Hello! I’ve been writing.
I’ve been squirreled away all January, writing. And, yes, fighting a nasty virus. So Da Muse decided that as long as I was housebound she’d make a mercy visit. Bless her!
Please keep fingers and toes crossed that my editor is as happy as I am with the DELTA RIVER SERIES first book: DELTA BLUE. Oh, and a contract will follow, soon.
Family Folklore–Writing memoirs that capture life for fun and profit
On another note, I’m holding an all-day writing workshop in Hot Springs Village, AR Saturday March, 20. It’s about writing memoirs, yours and your family’s experiences. I coined the term FAMILY FOLKLORE because I think it best describes those stories we know that are handed down through the generations. They may absolutely be the truth, or have been embellished in the retelling, or the details may have been confused over the years but they are the stories tell us about our place in the world as gleaned from ancestors, our families, and our friends. And, of course, ourselves.
Psychologists say that every healthy family has a handed-down family history of usually oral stories: the good, the bad, and the hilarious. It makes us feel connected. Look, there are people out there like me: Great Uncle Henry stole a horse? Really? Oh, to save the baby boy who’d fallen down the well. Whew! I thought I was about to learn why I keep having these brushes with the law. (I’m joking! Unless you know better. LOL)
In this workshop I will explain how to write, what approaches to take, writing exercises to tickle those long-forgotten memories, and how to expand the particular into a broader interest piece in order to sell. Intimate writing for public consumption.
Hope some of you will join me. If you need to come in and spend the night the Hot Springs Village crew can offer accommodation advice. My favorite spot is a B&B owned by friends Mike & Rhonda Hicks: http://www.mountainthyme.com
Below the photos there’s a site to go to for more information and to register. Hope to see you there!
Psst! I’ve lost weight since photos were taken! LOL Laura CastoroThe deadline to register for the March 20 annual writing workshop sponsored by the Hot Springs Village Writers’ Club is March 8. (If you’re a little bit late that’s okay but you may not have a chance to do the pre-workshop homework!!)
Entitled “Family Folklore–Writing memoirs that capture life for fun and profit,” the workshop will be conducted by Laura Parker Castoro.
Registration and details here. or here: http://www.johnachor.com/beejay/
January 28th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Will keep my fingers crossed for you on Delta Blue.
I just finished the rough draft of my humorous memoir based on those columns I used to write for the Plano paper. Already turned down by three agents. LOL.
It would be fun to come to the workshop, but I am still staying pretty close to home unless one of the kids can come out to be here while I’m gone.
January 31st, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Thanks. And much good luck to you, too! 2010, the year of the book, an any form!!