{"id":1989,"date":"2018-08-02T15:00:24","date_gmt":"2018-08-02T19:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1989"},"modified":"2018-08-06T10:04:53","modified_gmt":"2018-08-06T14:04:53","slug":"nancy-avery-dafoe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1989","title":{"rendered":"Nancy Avery Dafoe"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Power of Writing\u00a0<\/em><\/h1>\n

By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Paul Carmen<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

From the moment she envisioned herself in an occupation, writer and English educator Nancy Avery Dafoe knew she would be a writer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to do everything,\u201d she explained, \u201cand writing is a way to jump into whatever interests you at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

After starting her career in traditional journalism, Nancy channeled her passion for writing into entrepreneurship. She founded DaFoe Newsletters, a public relations firm specializing in advocacy journalism. Each project had a cause behind it. Nancy used her writing, editing and self-taught photography skills to create content for employers around the state, including school districts and hospitals.<\/p>\n

Though she was faced with the typical struggles of an entrepreneur \u2014 some months were easier than others \u2014 owning her own business gave Nancy more time with her young children.<\/p>\n

Having flexibility also gave her the opportunity to coach her daughters\u2019 softball teams. The experience helped her realize she was skilled at and enjoyed working with children.<\/p>\n

Though she loved DaFoe Newsletters, Nancy decided to take the next step down her career path. She earned a master\u2019s degree in teaching and English and began teaching high school English at East Syracuse Minoa Central High School.<\/p>\n

During her 16 years at the school, Nancy taught primarily seniorlevel classes, including her favorites \u2014 Advanced Placement English, creative writing and journalism.<\/p>\n

She also began her writing career while still teaching. Nancy\u2019s students suggested she write a book about her writing processes and techniques. So, she penned \u201cBreaking Open the Box: A Guide for Creative Techniques to Improve Academic Writing and Generate Critical Thinking\u201d and \u201cWriting Creatively: A Guided Journal to Using Literary Devices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eventually, Nancy transitioned to writing full time. If the atmosphere around teaching was different in the state and across the country, she might still be in the classroom, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was ready to write about the experience and write about other things,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd, my whole life, I\u2019d wanted to write.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she left teaching, she was in the process of writing \u201cThe Misdirection of Education Policy: Raising Questions about School Reform.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think educators should definitely read this book, but I also think parents should read it to better understand what\u2019s happening in education and why it\u2019s happening,\u201d Nancy said.<\/p>\n

The next book she published was even closer to her heart. While Nancy was teaching and developing her career as an author, her mother developed Alzheimer\u2019s disease. She wasn\u2019t diagnosed until the disease had greatly progressed, Nancy remembered, adding that her father hadn\u2019t wanted to admit his wife was ill.<\/p>\n

Nancy began writing poetry as a way to deal with what was happening. Before she knew it, she practically had a book of material.\u00a0Adding to what she\u2019d written, Nancy wrote \u201cAn Iceberg in Paradise: A Passage Through Alzheimer\u2019s,\u201d a memoir about her experiences. She learned a lot about the disease and herself through the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt exposes the disease for what it is: a disease and not something that people should shy away from,\u201d Nancy said. \u201cWhat I hope it does is it helps people help other people with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout her life, Nancy has written a number of novels, most of them in the genre of literary fiction. A mystery she discovered about two works of literature she\u2019d read inspired her to write \u201cYou Enter a Room,\u201d the first in a series centered around both a murder mystery and the literary mystery Nancy discovered. The story can be interpreted on a couple different levels.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s fun because it\u2019s a smart novel,\u201d Nancy said.<\/p>\n

The sequel, \u201cBoth End in Speculation,\u201d is due out in November and Nancy is currently writing the third installment.<\/p>\n

Not one to take on only one project at a time, Nancy is working on several, including ones through her consulting business, Dafoe Writing & Consulting. A few months after retiring from teaching, Nancy founded the business. She aims to help other people of all skill levels with their writing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just like to do different things. It\u2019s probably why I like all these different genres,\u201d Nancy said. \u201cI like being in different places and different adventures.\u201d SWM <\/em><\/p>\n

For more information about Nancy and her work, visit nancydafoebooks.com<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

