At a Glance Archive 2025

At a Glance Archive – 2025

November 2025 at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

Wednesday Write-In every Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

First Tuesday Write and Read is available to all Life Writers Community members who care to join at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

Meet with your writing partners at Buddy Group Night on the second Tuesday of every month. Dave Godin will host these sessions through November 2025.

Join host Norma Beasley for Share What You Know Night on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET. Norma has an assignment for you called Writing Fresh, so bring a pen or pencil, paper, and your creative best.

If you want to hear more about the Writing the Waves cruise, watch the slightly edited replay of our free information session with our travel advisor, Paula Iwanski, and me.

The fourth Tuesday of this month will be a busy night. I’ll come on at 5:30 p.m. to answer all your writing-related questions. Last month, Lorna missed out on her review because of Hurricane Melissa, so we will first review her piece, “Then and Now: Christmas.” We will also discuss“Looking for Pictographs” by Nancy Tunnell.

Read through both stories several times and be prepared to discuss them using our usual format as outlined in the Feedback Form. The video replay with jump links will be posted a day or two after the session. Then we’ll finish off the night with our Monthly Feedback Group.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Dave sent me this book list from our Book Share Night, but it slipped through the cracks as I dealt with my knee. Here are the books discussed that night.

The featured library item of the month is a 2020 workshop called Five Ingredients in Every Great Story. In it, you’ll see a slide promoting a Write a Great Story for purchase, which is no longer available. Just ignore it.

Submit a story for review for our Monthly Feedback Group on the Share Stories page by Tuesday, November 18, 2025.

Do you have some good news to share? Read something interesting that your fellow members might enjoy? Share on our new Good News page. Don’t forget to check the page and celebrate with your fellow Life Writers Community members.

September 2025 at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

Life Writers Community kickoff on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Meet your writing partners at Buddy Group Night right after the Life Writers Community kickoff. Dave Godin will host these sessions for the next three months. In this first meeting, use the time to plan how often you want to meet, what you want to do in your buddy group meetings, etc. Use this Buddy Group Orientation form to aid in this first discussion. You might want to bring a super-short story just in case your group has extra time.

Wednesday Write-In this and every Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET

Join host Judy Fink and cohost Kit Dwyer for Five Questions Night on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET for a fun night of getting to know your fellow members much better.

Tuesday, September 23, 2025, will be a busy night. I’ll come on at 5:30 p.m. to answer all your writing-related questions. Then, we’ll have our Member Story Review. We will review Raquel David’s story, “Meeting the Parents, Part 1.” Read through this story several times and be prepared to discuss it using our usual format as outlined in the Feedback Form. The video and jump links from our September 23, 2025, session are now available, and here are the story notes from our Member Story Review. We’ll finish off the night with our Monthly Feedback Group.

We have a fifth Tuesday this month, so John Roche will host our open mic night on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Secure your reading spot here.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Watch the Read and Celebrate replay. To view the photos taken at the event, click here. You can also upload your best shots to the album.

Submit a story for review for our Monthly Feedback Group on the Share Stories page by Thursday, September 16, 2025

Do you have some good news to share? Read something interesting that your fellow members might enjoy? Share on our new Good News page.

The featured library item of the month is Lezlie Laws’ master class on Focus on Creativity Meditation. If you haven’t seen it before, you don’t want to miss it, but even if you attended live, it’s worth a second look. It also includes a short guided meditation.

If you’re new to our membership, or even if you’re not, check out the Get Started Roadmap.

The Writing the Waves cruise in April 2026 looks like a go. Woohoo! Take a look at all the details. You know you want to join us.

Week of August 31 – September 6, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

First Tuesday Write and Read is available to all Life Writers Community members who care to join at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Wednesday Write-In this and every Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Complete the Buddy Group Questionnaire and submit it before Sunday, September 6, 2025.

Print the September 2025 calendar.

Watch the replay of our Life Writers Community information session.

Check out our new Good Stuff page, where you can share good news, link to articles, talk about books you’ve read, or anything else you’d like.

Week of August 24-30, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

Please join me on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET for the Life Writers Community Information Session. Here, you’ll learn all about the Life Writers Community and its offerings. If needed, the meeting ID is 839 7405 1001, and the password is 997282.

