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Back to Basics

August 17, 20180Comments

This past Saturday, I spent the day with a fantastic group of writers learning the Basics of Writing Well. We had two Jackies and three Patricias in the group. Several came from long distances: Lady Lake, Ocala, Cocoa, Sarasota, Sebring, Gainesville, and Cape Canaveral. These folks are committed to writing well! I’m excited about many of these participants also being first-timers to a Writing Your Life event. This was such a fun and engaging group.

Patricia: FAPA’s Speaking Sensation

August 10, 20181Comment

By Amanda Benson, Writing Your Life staff

Last Friday, Patricia gave a presentation called “Be a Speaking Sensation” at the annual conference of Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA). As her assistant, I often have the privilege of tagging along with her to events such as this to help set up, distribute handouts, and take pictures. I also get the invaluable benefit of hearing all of Patricia’s talks, which I hope and pray are getting saved somewhere in my memory bank.

August 2018 Book Review

August 9, 20180Comments

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in a crematorium? If so, go behind the scenes with mortician turned memoirist, Caitlin Doughty in Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory. In this best-selling memoir, Doughty does more than just describe her job and how her early morbid interests became her career. She reveals how our culture is in denial about dying and argues for major changes in how we face the details of death.

A Day at the Enrichment Academy Expo

August 9, 20181Comment

In April 2017, The Villages Recreation Department established The Enrichment Academy (TEA), a service entity that provides community education and development. In its first year, more than 10,000 students moved through the new classrooms of TEA. Wow! Last Thursday, August 2, I participated in the TEA Expo, which kicked off registration for residents of The Villages for the fall semester. The Expo also provided an opportunity for those facilitating classes to meet potential students and introduce the courses. I could not believe the diversity of class offerings and sheer size of the Expo.

An Award-Winning Author: John Mitchell

August 9, 20181Comment

"My wife, Rachel, and I are thrilled at the recognition 7 Ships has received.” – John Mitchell, award-winning author of 7 Ships

The 2018 Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA) conference wrapped up this past weekend. The highlight of the conference is the President’s Award Banquet, where authors and publishers throughout Florida are recognized and awarded in a variety of genres for their recent offerings. Writing Your Life client John Mitchell’s book, Seven Ships: A U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer’s At-Sea Career, published earlier this year, was recently selected as a finalist in the FAPA President’s Awards, in the autobiography and memoir category.

August 2018 Writing Prompt

August 3, 20182Comments

Beginnings are often disguised as endings. Have you noticed that? A graduation from a school program is the beginning of a new career. A move from one state becomes a new…

Enriching The Villages

August 3, 20182Comments

Good news, friends in The Villages and surrounding towns. I am coming to you! After many, many requests from the Writing Your Life community, I am headed to The Villages to teach. In April 2017, The Villages Recreation Department established The Enrichment Academy, a new division of lifestyle services that focuses on

The Only Way to Do Memoir: a Storyical Interview

July 26, 20180Comments

I recently had the privilege of being interviewed on a new podcast about writing and publishing life story. What an honor to share with listeners about the work I love.

Storyical is a relatively new podcast produced by Peta Roberts of Life Story Professionals in Santa Clara, California. Storyical aims to help new authors push through the barriers they might encounter when recording or writing their memoirs. Episodes inspire writers to turn stories into life histories and share practical advice for capturing that story.

Writing Short with Maitland FWA Members

July 20, 20180Comments

Flash: Writing the Very Short Story - John Dufresne

Heating and Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs - Beth Ann Fennelly

Last week, I had the privilege of spending an evening with the Maitland chapter of the Florida Writers Association where we discussed the Art of Writing Short. We explored a number of examples of flash fiction and micro-memoir, including the elegant simplicity of six-word memoir. Everyone agreed: it certainly requires skill and practice to put our thoughts into fewer words without sacrificing depth or impact. Writing short is indeed an art form all its own and presents a worthy challenge for writers.

Dial up Your Dialogue—Editing Tip