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Story Circle Network
. . . for women with stories to tell
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Austin e-Letter
January 2004, Vol. 5, No 1
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Stories from the Heart II, Feb. 6-8, 2004
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California, Florida, Tennessee, New York, Washington--these are just a few of the 19 states--plus Canada!--from which our conference participants are coming to our second national memoir conference!
To see what all the excitement is about, check out our complete conference program here: www.storycircle.org/Conference/program.shtml. To register, click here: www.storycircle.org/Conference/frmregister.shtml. And to ensure that you get the latest scoop, please sign up for our National Conference 2004 e-Letter Mailing List. (You'll find a subscribe box on the conference website.) Come, learn, share, and celebrate with us as we honor women's stories!
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True Words From Real Women: SCN's annual anthology
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The True Words anthology for this year is coming up soon! SCN dues-paying members are invited to submit stories for this special, stories-only issue of the Story Circle Journal. What we are looking for:
- Stories up to 1200 words (shorter is good too!)
- Poetry up to 40 lines (shorter is better!)
- Writings from life (the author's own life or about someone she's close to)
- Pieces written during 2003
- Pieces that have not been previously published
Our anthology typically does not have a theme, so we will accept writings on all kinds of subjects and life events. We plan to weave these together around the idea of the journeys--physical, psychological, and spiritual--that we take during our life.
A few things to note:
- Stories will be edited lightly according to Story Circle Journal style.
- Space is limited so we cannot promise that all submissions will be included. If you are a member of a Story Circle writing circle, please indicate which circle you're in.
- We prefer to receive stories in an e-mail or as an e-mail attachment in MS Word. If this is not possible, you may mail typed submissions to the address below.
- Remember to include your name, your circle, and a contact phone number.
Deadline for submissions: January 31. Early submissions are especially welcome!
Jane Ross (mjrpubs3@sbcglobal.net)
5802 Wynona Ave, Austin TX 78756
Editor, True Words from Real Women
(A special issue of the Story Circle Journal)
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'Schmooze the Muse' 2004 Proposals Invited
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The SCN Board is inviting proposals for 'Schmooze the Muse Saturdays', to be held in 2004. If you're interested in submitting a proposal, click here: www.storycircle.org/frmschmooze.shtml. The deadline for proposals is January 30; successful Schmoozers will be notified by March 1.
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Member Events: OWL book signings, Christina Baldwin in Austin
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SCN is planning four January events to introduce our new memoir collection, WITH COURAGE AND COMMON SENSE (recently published by the University of Texas Press), to the Austin community. Each program will include a brief introduction to the OWL-Circle Memoir Program, readings from the book, and a discussion of the importance of writing about our lives. Books will be available for purchase.
- Jan 11, 2-3:30pm: Susan Albert will host a reading/signing at Barnes and Noble Westlake, 701 S. Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin TX. Readers include Sue Kinney, Janie Kirkpatrick, Pat Williamson, Williene Story, and Mary Clark (reading a piece written by her mother, Rose Vrba).
- Jan 15, 10:30-lunch: Judith Helburn will host a reading/signing at Smith Auditorium, Congregation Beth Israel, 3801 Shoal Creek, Austin TX (for lunch reservations, phone 454-6806. Lunch cost: suggested donation of $5-$6).
- Jan 18, 2-4pm: WISDOM-link (Judith Helburn, Mary Jane Marks, & Jane Basey) will host a reading/signing at AGE Building, 3710 Cedar St, Austin TX.
- Jan 31, 2-3:30pm: Judith Helburn will host a reading/signing at Barnes and Noble Round Rock, 2701 Parker Dr, Round Rock TX.
For more information, go here & click on "Book Events": www.storycircle.org/owlcircle/withcourage.
New Year, New Book of Life: Journal Writing as a Spiritual Quest with Christina Baldwin
A Weekend Workshop offered by the Omega Institute at Austin's new Omega at the Crossings: January 16-18, 2004
This workshop is a weekend of creative exercises and community designed for journal writers at all stages of experience. For details, see the listing on our Member Events Page, www.storycircle.org/MemberEvents.shtml.
For more details on Member Events, see www.storycircle.org/MemberEvents.shtml. SCN members, if you're planning a women's writing/memoir-related event, let us know so we can help you publicize it!
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Please Renew Your Membership!
