On Matilda Butler’s and Kendra Bonnett’s Women’s Memoirs “Book Raves” I’ve reviewed Linda Joy Myers’ The Power of Memoir: How to Write Your Healing Story Linda’s book combines a manual of writing craft with a companion to guide the writer’s psyche towards health and wholeness. As a family therapist Myers understandably focuses on family-based memoir,…
Womens Memoir is running a 2-part series Stephanie Farrow and I have written on the topic “Who Owns the Story?” We’re exploring issues of family story and memoir. There are several fun writing prompts at the end of each post.
Yesterday you read Arletta Dawdy’s poem “Clara’s Air.” In “White Girl, Black Heart: summer ‘59″ Arletta Dawdy deals with the doubts and misgivings that concerned her going in her first Sunday service at a Black Church. “Believe me it was a “moving” experience as the church rocked! This was Lincoln Avenue Methodist Church in Pasadena…
Arletta Dawdy and I both belong to Women Writing the West. We became writing friends when we both lived in Northern California. My flash fiction piece “Triptych: Jeweled Bones” (in 3 parts) inspired her to write “Clara’s Air.” She sat down before bed and dashed off the story of Clara’s Air which captures an era,…
Jorge Luis Borges wisdom on poetry from the Riehlife archives.
In the spring of 2008 Nigerian poet Obi Nwakanma filled my Gathering Room with talk that made the world right for the hours he shared himself and conversation. In the days that followed our encounter, I stayed in my cave and read “The Horseman and Other Poems,” often calling friends to read sections of the…
“Basho & the Crickets” is Riehlife’s poem of the day written by Stephen Kuusisto–Professor, Author, Speaker, Poet, Blogger, and Disability Advocate. With his guide dog Nira, he roams the world giving readings and workshops–when he’s not teaching at the Iowa Writing Workshop. Here’s how the poem and Stephen came in my life, and then bobbed…
I met Catherine Rankovic through a women’s poetry gathering known as “Loosely Identified,” or “Looslies,” or simply (in a hurry) “L.I.” She’s a bang-up poet, author, editor, teacher, and facilitator. Read more about Catherine’s career as a word woman after her witty, insightful poem, “Hide & Sex.” HIDE & SEX Let us play Hide &…
Read our third post in our Collaboration Cycle on Story Circle Network’s blog Telling Her Stories: The Broad View. Collaboration: Check your ego at the door! by Janet Riehl & Stephanie Farrow in our Creative Catalyst column.
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer is a word woman of the finest caliber. On Ryezome, a delicate on-line tracery of her poem-a-day practice, you’ll find accessible well-crafted poems that will make a difference in how you view your life. Susan Tweit introduces her as a favorite poet of real life. Of those who think of themselves as…