Author Archives: first person productions
“Start Writing Your Memoir” workshop starts 2/21
A few slots are still available in my class starting near Hilldale next Monday. The workshop meets at the Westside Senior Center, 602 Sawyer Terrace, for eight Mondays over lunchtime, 11:00-12:50. Brown bag lunches welcome. Cost is $40. Email me at whitesarah@charter.net … Continue reading
It’s Okay to Point
Carol Newman blogs at www.angelinyourinkwell.blogspot.com, where I drop by often to see what fresh ideas she has to stimulate me as a writer. Two things always impress me abut Carol’s blog — her ability to use images as writing prompts, … Continue reading
Billy Sunday’s Ghost Resort
Before I move on from my childhood tales–adolescence is beckoning–there’s one more I’d like to share with you. This piece was originally published in about 1996 on Star-Thrower, a website featuring autobiographical narrative funded by the Indiana Humanities Council. My … Continue reading
NY Times’ Neil Genzlinger vs. Jill Ker Conway
An article in January 30th’s New York Times Book Review set off a wave of polite indignation on the Association of Personal Historians‘ listserv. In “The Center of Attention” staff editor Neil Genzlinger waxed peevish about the number of mediocre … Continue reading
“What if I can’t remember?”
Michael asks, “I have this story I have created that has the essence of what actually occurred. The place is real, the event happened and the participants were all there. However, since I can’t remember actual details, I made them … Continue reading
Shared Laughter
By Kathryn Bush We laugh alike. Exactly alike, my sisters and I. Even though we don’t really look much like each other, everyone always knows we are sisters because we share mannerisms and facial expressions. If we are at a … Continue reading
The Carmel Sale
A community empties its closets—and fills them. By Sarah White In 1965 the community of Carmel, Indiana needed a new swimming pool. A pool required money, and that meant fundraising. The whole community kicked in. I’m sure many kinds of … Continue reading
Do you keep a journal?
Susan Albert Wittig, author and founder of Story Circle Network, has kept a journal for decades. I have not. I’ve never been clear on what a person is supposed to write in a journal, if that person is not 20-something … Continue reading
Remembering Bev Fosdal
A fearless, peerless writer passed away on Wednesday, January 25th — Bev Fosdal of Cambridge, Wisconsin. I was introduced to Bev by Anne Short, reminiscence writing instructor extraordinaire, when I was looking for people to interview for my book, Madison … Continue reading
Book review: Rhoda Janzen’s “Mennonite in a Little Black Dress”
Just finished this book. I was drawn to it because the Mennonite Church figures in my family history–my mother’s people would relate with pride (if pride were allowed) the role of my distant ancestors in the good works of that … Continue reading
True Stories Well Told 