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If you're a Story Circle member, please check the mailing label on your December issue of our quarterly publication, the Story Circle Journal, to see when your membership expires. Expired already or expiring soon? (Dec03 or Mar04) It's time to renew! Annual membership is only $25 U.S., $30 Canada/Mexico, $35 elsewhere. Austin Chapter dues are $18/year; Internet Chapter dues are $15/year. To renew (or join), click here: www.storycircle.org/frmjoinscn.shtml and pay on-line, or send a check to the SCN office.
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Writing Circles
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Interested in meeting with other women to write & share stories? Please join one of our Austin Chapter Writing Circles for support, encouragement, & ideas for life-writing topics. The Circles meet monthly & are free & limited to members of the Austin Chapter of the Story Circle Network. The following circles are still open to new members. Please contact the facilitator BEFORE attending a meeting.
- Mary Ann Reynolds leads a brand-new writing circle: the First UU Writing Circle. It meets at the First Unitarian Universalist Church (4700 Grover Ave, Austin TX 78756) on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 7-9pm. Contact Mary Ann via email: mareynolds@grandecom.net or phone: 512-477-2175.
- Jackie Woolley leads a brand-new writing circle: the Round Rock Writing Circle. It meets in her home (2116 Faldo Ln, Round Rock TX 78664) on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 2-3:30pm. Contact Jackie via email: jackie@booksbyjackie.com or phone: 512-388-9854.
NOTE: An organizational meeting will be on Thurs. Jan 15th at 2pm. The future meeting day of the week and time may change depending on the wishes of the group. This group is all new to writing. Jackie encourages anyone who wants to write but doesn't know where to begin to JOIN HER at this first meeting.
- Linda Jones leads a brand-new writing circle: the Northeast Austin Writing Circle. It meets at Linda's home in northeast Austin on the 3rd Monday of every month from 7-8:30pm. Contact Linda via email: lindas555@hotmail.com or phone: 512-659-8682.
NOTE: This is a chance to get in on the ground floor! Women should come with ideas about their personal writing goals and how the writing group can help them achieve their goal(s).
- Mary Elizabeth leads the Wednesday Mid-Day Writing Circle. It meets at the Yarborough Branch Library (2200 Hancock Dr, Austin TX 78756) on the 1st Wednesday of every month from 11:30am-1pm. Contact Mary via email: mlunatuna@sbcglobal.net or phone: 512-832-5258.
- Jazz Jaeschke leads the Wednesday Evening Writing Circle. It meets in her home (10504 Settlers Tr, Austin TX 78750) on the 1st Wednesday of every month from 7:15-9:30pm. Contact Jazz via email: sjazz@austin.rr.com or phone: 512-335-9517.
- Carolyn Scheider leads the Spicy Bunch Writing Circle. It meets at the Milwood Branch Library (12500 Amherst Dr, Austin TX 78727) on the 3rd Thursday of every month from 12:30-2:30pm. Contact Carolyn via email: carjos7@aol.com or phone: 512-258-8635.
NOTE: In January we will meet briefly at the Milwood Library and then go to Cool River (located very close to the library) for lunch.
- Jemmie Russell leads the Southwest Austin Writing Circle. It meets at the Will Hampton at Oak Hill Library (5125 Convict Hill Rd, Austin TX 78749) on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:30-8pm. Contact Jemmie via email: zyphyrus@earthlink.net or phone: 512-247-5494.
For more information, visit the Austin Chapter Writing Circles web page: www.storycircle.org/AustinChapter/WritingCircle.shtml.
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Reading Circle
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The Austin Chapter Reading Circle, led by Peggy Moody, is a series of monthly book discussion groups free & limited to members of the Austin Chapter of the Story Circle Network. The circle meets on the second Wednesday of each month to read & discuss women's memoirs, autobiographies, & journals.
The January selection is In Search of Grace: A Journey Across America's Landscape of Faith by Kristin Hahn. Please join us for a lively discussion on January 14, or just enjoy the book on your own. Your purchase through SCN's Amazon.com link helps to support SCN's many activities. For information on how to join the Reading Circle, go to www.storycircle.org/Reading_Circle.
Our 2004 reading list is available on-line: www.storycircle.org/Reading_Circle/rc_sched04.html.
This circle has been active since 1998 & has read so many wonderful women's memoirs & journals! To take a peek at the complete list, go to our Book Review site (www.storycircle.org/BookReviews) & click on SCN Reading Circles.
