Author Archives: first person productions

About first person productions

My blog "True Stories Well Told" is a place for people who read and write about real life. I’ve been leading life writing groups since 2004. I teach, coach memoir writers 1:1, and help people publish and share their life stories.

Old Tom Turkey

Posted on December 16, 2020 by first person productions

By Faith Ellestad Every year, I look forward to the Thanksgiving holiday, because it heralds the emergence of Old Tom Turkey. And I don’t refer here to meat. You know that thing you wanted so much as a child but … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest writer | 1 Comment

November 2020: My COVID19 Flu-cation

Posted on December 9, 2020 by first person productions

By Sarah White In the last week of October, I was exposed to COVID19 through my visits to my mother in a congregate living facility. She tested positive just before she passed from this life, but what took her down … Continue reading →

Posted in Sarah's memoir | Tagged COVID | 6 Comments

“Freckled” by Toby Wilson Neal

Posted on December 2, 2020 by first person productions

I asked Jeremiah to review this book, realizing that since he grew up in Hawaii, he would offer a more informed perspective than I could. I enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. As an entrant in the “awful childhood … Continue reading →

Posted in Book review, Guest writer | Leave a comment

Home

Posted on November 25, 2020 by first person productions

By Ellen Magee In September 2019, we first heard about F-35 military jets coming to the Air National Guard at the Dane County Airport, a half mile from our Northside home. There had been a gathering, sponsored by the Air … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest writer | 1 Comment

The Numbers

Posted on November 18, 2020 by first person productions

This post resumes a now-occasional series on our experiences under COVID-19, inspired by the realization that “we are all field collectors” in the effort to someday tell the story of what happened in 2020. I welcome your submissions: find guidelines for guest writers here. By … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Hungry?

Posted on November 11, 2020 by first person productions

By Patricia LaPointe Way back when I was married to my first husband and had four kids under the age of six, we would occasionally be invited to my in-laws for dinner. This was not my favorite thing to do, … Continue reading →

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If you’ve been following this blog for awhile, you’ve met my mother

Posted on November 6, 2020 by first person productions

Mother-daughter relationships. A topic so rich whole blogs–hell, whole social media channels–could be devoted to it. I have very occasionally posted about my mother here. Today I write with the news that on Halloween and a Blue Moon, October 31, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Double Date

Posted on November 4, 2020 by first person productions

By “WandrNWayne” Hammerstrom In my Junior year of high school I was finally licensed to drive my parents’ car and that meant dating my girlfriend was no longer bound by Racine’s city limits. Dating for me, age 16, was more … Continue reading →

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The Malicious Mask Mandate

Posted on October 28, 2020 by first person productions

Posted in Guest writer, Uncategorized | Tagged COVID | 1 Comment

Not Like in the Movies

Posted on October 21, 2020 by first person productions

By Pat Detmer Dad was dying and in Intensive Care, so hooked up with wires and tubes that it made the digital tangle behind my office desk look minimalist. He’d failed to take care of himself and was paying for … Continue reading →