2020 Our Life Stories
December 15, 2019
Thank You for Attending and Save the Date
April 18, 2019
Thank you for attending the 2019 Our Life Stories writers’ conference.
Some of you asked for an electronic version of Brianna Renner’s workshop handout on the epistolary form. It is here.
Our 2020 conference will be held at Cosumnes River College on April 18, 2020. Stay tuned for more information.
Thanks to your contributions of information at the 2018 conference, we have compiled a draft list of community resources. You can find a link to the document featuring writing-related readings, workshops, and organizations at: Community Resources.
Thank you for making the 2019 event another great success!
Press Release
February 5, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sabrina Stewart
Tel: 916-808-3814
E-mail: hartcrcwritersconference@yahoo.com
“REVEALING THE TAPESTRY OF OUR LIFE STORIES” WRITERS’ CONFERENCE
TO BE HELD APRIL 13 AT COSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE
Sacramento, CA: “ Revealing the Tapestry of Our Life Stories,” a cross-generational writers’ conference, will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at Cosumnes River College (CRC), in Sacramento. Sponsored by the City of Sacramento’s Hart Senior Center and Cosumnes River College, the focus of the annual event is the collection and writing of family stories and memoirs.
The conference features a variety of workshops led by experienced and nationally-recognized writers. Presenters include JoAnn Anglin, Naomi Benaron, Rhony Bhopla, Emily Bond, Traci Gourdine, Ellen Sander, Kakwasi Somadhi, Straight Out Scribes (Staajabu and VS Chochezi), Marie Taylor.
The conference runs from 9 to 4. The $35 fee includes workshops, lunch, and book sales and signings.
All are welcome. Space is limited. Register early. Registration is required by Friday, April 5. To register, visit the website www.ourlifestories.org. For questions about the conference, call the Hart Center at 916-808-5462, or email hartcrcwritersconference@yahoo.com.
Workshop Descriptions
Metaphor in Story with JoAnn Anglin—Workshop attendees will explore how to borrow poetic techniques and tools to add more flavor, variety, and intensity to memoirs and to better convey the mood of a time or place.
Creating Fiction From Our Lives: How We Weave a Tapestry of Imagination, Memory, and Memoir with Naomi Benaron—I am not a firm believer of “write what you know.” I do, however, believe that no matter how far we stray from our own truths, if we look into our “fictional souls,” we will find the beating heart of those memories. The purpose of this workshop is to connect with our personal truths and learn how to weave them into the narrative and spiritual arcs of our stories with courage, honesty, and integrity.
Feminist Ekphrasis: perception, projection, and power dynamic with Rhony Bhopla—Workshop attendees will explore writings surrounding feminist visual art. The focal point will be an examination of gender power dynamics between object, artist, and gazer. This is a generative workshop.
Therapeutic Writing: Confronting Fear, Capturing Memory, and Working Through Loss with Emily Bond—This workshop will explore writing as a powerful self-expressive and reflective tool. Join us as we examine fear, grief, and memory through the lenses of short-essay, fiction, and memoir.
Crossroads: Exploring the Alternate Choice with Traci Gourdine—Explore the art of “would’ve, should’ve, could’ve.” We’ll try out several techniques to organize and beautify, without preaching abstractions, a key turning point in our lives when we had to make a choice that determined the direction of our life. What might have happened had we taken the other road? Who would we be, and where would we find ourselves? This exercise allows us to utilize fiction and non-fiction as we travel down that alternate path in the voice of the person we would have become. Many are surprised with the results; many realize we may have chosen the right path after all. Prose and poetry are welcome.
The Photographer As Narrator with Ellen Sander—Photographs have inspired many classic narratives. Preparing to recognize the moment, capturing transience, and making pictures in all sorts of situations “are things a story writer needed to know,” recalled Pulitzer Prize author Eudora Welty, emphasizing the realization that “Life doesn’t hold still. A good snapshot stopped a moment from running away.” It is the documentation of that decisive moment that preserves memory and rouses creativity, whether instantly or years later. Photographs that inspired great literary works will be introduced and discussed. Workshop participants will explore subtle and artful themes embedded in photographs and consider how their interpretations may infuse and color subsequent story lines.
Your Coming Forth Story Starters with Kakwasi Somadhi—“. . .[Loretha’s] thoughts could travel, revisiting the highs and lows of her life, which she did often.”
–from Coming Forth by Day
Participants will respond to writing prompts designed to bring forth the stories embedded in their lives. Looking for common themes, they will explore how their stories quilt together into a tapestry reflecting the highs and lows of their unique journey. And finally, they will write a bit of fiction or mini-memoir that represents their coming forth stories. * Participants should bring writing tools: laptop, or paper and pen.