Wednesday Write-In this and every Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

You can use the rest of August to watch library videos, meet with your buddies, and attend weekly write-ins. On September 1, 2025, you will not be able to access the contents of the Life Writers membership unless you have joined the Life Writers Community.

If you have not yet joined the Life Writers Community but wish to do so, here are the links you can use:

Annual Membership – $348 per year

Three-Month Membership – $102 every three months

Monthly Membership – $39 per month

Week of August 3-23, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

For some dedicated writing time, join our weekly Wednesday Write-In from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Use this month’s break to watch videos in the library, meet with your buddies, and attend weekly write-ins.

We are on break this month, so you won’t see At a Glance change from week to week, but I wanted to share a couple of thoughts with you.

If you have not done so already, please complete the questionnaire about how many copies of the anthology you’d like before Monday, August 11, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Yes, that’s this Monday! I will be placing the print order first thing Tuesday morning.

Over the next week or so, we will transition to the new Life Writers structure. If you need a refresher on the plan and how this transition will unfold, you can watch the replays and review the handouts on these pages: Life Writers Restructure and Pricing & Renewals. I will be in touch with options for you.

If you’ve expressed interest in the Writing the Waves cruise, I’ll send you a payment request for the $649 deposit ($499 for the writing workshop and $150 for the travel agent fee) and fees for your companions ($99 per guest indicated) in the next week. Once enough participants are committed, I will connect you with the travel agent to make your arrangements.

Week of July 27 – August 2, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

Open Mic Night on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Secure your place in the reading order here.

For some dedicated writing time, join our weekly Wednesday Write-In from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Watch the replay of our final Book Study of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, chapter 17 through to the back cover.

Life Writers is on break for the month of August, but make plans to attend the weekly write-in sessions and stay in touch with your buddies.

Your current Life Writers membership will expire on August 31, 2025. You will then have the option to join the new Life Writers Community if you care to do so. In August, I will email you the amount of your unused Life Writers balance and give you options on how you wish to handle it.

If you need a reminder of how the restructure will work, watch the replay of the Life Writers Restructure video or print this New Life Writers handout.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week.

Week of July 20-26, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

In last week’s craft class, we talked a lot about setting. If you have questions about setting or anything writing-related, I’ll sign on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. and answer them.

Book Study of chapter 17 to the back cover, pages 274-end, of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild.

Discussion question: Last Tuesday, we talked a lot about setting and analyzed her description on pages 263-264. We will continue that discussion with the descriptive passages of place throughout the entirety of Wild. Pick a handful of instances where her description speaks to you. Look at what she’s using to describe each place and what emotion the passage evokes in you. Be ready to share and discuss the text you picked

Also, endings are so important, whether it’s a story, chapter, or book. What did you think about how Cheryl Strayed ended Wild?

Monthly Feedback Group starts right after our book study. Be prepared to discuss your group members’ stories at that time. If you did not submit a story in advance, you can bring one to the feedback group and be paired with others who brought stories. Use this Feedback Form to help gather your thoughts.

For some dedicated writing time, join our weekly Wednesday Write-In from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

I’m extending the Writing the Waves survey deadline until Monday, July 28, 2025. If you haven’t yet reviewed the retreat details and completed the survey, please do so now.

Sign up here for a spot in our open mic night on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Watch the replay of our craft class last Tuesday, where we discussed the importance of and how to write setting. Here is the setting chart we used during the analysis of the last paragraph on pages 263-264.

If you did not submit a story in advance for our monthly feedback session, bring one, and you’ll be paired with others who also have stories to read.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week.

Week of July 13-19, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

The doors to our Tuesday night session open at 4:30 p.m. for you to visit with fellow members. I will sign on at 4:45 p.m. to answer any writing-related questions you may have.

In this month’s craft class, we focus on setting—what it is, how to write it, when you need it, etc. In preparation for that session, please handwrite the last paragraph on page 263, which begins with, “It was sunny and clear but the air…” and extends to page 264. As you read the text, pay attention to how she describes the day and her experience of it. What devices does she use? How does she bring the place to life?

Wednesday Write-In for some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

If you want to know the details of a possible writing cruise, please go to the Writing the Waves email to read all the details. Then complete the short survey at the end to share your interest.

Submit a complete or partial story for our monthly feedback group by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.

Watch the replay of our Book Study of pages 223-273, chapters 14-16 of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, Wild.

