Mining my Memoir and Other Reliquaries

I know. I know. A memoir is not actually a storehouse for relics such as sacred bones or castoff pieces of clothing—the stuff of saints and the holiest of holies. A memoir is a container for a story from a life. And not necessarily a holy life, except for the belief that all life is holy, even that of a sinner such as me.

Continue reading

It’s Women’s History Month: Make Some.

March is Women’s History Month and I’m also celebrating the fifth anniversary of the release of my book Wild Women, Wild Voices, Writing from Your Authentic Wildness.

I get all nostalgic when I remember the many groups of wild women who have joined me in meeting rooms and around tables throughout the years to write their stories and give voice to their lives.

Continue reading

Stirring Up Memories

Yesterday at my “Finding Theme and Structure in Memoir” workshop, we talked about using writing prompts to stir memories. I mentioned that never-fail memory stirrer-upper I first learned from Natalie Goldberg’s book, Writing Down the Bones. Just start with “I remember…” and follow the pen where it leads.

Continue reading