Last night Barry spoke to a diverse group composed of women and men, students and adults, and experienced and novice writers about the many difficulties she encountered writing Anthony's biography.
Barry placed emphasis on revision and passion.
"Most writing is rewriting. . .and it takes the passion for the issues to keep writing," Barry said.
The discipline that writers need, the ability to sit and write for a length of time without distractions did not come easily for Barry, and she said she found herself doing everything from watering her plants or cooking instead of writing.
In order to write a feminist or woman's biography, Barry said, issues of equality need to be addressed knowledgeably, and she strongly emphasized the importance of taking a female point of view.
It is easy for one to get caught up in his or her ego and forget the person whom they are writing about, Barry said.
Barry also discussed interpretation in writing a biography.
She spoke emphatically about the mistakes that writers sometimes make in relying on second or third sources for information rather than seeking the primary source himself or herself. These non-primary sources are simply another person's interpretation of the issue, Barry said, and despite the length of time it takes to pursue them, it is necessary to do so for a biography.
Barry shared another story about coming across a powerful handwritten copy of a speech delivered by Anthony which she could not give justice to when she sat down to write about it.
In order to find the essence of the speech, she said she left the room she had been writing in, came back in, faced the empty room and proceeded to deliver the speech as if she were Anthony herself. She then found herself so moved that she was unable to write fast enough.
Barry's presentation is part of a series of speakers and networking discussion meetings organized by Nittany Valley Writers.
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