Watch the replay of the story notes given in response to Dar Lamb’s story, “You’re Never Too Old to Compete in the Olympics.” Here is a copy of the story notes for this session.

Read pages 274-end, chapter 17, “Into a Primal Gear,” through “Also by Cheryl Strayed” for our discussion on July 22, 2025.

We have a fifth Tuesday this month, so John Roche will host our open mic night on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Secure your reading spot here. This is our last official Zoom event of the current Life Writers program. Take advantage of this opportunity, and let’s celebrate five years of a great Life Writers run.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week. We’d love to cheer you on.

Week of July 6-12, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

The doors to our Tuesday night session open at 4:30 p.m. for you to visit with fellow members. I will sign on at 4:45 p.m. to answer any writing-related questions you may have.

Book Study of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, chapters 14-16, pages 222-273:

Discussion question: Strayed’s relationship with her mother is central to Wild. Throughout the memoir, Strayed keeps her mother alive on the page. In these and earlier chapters, the author uses a variety of techniques to accomplish this. Locate instances of her mother’s presence and explain Strayed’s methods.

Our craft class on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, will focus on setting—what it is, how to write it, when you need it, etc. In preparation for that session, please handwrite, don’t type, the last paragraph on page 263, which is the second page of chapter sixteen.

The text for next week’s craft class begins with, “It was sunny and clear but the air…” and extends to the top of page 264. As you rewrite the text, pay attention to how she describes the day and her experience of it. What devices does she use? How does she make the place real? Also, look for other depictions of setting that are particularly vivid.

Member Story Review after our Book Study. We will review Dar Lamb’s story, “Never Too Old to Compete in the Olympics.” Read through this story several times and be prepared to discuss it using our usual format as outlined in the Feedback Form.

Wednesday Write-In – For some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET. To avoid a coup in the write-in, we will reinstate the mid-session break, where you can check in before continuing to write for the second hour.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

If you missed last week’s live First Tuesday Write & Read, click here to view the prompt, I Remember. I Don’t Remember.

See if you can match this week’s pet on the dashboard to its owner. Send your best amazing animal shots to patricia@writingyourlife.org and any details to help describe the photo. Then, we’ll try to match the animal to its owner. I need only one more photo to complete our July pet parade.

Add your writing wants for this week, what you hope to accomplish on the Wants & Wins page in the dropdown menu off the dashboard. Then, at the end of the week, tell us about your wins, what you achieved, what you feel good about doing, etc.

Week of June 29 – July 5, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

First Tuesday Write and Read is available to all Life Writers who care to join us at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Wednesday Write-In this and every Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Print the July 2025 Calendar.

Begin reading chapters 14-16, pages 222-273, of Wild in preparation for our next book study on July 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Watch the book study replay of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, chapters 11-13, pages 175-221.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week. If you had a win, small or large, please share your success with us.

Our current Life Writers photo exhibition focuses on your amazing animals. Send your best shots to patricia@writingyourlife.org along with any details to help describe the photo. I need two more photos to carry us through July.

Week of June 22-28, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

In last week’s craft class, we did a deep dive into front story and back story, so you may have questions. I’ll sign on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. and answer any questions you have about last week’s material or any other writing topics.

Book Study of chapters 11-13, pages 175-221, of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild.

Discussion question: An important aspect of any full-length memoir is seeing a gradual change in the author as the book progresses. Change is also often present in short pieces, but it may be more direct, less subtle. What changes in thought, emotion, or action do you see Strayed experience in this section of text or in previous chapters?

Monthly Feedback Group starts right after our book study. Be prepared to discuss your group members’ stories at that time. If you did not submit a story in advance, you can bring one to the feedback group and be paired with others who have stories. Use this Feedback Form to help gather your thoughts.

Wednesday Write-In for some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Watch the replay of our craft class last Tuesday where we discussed the ins and outs of backstory, how Strayed uses it in Wild, and how you can incorporate it in your stories.

If you did not submit a story in advance for our monthly feedback session, bring one, and you’ll be paired with others who also have stories to read.

Begin reading chapters 14-16 of Wild in preparation for our next book study on July 8, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

See if you can guess this Life Writer’s furry friend. Send your best shots of your amazing animals to patricia@writingyourlife.org and any details to help describe the photo. Then, we’ll try to match the animal to the owner. I need two more photos to carry us through July.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week.

