Writing Classes
March 7, 2009 · By Thelly
Life Story Writing Classes
Writing Classes
Our Government mandated a Life Story Writing Class all across the country…local classes for local people, usually advertised in Adult Ed or Jr. College brochures. The classes are No Fee/No Grade.
When I first moved to Cardiff by the Sea many years ago, I signed up for the LSW Class and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. Mac, the teacher, was a retired professor from San Diego State, he took the class one semester and the teacher quit. He decided to apply, and the rest is history. He’s been teaching the class for probably 20 years now. He’s in his 90’s!
For me, who had flunked out or dropped out of many creative writing classes because I don’t have a left brain to do outlines and such, Mac was a breath of fresh air. He taught us to *write off the top of our heads*…to get the story out and worry about grammar, spelling, syntax etc. later (or not at all!) The class helped to discipline me to write a story a week, because we were expected to read our stories to the group, thereby encouraging them to write their stories.
I stayed in the class for 10 years because I needed that extra discipline, and because I was with like-minded people that I enjoyed being with on a weekly basis. It became my social life : ) We had coffee breaks and cookies every Tuesday, we learned to care about one another, and we learned from Mac that what we needed was encouragement…not criticism! Then I put up my website, and then my daughter suggested having a discussion group on Yahoo!
I wish that all the group members would share their stories…it’s so important to the encouragement of each member…it nearly always triggers a memory for someone else. Remember the quote from Stephen Kings book “On Writing” ‘The main thing is the main thing!’
As King says:
Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well.
On Writing is an encouraging but very honest look at what it means to be a fiction writer, and if you’re an aspiring author – especially if you secretly worry about not being “clever” enough or educated enough to write fiction – then I highly recommend it.
Copyright by Daily Writing Tips.
Stephen King’s On Writing
Check out your local schools and see if a class is offered in your area. It’s worth it!
Google Life Story Writing Classes, or call your local schools for information.
I am not a teacher, so I don’t feel qualified to teach…all I do is encourage!
Remember…The main thing is the main thing…get your story out, write it down or record it for future generations!
We’re leaving a roadmap, and as you can see in this day and age, the next generation is going to need it!
For a virtual visit go to http://www.lifestorywriting.net/
My Blog: http://storyladyincardiffbythesea.blogspot.com/
Join the fun at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/life-story-writing/
For Thelly Thoughts go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ThellyThoughts
Share at Thelly’s Spiritual Retreat http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritual-retreat/
For Quiet Moments http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/odb/odb.shtml
Seeking? http://www.reasons4faith.org/
Wow. Ten years in the same class. I’ve never even worked for the same company for that long.
I prefer to write my life stories under the cloak of fiction. Thought about a more nonfiction though, however.
Unpublished Guy – I’m 80 years old…I was raised in The Great Depression of what we called The Dirty Thirties! If anything we learned persistance! The Lifestory Writing Classes are free…mandated by our government to be *no grade, no fee* What more could you ask? That’s why I took them for 10 years…besides, it became my social life…being with like minded people every week, and hearing their stories in class, whetted my appetite to write more! I’ve now written over 500 stories for my family!
Besides, we had *home made cookies* at coffee break!
Oh, I hadn’t meant any offense. I actually found it quite impressive.
No offense taken ; )
I’ve just learned, over time, the importance of leaving a roadmap for the next generation, through Life Story Writing. It’s up to us, by leaving our stories, to let them know what life was really like. So much of history is being re-written by the media, that it’s hard to tell truth from fiction!
Write on, Thelly