Post #75 – Women’s Memoirs, News – Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler
Memoir Writers: April in Austin Brings Together Memoir Writers from Across the US
Yesterday, I took a long hike on the headlands overlooking the Pacific Ocean near Dana Point. I’m often shooting brief videos, knowing I can use them in future memoir writing presentations. This time my partner caught me unaware, trying to capture the flocks of seagulls. (Honest, I didn’t pick that flower. I rescued it from a bench.)
But it was actually my walk along the headlands path rather than the view of the waves or the birds that inspired today’s blog. In the photo above, you’ll see what I saw. A path — a long path well trodden. Too well trodden.
In some ways this path, seemingly narrow and confined, is like the life story we want to tell. We’ve put a boundary on it — perhaps the width of the scope — perhaps the length of it, measured in years. But we still have all those footprints — all the events, all the people, all the emotions stacked on top of each other. How does the memoir writer decide what to include, what to exclude?
Which footprints should you follow to discover your story? If one is on top of another, how do you take them apart to understand your story? We invite you to join other women seeking to write their life stories on April 13 through April 15 in Austin for Story Circle Network’s Stories from the Heart Conference. [Click here for the comprehensive list of conference sessions.]
Kendra and I are conducting three quite different workshops. Our preconference workshop (Friday afternoon) is It’s 10 pm, Do You Know Where Your Story Is? 7 Steps to Successful Story Structure. We’ve designed a fun session with a game that will get you quickly into story structure. You’ll learn, write, play, and share. Don’t forget to sign up now as there are a limited number of spaces. This requires a separate fee of $30
A second preconference workshop on Friday will be taught by Jeanne Guy and is entitled The Power of Your Story: Rethink, Reframe, Re-Story Your Life .
UPDATE: Jeanne’s workshop has just closed and a waiting list will be kept. Kendra and I do have some room in our story structure workshop and hope we’ll see you there. But you do need to sign up right away as space is limited.
Then on Saturday morning, Kendra presents Expanding Your Publishing Options: eBooks, PODs, Self-Publishing, Oh My!. The world of publishing isn’t just changing, it has already changed. Kendra will help you navigate your publishing options — points you need to consider now, even if you are just starting to write.
And on Sunday morning, I’ll be back with our revolutionary writing system — Writing Alchemy: New, Fast, Fun, Cool, Quick-Start Method Did you take our Writing Alchemy preconference workshop two years ago? If so, come back for this workshop where we present our new quick-start approach. Don’t know Writing Alchemy? Have we got a treat for you. Come to this workshop that will change the way you write forever. I look forward to seeing you there and helping you become the best writer that you can be.
Yes, this is a Story Circle Network conference but it is open to all women interested in writing their life stories. Is this you? Just getting started? Well into your memoir? On your fifth rewrite? Stopped by writers block? Need to ideas? Where ever you are in the process of examining your life, this conference will give you new tools, ideas and approaches.
And the name of the conference? Stories from the Heart VI. The name says it all. Well, almost. This is an incredible conference where you’ll learn about writing your memoir or life story from multiple perspectives, where you’ll meet incredible women, and where you’ll find inspiration for the coming year.
AND REMEMBER: If you miss this conference, it will be two years before you have another chance.
Just click here to register: Stories from the Heart VI
