WCC is proud and humbled to spotlight writer, senior, and donor Beth Cook. Beth is a developing writer who generally writes from Guelph or Toronto. During her career, she was employed in a wide variety of jobs, and at last has found her vocation: retirement. And writing as much as she possibly can with WCC.

We sat down and interviewed Beth about her experience with WCC, and what inspired her wish to share a legacy gift with the organization.

How did you discover WCC? Why did you decide to sign up for a community writing workshop?

BETH: A friend of mine here in Guelph had just trained to become a facilitator, and she told me about the program. I thought, gee, I think I’d like to try that. I’ve always enjoyed writing when I had the opportunity to do so. And I’ve been in several different writing groups. Actually, these other groups might have made me a little bit wary, because they were more focused on technique and criticism. With WCC, I feel I’ve been – and my writing has been – embraced in every way. You know, I’m a little off the wall. But people accept me. The other writers encourage me.

Can you elaborate on that difference, on how criticism is not part of the WCC workshop model?

BETH: It’s really interesting that the comments are not critiques, that they’re not technical. I think we become much better writers in the process anyway, and it’s wonderful to see people develop. Nobody ever says what you could have done better here or there, it’s like we’re flowers growing towards the light.

That’s beautiful. And what is so significant about being free to do this, to write in community with others?

BETH: The workshops are reliable. I think we are so disconnected from each other in our lives, and here’s this amazing, dependable place for people of different experiences and backgrounds to be together. To know we are not alone. We live in a time where we believe we’re very alone, isolated, and as if we have no story. I mean, I’m sure there are many seniors who think they don’t really have a story, and this, being able to write even a bit, can let you see your own story and what you have to share with others.

For seniors, too, writing stimulates the brain, keeps the imagination alive, and helps the writer hang onto their vocabulary — and in fact enhances it. So many of us grope for the words we want and I think the writing really helps to keep our word libraries both rich and fluid.

 

You have generously decided to leave a legacy gift with WCC, after you die. Can you tell us about what motivated you to choose WCC as the home for your gift?

BETH: You know, I’m almost in my mid-70s, and I have been thinking for some time about leaving something to a charitable organization, you know, a public space, like the libraries. Once I’d been involved with WCC for a while, I realized that this organization has done so much for me; it does so much for other people, too. I think it practically gives us a reason to live. It’s so meaningful.

So I thought, I mean, how wonderful would it be to give back to WCC? I trust the organization will use the gift in a holistic way. And that it will help to grow the program, to encourage other people to write and have community, and to not feel alone. I feel really excited about my decision.

We’re deeply grateful for your generosity, and your time, Beth. Our last question for you is why do YOU write? Tell us about your relationship to writing!

BETH: Although I have been shy, I think I really do love to entertain people. I love to make them laugh. And, I mean, my pieces are certainly not always funny, but, you know, I guess they have a dark sense of humour. And people like it — so I’m a ham. I mean, I write because it’s there, inside, and it kind of just flies out of me.

The WCC team would like to thank Beth for her desire to leave a legacy gift with the organization to help us reach more writers and communities nationwide.