Tag: Ana McCracken

Writing That Scary Thing—A Women’s Writing Retreat

Writing That Scary Thing—A Women’s Writing Retreat

at Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center
in Hiawatha, Iowa

Most of us give little thought to how we would like to be remembered in our obituaries. The thought of writing it may be scary. But writing your obituary does not signal the end of your life. Instead, it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect, receive feedback from others, and to plan how you wish to live the rest of your best life. And, wouldn’t you rather be the author of your obituary as opposed to leaving the writing of your life to someone else?

This two-and-a-half day workshop will help demystify writing about ourselves and explore the history of obituaries—both newspaper and online versions. Step-by-step exercises will help each of us gather our own anecdotal and biographical data, and easy writing exercises will produce draft obituaries, both online and newspaper versions. During our final-evening celebration, everyone will be invited to read their obituary to the group.

Join Mary Lou Nosco and Ana McCracken for a fun-filled and reflective writing retreat at Prairiewoods. You don’t have to be “a writer” to join us. During our time together, we will gather in community for walks, good food and conversation, and time to reflect and write. And, of course there will be wine!

Ana McCracken received her B.S and MFA in Creative Writing and Environment from Iowa State University, and she the founder of the Ames Writers Collective. Ana enjoys reading a well-written obituary, and wants to be the author of her own.

 

 

 

Mary Lou Nosco has a B.A. in history, an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, and is a retired Army officer. While in the Army, Nosco wrote too many obituaries for soldiers. Additionally, she has written obituaries for five family members and would like to spare her own family that duty.

 

 

 

DATES
Arrival: October 16 (Noon)
Departure: October 18 (by 1 pm)

COST: $295 includes lodging (single rooms) and meals, materials and wine! Click here for payment instructions or to make inquiry. Pre-assignments and itinerary will be sent closer to the retreat date. Plan to bring a notebook and pen and/or your laptop for writing and taking notes.

Swift Youth Writers Group – Writing for Teens

Teens in 6th – 12th grade are invited to escape into creative writing and connect with other teen writers. Each month on the 2nd Sunday (unless otherwise noted) attendees will be led through prompts and exercises to help develop and stretch their creative writing skills. Attendees will be given a chance to share their work and have a chance to support others. No experience is necessary so all skill levels are encouraged to attend. At the end of the school year, writers will be asked to submit 1 to 3 pieces (depending on genre) for inclusion in an anthology, and a celebratory reading will be held.

Registration is not necessary. Writing Sundays are FREE! For more information, click here.

Provided in partnership with the Ames Writers Collective and the Ames Public Library

Swift Youth Writers Group – Writing for Teens

Teens in 6th – 12th grade are invited to escape into creative writing and connect with other teen writers. Each month on the 2nd Sunday (unless otherwise noted) attendees will be led through prompts and exercises to help develop and stretch their creative writing skills. Attendees will be given a chance to share their work and have a chance to support others. No experience is necessary so all skill levels are encouraged to attend. At the end of the school year, writers will be asked to submit 1 to 3 pieces (depending on genre) for inclusion in an anthology, and a celebratory reading will be held.

Registration is not necessary. Writing Sundays are FREE! For more information, click here.

Provided in partnership with the Ames Writers Collective and the Ames Public Library

Author Spotlight Featuring Pamela Riney-Kehrberg

PamRiney-Kehrberg

Join us for our Author Spotlight featuring Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, author and Distinguished Professor of History at Iowa State University. She will read excerpts her latest book, When a Dream Dies: Agriculture, Iowa, and the Farm Crisis of the 1980s, and take questions from the audience.

Pamela Riney-Kehrberg is a Distinguished Professor of History, and the author or editor of a number of books, including Rooted in Dust: Surviving Drought and Depression in Southwestern Kansas, Childhood on the Farm: Work, Play and Coming of Age in the Midwest, and The Nature of Childhood: An Environmental History of Growing Up in America, 1865-Present. She is the author of a historical book for children, Always Plenty To Do: Growing Up on the Farm in the Long Ago. When a Dream Dies is her latest book.

Copies of When a Dream Dies will be available for purchase and author signing.

This event is held in partnership with the Ames Writers Collective and KHOI Community Radio.

Author Spotlight Featuring Deb Kline

Join us for our Author Spotlight featuring Deb Kline, author and singer songwriter, who will read excerpts, lyrics, and poems from her book Forgetting to Remember: A Healer’s Journey of Surviving and Thriving. She will share her process as a nontraditional writer and take questions from the audience.

As an Ames author and entrepreneur, Deb Kline shares her passion for thriving beyond trauma by inspiring others to discover their inner healer. Her music, art, writing, and holistic practice, Wellspring Wellness, LLC, collectively expand the ability of individuals and communities to hold, honor, and validate difficult stories while celebrating kindred survivors.

Copies of Forgetting to Remember will be available for purchase and author signing.

This event is held in partnership with the Ames Writers Collective and KHOI Community Radio.

Writing A Life Into Memoir—An introductory workshop on craft

Join author, Tom Montgomery Fate for an introductory workshop that teaches craft strategies to mine your life stories. Points shared during this workshop are useful for other genres such as fiction and poetry. Strategies shared during our time together are intended to inspire your writing. This workshop will not include in-depth writing, however bring a pen and paper or laptop for brief generative exercises and to capture your ideas.

Tom Montgomery Fate is a professor emeritus at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois where he taught creative writing and literature courses. He is the author of six books of creative nonfiction, including The Long Way Home: Detours and Discoveries, a Travel Memoir. A regular contributor to the Chicago Tribune, his essays have appeared in the Boston Globe, Baltimore Sun, The Iowa Review, and many others. His essays have aired on NPR, PRI and Chicago Public Radio.

To register for this FREE event, click here. The workshop will be held in the Danfoss Room at the Ames Public Library.

Provided in partnership with the Ames Writers Collective and the Ames Public Library