Appropriate is barely emphatic enough a word for my first Tellworthy blog post to be spotlighting the inimitable Evan Knapp. Evan is, after all, why Tellworthy exists.
Many years ago (not too many, mind you; we are both still sparkly and young), Evan was a student of mine working on a memoir as an independent study. My capacity was more Writing Coach than Professor, guiding him through the nuances of style, tone, structure and dynamism. Active voice versus passive voice, words to avoid ever using and then when to use them. We discussed arc, character development (yes, even a factor in memoir – they’re real to you but characters to us), creating tension, dialogue, all the gear of great writing.
Evan was a sponge, immediately utilizing any craft technique or artistic brushstroke suggested in ways uniquely him. His life stories were already incredible, his delivery in conversation fantastic, his glowing personality infectious. All this found its way to the page and off the page, gleaming with his passion for wordplay (and occasional word creation). We had a blast.
After two independent studies, Evan was graduating. He wanted, however, to keep working on his memoir with me.
“I wish we could, but you’ve gone and aced all your courses.”
Evan responded as though I were thick.
“I mean outside of the college.” When I didn’t immediately respond, he added, “You know, you could be doing this on your own. A professional writing coach. People pay for this. I will pay for this.”
Honestly, English major to my marrow, starting a business had never occurred to me. I am a proud writer and college professor. Building a company was a bit hefty a concept for the anemic analytical parts of my brain. Continuing to work with Evan and his excellent stories, though, sounded great, so I agreed to continue coaching him. The experience was exhilarating and I decided to see if anyone else was interested in taking the ride with me. So was born Tellworthy Creative Writing Services, writing coaching the cement of its foundation.
And Evan was right. Clients began to arrive.
Now Evan, my professional muse and damn fine friend, has published the short-form memoir he offered as Tellworthy’s maiden voyage. From brainstorming to coaching to editing, I got to be a part of Evan’s astounding debut, a slim supernova. The story of a ballet-loving, runaway stray on the weird streets of 80s Portland, Evan’s Where There is Movement is a work of beauty, tragedy and damn-the-torpedoes survival. Better still, it’s funny. The characters stand beside you as you read, Evan’s voice wry Virgil to your willing Dante.
My goal is for my clients to find their art and sing it electric. Evan’s memoir is blaring life released into the wild. I can think of no better news to share in my first blog post. I’ve read Where There is Movement about eight times now and each time the book enthralled. I can’t recommend enough you queue up for some of that.
- Christian De Matteo
Where There is Movement by Evan Knapp https://www.amazon.com/dp/1687404003/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_3oFQDb1ERWFR8