Week of June 15-21, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

The doors to our Tuesday night session open at 4:30 p.m. for you to visit with fellow members. I will sign on at 4:45 p.m. to answer any writing-related questions you may have.

In this month’s craft class, we will focus on backstory and flashbacks—what they are, why we need or don’t need them, how Cheryl Strayed uses backstory, her methods of moving in and out of backstory, and more.

Wednesday Write-In for some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Submit a complete or partial story for our monthly feedback group by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.

Watch the replay of our Book Study of pages 117-174, chapters 8-10 of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, Wild.

Watch the replay of the story notes from our member story review of Etya Krichmar’s story, “Wings of Memory.” Here is a copy of the story notes for this session.

Watch the replay of pricing and renewals for workshops and the new Life Writers Community member.

Read pages 175-221, chapter 11, “The Lou Out of Lou,” through chapter 13, “The Accumulation of Trees” in Wild for our discussion on June 24, 2025.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week. We’d love to cheer you on.

Week of June 8-14, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

The doors to our Tuesday night session will open at 4:30 p.m. for you to visit with fellow members. I will sign on at 4:45 p.m. to answer any writing-related questions you may have.

Book Study of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, chapters 8 through 10, pages 117-174:

Discussion question: Reflection is a tool used by writers and occurs when the author pauses the main story to make sense of past experiences. Reflection can include the author’s insights, interpretations, or emotional understanding. It’s where memories become meaning. Locate reflective text in this week’s pages and, in each instance, share with us the meaning Stray is conveying. What purpose does each reflection serve?

After our book study, I’ll review the transition from the current membership to the new Life Writers Community, future pricing for Life Writers Community and Life Writers Workshops, and options for the unused balance of your current membership.

Member Story Review after our book study. We will review Etya Krichmar’s story, “Wings of Memory.” Read through this story several times and be prepared to discuss it following our usual format as outlined in the Feedback Form.

Wednesday Write-In – For some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

If you missed last week’s live First Tuesday Write & Read, click here to view the prompt, In Your Own Backyard.

Begin reading chapters 11 through 13, pages 175-221, of Wild to prepare for our next book study on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.

See if you can guess the owner of this week’s pet on the dashboard. Send your best amazing animal shots to patricia@writingyourlife.org and any details to help describe the photo. Then, we’ll try to match the animal to its owner.

Upload a story for possible review in a future Member Story Review session.

Week of June 1-7, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

First Tuesday Write and Read is available to all Life Writers who care to join us at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Wednesday Write-In this and every Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Print the June 2025 Calendar.

Begin reading chapters 8-10, pages 117-174, of Wild by Cheryl Strayed in preparation for our next book study on June 10, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Watch the book study replay of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, chapters 5-7, pages 61-115.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week. If you had a win, small or large, please share your success with us.

If you need a refresher on the restructuring of Life Writers, you can watch the video here. If you want a quick recap, especially about how renewals will be handled, read this document.

Our current Life Writers photo exhibition focuses on your amazing animals. Send your best shots to patricia@writingyourlife.org, along with any details that will help describe the photo. Then, we’ll try to match the animal to its owner.

Upload a story for possible review for future Member Story Review sessions.

Week of May 25-31, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

We covered a lot of ground last week on the Life Writers’ restructure, active listening, displaying page numbers on e-readers, and sharing your Zoom screen. You probably have questions or need clarification on some points. I’ll sign on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. and answer questions you have about last week’s material or any other writing topics.

Book Study of chapters 5-7, pages 61-115 of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild.

Discussion question: Wild is filled with minor characters who come onto the page and move off it quickly, but they all serve important purposes. Strayed makes each a real person, not just a name. Who are the minor characters in this section of text? What do you know about them? What purpose does each serve?

Monthly Feedback Group starts right after our book study. Be prepared to discuss your feedback group members’ stories at that time. If you did not turn in a story in advance, you can bring one to the feedback group and be paired with others with stories. Use this Feedback Form to help gather your thoughts.

Wednesday Write-In for some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

If you did not submit a story in advance for our monthly feedback session, bring one, and you’ll be paired with others who also have stories to read.

Begin reading chapters 8-10 of Wild in preparation for our next book study on June 10, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

We had a big session last week and covered a lot of ground on several different topics. If you missed last week or want a second helping, watch these replays:

- - Active Listening – Skills required to give productive feedback.
  - Display Page Numbers on Kindle – How to change your settings to show page numbers on Kindle.
  - Restructure of Life Writers – Details on the new offerings under the Life Writers umbrella.