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Austin OWL-Circle News
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Our new memoir collection, With Courage and Common Sense, is now available. For information & to order, go here: www.storycircle.org/owlcircle/withcourage.
For a list of the activities we're planning to introduce the book to the Austin community, go here: www.storycircle.org/owlcircle/withcourage/events.shtml.
See also the Member Events: OWL book signings section of this e-letter.
Our new book, Your Life, Your Story, is based on the OWL-Circle workbook, & was written by Pat Flathouse, with Catherine Cogburn; it includes an introduction by Susan Wittig Albert. The book contains five chapters with suggestions, ideas, ways to organize your material, & writing helps. A final chapter covers various aspects of lifewriting by Story Circle authors, including tips for writing, capturing memories, using photos, interviewing, creating a family cookbook, & scrapbooking. To order your own copy ($15, including shipping), go to the OWL-Circle website (www.owlcircle.com), or click here: www.storycircle.org/owlcircle/yourlifeyourstory.shtml.
Pat Flathouse is now taking names for a new OWL Circle for the Austin area to begin on January 19th from 9:30 to 12:00 at St. John Neumann Church. Please contact Pat (pflat@austin.rr.com) to register for this class.
The Austin-area Continuing OWL-Circle Program, for those who have completed the OWL-Circle Writing Program and want to continue with their writing, meets on the first Tuesday of each month at St. John Neumann Church. The next meeting will be on January 6th from 1:30 to 3:00. This group provides additional writing experiences for women who want to continue their writing after experiencing the OWL-Circle Writing Program. For further information about this program email Austin OWL-Circle Director Pat Flathouse (pflat@austin.rr.com).
Congratulations to Lita Santos and Louise Saxton of our Continuing OWL Group. Both received recognition for stories they had written by the "Writing Austin's Lives" project.
If you know of a church, women's group, individual's home, or senior residence that would like to sponsor an OWL-Circle workshop, or if you would like to facilitate one of these groups, let Pat Flathouse know.
We are now publishing a quarterly OWL-Circle e-Letter. To join our mailing list, go here: www.storycircle.org/owlcircle/Newsletters.
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Do You Have a Story to Tell?
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- Contribute your experience of nature in the Southwest to SCN's new anthology of memoirs: Plains, Deserts, Canyons, Mountains: Women Write about the Southwest (under contract with the University of Texas Press, with publication anticipated in 2005 or 2006). For more information, go to www.storycircle.org/WomenWrite.
- You are invited to contribute to a new memoir collection! The book, called The Noble Generation II is being compiled by the folks at Barnes & Noble, who welcome submissions from people all over Texas. If you have a story to tell & you'd like to share it with the world, you'll find guidelines for submission here: www.storycircle.org/nobleii.html.
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A Special Thank-You to our Volunteers
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Special thanks to Donna Remmert for her hospitality & generosity in hosting our holiday party/bazaar in her lovely home!
Thanks also to our chapter member exhibitors who displayed and sold their books & wares, brought goodies, etc.: Susan Albert, Penny Appleby, Lita Bonciolini, Barbara Carr, Mary Faloon, Pat Flathouse, Christine Gilbert, Judith Helburn, Jazz Jaeschke, Linda Jones, Beth Kennedy, Jackie Newman, PJ Pierce, Donna Remmert, Rebecca Roberts, Carolyn Scheider, Terry Sherrell, Bonnie Watkins, Marie Webster.
Want to see photos of the party, and of Susan's quilt? See the Holiday Party section of this e-letter.
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Meet Jackie Newman
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Jackie Newman, new president of Story Circle Network's Austin Chapter, discovered SCN after leaving the corporate world in 2000. She has been a member of a writing circle for almost 3 years, a volunteer for several SCN activities, as well as Austin Chapter Publicity Chair. Jackie is looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the upcoming SCN conference on February 6, 7 and 8th. "I cannot think of a better way to start out my term as Austin Chapter President than to meet and have a chance to speak with the individual members."
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Who We Are & How to Join Us
If you're receiving this e-Letter but aren't a member, please join us. The Story Circle Network is a non-profit organization that honors women's voices & celebrates women's lives.
[Learn more about how SCN can help you tell your story: click here, or go to our website & click on "How SCN Can Help You Tell Your Story" in the "Who We Are" section of the left frame.]
