Richard L. Provencher

After graduating from high school in 1961, Rouyn, Quebec there were very few work opportunities for anyone, unless they had a university degree. Only those fathers in business, who owned cottages, homes and a car had adequate finances to send their children to an educational facility, the closest being 500 miles away. Also, living accommodations added to the expenses.

Since I did not have the means for the above, I joined my father working in the local Noranda Copper Mine. It meant a secure position, with decent wages and a livelihood that guaranteed a comfortable style of living in northern Quebec. Thankfully I was wanting much more, since my earliest of dream, even at the age of 18 was to write. In fact my first two published poems appeared in the (NHS) Noranda High School Annual.

Moving up the ladder of success after working 2,500 feet underground was easy, since any job after that was an upward movement. Then two and a half years with the weekly Rouyn-Noranda Press gave me a taste for words. My position was Sports Reporter, with stints writing editorials and having a weekly column, called “Dick’s Diggings.”

My poetry mentor became Raymond Souster, after our family moved to Toronto in 1965. I had the occasion to make many friends through Ray’s contacts. Some of those folks did quite well in the literary scene, George Jonas and Michael Ondatte eventually became world class authors. Without a degree, I took on a variety of jobs to gain experience. Juvenile Court Worker in Toronto , Welfare Officer in Moosonee and Social Services Administrator were part of a 22 year career in Human Services.

All the time I managed to write poems and get a few published. My busy work schedule made it difficult to get more than snatches of time for my writing. I learned to develop a capacity for remembering events and descriptions, later to be part of my poems. After my wife, Esther and I were married, it became even busier to find any time to write, but I managed to keep the fires burning.

With our children grown up, my wife, youngest son and I moved to Nova Scotia. It was here where my writing embers caught fire. Poems about people, and the beautiful landscape poured out of me, more now getting published. Poems were a stepping-stone to short stories. And I followed ideas from folks, such as Louis L’amour who said, “Learn to write anywhere with a typewriter on your lap.” I wrote three children’s novels during my lunch time at the Truro Library, completely oblivious to anyone staring. During that hour I could write a thousand words, then revise and edit later, sometimes weeks later.

One of those book was recently published by www.rainbooks.com and some of my picture books are to follow. Writing is fun. It is an exciting journey. The Internet provides unlimited research information and I spent much time reading other authors, checking different styles, and developing formats for submission. Yet, I was determined to retain my own individuality, even though for years I copied my early writing hero, Ernest Hemmingway’s typing style of standing during through the process.

Although I still write poetry, my main focus now is getting my children’s books published. One day, I’d like to get my family-audience novel of 66,500 word “Footprints” published. It is an analysis of a family’s crisis and how they learn to deal with it. Judith Guest wrote a wonderful book called, “Errands” and her style about a dysfunctional family is very different than mine. My story-family is not dysfunctional. I truly believe writing can be a force for good and horrendous subject matter is not a pre-requisite to be a good writer. I do what I do, and they do what they do. Never forget to thank anyone who has encouraged you.

My encouragement to writers is to write, and to write, and then write some more. Definitely learn to use a computer, learn to write as you think, and aim to get it right the first time you write that paragraph. After your story is completely finished, then begin another. When www.rainbooks.com asked me if I had any more material after signing me up for “Coming Through the Mist” I showed him five more novels and twelve picture books. He signed me to publishing another young adult novel and four picture books. “A wish for Christmas” picture book will be coming out in October 2007.

One last word: Let your writing focus on sharing a thought, a story that means something to someone. I do not believe there is such a thing as ‘fiction’ because there is some part of each of us, or of our friends in the story, or poem. Money should hopefully not be the sole reason for writing, either. And if rejections of your work cause you too much pain, then I advise you to take up tiddly-winks.

Note: Richard L Provencher and Esther, live in Truro, Nova Scotia. They have four children and five grandchildren.

Story ID:	2444
Written by:	OurEcho Admin (bio, link, contact, other stories)
Story type:	In The Spotlight
Location:	Truro Nova Scotia Canada
Year:	2007
Person:	Richard L. Provencher