If you wish to find these sessions later, look at Workshops under the library menu listing.

See if you can guess which young Life Writers the handsome fellow on the right belonged to. Send your best shots of your amazing animals to patricia@writingyourlife.org and any details to help describe the photo. Then, we’ll try to match the animal to the owner.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week.

Week of May 18-24, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

The doors to our Tuesday night’s session open at 4:30 p.m. for you to visit with fellow members. Then, I will sign on at 4:45 p.m. to answer any writing-related questions you may have.

In this month’s craft class, we will focus on several helpful topics: active listening during feedback sessions, using Zoom’s share feature to display your story on the screen while receiving feedback, and how to turn on page numbers on Kindle to help with our book discussions.

After our craft class, I will share information with you about what’s happening with our Life Writers membership.

Wednesday Write-In for some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Submit a complete or partial story for our monthly feedback group.

Watch the replay of our Book Study of pages 1-60, covers through chapter four, “PCT, Volume 1: California Flight” of Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, Wild.

Read pages 61-115, chapter five, “Tracks,” through chapter seven, “The Only Girl in the Woods” in Wild.

Watch the replay of our Member Story Review of Norma Beasley’s story, “The Starfish Rule.” Here is a copy of the story notes for this session.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week. We’d love to cheer you on.

CONGRATULATIONS

Check out the Wants & Wins page to see Etya’s latest published pieces, including two poems. Way to go, Etya!

Week of May 11-17, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

The doors to our Tuesday night session will open at 4:30 p.m. for you to visit with fellow members. I will sign on at 4:45 p.m. to answer any writing-related questions you may have.

Book Study of front/back covers, reviews, front matter, Prologue through Chapter 4, PCT, Volume 1: California.

Discussion question: In these first sixty pages of Wild, Cheryl Strayed reveals a great deal about herself by isolating small moments, many of which most people would not make public. Locate instances of these small moments and be ready to discuss how Strayed uses these instances to reveal herself.

Member Story Review after our Book Study. We will review Norma Beasley’s story, “The Starfish Rule.” Read through this story several times and be prepared to discuss it following our usual format as outlined in the Feedback Form.

Wednesday Write-In – For some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

If you missed last week’s live First Tuesday Write & Read, click here to view the prompt, Lucky You. Also, you can access April’s prompt, Stillness in an Animal Encounter, presented by Lezlie Laws.

Upload a story for possible review for future Member Story Review sessions.

Week of May 4-10, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

First Tuesday Write and Read is available to all Life Writers who care to join us at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Wednesday Write-In this and every Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Print the May 2025 Calendar.

Read pages in Wild

Before May 13, review the covers, front matter, and first sixty pages of Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Also, check out the Wild course page here, which is now on the main dashboard dropdown menu. I also included a short video in the course when I announced the book and gave directions about what I’d like you to pay attention to as you read Wild.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week. If you had a win, small or large, please share your success with us.

Our current Life Writers photo exhibition focuses on your amazing animals. Send your best shots to patricia@writingyourlife.org and any details to help describe the photo. Then, we’ll try to match the animal to its owner.

Upload a story for possible review for future Member Story Review sessions.

Week of April 27 – May 3, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

Open Mic Night on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET. Secure your place in the reading order here.

No Wednesday Write-In this week.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Watch the very lightly edited replay of our second and last book discussion of Allegiance by Darien Hsu Gee.

If you haven’t done so already, obtain the April 2013 version of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed. This is the version required to participate in our book study discussions. Please obtain a physical copy rather than access Wild on an e-reader. The price of the paperback and Kindle versions is virtually the same. Without an actual book, discussions become difficult when we don’t know the page numbers being referenced. Here is the reading and discussion schedule for Wild. Hopefully, I will have the book study course created by next week.

Begin working on a story for the next monthly feedback group; deadline to submit is Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

Our current Life Writers photo exhibition focuses on your amazing animals. Send your best shots and any details to help describe the photo to patricia@writingyourlife.org. Then, we’ll try to match the animal to its owner.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week.

Week of March 23-29, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

The doors to our Tuesday night’s session will open at 4:30 p.m. for you to visit with fellow members. I will sign on at 4:45 p.m. to answer any writing-related questions you may have.

