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So, Tell ‘em a Story

08/13/2011 By Leave a Comment
Typerwriter tiny

The best way to compel other people’s interest in your work is to tell a story rather than bore readers with facts—so says the expert, Brandon Yanofsky on CopyBlogger.  I believe they’re right, and I feel content that my blog doesn’t involve writing posts full of boring facts. But then the “how can this work for me” reaction took over, since my work actually works the other way around—my passion revolves around inspiring and teaching people to write true, spirited stories of their own creation.I really wanted to give the CopyBlogger idea a try, so here goes my brief story…starting with a hook to pull you in,moving quickly to the heart of it through action and reaction,pulling the story together with testimonials by a few TellTale Souls as witnesses to The Story Woman Method.And, yes, I think you will grasp that’s in it for you.STORY:Sam and Diane, who are perfect strangers, would never look at their lives or their relationships in quite the same way after answering

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Nectar Taunts the Lazy Tongue

07/30/2011 By 2 Comments
Nectar tips tongue

(To unscramble this poem on memory & memoir, click “read more.”) Buds evoking what’s to come,Nudging traces in pool of haze, marking time,Just grazing.Nectar naively taunts the lazy tongue,Seeking shadows bent in silhouette. Faded light to bright the now begun.Mind grasping, gasping for perception In collection.Spike the feast, rattle the gourd,Reckon whorled resurrection. Unknown known as inky marks traverse the run,Find teasing taste of sweet vermouthOr bitter truth.Sometimes I remember to findReason coursing season.The Story Woman asks you to write Mother Memoir by using the seasons of recall to let your memories roll into your unique bio-vignette.

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Flash Fizzle: Fiction or Not?

07/04/2011 By Leave a Comment
Sparklers by Orin Zebest

It’s the 4th of July brought to us by the one, the only, Declaration of Independence.  I love the idea that our Founding Fathers were willing to die for our country's independence. We’ve become of nation with too many so-called leaders, hungry for power, who live for the vote regardless of what is right for the people of the United States of America—a far cry from the group of people in 1776 who had true character and conviction and the courage to do the right thing by founding a country based on principles that made us strong and indebted to no one.Would you sign your John Hancock or simply pin your hopes on a sparkler?  Beware the hot wire left in the grass; the burn makes for blisters that weep well after the flash fizzles.Photo by Orin Zebest

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Memorial Day Poppies 5 cents with a Song

05/28/2011 By 2 Comments
CA Poppy

I feel fortunate to have clear memories of what Memorial Day signifies. When I was a kid growing up in North Dakota, this was a day where everyone I knew actually did commemorate the fallen American soldiers, who had died for our country as far back as the Civil War. Flowers were placed on the graves and memorials of these brave men and women to honor the fact that they made the ultimate sacrifice. A huge amount of patriotism was displayed as flags waved in most every yard and place of business, our national anthem – The Star Spangled Banner – boomed from horn and drum across our great land, and the smoke from charred hot dogs (gotta love ‘em) blanketed picnic grounds the country over.Thousands and thousands of bright red, paper poppies were sold all over the United States in support of World War II Veterans. These crinkly poppies went for a 5¢ piece, and were worn with pride by all Americans. To us kids, they were like badges of honor. Perhaps this is another reason why the

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Feel a Story: Memoir Labyrinth No.12

05/20/2011 By Leave a Comment

There is no story without memory. What is a memory without feeling?Next time you walk the memoir labyrinth, put some thought into how you will allow your story to take shape and become a piece that captures your mother’s character and spirit. Think about what you need to bring into the story so that it will hold its shape and compel not just reading but connection.One way to begin your journey is to realize that you will start to build your memoir with memories of significance to place as the foundation of your story. The specific idea behind each memory can be thought of as a building block or brick, and what holds those bricks together is the mortar. From my point of view, the mortar of a story amounts to expressing the feelings emanating from the memories you’ve chosen. Accessing your true feelings and emotions and weaving them throughout will convey a solid connection between the memories and the people behind the memories. Your feelings accurately and honestly set down on

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Mother’s Day Souvenir par Excellence

