Triggering Memories

Trigger March 1 2012

2012-03-01T18:30:00.000-05:00

Today, write about how you worked through a difficult conflict-ridden situation with someone close to you. Perhaps this person did something you found impossible to forgive but you came to understanding of what was behind his or her behaviour and your part in it. Write about how your attitude changed and progressed over the days and weeks you were both dealing with the crisis.

Trigger February 28, 2012

2012-02-28T09:34:00.000-05:00

In honour of my son's 19th birthday....
Remember a birthday of your own that remains unforgettable for you. It might be unforgettable because it was a milestone like 12, 40, 60 or the one that made you legal to drive. It could be a birthday party or celebration that you reflect back on because someone you have lost was still living at the time, or you were still in a relationship with that person then. Perhaps you can't let go of the details of the cake, the meal, the restaurant, the gift, or special words spoken. It might even be a traumatic or upsetting memory of a birthday celebration that did not turn out as you had hoped. Write with detail of the place, the people and the elements of that birthday that make it impossible to forget.

Trigger February 21 2012

2012-02-21T10:59:00.000-05:00

Sometimes we think there is nothing to write today. Often we are uninspired by the place we sit because we know it so well. Change your view...sit in front of a window, in a busy coffee shop or on the bench at a child's swimming lesson. Write that it feels like, what it reminds you of and write the first thought that comes to you as soon as it hits. Changing your view in life as in writing, makes you less critical of your thoughts and decisions. Know that as soon as you arrive at your new 'place' you will deluged with information, so have the pen ready.

Trigger February 10 2012

2012-02-10T13:00:00.002-05:00

We all know that if we could stop the noise of our busy and sometimes chaotic lives, we might find our way to a quiet corner to read, an easy chair in order to write in our journal or to the table with our favourite pen and notebook to get down some pages.

What 'noise' in your life, do you blame for you not writing?
What ten things could you eliminate, choose an alternative for, or say no to so that writing could take a higher priority place in your life?

Write that list!

Trigger February 9 2012

2012-02-09T09:50:00.001-05:00

Feel the sun on your face and remember a time when that feeling occurred to you in a different place. Perhaps it was a summer picnic with your family, at camp, on a Caribbean holiday with your new partner. The sun on our face is a multi sensory experience, comparable for some people to the sensations of mother's kitchen, and skating on an outdoor rink at night.
Write the setting that the sensation reminds you of.

Just write. Don't edit, just keep the pen on the page.

Trigger January 2 2012

2012-01-02T11:19:00.001-05:00

You took pictures throughout the holiday. Take your time and look at them, one by one. Find a photo where your face is clearly visible. Write what you were feeling. Write what you were thinking at that moment. Were you worrying about the turkey, your weight, if your daughter is enjoying herself? Are you feeling grateful to have all of your children together? Are you thinking about will be different in that picture next year? Write.

Trigger January 1 2012

2012-01-01T15:28:00.000-05:00

WRITING TRIGGER:

It is a new year. We close the book on some things, and turn away. We open our hope-filled heart to new things. WRITE.

CBC Radio's Canada Reads these true stories!

2011-11-23T18:02:00.003-05:00

Arlene Dickinson of CBC's Dragon's Den defends Prisoner of Tehran by Marina Nemat (Penguin Canada).
Quebec reality-TV star Anne-France Goldwater defends The Tiger by John Vaillant (Vintage Canada).
Model Stacey McKenzie defends On a Cold Road by Dave Bidini (McClelland & Stewart).
Rapper Shad defends Something Fierce by Carmen Aguirre (Douglas & McIntyre).
Actor Alan Thicke defends The Game by Ken Dryden (Wiley Canada).

Read what you want to write...call it memoir, personal narrative, autobiography, herstory, history, or just yer stuff, but write it!

Write your own life story, one trigger at a time.

New Releases in the World of Memoir

2011-10-31T08:00:00.000-04:00

coming out this week:

Joan Didion, Blue Nights

Jann Arden, Falling Backwards

Harry Belafonte, My Song

2011-10-30T12:00:00.001-04:00

Plan ahead for the Inspire to Express series.

The intention behind this series is to space out the sessions, and give you time between to try getting writing into your life, or to work the sessional theme into your writing.

For beginners, know that following the series throughout the year will have you writing. It is a slower-paced way to figure out what you want to write. Often jumping into an intensive program takes the fun out of the process of unearthing words.

Each session is $125.00 per person or book 3 in advance and pay only $300.00 total. Sessions are packed with lectures, discussions, readings, exercises, food and laughter.

An "Inspired to Express" workshop includes:

instruction and coaching from 9 am to 3 pm, a catered lunch, refreshments through the day, a 30 minute desk yoga break, a guest speaker and/or special feature and all your materials including notebooks, writing tools, exercise materials. The workshops are taught in an renovated century home in Sharon, Ontario in a family room style. Come in your comfy clothes (we are not using desks or formality at all, and there is some desk yoga) and hang out with some other people who you have everything important in common with.

Space is quite limited, and pre-registration is required. Indicate your preliminary interest by replying to this email, or emailing me at patti@pattimhall.ca and putting REGISTER in the subject line. Small groups benefit from the coaching, and the participation of individuals.

Who should register: This is for the beginning writer and the writer who knows that a class or a group is the only way to keep on writing.

(workshops will all be 9 am to 3 pm on a Saturday)

January 14: (introduction)

Making Space for Writing in your life

February 25th:

Creating Stories: getting into the description of what you are trying to write

April 7th

Stories About my Life: Digging into Meaningful Events, Milestones and Crises

May 19th

Writing Tools: yes you can write, you just need the tools

July 7th

Writing to Heal, Improve or Move Forward

(may be offered more than once in the year)

August 18th: Now that you’re writing try rewrites and editing

September 29th: Writing Without Stopping

(a full day of exercises, triggers and free writing)

November 10th: What to do with what you've written

Announcing "Inspire to Express"

2011-10-29T17:49:00.002-04:00

Inspired to Express are a series of one-day writing workshops I'll be offering in 2012. Look for the schedule, with descriptions of the theme of each day, and sign up information soon.
PMH