Book Study of pages 53-104, “Banquet” through about the author specially and the complete book of Allegiance by Darien Hsu Gee.

Discussion question: The endings of the stories and books are critical, and how they stop impacts the reader. It’s always good to think about what we want the reader to feel while absorbing the last sentence or two. Darien Hsu Gee’s endings are well crafted and serve important purposes. What endings throughout the book stood out to you? What made them impactful? Be ready to point out certain endings and the messages they delivered to you.

What will you do during the break? We will discuss this topic briefly after our book study, so you can use our month-long break well.

Monthly Feedback Group starts right after our accountability commitments. Be prepared to discuss your feedback group members’ stories at that time. If you did not turn in a story in advance, you can bring one to the feedback group and be paired with others with stories. Use this Feedback Form to help gather your thoughts.

Wednesday Write-In for some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

If you did not submit a story in advance for our monthly feedback session, bring a story, and you’ll be paired with others who also have stories to read.

Watch the roughly edited replay of our master class, Writing and the Law with Jessica Shraybman.

See if you can guess this week’s young Life Writer with her furry friend. Send your best shots of your amazing animals to patricia@writingyourlife.org and any details to help describe the photo. Then, we’ll try to match the animal to the owner.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week.

Week of March 16-22, 2025, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

The doors to our Tuesday night session will open at 4:30 p.m. for you to visit with fellow members. Then, I will sign on at 4:45 p.m. to answer any writing-related questions you may have.

In this month’s master class, we feature literary attorney Jessica Shraybman of Shraybman Law in Miami. She will discuss how to avoid copyright infringement, invasion of privacy, and other legal issues in our writing. Make a list of your questions and be ready to get expert answers. Access this master class here.

Wednesday Write-In – For some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Submit a complete or partial story for our monthly feedback group.

Watch the replay of our Book Study of pages i-52, front matter through “Flight” in Darien Hsu Gee’s micro-memoir, Allegiance.

Watch the replay of our Member Story Review of Barbara Gardner’s story, “The Unforgettable EB.” Here is a copy of the story notes for this session. I updated the AI photo to make it an eighty-year-old woman. Check out the new image.

See if you can match our first pet photo to its owner. If you have or have had a beloved pet, send your best shot to patricia@writingyourlife.org and any details to help describe the photo.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week. We’d love to cheer you on.

Week of March 9-15, 2025, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

Book Study of pages i-52, front matter through “Flight” in Allegiance by Darien Hsu Gee.

Discussion question: Besides being the queen of micro-memoir, Darien Hsu Gee is brilliant in describing people, places, things, emotions, etc. What descriptions of hers stand out to you in these first fifty-two pages? What is she doing in the examples you point out to make her descriptions so vivid and rich? Understanding how authors describe helps us to improve our own descriptions.

Member Story Review after our Book Study. We will review Barbara Gardner’s story, “Unforgettable.” Read through this story several times and be prepared to discuss it following our usual format as outlined in the Feedback Form.

Wednesday Write-In – For some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

If you missed last week’s live First Tuesday Write & Read, click here to view the prompt.

See if you can match the pet to its owner on this week’s dashboard.

Our next Life Writers photo exhibition focuses on your amazing animals. Send your best shots to patricia@writingyourlife.org and any details to help describe the photo. Then, we’ll try to match the animal to the owner.

Week of March 2-8, 2025, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

First Tuesday Write and Read is available to all Life Writers who care to join us at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Wednesday Write-In this and every Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Print the March 2025 Calendar.

Watch the replay of our book discussion of Bird by Bird, pages 209-222, “The Last Class” through Permissions.

Begin reading Allegiance by Darien Hsu Gee, according to this reading schedule.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and follow up with how you did at the end of the week. If you had a win, small or large, please share your success with us.

Upload a story for possible review for future Member Story Review sessions.

Week of February 23 – March 1, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

Book Study on pages 209-222, “The Last Class” through permissions of Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird.

Discussion Question: We covered much ground in the last four months as we read Anne Lamott’s writing wisdom. What suggestions rang most true for you? What advice of hers have you incorporated into your writing routine? How do you think reading this book will impact your future writing projects? Tell us about your experience in reading Bird by Bird.

Wednesday Write-In for some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

If you did not submit a story in advance for our monthly feedback session, bring a story, and you’ll be paired with others who also have stories to read.