05/05/2011 By Leave a Comment
5-2-2011 1-13-23 PM

In one vibrant and creative swoop, you have the power to give Mom the most original, meaningful Mother’s Day souvenir ever. And it’s free!Did you know souvenir means “memory” in French?You might be thinking, “Well, maybe Mom’s memory isn't what it used to be, but she already has one, so why is The Story Woman suggesting I give her more of what she’s got?”“Give me a few moments of your time and I’ll explain. Now, there’s that word ‘moment’—just exactly what I was looking for.”Here is what you do:Reach inside your mind where the memories dwell.Find one moment in time that in the telling would let Mom know  how special she is to you and how much you appreciate her unique personality.Take pen in hand, place the ball point at the top of some nice writing paper, and in your handwriting record this memory of a significant past event.Simple? Yes and no—there is a catch. You'll catch moments that specifically relate to your mother’s character and spirit.

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Salacious Spirit of Spring – Mother Nature’s Daughter

04/21/2011 By 2 Comments

Are you in love with Mother Nature or her daughter? I know you’re budding out, pert and peppy in all your glory, Spring. I feel you beckon me with your flirtatious ways, flowing sap and saucy spirit, so that I can’t resist your charms, but that only means trouble is looming on the horizon. Our love affair is fraught with predictable problems, and I should know better than to trust you after all these years. With you, Spring, I get bees that sting, sunburn, in spite of the block, and broken fingernails from poking around in your fertile bed. But that’s not the half of it. You make me hot – my temperature rises with hope held high for planting. Were it not for you, I wouldn’t envision brilliant flowers and juicy tomatoes that taste like tomatoes making their grand entrance all around after teasing them with gentle love and holy water. But I know my dreams will be dashed by loving you. You make me love you, and then you invite your ill-mannered friends to our garden

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Imperfect Endings, Zoe F Carter’s Memoir

03/27/2011 By Leave a Comment
Zoe Carter

She Summoned DeathWhether or not one believes the choices this family made in Zoe Carter’s memoir, Imperfect Endings, are right or wrong, Carter is an undeniably powerful writer, who has an easy way with words on a complex, but timely issue. She has taken the difficult, to say the least, subject of life and death and crafted it into an unforgettable personal story laced with wit, wisdom, humor, compassion, insight, and abundant food for thought. To be honest, when I first picked it up I wondered if I wanted to “go there.” I’m glad I did—I found it incredibly moving.I know it took more than a little courage for Zoe Carter to write this provocative slice of life. Imperfect Endings meant paring familial façade to the bone and sucking out the marrow, which she did unabashedly.How does a daughter say, “Yes, Mom, I’ll watch you die slowly by your own hand.”  I’ll be a party to your staged sit-in with death.Hauntingly beautiful are the two words that washed over my

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Trust the Messenger and the Message

03/08/2011 By Leave a Comment

That’s you, the messenger. It’s there, your voice. It is right there bubbling up inside you—you already knew that, didn’t you? But do you believe it? Do you trust it? Maybe you are thinking, “I just babble.” Well, I think I babble on and on, too, sometimes, but then I snap out of it and become coherent. You will find that very voice that knows what to say and how to say it so that the character and spirit of your mother will be revealed through your telling tale. It is simply a matter of hearing the authentic voice inside yourself and allowing it to guide your writing style. Speak from your heart directly onto the written page. No one but you can discover your voice. It is entirely up to you to find what is waiting there inside—awaiting your confidence and trust in it.Simply put, voice informs memoir—it is the instrument you will use to tell your story. You are the narrator, the storyteller, and it is through your voice alone the story is told and controlled. Through

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Listen as Judith Marshall Discusses “Husbands” on Blogtalkradio

02/25/2011 By Leave a Comment

Judith Marshall is a friend and colleague who has an interesting story to tell about her writing journey in fiction, based on the lives of lifelong girlfriends and the husbands who passed through, so I'm linking you to her recent interview on Blogtalkradio. Her award-winning novel, "Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever," was published in late 2009 and has recently been optioned for the big screen. Listen to Judith discuss her page turner with Nanci Arvizu on Page Readers. She will not only inspire you to take your writing to the next level, she’ll share with you which steps to take to get there.

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