Video: "Not Quite What I Was Planning"

"Not Quite What I Was Planning" is a book of six-word memoirs that resulted from a competition held by Smith Magazine and Twitter in 2006. Here's an entertaining video version of some of the submissions.

Workshopper Gail Rudyk to be published in Australia

Congratulations to workshopper Gail Rudyk of Richmond Hill, Ontario! Two of her short memoirs have been accepted for inclusion in an Australian anthology published by Life's Inspirational Moments. The new anthology, tentatively titled Caring Moments, is a follow-up to Stolen Moments (pictured above). Set to appear in it are Gail's stories "The Red Coat" and "Unforgettable."

Here is some information from the publisher:

"Life’s Inspirational Moments focuses entirely on raising awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease and supporting those who have to live with it. One of the ways we have chosen to do this is through our collections of true-life stories. While the disease itself is heart-breaking, our aim in these books is not to focus on the sadness but on the love, humour and strength of human spirit."

For more information, visit www.lifesinspirationalmoments.com

Gail recently read a version of "The Red Coat" to the Memoir Writers Social hosted by Days Road Writers' Workshops and held in Unionville on September 17, 2008.

Fall 2008 Workshops Update

My upcoming Online Advanced Memoir-Writing Workshop, which starts Monday, September 29, is now full. The eight group members hail from the Toronto area, northern Ontario, British Columbia, New York State, Arizona and New Zealand. Some are returning participants (a couple recent, others from years back), some new. I look forward to having them share their stories and their thoughts on memory and memoir.

There are spaces left in two live workshop series I'll lead this fall at Toronto Public Libraries -- Wednesdays through October at Albert Campbell District Library, and Fridays through November at the North York Central Library. These are both introductory workshops, which means that we'll go over the basics, but I also welcome participants who have done some memoir writing and are interested in group discussion, tips and writing prompts to further their efforts. These library workshops are free and you must pre-register. Note that the North York Central Library respectfully asks that individuals who have already taken one of my biannual workshop series there not register a second time. Thank you.