Watch the replay of Make ‘Em Laugh with Marta Oppenheimer, blogger of The Dating Days of Marta O.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week.

Upload a story for possible review for future Member Story Review sessions.

Week of February 16-22, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

In this month’s master class, we feature Marta Oppenheimer and her special brand of writing humor. Marta writes a blog called The Dating Days of Marta O, which is based on her online dating experiences and is really funny and, sometimes, a bit naughty. She will share her writing process and answer your questions. Access this master class here.

Wednesday Write-In for some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Submit a complete or partial story for our monthly feedback group. Remember our discussion last week about the lack of participation. Do your part to change that by submitting a story for feedback.

Find out about all the changes to Life Writers in effect now by watching the Recap & Review session.

Watch the replay of our Book Study on pages 182-205, “Finding Your Voice” through “Publication” in Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

Watch the replay of our Member Story Review of Dave Godin’s story, “Watch This.” Here is a copy of the story notes for this session.

See if you can match our first pet photo to its owner. If you have or have had a beloved pet, send your best shot to patricia@writingyourlife.org and any details to help describe the photo. Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week. We’d love to cheer you on.

Upload a story for possible review for upcoming Member Story Review sessions. Again, participation is crucial to keeping this session an option in Life Writers.

Week of February 9-15, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

Book Study of pages 182-205, “Finding Your Voice” through “Publication” in Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

Discussion question: Anne Lamott dedicates a chapter to your writing voice, that somewhat elusive aspect of writing that is difficult to define. Voice is how the writer sounds on the page and is created by word choice, tone, personal experience, sentence structure, etc. Take a couple of minutes to think about your primary writing voice. How would you describe your voice? How do you create that voice?

Member Story Review after our Book Study. We will review Dave Godin’s story, “Watch This.” Read through this story several times and be prepared to discuss it following our usual format as outlined in the Feedback Form.

We’ll use our Inside Life Writers session to recap 2024 and review upcoming changes to the membership.

Wednesday Write-In – For some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

If you missed last week’s First Tuesday Write & Read, click here to view the prompt.

See if you can guess the identity of this week’s teenage Life Writer.

Upload a story for possible review for future Member Story Review sessions.

CELEBRATIONS

Congratulations to Etya Krichmar for publishing a poem titled “It’s Yours to Keep” in Hotel Masticadores and being the featured writer in Spillwords’ Spotlight on Writers. Bravo! We’re so proud of you!

Week of February 2-8, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

First Tuesday Write and Read is available to all Life Writers who care to join us at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Wednesday Write-In this and every Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Print the February 2025 Calendar.

Watch the replay of our book discussion of Bird by Bird, pages 164-181, “Writer’s Block” through “Writing a Present.”

Read pages 209-222, “The Last Class” through “Permissions” of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week. If you had a win, small or large, please share your success with us.

Upload a story for possible review for future Member Story Review sessions.

Week of January 26 – February 1, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

Book Study on pages 164-181, “Writers Block” through “Writing a Present” of Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird.

Discussion Question: Lamott dedicates an entire chapter, “Writer’s Block,” to a subject that generates much discussion in writing circles. Some believe there is no such thing as writer’s block. Others say it’s a very real condition and go on to weigh in on ways to counteract it. Lamott calls writer’s block something different, emptiness, and suggests several methods of refilling. What’s your take on writer’s block—real or imagined? Have you struggled with writer’s block? If so, what did you do to address it? Were your attempts successful?

Q&A/Help a Member begins after our Book Study at 5:00 p.m. ET. Come with a question and/or a writing situation or issue we can help you with. I’ll also be available to answer any anthology-related questions as this Friday, January 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. is the deadline to submit your work.

Monthly Feedback Group starts at 6:00 p.m. ET. Be prepared to discuss your feedback group members’ stories at that time. If you did not turn in a story in advance, you can bring one to the feedback group and be paired with others with new stories. Use this Feedback Form to help gather your thoughts.

Wednesday Write-In for some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

If you did not submit a story in advance for our monthly feedback session, bring a story, and you’ll be paired with others who also have stories to read.

Watch our book study replay of Bird by Bird, pages 142-163, “Writing Groups” through “Letters.”

