Author Archives: first person productions
Handle with Prayer
By Kurt Baumann This post is the first in a two-part series. In one of Bil Keane’s Family Circus cartoons, Billy, the oldest son, is doing homework, and asks: “What is the greatest power?” Each one of the characters has … Continue reading
The Birren Center is at it again! Third anthology open for submissions
Back in November, I announced the publication of the second anthology from the Birren Center for Guided Autobiography. As of May first, the third anthology is open for submission. Note, to submit you must have taken a Guided Autobiography class, … Continue reading
Ingratiating Mother-In-Law or Chutzpah Unleashed?
By Marlene Samuels I’d been married for three years during which time my husband and I had been renovating our house almost constantly. Although a magnificent brick and limestone structure built in1882 complete with copper spires and massive leaded windows, … Continue reading
Revisiting the “Flash” Form
I’m teaching a Creative Writing workshop for Madison College at the moment; yesterday’s lesson was on the “Flash” form — Flash fiction, nonfiction, memoir. The zoomed-in essence of Flash can be applied to any genre. A student asked, “When did … Continue reading
Joyful Noise
By Pat LaPointe. This COVID-era essay first appeared on Story Circle Network. “Please, God. Make them quit crying” was my prayer as one preemie twin would wail, and the other twin soon join her in her less-than-melodious sounds. “Can’t you … Continue reading
Tornadoes Made a True Story Lover Out of Me
By Sarah White From April 3-4 1974, there was a super outbreak of tornadoes across the Midwest. Indiana, where I was 17 at the time, was not spared. While the tornadoes that ripped through Indiana had no literal impact on … Continue reading
My Father’s Words
By Virginia Amis We waited in the formal living room, many women dressed in light summer dresses that showed toned and tanned arms, men in slacks and linen jackets. Elaine and Bill had invited us to share a magnum of … Continue reading
Linda Lenzke’s “Dispatch from the Hideout” Covid Journal
In response to my call last week for your reflections on the COVID19 pandemic–and call to submit your journals, etc. to the Wisconsin Historical Society’s special collection–I received this comment from Linda Lenzke, an occasional contributor to True Stories Well … Continue reading
3 Short Years Ago, We Went Down the Rabbit Hole
By Sarah White Three years ago this week, the world as we knew it stopped. We all plummeted down a rabbit hole, I felt every bit as unmoored as poor Alice, snatching a pot of marmalade as she tumbled past, … Continue reading
True Stories Well Told 
Happy International Women’s Day!
This morning I invite you to revisit a post I published here on March 8, 2012, about my personal connection to International Women’s Day. As we honor women today, I encourage you to support women’s rights. When women thrive, we … Continue reading →