Author Archives: first person productions
Madison Area Memoirists: Anybody up for “writing attack” on Mad Rollin’ Dolls?
Roller skates were a really big part of my childhood. At the rink, on the sidewalks, all around the town, skates were how I rolled. One reverberation of that roller rumble and I’m back there again. A while back I got invited … Continue reading
The Underpants
ourBy Katie Ravich I wrote this piece during a writing workshop given by Lynda Barry. The first step was to write about a memorable object. This appears in the third paragraph of this piece. The memorable object was a pair … Continue reading
I Am Curious…. Orange
The Irish celebrate their St. Patrick today, and everyone who likes anything about Ireland will raise a glass of green beer, sing along to a lilting ditty or two, and romance the history of the oppressed. As a descendant of a Belfast Scotsman, I always find … Continue reading
To improve your writing, get specific
My memoir writing workshop spring season starts up this week. (If South Madison is convenient for you, there are still a few seats in the house for Thursday 6:00-7:45, 8-week workshop.) I will share some writing tips here to complement the workshop … Continue reading
Celebrate International Women’s Day!
Three years ago I blogged here about my personal connection to International Women’s Day. What started as a Socialist political event has evolved into a a celebration for women’s economic, political, and social achievements–in Europe, anyway. USA–not so much. Let’s change that! I … Continue reading
The Dawn Wall and the Sunset Wall
By Sarah White We admire athletes who compete at levels we only dream of. At the same time, we consistently overlook the accomplishments of a group facing challenges just as difficult—the elderly. In January 2015, I was captivated by the … Continue reading
Innovation Ate My Craft
By Sarah White There was a time when “layout” was considered a skill and I was adept at it. Then innovation ate my craft. As a layout artist, I could take someone’s images and words and make them into camera-ready … Continue reading
Why should you write your family history?
A recent article posted by the New York Public Library got me thinking about the many reasons writing our stories is important. I introduced this question at a memoir writing workshop last spring, and my writers’ answers surprised me. They fell … Continue reading
Fifty Years, Part 2
By Paul Ketterer Part 2 in a 2-part essay. For Part 1, click here. The venue is appropriate. The VFW hall was born in the 1940s, formed into completion in the 1960s, and has been going to seed ever since in a … Continue reading
True Stories Well Told 
Reminiscence declared obsolete!
Dateline Madison, Wisconsin: The genre of reminiscence is obsolete, announced an administrator from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Continuing Studies, who declined to be identified because she had not been authorized to speak to the press. “We have enough stories … Continue reading →