March 2026 – Sandy Cifelli – “Girl Scouts v2”
February 2026 – Judy Fink – “Alaska”
January 2026 – Norma Beasley – “Born in Absence”
On the fourth Tuesday of each month, we choose a member’s story, review it, and provide feedback to the author as a group. This is a great way to improve your writing and editing skills and learn how to give constructive feedback to your fellow members.
I also provide story notes that everyone can learn from. Oftentimes, these include common mistakes that are easy to correct and make your text much cleaner.
Our review focuses on four questions:
- What was the story about?
- What did the author do well?
- How could the author improve the story?
- Does the author or readers have any questions or comments?
Upload stories for review in the comments section below.
In preparing your story for submission, use a standard twelve-point font (Cambria, Times New Roman, etc.), double-space your text, put your name on your story, and include page numbers.
Your piece must be less than 1,250 words and not one word more (that’s roughly five double-spaced pages), or it will be removed from consideration. If your story is too long, consider submitting only a portion of it.
To submit a story for possible review, upload an MS Word or .pdf document in the comments section below. One story will be selected each month and will be listed here.
Download the chosen story from this page at least four or five days before the feedback session, read it two or three times, and prepare to discuss the member’s work using our standard feedback form.
Girl Scout 2nd Edition
my story
Sandra Cifelli
Here is my story for member review.
While reading your story, I got to know Alaska. You showed your story and Alaska vividly, with feeling and chills, and at times set fear into me with the crashing and clinking of the icebergs. I’ve lived aboard our sailboat for five years with our two sons, my husband, one big Putty-cat, and two dogs.) Nice story, Judy.
Here is my story for review titled “Born Into Absence.” Enjoy.
This is my take from your words.
The world fractured by war, BEAUTIFULLY STATED.
Memory is a gate that doesn’t open backward unless something lives behind it, so TRUTHFUL AND STRONG.
I was a fragile heirloom. I FELT THIS LIKE I’M HOLDING A CRYSTAL STAR SUGAR GRANULES.
Grandma then lost her remaining son and husband, how did she lose them?
It was the absence of mention that taught me her presence once mattered. Written BEAUTIFULLY. Unseen picture of your mother’s energy reason for her tie remaining
You came from the tribe they were/are that you were born into.
WONDERFULLY WRITTEN
Here is my story. I accidentally sent wrong copy. Enjoy!
Here is my story about pictographs for review. I hope you like it.
Here is my story for review. My word count has exceeded the maximum, but I crave your indulgence in this instance. Patricia, please let me know if I need to reduce the word count.
Raquel’s story for review.
that was an honest tale of meeting key people in your new life. I’m glad it worked out. Well done!
Thank you for your feedback, Nancy, and I’m pleased you saw the honesty in my story.
Trying Again to Post. Story Review
You wanted stories to review…Here’s mine.
Here is my story for review.
Your story has a soft, lyric quality like that of poetry.
Thank you, Dave.
Sorry Life Writers. I submitted the incorrect version of “Starfish Rule” below. It is correct now.
Small gestures make a big difference. Thanks for this story.
Thanks Dave. A little more attention to this youngster made difference in her life. I was glad for both of us.
Good morning Life Writers. Starting the new year off on the right foot. Enjoy “Starfish Rule.”
Do you get a sense of who EB was and what she means to me? Thank you.
Peace,
Barbara
I get the sense that EB was a survivor, a kind woman who was not selfish, and who found the time to console you during the darkest hours of your life.
I see a confident woman at peace with herself and the world.
I am submitting this story because I need help with it. It concerns a topic in a catalog I’m making for my sons about my stuff and why I have it. The catalog is basically an embellished list with pictures, like a program you might find for an auction. However, I wrote more than just a description for some items.
Dave, I also have items, mostly of my late husbands, that I have taken pictures of and written about. WHY NOT? It pleases me and soothes my mind, knowing I’m leaving thoughts to the next one who reads, inherits, or does whatever they see fit to do at that time.
Dave, I read the story and found your love for watches fascinating. I have not been a watch wearer since they invented smartphones. But I have saved some as momentoes for sentimental and value reasons.
Hi all: I’m so glad to be back with all of you. I am working my way back slowly, since writing poetry is so different than prose. I hope to send along a first effort on a micro-memoir piece by week’s end. Thanks
Ricki, I have not been away from Life Writers; I have just not been able to be mentally active since my husband Felix passed. I am also returning to the program and replying to your post a month later.
