Let’s Make 2023 the Year of the Reminiscence Writer

If you’ve been a reader of this blog for a while, you know how passionate I am about motivating people to write about their lives.

The benefits are many: Individuals gain a satisfying skill, explore the meaning of their life experiences, and make new social connections. Families appreciate the tangible legacy of their loved one’s life stories. Our community benefits from sharing these stories that make local history come alive, and bring older people’s examples and life lessons to new generations.

As 2023 gets underway, I’m reconfirming my commitment to reminiscence writing. I want to create a city-wide reminiscence writing program – in fact I already have. But to make it sustainable, I need to add new venues and teacher training, and I want to partner with a backbone organization–a group to sponsor the program. I’m in talks with several organizations that might fill that role. I am applying for grants to underwrite some aspects of my work. And I’m putting it out there to the universe: This I will do.

Come with me!

Maybe you’ve written about your life. Send me your essays or short chapters to consider for publication on this blog. You’ll find guidelines for submissions here.

Maybe you’re ready to get started. Many of the stories published here were first drafted in my reminiscence writing workshops. Maybe it’s time for you to take a workshop with me (or come back for a refresher). Here’s a link to my schedule for January-April 2023. These workshops are located in Madison, Wisconsin, but I’m open to scheduling an online course if you know a venue that would sponsor it, or a group of people who’d like to come together to write in a small group.

Maybe you are part of a group that might like to hear me talk about the benefits of reminiscence writing. My “Remember to Write!” presentation explores how life story writing creates a priceless legacy and a valuable opportunity to find connection, creativity, and meaning. I offer my opinion that pursuing writing in small groups with a trained facilitator is the most satisfying way to approach the task. I draw on my experiences teaching reminiscence writing in person and online since 2004. If you know of a group that’s looking for speakers, shoot me an email at sarah.white@firstpersonprod.com