It’s summer. Time slows down. What doesn’t get done today can get moved to tomorrow’s list. Let’s just sit down and catch up, shall we?

What’s new with me? Well, I’m looking for new stories for this blog, as always. I’ve slowed down my teaching schedule a bit, so I have fewer opportunities to catch stories as they’re born. I rely on you regular readers–and you who serendipitously stumble across this story-space–to keep writing and sending stories my way. Find my guidelines for guest writers here.

Upcoming this fall: in-person Guided Autobiography

What else is new? This fall, I’m focusing on teaching Guided Autobiography workshops. Madison College has kindly offered to host me again. We’re trying evening sessions, with “Intro to Guided Autobiography” offered on five Thursday evenings 6:30-8:30, September 5 through October 3, at the Truax campus. Then we’ll follow that with “Going Deeper with Guided Autobiography,” Thursday evenings 6:30-8:30, October 17 through November 14.

What is Guided Autobiography, you ask?

Guided Autobiography (GAB) is an expressive writing workshop methodology developed by Dr. James Birren, designed to help individuals explore and document their life stories. The process involves structured, thematic writing assignments that guide participants in reflecting on significant life experiences.

Each session typically focuses on a different theme, such as family, career, or health, prompting writers to compose short autobiographical stories. These narratives are then shared in small, supportive groups, fostering a sense of community and mutual understanding. The GAB methodology not only encourages self-reflection and personal growth but also enhances social connections through the shared storytelling experience.

And hey, when you’re done you have some essays that could add up to your own life story, if you keep writing.

I’ve written about GAB off and on here on True Stories Well Told. This link will take you to those posts.

If you’d like to try a GAB workshop, but you’re not in Madison, email me at sarah.white@firstpersonprod.com. I’m part of a global network of over 700 GAB Instructors. There’s probably one near where you live, and some offer online workshops that could work for anyone, anywhere. I’ll do my best to hook you up.

For a free taste, check back here over the next three weeks.

I’ll be posting mini-lessons from the GAB curriculum, accompanied by the sheets of prompts that Dr. Birren called “Sensitizing Questions.” These sets of questions are designed to stimulate thinking and trigger memory recall on specific themes. Try them out, see if this method is “juicy” for you!

In other news…

A few weeks ago I posted that my Fall writing retreat, “Responding to Experience: Writing the Personal Essay” was open for applications. I received enough that the retreat would have been a go–except the lodging option fell through. I felt strongly that the lodging had to be a memorable part of the experience, and I just wasn’t ready to downgrade to a motel in Sauk County. So, with regret, I cancelled the retreat. But I’m sure new ideas and opportunities will emerge, and I’ll bring them to you, my fellow writers. “Watch this space,” as they say.

Thanks for reading! Keep writing–and send me your “true stories, well told”!

• Sarah White