Writer

By Dr. Christine Turkewych

Transitions in the careers of every adult life require courage and drive. This drive presents as an energy source that is fuelled by commitment, vision and something ever powerful, passion. Dr. Joan Clayton, resident of London, Ontario, is a therapist in private practice as a trauma expert and the mother of five children. Her demanding roles as mother and therapist did not thwart her drive to write because she is confident that she has something of value to share with audiences and readers. Joan Clayton began writing at the age of 48 and has enjoyed success as a playwright with community theatrical productions in London, Ontario.

Dr. Joan Clayton exudes warmth and a generous spirit. Born in Montreal, an orphan herself, Joan was raised by a family, with what she labels as “British values”. Throughout her life, Joan remained committed to raising a large, functional family, defining herself and making a contribution to humankind in ways that complimented her talents, accomplishments and core values.

When registering at the Humber 2012 Summer Workshop for writers, Dr. Clayton made a decision to morph into a new genre, the historical fiction novel. Dr. Clayton had written and produced “Perhaps English Isn’t Your First Language” (December 2009), “Displaced by God” (April 2010), and “The Girl with the Red Hair” (March 2012). Her most recent play for community theatre is “Power of Work” for Goodwill Industries that received many excellent reviews. Writing and producing plays has always been easier for Dr. Clayton because “the theatrical part gives immediate energy and editing occurs as it is being produced and staged.”

Joan thinks of herself as a storyteller and her work involves research and interviews with real people. Her transition into historical fiction writing is a surprise even to herself. In her narrative, the two main characters were developed from “actual people whose stories were given to me under rather unusual circumstances,” Joan explains and continues, “The female character is based on the life of a woman who died in London, Ontario eight years ago.” Her story begins in Ukraine as a young girl and after her death in Canada, many secrets emerged that coincided with the recognition of the Holodomor as a genocide. “... What I do know about... (her) is that she married a soldier during the war who was killed and after his death, she walked by herself to another country and took on a whole new identity, language and culture”. Even at this early stage of the manuscript, the mystery intrigues the reader because as Joan had overheard at the woman’s funeral in London, “Your mother isn’t who you thought she was”.

As the 2012 Kobzar Writer’s Scholarship recipient, Dr. Clayton studied with celebrated author Tim O’Brien at the Humber School for Writers’ Summer Workshop. “I felt I came with a beginner’s mind... starting at ground zero for writing historic fiction... I was exposed to a very critical voice from the participants through the ‘flash fiction’ exercise.” This workshop enabled Joan to rewrite her manuscript this summer and to activate a connection with other writers from the Humber workshop experience. Dr. Clayton feels that her writing craft has benefited from this writing workshop and marvels at the teaching ability of Tim O’Brien through his exemplary storytelling talent.

Dr. Joan Clayton is the seventh Kobzar Writer’s Scholarship recipient since 2007. The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko funds this scholarship annually at the Humber School for Writers in Toronto through their literary endowment fund. The Kobzar Writer’s Scholarship is awarded to a Canadian writer with an advanced manuscript on a Ukrainian Canadian theme.

Dr. Christine Turkewych is Director of Literary Arts at the Shevchenko Foundation. For submission guidelines view www.kobzarliteraryaward.com.

PHOTO

From L. to R.: Dr. Joan Clayton holding Kobzar Writer's Scholarship presented by Dr. Christine Turkewych