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Gotham FacultyJUST MYIMAGINATION —AN APPRECIATIONOF A GREAT SONGFaculty InsightBY TON Y CONNI FFI recently was invited to seethe Broadway show about TheTemptations, Ain’t Too Proud’. Itwas no surprise that there werea lot of great songs in it. Includedwas a favorite of mine (and manypeople): “Just My Imagination.”While enjoying this song, I wasstruck by the power of its story,relative to its Chorus. What a goodexample this song is of takinga wonderful Title and finding astrong position (in the Verses) fromwhich to set it up which to meis, once you’ve got your Title, thebiggest lyric challenge .Think about it It’s 1970. You’reMotown songwriters NormanWhitfield and Barrett Strong. Youhave a Title you like—Just MyImagination. How will you approach it from the Verse?Since it’s a Motown song, it willalmost definitely be some kind oflove song, boy meets girl or viceversa (given the era). It could bean upbeat song about how “I usedmy imagination to bring us together.” It could be about how“I’m with another girl, but in myimagination I’m thinking of you.”They could’ve gone in any numberof different directions.The approach lyricist BarrettStrong chose is beautiful andinteresting. First Verse (openingthe song):Each day through my window Iwatch her as she passes byI say to myself you’re such alucky guy,To have a girl like her is truly adream come trueOut of all the fellows in the world shebelongs to youThen the Chorus turnseverything around:But it wasJust My Imagination,(once again)Runnin’ away with me.It was Just My ImaginationRunnin’ away with me.We’re inside the guy’s head as hetells himself the story of the twoof them together a story that’spure fantasy.Who hasn’t done that? It’s a boldchoice that works brilliantly.Whitfield’s soulful arrangementis as much Brill Building/AtlanticRecords of a few years earlier(records like Spanish Harlem)as it is Motown. But “Just MyImagination” takes biggerchances than those songs (notsaying it’s better )The chords are very simple andrepetitive. But the melody is aboutas far as a pop song can get frombeing simple and repetitive.Verse 2:She doesn’t even know me Soon we’ll be married and raise afamilyA cozy little home out in the countrywith two children maybe three.I tell you I can visualize it allThis couldn’t be a dream for too real itall seems.It wasJust My Imagination The melody and the scan of thelyric is different from that ofVerse 1 (even some of the rhymesare in a different place). A veryunusual move for a song of itstime. Far from breaking the moodand the flow, though, they’ve onlyenhanced it with a melody that’seven more dream-like thanVerse 1’s.After Chorus 2 and a brief instrumental interlude the song doesn’tgo a 3rd Verse it doesn’t go toanother repeat of the Chorus. Itdoesn’t even go to what I’d calla Bridge (which would imply achange of mood in some way).Next the song goes to a whole newpart A painfully vulnerable andsad hymn-like section where themusic and lyrics blend to bring thesong to a climax that’s all the morechilling for being so understated.This section stays within thefeeling of the rest of the song, but itdigs even deeper.Faculty ProfileBY BRIT T GAM BI NOGotham Romance Writing teacher LeighMichaels wrote her first romance novelwhen she was fourteen-years-old. “What Iknew about love and relationships back thencould have fit on a postage stamp—and haveroom for the grocery list,” she says. Today,Leigh has more than 35 million copies of herromance novels in print, in 120 countries,in 25 languages.And yet, a reporter from her alma mater onceasked Leigh if she considered writing romancenovels a waste of her life and talents. (Leighwas an honors journalism student at DrakeUniversity.) Leigh responded, “I received aGOTH AMWRI T E RS .COMOn a related note, even many readers of romance assume that because the novels are lightand easy to read, they must be easy to write.But Leigh debunks that myth: “They’re actuallyvery tightly written. They’re so focused on thehero and heroine, so there’s no room for wandering off or secondary character subplots.”Furthermore, because romance is what Leighcalls “a very specific genre,” it’s important tolearn the fundamentals of the craft. Some writers think that just because they understand thebasics of fiction they’ll be able to write a successful romance. Not necessarily. “The danger,”Leigh says, “is that you can write somethingthat falls in between a traditional literary novel and a romance novel and then it can’t find ahome anywhere.”In addition to her many novels, Leigh has written three books on craft: On Writing Romance,Creating Romantic Characters, and WritingBetween the Sexes. The latter serves as a how-toguide using gender differences to create believable characters. “When we write, it’s natural todo it from our own perspective,” says Leigh, “soI wish I had taken this class yearsago. I learned more than in all ofthe writing classes I took in college.—Catherine Custard, riding instructor“Just My Imagination” also reinforces a point I’ve made before: Astrong and simple Chorus can buya songwriter a lot of freedom inthe other sections of the song.Gotham Writers is anessential part of theNew York experience.Tony Conniff is a songwriter/composer/arranger/music producer who is something of an NYC fixture.SEE MORE FACULTYARTICLES AND PROFILES ONOUR WEBSITE.Ev’ry night on my knees I prayDear Lord, hear my pleaDon’t ever let another take her lovefrom meOr I would surely dieHer love is heavenlyWhen her arms enfold me I hear atender rhapsodyBut in realityletter from a hospice nurse about how she lovedreading my books because they’re a relief fromwhat she does at work. Another woman whoread my books while her father was dying inthe hospital told me, ‘It’s like your arms cameout and hugged me.’ Another woman may bealive because she picked up one of my books—she realized she was being poisoned by thecarbon monoxide from her furnace, like oneof my heroines! So, no I don’t consider it awaste of a life.”LEIGH MICHAELSNorman Whitfield was a greatsongwriter. Along with writingmany hits with collaborators suchas Eddie Holland, of HollandDozier-Holland (with whom hewrote “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,”“I’m Losing You,” and others),Whitfield paired with BarrettStrong to write monumental classics like “I Heard It Through TheGrapevine,” “I Wish It WouldRain,” “Cloud Nine,” “I Can’t GetNext To You,” “War,” “Papa WasA Rolling Stone” and “Just MyImagination.” Yow!Student Voices—Wayne Taylor, retiredI’d like to thank you for getting mewriting again. I’ve been staring atblank pages and blank screens forabout two years.we don’t always write realistic men.” (And sheconfirms this goes both ways—there are malewriters out there writing unrealistic femalecharacters as well.)— Faith Airey, doctorThank you GothamWriters. You are theultimate dream-makers.She even teaches seminars on gender differences, which, as Leigh describes it, is really an opportunity to talk about people—why we behavethe way we do—and how to apply those behaviors to writing.Leigh says she teaches for two reasons: to fostera writing community and to give back to newerwriters. “When I started, there was no one outthere to help me,” Leigh explains. “When I submitted my first manuscript, I consulted Writer’sMarket [an annual directory for writers] anddid what I thought I should do, but I sent all thewrong things. I feel an obligation to help others and let them know what they need to do. Ilearned how to do it the hard way.”More than thirty years since the publication ofher first book, Leigh is churning out new stories—whether in the form of a traditional novel or short story e-book, set in contemporaryAmerica or the Regency period in England.She even participated in a fifteen-author boxset called Magical Weddings.“People think all romance novels are the same,”Leigh says. “But every journey is different:the problems the characters overcome, thenegotiations they make.” And, she adds, “Thathappy ending has to be satisfying, convincing,and earned.”—Tracy Stopler, authorAn invaluable resource to any writer,professional or enthusiast, looking tohone their craft and meet like-mindedindividuals in the process.—Tim McKirdy, freelance writertwitter Facebook instagram LinkedIn @GOT HAM W RI T ERSCO N TACT @GOT HAMW RI T ERS .CO M2 12 – 974 – 837 7