For Aspiring Writers Though Nancy is retired from full-time teaching, she occasionally teaches through the YMCA\u2019s Downtown Writers Center. For more information on the center, including workshops and events, visit syracuse.ymca.org\/dwc.html<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Power of Writing\u00a0 By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Paul Carmen From the moment she envisioned herself in an occupation, writer and English educator Nancy Avery Dafoe knew she would be a writer. \u201cI wanted to do everything,\u201d she explained, \u201cand writing is a way to jump into whatever interests you at the moment.\u201d…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[648,133,671,670,668,262],"class_list":["post-1989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","tag-august-2018","tag-lorna-oppedisano","tag-nancy-avery-dafoe","tag-nancy-dafoe","tag-paul-carmen","tag-syracuse-woman-magazine"],"gutentor_comment":2,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/002_NancyDafoe_PRINT.jpg?fit=5200%2C3420&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1537,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1537","url_meta":{"origin":1989,"position":0},"title":"Nancy Aureli","author":"Staff","date":"February 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Creating Community Resources\u00a0 By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson \u201cI need a change,\u201d Nancy Aureli thought, as she sat at a training by FranklinCovey, the company behind The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Earlier in the day, Nancy \u2014 a geologist who worked 50- to 60-hour\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Nancy-Aureli-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Nancy-Aureli-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Nancy-Aureli-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Nancy-Aureli-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Nancy-Aureli-0003.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":524,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=524","url_meta":{"origin":1989,"position":1},"title":"Bailiwick Market & Cafe","author":"Staff","date":"February 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"One-Stop Local Shop By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Steven J. Pallone\u00a0 Bailiwick Market & Cafe \u2014 the expansive, high-ceilinged barn boasting everything from Caf\u00e9 Kubal coffee to locally-sourced meals to locally-crafted goods and artisan works \u2014 started out as a simple dream of an ice cream shop. Nancy Hourigan\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Food"","block_context":{"text":"Food","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=102"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Z_Food_Bailiwick_0317_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C796&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Z_Food_Bailiwick_0317_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C796&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Z_Food_Bailiwick_0317_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C796&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Z_Food_Bailiwick_0317_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C796&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Z_Food_Bailiwick_0317_ONLINE.jpg?fit=1200%2C796&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1448,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1448","url_meta":{"origin":1989,"position":2},"title":"Women United","author":"Staff","date":"January 1, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"United Women for a United Way By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Alice G. Patterson \u201cDoes $250 by itself make a difference?\u201d queried Nancy Eaton, president of United Way of Central New York. \u201cWell, not as much as if it\u2019s invested with 100 other people, right? Then, all of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Serway-Eaton-Carter-Crockett-January-Cover-2018-0004.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Serway-Eaton-Carter-Crockett-January-Cover-2018-0004.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Serway-Eaton-Carter-Crockett-January-Cover-2018-0004.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Serway-Eaton-Carter-Crockett-January-Cover-2018-0004.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Serway-Eaton-Carter-Crockett-January-Cover-2018-0004.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1987,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=1987","url_meta":{"origin":1989,"position":3},"title":"Marsha Tait","author":"Staff","date":"August 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"A Life Made for Literacy By Lorna Oppedisano | Photography by Paul Carmen Though Marsha Tait didn\u2019t set out with the intent of developing a career in the world of adult literacy, looking back at her family history, one might think it was destiny. Her mother was the child of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?cat=99"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/003_MarshaTait_PRINT.jpg?fit=1200%2C805&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/003_MarshaTait_PRINT.jpg?fit=1200%2C805&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/003_MarshaTait_PRINT.jpg?fit=1200%2C805&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/003_MarshaTait_PRINT.jpg?fit=1200%2C805&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/003_MarshaTait_PRINT.jpg?fit=1200%2C805&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2078,"url":"https:\/\/www.syracusewomanmag.com\/?p=2078","url_meta":{"origin":1989,"position":4},"title":"Susie Ippolito","author":"Staff","date":"September 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Building a Brand in Syracuse By Lacey Roy | Photography by Alice G. Patterson Wearing a classic sundress and trendy frames, Susie Ippolito is magnetic even from a distance. Laughter and gratitude are sprinkled through conversations. 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