Category Archives: Guest writer
Revising Your Work: Doug Elwell and Sarah White talk writing craft
Let’s talk about revision. In fact, let me invite you into a dialogue I had recently with Doug Elwell, a frequent contributor to True Stories Well Told. But first… It’s a fact of the writing life that you will likely … Continue reading
“What It Is” by Lynda Barry
Book Review by Rebecca Ahl I first started reading Lynda Barry in 1990, when her comic strip Ernie Pook’s Comeek ran in Seattle’s free weekly paper, The Stranger. The oddly ugly drawings and scathing observations about childhood grabbed me every week. … Continue reading
Ice Cream “Sundays”
By Suzy Beal Full of excitement, we pile into the station wagon and head the six miles into town. We seven kids do everything together. There are no neighbors close by so we depend on each other for everything; entertainment, … Continue reading
Not Enough Time
By Kaye Ketterer, performed at “First Monday, First Person” salon for memoir writers recently. When Kaye read her essay, I encouraged her to share it with readers of TSWT. I have no time to write a story. I’m busy. I … Continue reading
Happy International Women’s Day on March 8th!
Most years since starting this blog (seven years ago!), I have commemorated International Women’s Day with a post. I don’t know why the United States hasn’t embraced this holiday to the extent Europe and Eurasia have, but I hope that’s … Continue reading
Pails and Pollywogs
Bang, bang, bang, tap, tap, tap “Hey guys, Mom is making something.” We race for the stairs to the basement. “What are you making, Mom?” “Be patient.” She has large Maxwell House coffee cans on their sides and is putting … Continue reading
Identity
By Ruchi Kahan In the hardest time of my life, when I almost died, my spirituality saved me. I lived on the streets of New Delhi, India, trying to survive alone starting when I was only four years old. I … Continue reading
Watching Mildred
By Suzy Beal “Give it back to me! I won’t burn myself, I know how to do it.” “Mildred, let me do this for you. “No, give it to me, NOW” Her gnarled fingers are gripping the curling iron so … Continue reading
My Last Car
Dorothy Ross, whose writing has appeared on True Stories Well Told before, sent me this story to accompany her recent essay, “My First Car.” In 1987 my husband found a new-used Mercedes diesel station wagon for sale and convinced me that … Continue reading
My First Car
Dorothy Ross, whose writing has appeared on True Stories Well Told before, sent me this story after reading about my first car, The Pinto. By Dorothy Ross When I was a teenager, I didn’t need a car. I rode buses … Continue reading
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