The Art of Word Weaving with Dr. VS Chochezi and Staajabu—Join mother/daughter poetry team Dr. V.S. Chochezi and Staajabu, known as Straight Out Scribes, as they describe and demonstrate their unique style of spoken word and how they craft their art.
Remember Me: Seven “Other” Ways to Tell Your Story with Marie Taylor—Birth, school, family, marriage, career—throw in some influence from culture and society, and you have a life story. Or do you? Starting from the cradle to ending in maturity may be a logical way to tell the story of your life, but is it the only way, or the best way? Or could you pick a format and structure for your narrative that better reflects who you are, what you did, what you enjoyed, how you viewed your world? In this workshop you learn seven alternative ways to tell your story, including: vignettes, memoirs, photo journals, themed narratives, and treasure boxes.
# # #
For more information Tel: 916-808-3814, or e-mail: hartcrcwritersconference@yahoo.com.
Registration Materials Available Soon
January 20, 2019
Save the Date
November 26, 2018
James Cagney, 2017 Keynote Presenter Publishes Book
October 5, 2018
James Cagney’s first poetry collection, BLACK STEEL MAGNOLIAS IN THE HOUR OF CHAOS THEORY, may now be pre-ordered from Nomadic Press.
“Toggling between loss, therapy, the pastoral, illness, the humorously personable, and the darkly familial—at every turn this book surprises, aches, and delights.” -Sam Sax, Author of “Bury It”, 2017 James Laughlin Award winner.
**
According to Cagney: “You well know, I’ve been living these poems more than writing them. After all these years, to finally share them with you is both exciting and unnerving.
Plus: Getting this email, consider yourself invited to the release party. Perhaps the only party I will ever go to and not be the first person to leave. But no pressure– its next weekend.”
Nomadic Press is hosting Saturday, October 13th at their Oakland office, 2301 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA, 7-9 pm.
A Facebook invite exists https://www.facebook.com/events/1772750403019997/
Thank You for Attending – Draft Resource List
June 11, 2018
Thank you for attending the 2018 Our Life Stories writers’ conference. Thanks to your contributions of information, we have been able to compile a draft list of community resources. You can find a link to the document featuring writing-related readings, workshops, and organizations at: Community Resources Compiled April 2018.
If you want us to add a group or update the information, please complete the following form:
2018 Press Release
June 11, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rosanne Bernardy
Tel: 916-808-1590
E-mail: hartcrcwritersconference@yahoo.com
“OUR LIFE STORIES” WRITERS’ CONFERENCE
TO BE HELD APRIL 28 AT COSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE
Sacramento, CA: “Our Life Stories,” a cross-generational writers’ conference, will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2018, at Cosumnes River College (CRC), in Sacramento. Sponsored by the City of Sacramento’s Hart Senior Center and Cosumnes River College, the focus of the annual event is the collection and writing of family stories and memoirs.
The Conference features a variety of workshops led by experienced and nationally-recognized writers. Presenters include Sandra Wheeler Abeyta, Emily Bond, Marcus Crowder, Kerstin Feindert, Kathryn Mayo, Ginny McReynolds, Indigo Moor, Bob Sylva, Marie Taylor, and Susan Wooldridge.
The Conference runs from 8:45 to 4:15. The $35 fee includes workshops, lunch, and book sales and signings. During the luncheon, the Sacramento Poetry Center will also offer a networking session to identify writing resources in our community.
All writers are welcome, but space is limited! Registration is required by Friday, April 13, and online registration is preferred. To register, visit the website www.ourlifestories.org. For questions about the conference, call the Hart Center at 916-808-5462, or email hartcrcwritersconference@yahoo.com.
Workshop Descriptions
Out Loud: Reading Your Work to an Audience with Sandra Wheeler Abeyta
Bring a selection of three-minutes in length and receive instant feedback on building your skills in reading aloud.
Establishing Setting: Using Research Skills to Unlock the Past with Emily Bond
Learn how to employ historical research to explore the past and make it come alive for your readers.
The People in Our Lives: Details Tell Their Stories with Marcus Crowder
Learn exercises to search for visual descriptive scenes which reveal character and develop one of them in depth.
Painting with Words: Creating Atmosphere in Settings with Kerstin Feindert
The focus is on techniques to create atmosphere and include exercises to create the mood of a place and time to bring the past to life.
Amalgamation: Mixing Genres to Pass on Wisdom and Stories with Kerstin Feindert
Learn how to mix genres to share stories and pass on skills and wisdom.