PAT III below is part 1 at 1238 words. This post is under 900 words. As I mentioned during the Zoom, this started out as one story. To me, it seemed to drag. So even though both stories took place on the same day, I made some modifications for the split. I originally had the same opening for both (which I personally thought was cool), but Peg and my buddies voted me down.
I think this part of my Labor Day weekend adventure is ready for some feedback.
A great story about revisiting your roots told in the conversational style you’re so good at.
One of our favorite dogs
Linda,
As they said about the ’69 New York Mets, who won the World Series, AMAIZING.
GOOD NIGHT MYSTERY- for member review consideration
Dar,
Such a bittersweet story. I felt the love you had for your cat.
That was so touching; I cried all through it. I can imagine the love and devotion you gave her, and she gave to you. I know her life was so good being with you.
Thought, Will, Action for member review. I have tried to marry story with my penchant for essay writing. I hope to present this presentation to my fraternal mystical group. Even though I have exceeded my word count slightly, you will enjoy it anyway. If too long, Patricia will toss it.:)
You are a wise and motivational teacher. Thank you. Well written piece with great helpful ideas.
“helpful obstacle”! It doesn’t seem helpful at the time! great essay, especially the importance of will (action). and thanks for the meditation exercise at the end.
Oh Norma, I love this topic and the way you give example stories and practical way to practice concentration.
My latest story for member review
Your Aunt Polly sounds like so much fun. I know you will always have fond memories of her.
Judy, it is too bad that you didn’t choose a couple of S&P shakers for memory sake, BUT: you have the story you have written which is just as good a memory. Aunt Polly would be pleased. I have one pair of shakers that were from my Mum’s much smaller collection, Two yellow birds with long tails, When I look at them I think of Mum and Dad.
Great story about a special person in your life. Your Aunt Polly seems to have been a pro-level collector. Visiting her home must have been like a trip to a museum with exhibits everywhere, except a museum won’t make cobbler from the blackberries you pick.
Hi Judy,
I like your character description of your aunt Polly. I bet we all know a collector, or two, in our lives. I also like the lesson you included for your readers of taking care to choose a good executor when planning the distribution of one’s estate. Nice job bringing the story back to the specialness of your aunt at the end. Enjoyable read!
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This is the first chapter of my book or possibly the Preface. Always looking for feedback. Thanks so much!
A very philosophical way to end the story… or begin a story about your dad
Why do we feel those memories have to end when someone dies? I believe it’s because we can’t talk to them anymore or hug them. Death is so final!
But please give us some hope…tell us death is not final because you will keep his memory alive with your stories about him.
This is a serious story, one that is very important to me. You won’t find anything in it about my childhood, or how I met my wife. This is a dark story. The subject is Suicide, specifically a suicide attempt and its aftermath where I had a role. I’ve asked Dar for input on two occasions, and appreciate her suggestions. But now I’ve been over it several times and can’t seem to find a way to shorten it. I did run it by Patricia. I don’t expect consideration for a member review but felt strongly that I had to share… Read more »
David, what a heart-wrenching story. I can understand your need to unload the contents. John calls them “Brain Fa…” and it works to unload heavy mental baggage. Your hindsight comments, a troll whispering in our ear, and other figurative language comments, brought more clarity to your story. It brought back a memory of my own. Thank you.
Thanks for your kind comments
Dave, what a sad, heartbreaking story. Your description at the end was heart wrenching. It was hard to read but I’m sure it was just as hard to write. You did a really good job in retelling the story.
It was hard to write but I felt better afterward. Thanks for taking the time to read it. The story was longer than normal.
Wow Dave!!! Well written. I could feel your pain and the pain of the others having to deal with the sergeant. I too have dealt with suicide. My daughter tried pills shortly after moving to Houston. I have a dear friend after her divorce tried unsuccessfully two times. I’ve been told it is like you’re in a black tunnel, and there is no light. Thanks for sharing this emotional story.
Thanks for your kind comments. I wasnt sure anyone would read the story. It isn’t an easy read.
And I hope your daughter and friend are doing well.
Any comments would be appreciated, especially about how this made you feel. Thank you. Peace, Barbara
Sometimes the biggest miracles come with the tiniest of actions. Nellie’s saying nothing, spoke volumes. Awhhhh. that feeling of floating….a memory from before birth perhaps
Good story Barbara. Sometimes bad thoughts pierce our consciousness, I’m glad you moved past it and felt peace.
