PDXKaraokeGuy Interviews AudreyHowitt
A Hubber with expertise in law, psychotherapy, and music finds a platform for poetic expression on HubPages
Audrey, thanks for taking the time to chat with me today. Can we begin by having you tell us a little about yourself, some of your background, where you’re from, stuff like that?
I am a California girl, but actually am the first child born in the U.S. of Russian émigrés. So, I grew up appreciating two very different cultures, speaking two languages. My early years were all spent with theatre and music and reading books. I am a voracious reader. And guess what, many years later, this is all still true. I still love to perform and to read.
I hold a number of professional degrees and licenses. I am a licensed attorney (23 years) and a licensed psychotherapist (3 years). My undergraduate degree is in music. But at the time that I received it, I didn’t think I was good enough to really make a career out of it. So, I got married, had children and pursued a legal career. A divorce shook up my world and I started to reevaluate my goals and desires.
How long have you been writing, and how often do you write?
As an attorney, my forte was always researching and writing. I think most attorneys are drawn toward writing. I have always wanted to write a large work and have attempted it several times, but I seem to get bogged down in the process of letting the plot unfold. About two years ago, I decided to try again and started to carry a notebook with me to write in between students. Poetry was what came out. It has been coming out ever since.
I have been an impulsive writer during most of those two years. I have always tended to write when the mood strikes. And in some ways I like that best. I like it when I can tap into the unconscious and the words just flow out. It feels like a gift from the universe.
Lately though, I have wanted to see what my writing would be like if I actually wrote everyday and in a more disciplined fashion. Thus, the 30/30 challenge was born for National Poetry Month.
How did you discover HubPages?
I had been looking for an online writing platform for a while and read about other writers who really enjoyed HubPages. I took a look and was immediately drawn to it because there was so much poetry on the site.
You also sing classical music and are a voice teacher. How long have you been doing this, how did you get into it, do you ever write about your experiences and, most importantly, are there any samples for us all to admire.
I returned to singing as I was going through my divorce and was singing professionally in the San Francisco Bay Area when a musical colleague asked me if I would consider teaching voice at summer camp for him. I agreed and fell in love with teaching voice. That was almost twenty years ago. I currently teach for The Head Royce School in Oakland, Piedmont East Bay Childrens’ Choirs, San Francisco Girls Chorus, and privately.
I love the process of teaching voice. There is a unique relationship between a voice student and a teacher. Over time, I come to really understand how a particular student learns and what holds a student back. I always work from a student’s strengths, building technique, confidence and musical artistry. Singing really is a blending of body, mind, and spirit, and I love helping others find that in their lives.
Over the years, I have performed in musical theatre, recital, oratorio, and in opera, mostly on the west coast. My current professional gig is with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. And I just finished my master’s thesis in music on the subject of performance anxiety, or peak performance as it is more positively framed. So music is a huge part of my everyday life.
It is funny, I sometimes write about my process and experiences in my singing, but I rarely write about teaching. That area just seems to need some privacy for me. But I am in the process of putting together a website to join together the disparate parts of my life, and plan to include musical clips on it. When I get it up and running I will post it on my profile page.
I admire your poetry and I know you mostly for your poetry. What else do you write? Do write anywhere else? Where else can we find your writing?
Thank you Justin. I have a number of legal articles on Helium. I also have
a poetry blog. I have a number of smaller poems on Triond, Redgage and Gather. I have a couple of online poetry communities that I participate in as well. I am looking toward publishing a chapbook and I would like to start submitting my work for printed publications. I am somewhat new to this whole world and really just feeling my way through it, writing as I go.
April is National Poetry Month and you wrote a Hub proposing a 30/30 Hub poetry challenge. Have you participated in any 30/30 challenges before and what do you view as the pros and cons of such challenges?
This is my first time participating in a challenge like this. I have seen other Hubbers do this and a number of poets that I know have done this and are doing this now for National Poetry Month. I wanted to be clear about my reasons for doing the challenge. For me, I wanted to see how my writing would be affected if I actually wrote everyday instead of in streaks. So far, I have found that it takes me a while to “warm up” with my pencil (not unlike singing actually) before the good stuff starts rolling out. I may have a whole different perspective on the process of writing when I am done with this challenge.
Many Hubbers have had their Hubs stolen recently. Have you been a victim? If so, what measures do you plan to take to protect your name and content going forward?
Yes, sadly, I had a piece stolen (so far, just one that I know of). I sat down to write again and found I was just so angry that I wrote a piece about my anger and published that. I know that people are really angry and really concerned.
I have always placed by name and copyright mark on my work. I know that doesn’t necessarily protect it, but it can help to identify it as mine. I filed the appropriate DMCA complaint, and wrote letters to the hosting site asking that they look into this matter. I suppose, I will learn how to protect my work better as time goes on. I just signed up with MyFreeCopyright and am trying to figure out how to use it.
What can we look forward to from Audrey Howitt in the next few months, both on the Hub and elsewhere?
I never quite know how to answer questions like these. I know that I want to continue to explore my writing, but I am not sure where that will lead me. Maybe, that is for the best really. I am very interested in legal issues as they affect social justice matters. The law should not be for the elite in society. I am not sure whether this may turn into a blog or just a series of articles.
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