See if you can guess this week’s teenage Life Writer. Our next Life Writers photo exhibition focuses on your amazing animals. Send your best shots to patricia@writingyourlife.org and any details to help describe the photo. Then, we’ll try to match the animal to the owner.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week.

Upload a story for possible review for future Member Story Review sessions. We currently have no stories available beyond February 2025.

Week of January 19-25, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

Book Study of Bird by Bird, pages 142-163, “Writing Groups” through “Letters.”

Discussion Question: In Anne Lamott’s chapter, “Letters,” she submits a possible solution to writing anxiety that causes the mind to go blank—telling the story to someone you care about in a letter. Is this something you’ve tried? If so, how did it work for you? Why do you think it did or did not produce the desired result? Is this letter-writing technique something you might try when you’re stuck?

In this month’s Craft Class, we review the process necessary to format your stories for the anthology. Even if you choose not to participate in the anthology, you must know how to format text to each publication’s specifications.

Wednesday Write-In for some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Watch the replay of our Book Study on pages 125-141, “Index Cards” through “Calling Around” in Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

Watch the replay of our Member Story Review of John Roche’s story, Eight Million People, Part II. Here is a copy of the story notes for this session.

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week. We’d love to cheer you on.

Upload a story for possible review for upcoming Member Story Review sessions.

Week of January 12-18, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

Book Study of pages 125-141, “Index Cards” through “Calling Around” in Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

Discussion question: In the chapter, “Index Cards,” Anne Lamott talks about her practice of using index cards to capture thoughts, story ideas, insights, snatches of conversation, and such. What method do you currently use to save snippets you may find useful later? Have you tried other strategies? Did they work? If so, why did you change your approach? Tell us how you manage this part of the writing process.

Member Story Review after our Book Study. We will review part two of John Roche’s story, Labor Day, Part II. Read through this story several times and be prepared to discuss it following our usual format as outlined in this Feedback Form.

We’ll use our Inside Life Writers session to discuss our next Life Writers anthology, Micro-Memoir: The Art of Writing Short. Before our session, please thoroughly review the Life Writers Anthology page. Here is the anthology calendar that shows important dates throughout the publication process.

Wednesday Write-In – For some dedicated writing time, join our weekly session at 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

I won’t review the Life Writers survey results until next Tuesday, so you still have time to share your thoughts. Here’s a link to the survey, which must be completed by Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.: Life Writers 2024 Survey.

If you’d like to be part of our anthology, Micro-Memoir: The Art of Writing Short, click here for more details. The anthology page is also on the main menu bar. If you need to apply for a scholarship, scroll down to the very bottom and complete the application.

If you missed last week’s live First Tuesday Write & Read, click here to view the prompt and share what you’ve written.

Read pages 142-163, “Writing Groups” through “Letters” of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.

The Book Design with Joan Keyes master class is now available for viewing.

Upload a story for possible review for future Member Story Review sessions. I have no more stories after tonight’s session, so please submit your work for review.

Week of January 5-11, 2025, at a glance…

LIVE EVENTS

First Tuesday Write and Read is available to all Life Writers who care to join us at 6:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET.

Wednesday Write-In this and every Wednesday from 2:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

TASKS

Schedule personal writing time.

Please complete this Life Writers survey. The survey covers all of 2024, so you may have to dig deep in your memory to retrieve your responses. It shouldn’t take more than ten minutes or so to complete. The submission deadline is Sunday, January 12, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

If you’d like to be part of our anthology, Micro-Memoir: The Art of Writing Short, click here for more details. The anthology page is also on the main menu bar. If you need to apply for a scholarship, scroll down to the very bottom and complete the application.

Print the January 2025 Calendar.

Watch the replay of our book discussion of Bird by Bird, pages 103-121, “Broccoli” through “Jealousy.”

Watch the replay of our December Q&A/Help a Member session, where we talked more about the anthology.

Read pages 125-141, “Index Cards” through “Calling Around” of Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott.

I caught up editing some of the past videos over the break, so the following replays are now available:

Places We Left Behind by Jennifer Lang, pages 125-149

Heating & Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly, pages 9-27

Heating & Cooling by Beth Ann Fennelly, pages 28-48

Add your writing wants to our Wants & Wins page and then follow up with how you did at the end of the week. If you had a win, small or large, please share your success with us.

Upload a story for possible review for future Member Story Review sessions. I have only one story for January, so now is a great time to receive feedback on your work from your fellow Life Writers.