Crossroads and Milestones: Stories of Decision and Change
Skill Level: Appropriate for All Skill Levels
After promising yourself you’re going to write, do you have trouble finding time for it? And when you do find the time, does it feel like nothing much happens? You may have a lot going on psychologically, but simply put, you got overwhelmed by some of the questions that challenge every writer: What should I write about? How do I start? Who’s going to care, anyway?
But what if you weren’t alone—literally—at your journal or computer? What if you were in an oasis of natural beauty (like Emandal), with some of those questions being taken care of for you? Just imagine what you might write if you were given a strong theme, stimulating prompts, and practical tips for writing memoir. Add your own curiosity, a non-judgmental circle of writers, the magical pressure of deadlines, and you’re on your way to a more satisfying writing life.
All you need to bring are writing materials (electronic devices are fine, but a paper journal doesn’t need batteries) and a willingness to find out how you think and feel about the trail you’ve blazed through life.
Let memories of various turning points start working on you now! And if you’ve been to Emandal before, remember the river, the woods, the people, the peace, the FOOD.
Susan Bono has facilitated writers of all skill levels as a high school English teacher, writing instructor, and freelance editor in workshops, critique sessions, and free-writing groups for more than 30 years. She edited and published Tiny Lights: A Journal of Personal Narrative from 1995 to 2015 and has presented workshops in places such as Point Reyes National Seashore, Idyllwild’s Spirit Mountain, and Istanbul, Turkey. Her book, What Have We Here: Essays about Keeping House and Finding Home is available through Amazon. Find out more at her website, www.susanbono.com.