Category Archives: writing workshop
The Stories We Tell Ourselves…
An NPR article on the use of psychology in the search for ships lost during World War II brings a nugget of brain science that memoir writers might appreciate. The event–an Australian light cruiser named the Sydney sunk by the … Continue reading
The Power of place in your memoir
The following musings were sparked by a post on Nieman Storyboard brought to my attention by APH president Pat McNees earlier this year. In it Andrea Pitzer lauds author Robert Caro for recognizing the power of place, acknowledged as a key component of literature, is … Continue reading
“Start Writing Your Memoir” workshop in Madison starts 9/21
For every life there’s a unique story–are you writing yours? Small groups are a great way to get ideas and stay motivated. My next workshop starts Wednesday, September 21. For 8 weeks the class will discuss and practice techniques for … Continue reading
“Produce a lot of work.” -Ira Glass
Ira Glass offers encouraging words for beginning writers in this 1:55 video. For more on Ira Glass, go here…
Two tips on “dealing with the dark”
My APH colleague Sharon Waldman wrote me recently to say, I just read your essay about the “Reminiscence Bump,” which is a phenomenon that I had never heard of. Thanks for discussing it! I don’t find that my memoir writing … Continue reading
William Zinsser on writing family history
William Zinsser is is well-known for his writing, editing, teaching, and literary criticism. I keep his book On Writing Well within arm’s reach. An article by Zinsser on how to write memoir came across my virtual transom recently. I found myself … Continue reading
The Right Word
I’m thinking about “the right word” this morning because I’ve been working with fearless, peerless April of “Aye Chihuahua” on polishing her story for submission to Glamour’s “My Real Life Story” contest. April’s voice as a writer is wild and … Continue reading
What are you doing with your summer vacation?
It’s hot in Wisconsin this week. Like, record-setting heat and humidity I haven’t seen since my summers in the thermal-inversion bowl of Bloomington, Indiana back in college circa 1976… But I digress. Are you traveling this summer? Write about it! You’re … Continue reading
Visions and revisions…
Time for you and time for me, And time yet for a hundred indecisions, And for a hundred visions and revisions, Before the taking of a toast and tea. Did T.S. Eliot write that in his first draft of “The … Continue reading
Musings on the Narrator from Jon Franklin
I subscribe to “WriterL,” a listserv published “more or less daily from somewhere near Chesapeake Bay” by Lynn and Jon Franklin. Jon is the author of two books I admire; Writing for Story: Craft Secrets of a Two-Time Pulitzer Prize Winner, … Continue reading
True Stories Well Told 