I found this an uplifting story about a life-changing epiphany. You said a lot with an economy of words. You set the scene very well and wove your feelings into the piece. I felt encouraged after reading it.
Happy New Year! My submission is from a warmer time of year.
that was one bad burn…we lived in Pentiction, B.C. between two beautiful lakes six miles apart where tourists came all summer to lie on the beaches and do just that. Some received such bad burns their bodies swelled up and their bathing suits had to be cut off them at the emergency room of the hospital. Did you ever wear that hot bikini again?
I felt your pain, having had a burn experience myself. You hit all the notes about radiation sickness; the nausea, redness, and the sandpaper feel of clothes against your skin. It brought it all back to me in excruciating detail.
Happy New Year everyone. I am submitting Africana Connoisseur, a character sketch, inspired by one of Patricia’s presentations. Enjoy.
I enjoyed reading this again and looking at the pictures. I looked up what is a tamarind and a description of its taste. Pleased to learn at least one new thing each day. Thank you for sharing the character of your friend and your stay at her home. Even without the photos you paint wonderfully detailed pictures in my mind.
wonderful description of your friend and her beautiful home.
Thanks David. She is a wonderful person. Wish I lived in that space. Truly magnificent.
This submission is from the craft class following a discussion about Rick Bragg’s use of a letter format for essay writing and is my attempt at the writing style. The story is a thank-you letter to the devil for the gift of a BB gun for Christmas, via an unwitting Santa.
I have very obviously been inspired by (stolen) his tone.
Great story Dave. I loved the letter style of the piece. You were a little gun-toten rascal as a kid.
Thanks. It is an interesting format. Writing a letter to a specific person, even if fake, provides an audience I can visualize and the letter becomes a conversation.
A pet’s unconditional love is a kind of miracle. There isn’t a time they aren’t happy to see us. When you find that kind of divine love, it doesn’t shield you from all suffering, but it certainly gives you strength to bear it. I used to feel it was unfair when pets die before us. However, this may be a good thing. You see, they don’t have to live any part of their life without us. We will miss them greatly, but I’m thankful they won’t have to miss us or think we left and never came back to be… Read more »
A lovely tribute to a forever friend. There is none so faithful as a four-legged.
I’m not sure which of your two poems I like better. They are both excellent. This one evokes your emotions, and I felt your pain and sadness at losing Scout. A dog truly is a gift, and is a mentor, teaching us patience and unconditional love, and a wonderful life companion.
Thank you for sharing.
Kit,
I’m so sorry for the loss of your beloved Scout. You beautifully expressed the relationship you had with him and your wish for him in the afterlife. I hope this and the beautiful memories he leaves behind give you some degree of comfort.
Thank you, Linda. Lots of beautiful memories are indeed lifting my spirits, as does the understanding of friends like you.
Kit, your poem was beautiful. All us pet owners understand the love and joy they bring and the pain in saying goodbye.
Martin Luther said, “Be comforted little dog, thou too in the Resurrection shall have a tail of gold.”
Thank you, Judy
Kit,
First, I feel your loss. They may be “PETS.” but they really are family.
Next, what you wrote is a beautiful piece.
Last, you know my number.
Huggz
John
Thank you, John
Here’s a winter story for member review. A first revision from last Tuesday’s Write and Read. Oops, I found the correct page to post this story, so please ignore this particular posting.
Here’s a story for member story review. Not every Dad memory is a good one.
Judy, yes, he was a SOB. Well written, hard I know, but writing it sort of out loud, cleanses it out of your body. God bless.
I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for you not only to have lived through the experience but also to have written about it.
I am sorry that happened to you. And thank you for sharing this personal story.
Thank you Kit. That means a lot.
Writing about difficult times in our lives is very challenging. Your story is heartfelt and leads the reader through this time with a an almost eerie echo. Well done.
Judy, Well written and a difficult subject. You have handled the subject with great care.
I have a dilemma. You need a story. I’ve been working on this rewrite for several weeks now. I think it’s a much better story than the original. But it doesn’t meet the word requirement. I’ve tried taking pieces out and it just loses something when I do.
Whatever you decide.
I don’t usually go this long. But the words come with the turf on this one.
J
A very cute story and enjoyable read because all seemed plausible. Love how you incorporated the guilty names and left judgement out of it. Professionals rule!
The story behind my Green writing hat