TODAY: Sign up for a free online course with NAMW

Dr. Linda Joy Myers of National Association of Memoir Writers announces a FREE online course that begins tomorrow, September 5. Sign up today! I did!

Dr. Linda asks, "Do you have a story to tell? How many times have you told yourself, When I have time, I'll write about my childhood. I want to leave a legacy for my family. Or perhaps you are drawn to write to discover more about yourself.

"Whatever the reason you want to write a memoir, I know from my years of teaching and listening to aspiring writers that those other voices can pop up: you don't know how to write, you don't have a good memory, your life was ordinary, your story would be boring.

"If you're reading this," she says, "it's likely you want to try writing your story, [or are] interested in experimenting with the idea....

"A Taste of Memoir Writing is a free online course that will help you begin your memoir....

"The best thing to do is to start, and these lessons will guide you. You work at your own speed and write whatever you want. When you sign up for this quick taste of memoir writing, for the next four weeks, you will find a lesson in your inbox. It's like a present. You open it and enjoy! Click here to sign up."

Thanks, Dr. Linda!

NAMW’s free memoir teleconference, plus other great resources for you

Today I’m excited to share these helpful, inspirational resources with you:

The National Association of Memoir Writers is showcasing talented authors and teachers who are experts in Creative Nonfiction and memoir for a FREE, one-day Teleconference on Truth or Lie—On the Cusp of Memoir and Fiction, scheduled for Friday, October 21, 2011. Everyone who signs up will receive an email with a link to listen to replays. Click on this link for more information: http://www.namw.org/teleseminars/national-association-of-memoir-writers-announces-guest-speakers-for-fall-2011-day-long-memoir-writing-teleconference

At The Heart and Craft of Life Writing, Sharon Lippincott offers a long list of free writing resources. Her freebies include blank timelines. (See my two earlier blog posts about using timelines.*) Sharon offers a blank printable timeline (for filling in by hand) and a blank on-screen timeline (for filling on using your computer). Here’s the link: http://sharonlippincott.com/freebies.htm

Use this index to find articles about memoirs and memoir writing throughout Jerry Waxler’s Memory Writers Network blog: http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/index-to-the-essays-about-memoir-writing-on-this-blog

The Writing Academy is a community of Christian writers who share a passion for telling the story of God's good news for a hurting world. The Academy offers a ministry of encouragement to Christian writers including a unique at-home study program in writing. Look into it at this link: http://1stwrites.blogspot.com/2011/09/writing-resources-christian-writing.html

Be sure to check the right column here on my blog for other excellent blogs and their resources.

What is your ultimate purpose in writing your stories?

The Bible says, many times,

that God did things for people in the past

so that

they would see Him, know Him, believe in Him,

praise Him, and glorify Him.

He does the same for us today

so, here at Spiritual Memoirs 101,

we write stories about what He has done for us

so that others—our kids and grandkids, especially—

will see Him, know Him, believe in Him,

praise Him, and glorify Him.

Happy writing!

*Related posts:

Your personal timeline will help your memoir’s readers   

http://spiritualmemoirs101.blogspot.com/2011/09/your-personal-timeline-will-help-your.html

The BEAUTY and BONUSES of memoir

http://spiritualmemoirs101.blogspot.com/2011/10/beauty-and-bonuses-of-memoir.html

An opportunity for you: Telling Family Stories, Even When It Hurts

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From Dr. Linda Joy Myers and the July 2011 National Association of Memoir Writers Digital Newsletter:


Jan Fishler and Elizabeth Rosner will speak on the topic of Telling Family Stories Even Though It Hurts. The writing process allows us to create an artistically rendered family story.


Jan’s memoir is about her journey to understand her adoption. Through the process of reflecting and searching for herself, she comes to terms with all the parental figures and the missteps that humans make.


Elizabeth Rosner, a child of Holocaust victims, draws upon her knowledge of this shadow world to create haunting and poetic fictional stories that reveal truth in its many layers and dimensions.


These discussions will continue our focus on truth, fiction, and memory at The National Association of Memoir Writers.


Jan and Elizabeth will talk about these themes and others at the National Association of Memoir Writers July Roundtable. It’s free to everyone to call into the Roundtable, listen, and ask questions.


Event Title: Telling Your Family Stories, Even When It Hurts
Date: Thursday July 7, 2011
Time: 4 PM PDT, 5 PM MDT, 6 PM CDT, 7 PM EDT, for about 1 hour
Cost: FREE FOR EVERYONE


Remember--be brave, write your stories!


Fondly,
Linda Joy Myers, Ph.D., MFT
NAMW President & Founder



Here's a link for more information: http://www.namw.org/general-member-announcements/july-2011-national-association-of-memoir-writers-digital-newsletter