At my writing workshop last week (at The Clearing in Door County), I gave the students an assignment to write a story from their life in six words. It sounds like an easy assignment. It is not. Those reading this may want to try it. With the student’s permission, here are samples of six-word life stories. There were many more.
Love and life with sweet Charlie. Jean Sweet, Wisconsin.
First born. First gone. Too soon. Dixie Dickert, Wisconsin
High grassy hill. Wind. Heat. Breathless. Tom Lerczak, Illinois
Crazy Idea. Seafood. Restaurant. Success. Retirement. Ann Walter, Florida
Contented survivor. Babies. Divorce. Remarriage. Grandchildren. Sharon Galloway, Iowa.
Independent woman. Often alone. Self-fulfilling prophecy? Dianne Lueder, Wisconsin
Small, but powerful. Aged, but alive! Joan Zimmerman, Wisconsin.
For those interested in writing stories from their lives, six words and longer, I am teaching a one-day workshop at The Clearing, Saturday, October 17th. Go to http://www.theclearing.org/ and click on Workshops for further information.
THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Surprising how much you can say with few words.
My new novel, the third in the Ames County Series, comes out in September, Its title: BLUE SHADOWS FARM. A rural Wisconsin history mystery.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
August 15. Creekside Books, Cedarburg. 12-3:00. Old Farm.
August 16. Railroad Days, Stonefield Village, Cassville. Old Farm
August 20. Writing From Your Life Workshop. Sheboygan Public Library, August 20, p.m. (Filled)
Sept. 21, 7:00 p.m. Sequoya Library, Madison. Blue Shadows Farm
Oct 1, 7:00 p.m. Chippewa Falls Library, Blue Shadows Farm
Oct 4, 1:30 p.m. Monona Historical Society, Monona, Iowa, The Lighter Side of Country Living, including Blue Shadows Farm
Oct 15, 7:00 p.m. Reader’s Loft, Green Bay, Blue Shadows Farm
October 17, (9 to 4)Writing From Your Life. The Clearing, Ellison Bay, WI. October 17, a.m.. & p.m.
Oct 20, 7:00 p.m. Barnes and Noble, Madison West. Official Book Launch, Blue Shadows Farm
Oct 24, 7:00 p.m. Wild Rose Library. Book Launch, Central Wisconsin, Blue Shadows Farm
Oct 28, 6:30 p.m. Elkhorn Library. Blue Shadows Farm
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Thanks, Jerry, for using my six-word story on your blog. It's an honor that you would consider it a worthy example. I thoroughly enjoyed your class at The Clearing last week and very much appreciated learning about your wonderful story-writing techniques. I'm now looking forward to continuing work on the log of my Alaskan cruise - change that please.... to working on my Alaskan "story." Thanks again!
Joan Zimmermann
I just started following your blog, Jerry. I keep the feeds to the blogs that matter at my own blog,
http://fearfunandfiloz.blogspot.com/
We took your Clearing class a couple of years ago and I am still benefitting, especially from the assignment to recall and describe funny things from my past. Quite a few of my blog posts come from that assignment.
Post a Comment