Sean Woznicki: Word craftsman

Sunday News

Oct 18, 2009 00:02 EST

Lancaster

By JO-ANN GREENE, Books Editor

A talent for writing surfaced early in Sean Woznicki's life. As a junior at Hempfield High School, he won his first Scholastic Writing Award for a short story, "Nothing Is What It Seems." Senior year brought him another award for his writing portfolio.

He went on to major in English and minor in creative writing at Washington College, Chestertown, Md., and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in writing from Eastern Washington University, Spokane.

Since fall of 2007, the 30-year-old Lancaster resident has been gently and skillfully guiding others in crafting their own stories in writing workshops he leads under the auspices of the Lancaster Literary Guild.

Occupation: Ah yes, how I actually make a living: I do layout for books at a publishing company.

Growing up, I wanted to be: A writer, mostly. There was a brief period of time where I wanted to be a toy maker, but writing has been the dominant creative force in my life.

First job: Working for Rohrer's True Value Hardware store my senior year in high school.

Best advice I ever received and can give about writing: 1. Learn all the rules, then break them. 2. You can do anything you want, as long as you have a reason for it. 3. Revision is your friend. Really.

Best thing about teaching writing: There's this change on the first day the workshops meet. At first everyone is a little timid and unsure, but about 15 minutes in everyone's talking about how they write and their favorite authors and what they hope to accomplish. It's a wonderfully encouraging and welcoming environment.

A cause I really support: Art organizations are important to Lancaster city, and we're incredibly lucky to have so many of them. The galleries, the workshops, the craft fairs, the theater shows: Check them all out, and volunteer if you have the time.

Something I'd like to get around to writing some day: A story about all of the odd jobs I held during the summers of my college years. Or, a book of connected short stories.

One thing I'd like to change about my writing: My weakness has always been setting. I'd like to be better at incorporating a vibrant sense of place into my writing.

Pets: One cat, Hobbes, who is pushing 12 years. He's become much more friendly in his old age.

Pet peeve: Someone passing me on the highway by using the right lane. That's always seemed like the epitome of driving rudeness.

A book a writer can learn a lot from: "Reading Like a Writer," by Francine Prose.

Best movie based on a book: The book is always better than the movie!

My kind of music: I find myself playing Portishead and Sigur Ros a lot when I write.

Favorite vacation spot: Cape Cod.

A great Web site: The Web site for Poets & Writers Inc. and its magazine: pw.org.

I couldn't write without: My computer and printer. When writing new stories, I like typing them out on my computer. When revising, I like printing them out and scribbling all over them.

Best gift book I ever received: A signed copy of Aimee Bender's "The Girl in the Flammable Skirt."

Famous writers I'd like to meet:  Bender, Lorrie Moore and Dave Eggers.

Hobbies: Listening to music, meditating, hiking.

I collect the books of: Bender, Moore, Eggers and Ann Patchett.

Public places conducive to writing: The Prince Street Cafe, as it's big enough to afford you some anonymity. Square One is good as well.

People might be surprised to know: I learned how to ride a bike when I was 24, and climbed my first tree this year.

 

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Jo-Ann Greene is books editor of the Sunday News. Her e-mail address is jgreene@lnpnews.com.