Stories from a Tender Age: Interview with Maureen Bogues
Before the pandemic, San Francisco storyteller Maureen Bogues performed in bars and theaters around town with producers such as Beyond Borders Storytelling, Muni Diaries, About Last Night and 3 Girls Theatre / Lez WritesBTQ. During this past year, Maureen, who also goes by “Mo” or “Mobo" performed over Zoom with Lez Writes BTQ, StorySlam Oakland, and Six Feet Apart Productions. As a former Toastmaster, Mo’s proudest public speaking accomplishment was winning 2nd place in the 2016 Toastmasters International District 4 Humorous Speech Contest. She has also taught workshops at the Toastmasters Leadership Institute, and has degrees in journalism and playwriting. Mo loves spending time with her main inspiration and BFF, Maddie, a poodle mix, pictured above.
Also throughout the past year, Mo ran a supportive and intimate writing workshop, which celebrates its one-year anniversary of helping people to bring their stories to life this month. In her ongoing workshops, Maureen leads writers on a creative journey to uncover fun childhood memories, poignant family stories, and bittersweet reflections on lockdown pandemic life. The next series of her Wednesday night and Saturday morning workshops kicks off next week. Scroll down for details.
What are you writing now?
I am currently working on a piece about the young man who introduced me to Beethoven. I have a passion for classical music, especially Beethoven, and that interest began when I was 15, and grew from a friendship with this guy, a then-17-year-old pianist I met when we both played in a pit orchestra—him on piano; me on viola—for the musical “Pippin.” (At the time, I was studying viola, as well as piano.) In this story, I am dealing with the awkwardness of being a teen who would eventually come out as a lesbian, trying to navigate this friendship with a cute young guy, not really knowing how to define it (dating?) But it’s really a love story about Beethoven, and how I discovered a passion for music that sustains me to this day. Writing this first draft has been challenging in that I’m also writing about race (my friend is Black) in the 1970s, my undetermined sexuality, and the intense, stormy music of this composer that gave me a way to channel feelings I couldn’t name. I’ve been writing for decades, and it always surprises me how I still have to work past feelings of self-consciousness when telling a story from a tender age.
Do you have a feedback group?
I am in a writing group with two other women and it’s really a blast. We’ve only been meeting for a couple of months, but we share history: All of us, in past years, had performed or worked with 3 Girls Theatre / LezWritesBTQ, and then reconnected last year in a 3GT writing workshop led by the awesome teacher and performer Margery Kreitman. I’ve been in workshops and writing groups on and off for more than 20 years; I did playwriting and public speaking before landing on oral storytelling as my preferred creative outlet. I mention that because I have always had some way of getting feedback and support in each of the arts I’ve pursued. That’s what I love about my current writing partners: I get great feedback and support, and I learn so much observing their process. Now, it’s a new “relationship,” so I can’t give in-depth insight about our time together, but so far, it’s really been fun to explore my new story, which has brought back all my teen angst, as well as my excitement in remembering why Beethoven mattered to me then, and why I am still obsessed with him now. Recently, my wonderful writing partners had to listen to me obsess on the diminished minor seventh chord that dashes all sense of hope and serenity in a particular Beethoven piano sonata. Pity them. Aren’t they brave to write with me?
How did you choose storytelling as an art form?
Like many creative pursuits, I almost feel like it chose me; I was out trying these other things and then, boom. Storytelling just fit like a glove. Somewhere, my chatty Irish dad is smiling down on me, wondering what took me so long! I studied playwriting in workshops for many years, even went to graduate school for it, and while I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything, playwriting just never quite fit. I joke that I can write a great first scene and then…crickets! I couldn’t finish anything. For many years, I took that as a personal failing. What kind of writer am I if I am not obsessing about my inadequacy as a writer? Can’t I just set a deadline? What’s wrong with me? Then, in 2009, I started doing Toastmasters and discovered that the missing piece was performance. I loved public speaking, and most of my speeches sprang from personal stories. Gradually, about seven years ago, I took some of those stories into the theater with LezWritesBTQ, and then, two years ago with Beyond Borders Storytelling and other producers. I felt like I had finally found the best outlet for my particular talents. Sometimes I regret not finding it earlier—before spending all that money on grad school!—but it’s all part of the journey. Part of my not finding it earlier, I think, was growing up gay, female, and not traditionally feminine, and not wanting to be seen, or wondering why anyone would think my story was worth listening to? It takes awhile to undo that mental block and social conditioning, but there is such joy on the other side. Once I got there, it was so thrilling.
Tell me about your new workshop.
Now that I am confident in what I might call “my artist role,” I feel like I am coming full circle and sharing what I know with others. A year ago, I started Mo’s Storytelling Workshop, where participants do writing exercises, share their writing aloud, and learn the craft elements of good storytelling. We just had our first online reading salon in late April. It’s been a longtime dream of mine to share this art form, and it has been so rewarding to see people stepping up and learning to express themselves. I’m starting up a new six-week session (workshops on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings) the week of May 12.
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I coax sexy writers like Maureen Bogues to reveal their creative secrets and processes in interviews to inspire you:
Mo’s Storytelling Workshop details are available by request only. Email Maureen (and tell her The Sexy G sent you) to reserve your spot!
Let Mo tell you a story! Catch a 2019 recording from Beyond Borders Storytelling. Choose from, “Ring My Bell,” her first obsessive crush, “Dear Donny,” about her love for Donny Osmond, or “Playing My Own Tune,” about her passion for piano.
Need a freelance marketing writer? Mo’s portfolio offers examples of her marketing and journalism work.
Feeling inspired? Book a private session with me, The Sexy Grammarian. You always leave private sessions with homework and inspiration, and the first session is always free.
