Recent Posts
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(Not So) Wordless Wednesday 38
From the sublime(?) to the ridiculous … If my photo below brings to mind a memory or otherwise inspires you to do some writing, I hope you’ll share a comment. And there is a story behind this, which I’ll share anon. View more of my photos here. And drop in on the following [...]
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Write now! Deadline for UofT School of Continuing Studies writing competition is almost here
Friday, May 24, 2013. That’s the deadline for submissions to this year’s Random House of Canada Student Award for Fiction. If you were enrolled in a course offered by the Creative Writing Program at University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies between May 15, 2012 and May 15, 2013 (today!), YOU’RE ELIGIBLE. (Dear [...]
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Wordless Wednesday 37
If my photo below brings to mind a memory or otherwise inspires you to do some writing, I hope you’ll share a comment. View more of my photos here. And drop in on the following writer friends for further Wordlessness: Allison Howard Barbara Rose Lambert Carin Makuz at Matilda Magtree Cheryl Andrews Elizabeth Yeoman [...]
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Explore Memoir Writing at the Distillery Historic District, May 17 (and check out my other workshops)
New Downtown Workshop Location! I’m excited about this central venue for my writing workshops: artist Heather Gentleman’s studio, Hag Atelier, in the lively, creativity-inspiring Distillery Historic District. The first workshop will take place May 17. Rediscover Your Stories: Introduction to Memoir Writing Location: Hag Atelier, Distillery Historic District, 9 Trinity Street, Toronto, M5A 3C4 (Map; Hag [...]
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Wordless Wednesday 36
If my photo below brings to mind a memory or otherwise inspires you to do some writing, I hope you’ll share a comment. All Wordless Wednesday photos appearing on this website are my own, other than the occasional older family photo, e.g., one I shared of my grandmother Evelyn Jeffrey, a singer and voice teacher, with contralto Marian [...]
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On Memory: Study Finds Our Memories Can Be Reactivated During Sleep
From “Reactivating Memories During Sleep: Memory Rehearsal During Sleep Can Make a Big Difference in Remembering Later” (Science Daily, April 13, 2013): “Why do some memories last a lifetime while others disappear quickly? A new study suggests that memories rehearsed, during either sleep or waking, can have an impact on memory consolidation and [...]
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Wordless Wednesday 35
If this photo brings to mind a memory or otherwise inspires you to do some writing, I hope you’ll share a comment below. View more of my photos here. And drop in on the following writer friends for further Wordlessness: Barbara Rose Lambert Carin Makuz at Matilda Magtree Cheryl Andrews Elizabeth Yeoman at [...]
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Welcome to my website
You may be thinking about writing for yourself, or for family and friends, or because you dream of publishing your memoirs. All life writing grows from the same seeds: your unique memories. Begin today, and see what flowers.
This website was conceived as an online resource to help my students and other developing writers. Tabs above will lead you to conversations with memoirists and others (Interviews), personal essays about writers’ journeys (Writerly Ways), tips and links. Scroll my Blog, or click specific Categories (see sidebar), to find more thoughts on writing, interviews, guest posts, news of my students’ writing successes, and tips for writers. And have a peek at My Book Nook for reading recommendations with links to reviews. I hope you’ll discover ideas here that will spur your reading and writing.
I have offered memoir writing courses and workshops since 2004, and in fall 2009 I developed and began teaching the 10-week online course MEMORIES INTO STORY for University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (formerly in partnership with the New York Times Knowledge Network). Click Workshops above for the next sesson and for other scheduled events.
Memento vivere — “Remember to live” — and you’ll never run out of stories to share.
News!
ANANSY MAGAZINE recently featured my upcoming Spice Isle Writing & Yoga Retreat (Grenada) in its article “Yoga Retreats in the Caribbean: Top 9 Picks.”
Novelist and screenwriter OONYA KEMPADOO will be guest author for Spice Isle Writing & Yoga Retreat, which runs April 7 to 14, 2013. Click here to read my interview with her. (THIS RETREAT IS NOW FULL.)
PETER BEHRENS, Montreal-born novelist, screenwriter, and short story writer, will be guest author for my spring session of Memories into Story: Life Writing, offered online at University of Toronto, School of Continuing Studies. Peter’s debut novel, The Law of Dreams, won the 2006 Governor General’s Award for Fiction. His short story collection Travelling Light will be released soon. The author lives in Maine and Texas.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Director Sarah Polley’s very personal documentary Stories We Tell. Read her thought-provoking essay on the National Film Board blog.
In March 2012 The Writer magazine named my website one of “The Writer List: 16 of Our Favorite Writing Blogs and Websites.” I hope it will become one of your favourites too.
