Category Archives: Guest writer

“Never Cooked”

Posted on June 10, 2026 by first person productions

By Renee Lajcak Renee writes both for the page and for performance, adjusting her style for each. “For spoken word, I use shorter sentences, more repetition. On the page, you can be more abstract. For listeners, I keep it visual, … Continue reading →

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The Chair

Posted on June 2, 2026 by first person productions

Loriann Knapton Returning home from an afternoon excursion, I opened the back entryway of my house and was immediately transported back to my10-year-old self. There, in the breezeway blocking my entry, in all of its splendor, sat my rocking chair. … Continue reading →

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Grandma’s Cheese Torte

Posted on May 27, 2026 by first person productions

By Janet Manders Yesterday was one of those sub-zero, bone-chilling winter days in Wisconsin. I had no desire to bundle up and leave the warmth of my house, so I poured a second cup of coffee into my favorite Christmas … Continue reading →

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Black or Navy Blue

Posted on May 20, 2026 by first person productions

By Faith Ellestad  I am standing at my dresser with six socks in my hand, trying to decide which degrees of blackness make up the best pair. On closer inspection, I decide one is probably navy blue, and stuff it … Continue reading →

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On a Wing and a Prayer–The Making of an Heirloom Book

Posted on May 6, 2026 by first person productions

Documentary filmmaker Gretta Wing Miller inherited letters and artifacts from her father’s military service as a pilot after both parents had passed away. Until that time, she did not know of these treasures’ existence. A labor of love for family, … Continue reading →

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Another Day Comes, If I’m Lucky

Posted on April 29, 2026 by first person productions

By Carol Blatter Carol described this as a “runaway story, or collage essay”–in other words an essay in which one thought prompts the next, the writer following in wonder at where the mind goes. This huge truck, the longest truck … Continue reading →

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Opening the Door to Memory

Posted on April 22, 2026 by first person productions

Learn how to follow your sentences into deeper territory By Brenda Miller True Stories Well Told is having a little “takeover” by the team of Sheila Bender and Brenda Miller to promote their writing retreat in Lake Garda next September, … Continue reading →

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Poem for My Left Hand, Usually Auxiliary

Posted on April 15, 2026 by first person productions

By Sheila Bender True Stories Well Told is having a little “takeover” by the team of Sheila Bender and Brenda Miller to promote their writing retreat in Lake Garda next September, which I’ll be attending. You too? Where do poems … Continue reading →

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On Writing Prompts

Posted on March 25, 2026 by first person productions

By Sandra Hurtes This is the second of a two-part series. Last week, Sandra’s essay reflected her use of writing prompts to find a story she wanted to tell. I love writing prompts. Someone else’s idea of what to write … Continue reading →

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When the Tour Detours

Posted on March 18, 2026 by first person productions

By Sandra Hurtes This is the first of a two-part series. Next week, Sandra reflects on working with writing prompts, like the one that led to this essay. The pouring rain during my vacation in Portugal sent me and many … Continue reading →

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