I still remember the beautiful sunny Friday, September 11, 1987, peeling carrots in the kitchen for my husband’s 40th birthday party. The baby wasn’t due for three weeks, but he had other ideas. As John returned home from the hospital, where he had just undergone chemotherapy treatment for his cancer, I said, “I’m sorry, butContinue reading “Memoir Writing: Embracing Life’s Pivotal Moments”
Tag Archives: memoir
Healing Through Memoir: The Power of Writing
For many memoirists, writing is a heavy yet healing journey. They are willing to look back, for they know that the unexamined life isn’t worth living. They understand that pain, hardship, and loss often come with something else: the realization that their story is now one they can live with and fully embrace. Hopefully, theContinue reading “Healing Through Memoir: The Power of Writing”
Healing Through Writing: Unburden and Move On
Writing as a way to heal, unburden ourselves, and move on is at the heart of why we write. The pain and injury we’ve endured, whether from a horribly critical or abusive family member or a total stranger—we make our stand and say what we have to say. Sometimes, we pull out a notebook orContinue reading “Healing Through Writing: Unburden and Move On”
Reflections on Writing and the Concept of Heaven
For the last two weeks at my church, I’ve been taking a class on the history of the Nicene Creed. The Creed was written as an answer and a rebuttal to those who had proclaimed Jesus was human, created by the Father, and therefore not the eternal God. What struck me was the teacher’s descriptionContinue reading “Reflections on Writing and the Concept of Heaven”
Gathering for the Timeless Story
We don’t live writing in our minds, but we welcome it as our gift to the community.
Birthdays and Beginning Again
The writing always the writing, winding its way into my life, my compass of contemplation and reflection, and hope to gather in the moment through the written word before it’s gone.
Cherishing Memories Through Writing
Yellow roses in a cream-colored Lenox vase grace my kitchen table. Thirty-seven years ago, John brought me a dozen yellow roses when our younger son, Daniel, was born. He entered my hospital room wearing turquoise-tinted aviator sunglasses. “Here’s looking at you, kid,” he said, handing me the flowers. The cool hospital room, with its fluorescentContinue reading “Cherishing Memories Through Writing”
A Wintry Mix of Memoir and Vulnerability
I have taught memoir for fifteen years, and my takeaway is always this: There is a great curiosity about where our words might lead us, coupled with the desire to learn the craft of writing.
Embrace Winter Writing: Ignite Your Creativity
As we welcome December and the start of winter, it is a time to embrace hope in our writing. For many, winter can evoke feelings of dread due to the cold and darkness. However, it also brings the beauty of snowflakes on evergreen boughs. It brings the sparkle of Christmas decorations and the festivities ofContinue reading “Embrace Winter Writing: Ignite Your Creativity”
A Celebration of Women Supporting Women
Women’s Writing Circle remains the foundation of my creative life and a living reminder that community inspires and that we are not alone in this crazy, wonderful journey of the feminine.