We offer
a quarterly newsletter with features on women's lifewriting
opportunities to publish your work
workshops, classes, on-line courses
an Internet Chapter
Speaker's Bureau
much more
Annual membership is only $24 U.S., $30 Canada/Mexico, $36 elsewhere. To join, click here, or go to our website & click on "Join SCN" in the "How to Join / Enroll / Pay" section of the left frame. You can pay on-line, or send a check to
Story Circle Network
P.O. Box 500127
Austin, TX 78750-0127
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Story Circle Brochures
The Story Circle Network's brochures are now on-line! You can print copies of our national, Austin Chapter, & OWL-Circle brochures anytime. They are in PDF format, so you may need to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Details & downloads here: www.storycircle.org/brochures.html.
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Share & Multiply
Earn credits for your membership referrals!
Now you can earn credits for each new member you refer to the Story Circle Network. All you have to do is invite a friend to join SCN. On the membership form (in our brochure or on-line), she fills in your name as the person who told her about SCN. You'll earn one credit for every new member you refer. Your credits will accumulate through the calendar year, & be awarded each December. To read more about our Share & Multiply credit plan, go here: www.storycircle.org/share.html.
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Journal Back Issues
The Story Circle Journal is a unique publication dedicated to helping women tell their personal stories, now in its sixth year. Missing some issues? To buy back issues, click here, or go to our website & click on "Buy Story Circle Journals" in the "How to Join / Enroll / Pay" section of the left frame.
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Neat Stuff
We've come up with some great gift ideas for memoirists, journal keepers, & story tellers. Click here, or go to our website & click on "Neat Stuff" in the "How to Join / Enroll / Pay" section of the left frame. By using this page to shop for friends & family, you're also helping to fund the Story Circle programs!
Try out our Internet Shopping Gateway - using iGive.com as your shopping "portal", you're also helping to fund the Story Circle programs! Click here, or go to our website & click on "iGive.com" in the "How to Join / Enroll / Pay" section of the left frame.
Do you grocery shop at Randalls? If so, sign up free of charge for their Good Neighbor program, & give them the Story Circle number (10082). Go here for more details, or go to our website & click on "Randalls' Good Neighbor Program" in the "How to Join / Enroll / Pay" section of the left frame. By doing so you're also helping to fund the Story Circle programs!
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Your Contributions
Share your life. If you are a member of the Story Circle Network, please share your story with us. Check the Journal for details, or click here, or go to our website & click on "Writers Guidelines" in the "Resources" section of the left frame.
Share your love. We offer free memberships to women in prison & reduced-rate memberships to women in need. If you would like to help these women find their voices & share their stories, click here & then click on "Our Sugar Bowl," or go to our website & click on "How You Can Help" in the "How to Join / Enroll / Pay" section of the left frame. (You don't have to be a member to contribute to this important program.)
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E-Letters
We publish three monthly e-Letters:
The National e-Letter brings you writing tips, quotes, & book reviews.
This Austin-area e-Letter brings you news about Story Circle events & activities in the Austin, TX area. If you don't live in Austin but want to know what the Austin Chapter is doing, you're welcome to subscribe as well--& copy all of our ideas for use in your own community!
The Internet Chapter e-Letter is sent only to members of the Internet Chapter; it features chapter news & events.
We also publish two occasional e-Letters:
The OWL-Circle e-Letter brings you information & news about our Older Women's Legacy Circle project & activities.
The National Conference 2004 e-Letter brings you all the latest news & information about our February 6-8, 2004 "Stories From the Heart" national women's memoir conference.
We appreciate your help in spreading the word about Story Circle Network. Please forward this e-Letter to anyone interested in lifewriting -- family & friends, students, clients, members of your writing group.
If a friend has forwarded this to you, add your e-address & click below to get your own subscription.
To unsubscribe: see link at the very bottom of this email.
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This e-Letter is a publication of the Story Circle Network, (P.O. Box 500127, Austin TX 78750-0127). It is provided free, via e-mail, for women interested in lifewriting worldwide. ©2003 Story Circle Network
Feel free to forward this e-Letter to friends & colleagues with appropriate credit to Story Circle Network.
This e-Letter is written & edited by Peggy Moody & Susan Wittig Albert.
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email:
storycircle@storycircle.org
voice: 512-454-9833
web:
www.storycircle.org
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