Article Series: Minority Religions–The Path Less Travelled, by Peter Fergus-Moore, published by Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal (daily newspaper)
Thanks for joining us today, Peter. Can you share with us a short synopsis of your story?
Among Thunder Bay, Ontario’s 105,000 people, members of minority religions, such as Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, etc, altogether comprise less than 1% of the city’s population. I wanted to find out how these religious, ethnic and cultural minorities maintained their integrity, stayed faithful (or did they?), and lived as minorities in Canadian culture.
Since I work with kids from other countries, cultures and religions, this is fascinating to me. What sparked the initial idea for this story?
It’s a bit strange: the features editor at the time had heard about the local Unitarian Fellowship performing same-sex wedding ceremonies and thought that might be a neat (and edgy—she was into edgy) story. It turns out that I had contacts among the Unitarians, so it wouldn’t have been hard to get some interviews.
But I quickly got another idea (see #6).
Did the series end up how you initially envisioned it?
It turned out better than I initially envisioned it, and totally unlike the editor’s original idea!
How did you sell the changed story?
On thinking over her suggestion, I made a counter proposal: how about a series on the non-Christian religions in Thunder Bay, like Hinduism, etc? The Unitarian story could be part of the series, but would take in more than just the same-sex wedding angle (in other words, don’t trash the editor’s idea completely! ). This series was to go into almost completely untouched territory, something utterly new for the paper to take on, and I did my best to convey my enthusiasm for the idea to the editor.
Fortunately, we had by then built up a very good working relationship, and she respected my writing. She bit.
Anything you’d change in the process of getting this story published?
Only some of the accompanying visuals (most were stunningly good), and the title of one of the pieces. Other than that, not a thing.
What makes your series special?
See #6 above: I saw it as illuminating people in our city, their lives, their beliefs and practices, to the mainstream majority, and perhaps building some bridges of understanding in then process. It quickly became something of a treasure hunt: I discovered that we have a one-person Buddhist monastery south of the city, that we have a Hindu temple in the basement of a city variety store, and that there are less than 30 Sikhs in the city altogether, and much more.
In every case, the question of how you survive as a minority, how you remain faithful when going against the cultural mainstream, came up and each group had a different answer. Some are managing better than others. All strongly identify with their adopted country while trying to remain faithful to their respective faiths.
A few weeks after the series ended, I was asked to do another series by the news editor on Christmas celebrations. As Chanukah, the end of Ramadan (and of course the Baha’i New Year) and Christmas all happened at around the same time that particular year (2000), the series went well beyond Christmas itself, into other territory. All articles became a learning experience for readers unfamiliar with these lives and ways. Both series got very positive reaction around the city.
Ironically, nine months later came the events of September 11, 2001. The series would have been much more timely—and much more unlikely to happen—at that time.
Your story really exemplifies my belief that we, as writers, get specific ideas at specific times for specific reasons, even if we don’t know why at the time! What advice on writing can you share with writers?
Most of it you’ve already encountered, I’m sure: above all, write something regularly (daily, if possible), to keep your practice up. Find what works for you as a routine and a practice (I used The Artist’s Way for nearly 10 years, and it served me very well).
Don’t judge what you write until it’s time to edit, but when you do edit, do so ruthlessly. Better yet, when the ms. is ready, get someone else to edit for you. Fresh eyes are a must.
Get good tools: decent dictionaries (online ones are still problematic) and handy reference materials. Research. Don’t be afraid to ask stupid questions—the unasked ones will come back to bite you in the form of mistakes.
Live a varied, healthy life: exercise, eat well, get the sleep you need; get outside when you can, do non-writing things like walk the dog. This is not procrastination (unless you start talking weeks and months!), because your subconscious is still busy at the keyboard while your conscious mind takes a break. The so-called inspiration you have is often the subconscious sending you the latest edit.
Enjoy writing! Stephen King is right: the process can be a pain at times, but it is and should be, fun. Write about what you have an interest in, and (unless you’re an investigative reporter), write from love.
Thanks so much, Peter, for sharing with Writer-In-Progress readers.
———
Bio
Originally from London, Ontario, Peter Fergus-Moore has made Thunder Bay, Ontario, his home for over ten years. An instructor in adult literacy, Peter is also a freelance writer and editor, and has had his work published both locally, in the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal, and more widely, as in Lake Superior Magazine and the Winnipeg Free Press. Most recently, he has made a foray into fiction with his spy thriller novella, The Demon Dragonfly & the Burning Wheel.
Peter locates his work as a whole within “regional writing”, a label which he qualifies by insisting that “good regional writing must be universal enough to be appreciated beyond its locale.”
Comments on this entry are closed.