Intimate Narratives: Family Photographs, Beloved Objects and the Personal Story with Kathryn Mayo
Explore the development of the personal story and weave narratives through visual prompts such as family photographs and beloved objects.
How to Create a Blog to Share Your Story with Ginny McReynolds
Learn the steps starting a blog and keeping it going including a focus/topic/name, getting a host and domain name, establishing a schedule, using art and graphics, and developing an audience.
Writing to History and Culture: Bringing the Past Alive with the Tools of the Present with Indigo Moor
Learn the seven effective conventions in mooring a poem to a specific, time, place, etc., and practice so you can choose the proper elements to bring your work alive.
Self-publishing: One Happy Ending with Bob Sylva
The key steps, challenges, and opportunities to self-publish your book.
Finding Your Voice with Marie Taylor
Learn how to discover and hear your uniquely creative voice. Ideal for those who want to develop a relaxed, personal style for essays, memoirs, blogging, magazine, or letter writing.
Freeing your Life with Words with Susan Wooldridge
In this workshop, we will playfully experience how language can help us discover and express our soul’s calling in poems, essays, and books.
# # #
For more information Tel: 916-808-1590, or e-mail: hartcrcwritersconference@yahoo.com.
2018 Press Release
March 18, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rosanne Bernardy
Tel: 916-808-1590
E-mail: hartcrcwritersconference@yahoo.com
“OUR LIFE STORIES” WRITERS’ CONFERENCE
TO BE HELD APRIL 28 AT COSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE
Sacramento, CA: “Our Life Stories,” a cross-generational writers’ conference, will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2018, at Cosumnes River College (CRC), in Sacramento. Sponsored by the City of Sacramento’s Hart Senior Center and Cosumnes River College, the focus of the annual event is the collection and writing of family stories and memoirs.
The Conference features a variety of workshops led by experienced and nationally-recognized writers. Presenters include Sandra Wheeler Abeyta, Emily Bond, Marcus Crowder, Kerstin Feindert, Kathryn Mayo, Ginny McReynolds, Indigo Moor, Bob Sylva, Marie Taylor, and Susan Wooldridge.
The Conference runs from 8:45 to 4:15. The $35 fee includes workshops, lunch, and book sales and signings. During the luncheon, the Sacramento Poetry Center will also offer a networking session to identify writing resources in our community.
All writers are welcome, but space is limited! Registration is required by Friday, April 13, and online registration is preferred. To register, visit the website www.ourlifestories.org. For questions about the conference, call the Hart Center at 916-808-5462, or email hartcrcwritersconference@yahoo.com.
Workshop Descriptions
Out Loud: Reading Your Work to an Audience with Sandra Wheeler Abeyta
Bring a selection of three-minutes in length and receive instant feedback on building your skills in reading aloud.
Establishing Setting: Using Research Skills to Unlock the Past with Emily Bond
Learn how to employ historical research to explore the past and make it come alive for your readers.
The People in Our Lives: Details Tell Their Stories with Marcus Crowder
Learn exercises to search for visual descriptive scenes which reveal character and develop one of them in depth.
Painting with Words: Creating Atmosphere in Settings with Kerstin Feindert
The focus is on techniques to create atmosphere and include exercises to create the mood of a place and time to bring the past to life.
Amalgamation: Mixing Genres to Pass on Wisdom and Stories with Kerstin Feindert
Learn how to mix genres to share stories and pass on skills and wisdom.
Intimate Narratives: Family Photographs, Beloved Objects and the Personal Story with Kathryn Mayo
Explore the development of the personal story and weave narratives through visual prompts such as family photographs and beloved objects.
How to Create a Blog to Share Your Story with Ginny McReynolds
Learn the steps starting a blog and keeping it going including a focus/topic/name, getting a host and domain name, establishing a schedule, using art and graphics, and developing an audience.
Writing to History and Culture: Bringing the Past Alive with the Tools of the Present with Indigo Moor
Learn the seven effective conventions in mooring a poem to a specific, time, place, etc., and practice so you can choose the proper elements to bring your work alive.
Self-publishing: One Happy Ending with Bob Sylva
The key steps, challenges, and opportunities to self-publish your book.
Finding Your Voice with Marie Taylor
Learn how to discover and hear your uniquely creative voice. Ideal for those who want to develop a relaxed, personal style for essays, memoirs, blogging, magazine, or letter writing.
Freeing your Life with Words with Susan Wooldridge
In this workshop, we will playfully experience how language can help us discover and express our soul’s calling in poems, essays, and books.
# # #
For more information Tel: 916-808-1590, or e-mail: hartcrcwritersconference@yahoo.com.
2018 Registration Brochure
February 12, 2018
Our Life Stories 