CommunityWINTER CONTESTMistakesWereMadeWRITE-INSDo you wish there was a place you could go forwriting inspiration and practice? Where you couldhang out with other writers? Without needing to makea long-term commitment or spend a lot of money?With food and drink involved?Gotham Write-Ins are that place.HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS:The teacher gives an interesting writingprompt. Everyone writes for a while.Then, those who want to read aloud theirwork. You take a break and socializeover refreshments. Then you go throughthe process one more time. Then yousocialize a little more. It’s two hoursof writer’s heaven. You can sign up inadvance or just drop in.FRIDAY EVENINGS IN MANHATTAN6:30–8:30 pm 20 per sessionSee our website for details.The year 2020 reminds us of thephrase: Hindsight is 20/20. So weinvite you to look back on your lifeand tell us about something that,in hindsight, you would havedone differently.Your story may involve somethingtragic or trivial, serious or silly. Anykind of mistake is welcome. (Thesethings aren’t always “mistakes,” perse, so we’re using the word broadly.)FREE EVENTSThe phrase “mistakes were made” isa devious use of the passive voice todeflect blame off the person makingthe statement, who is probably themaker of the mistakes. PresidentUlysses S. Grant used the phrasein 1876 in an address to Congress,and it’s been a classic fallback forpoliticians ever since.We do free classes and other fun things around New YorkCity—at bookstores, bars, Bryant Park, etc. It’s our way ofshowcasing what we do and getting to know you. See ourwebsite for upcoming events.The person who most impressesus with their mistake will win aGotham class of their choosing.As inspiration, here are a fewexamples:Tight dress pants at Prom: if onlyI hadn’t tried to do a split withthe principal.Mason RowleeA whirl of things seemed moreimportant, so I didn’t listen that daywhen my daughter most needed me.Alvin SarnoffAt 15, I killed a thing—the bunny I’dbegged for that stunk up my room.Couldn’t find the food.Natalie BevilacquaBut you too have made mistakes andwe want to hear about one of them—in 20 words or fewer.For competition rules and online entry form,— visit —G O T H A M W R I T E R S . C O M / M I S TA K E SGOTH AMWRI T E RS .COMtwitter Facebook instagram LinkedIn @GOT HAM W RI T ERSCO N TACT @GOT HAMW RI T ERS .CO M2 12 – 974 – 837 7

Stories are, truly, everywhere—everyplace you look, everyone you meet,everything you experience.Every day is filled with hundredsof potential stories awaiting yourimagination and craft.Each month we invite you to post a story on Twitter at#GWstorieseverywhere. Your stories (which can be true or made up)will be inspired by what you see, know, or do, and theyshould relate in some way to these monthly themes:DECEMBERJANUARYFEBRUARYoverstayed welcomelet it gothe state you're inAt the end of each month, we will pickour favorite and reward that personwith a free Gotham writing class.Your story must be no longer than 25 words,with a max of 280 characters, including spacesand the hashtag #GWstorieseverywhere.Everyone has a story. Especially you.gothamwriters.com212–974–8377twitter Facebook instagram LinkedIn

Gotham Writers Workshop is a creative home in New York City and Online where writers develop their craft and come together in the spirit of discovery and fellowship. We've been teaching creative writing to students since 1993. We believe that everyone has a story to tell. Indeed, many stories. Keep your eyes and mind open and you will find them