California Where: facilitator's home and/or office, Santa Barbara CA When: Monday evening 5-8:30, Tuesday morning or Thursday morning 10-12:30 Facilitator: Janet Lucy (janetklucy at aol.com) Circle Description: For over ten years I have been facilitating women's weekly writing circles for self-discovery and creative expression, using universal and seasonal themes and prompts. We write together and read outloud, listening to and witnessing each other's voices and stories. The circles are based on acceptance and support, and are a place to develop ideas, deepen and expand. Brenda Ueland said it best: "Everybody is talented, original, and has something important to say. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand. Ideas actually begin to grow within us and come to life." (If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit) Last update: 10/07/2010

Florida Where: facilitator's home, Jacksonville FL When: Every Wed., 1-3pm Facilitator: Rochelle Gross (rochelle0099 at comcast.net) Circle Description: "Dreams Do Come True" is a motivational study group. We do healing and self improvement exercises to release our fullest potentials and to achieve our dreams and goals. We read, write, do weekly writing exercises, and listen to videos and audios. Last update: 04/13/2010 Where: Safety Harbor Library, Safety Harbor FL When: 3rd Wed of the month, 6:15-8pm Facilitator: Jan Golden (jangolden at tampabay.rr.com; Sheila McNaughton Circle Description: We are a new circle welcoming all writers and will be splitting off into smaller circles (we had 18 attended at our first meeting!). Last update: 10/26/09 Where: Bloomingdale Regional Library, Valrico FL When: 1st Friday of the month, 10am-12pm Facilitator: Candi Martin (candicemartin at verizon.net) Circle Description: We have been meeting for over a year, sharing our stories and using prompts from Starting Points. We have seven members but are open to 1-2 more people joining us. Our name is Witty Women Writers. Last update: 10/08/2010 Where: Bloomingdale Regional Library, Valrico FL When: 1st Monday of the month, 10am-12:30pm Facilitator: Judith E. Johnson (getawayj at tampabay.rr.com) Circle Description: We have been meeting for over a year with a short break in the summer. We write using the same prompt and bring our stories to share in the group. We have seven members and are calling ourselves The Memory Keepers. New members are welcome. Last update: 09/08/2010 Where: Bloomingdale Regional Library, Valrico FL When: one Saturday afternoon per month Facilitator: Doreen Myers (dlmyers3 at yahoo.com) Circle Description: We grew out of the life story writing program offered through Bloomingdale Regional Library. At present we have 9 members who bring their stories to share. Last update: 09/08/2010 Where: Bloomingdale Regional Library, Valrico FL When: 2nd Tuesday of the month, 10:15am-12:30pm Facilitator: Sue Harbridge (sueharb at aol.com) Circle Description: We have seven members who met in a life story writing class given at the library, Fall 2009. We have been meeting since January, 2010. Our name is The Life Lines. Date posted: 09/08/2010 Where: Bloomingdale Regional Library, Valrico FL When: 4th Friday afternoon of the month Facilitator: Val Perry (lifewritersbloom at msn.com) Circle Description: We grew out of the life story writing program offered through Bloomingdale Regional Library. At present we have 7 members who bring their stories to share. Our name is The Write Stuff. Date posted: 09/08/2010 Where: Bloomingdale Regional Library, Valrico FL When: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 3-5pm Facilitator: Sandi L. de Laski (sandi1208 at aol.com) Circle Description: Butterflies and Blues Jeans Writers Group: We are like the spokes in a wheel, our life stories go in different directions. In the center we form a circle of unity coming together with one common interest.writing our life stories. Presently we have six members. Last update: 09/08/2010

Georgia Where: Firehouse Gallery—Decatur County Arts Council, Bainbridge GA When: Monthly, flexible date Facilitator: Pam Immendorf (vintage at mchsi.com) Circle Description: The "Silver Retrievers" is an ongoing OWL Circle. Last update: 01/24/09

Illinois Where: facilitator's home, Prospect Heights IL When: 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month, 7-8:30pm Facilitator: Pat LaPointe (grampat8 at comcast.net) Circle Description: We have just begun to organize our circle and are looking for new members. We want to start out as a "write to prompt" group until we have reached our total number of members and/or all members feel comfortable sharing their independent work. Last update: 04/12/2011 Where: Northbrook IL When: 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month, 10-11:45am Facilitator: Pat LaPointe (grampat8 at comcast.net) Circle Description: This is an OWL-Circle. We have just had an introductory meeting. There are nine women currently signed up. Last update: 01/20/2011 Where: homes of participants in North Shore of Chicago, IL When: monthly, 1-3pm or 1-4pm; days vary Facilitator: Susan Myrick (suemyrick at comcast.net) Circle Description: WordsWomen began our monthly afternoon meetings (with delicious snacks, sometimes healthy, sometimes yummy) in February, 1999. We split from a larger memoir group at the Women's Exchange in Winnetka, IL. Our group wavers between three and four participants, a size small enough to give us plenty of time (2-3 hours) to share and discuss our work. We rotate as hostesses, but the facilitator remains Susan Myrick (penname Susan James). We are currently closed to new members. The facilitator brings a prompt for a free-write, memoir story ideas, and writing exercises that help us use tools such senses, time and point of view. We also participate in various exercises that stretch our vocabulary and add dimension to our writing. During workshop meetings, we free-write for 20 minutes from a prompt, read our work aloud, listen to others' works, and hear our work discussed (in a supportive and encouraging environment). We leave with 3 or more new prompts for free-writes at home. Between meetings, writers do any of the following: begin work on the suggested topic, revise a past piece, or work on an expanding project. We keep limber with the prompts for fast writes. Last update: 01/04/2010

Michigan Where: Cass County Council on Aging, 60525 Decatur Rd, Cassopolis MI 49031 When: 10am-noon, 4th Thursday of the month Facilitator: Dona Billey-Weiler (donab at casscoa.org) Circle Description: We meet for 2 hours once a month. We've been meeting for several years as an Older Women's Legacy (OWL) Circle, then as a Writing Circle and now, officially a Story Circle. There are typically 12-14 women who regularly attend and write. We've used Susan Wittig Albert's Writing from Life, Secrets of the Zona Rosa. This year we're hoping to produce an anthology from the writing. Typically, we write from a legacy perspective on a variety of topics and in a similar format to Story Circle Network. Date posted: 02/24/2011

Minnesota Where: Various downtown locations during our lunch hour, Minneapolis MN When: Wednesdays, noon-1pm Facilitator: Pamela Rudisill (pamelasweet43 at gmail.com) Circle Description: We are a new circle of six co-workers, however, all writers in our area our welcome. Our meetings consist of a discussion of works in progress, timed writings, and we have also begun to work through the questions in the book Legacy: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Personal History by Linda Spence. Date posted: 08/31/2010

Montana Where: members' homes in Missoula, MT When: weekly Facilitator: Karen Buley (buley_r at msn.com) Circle Description: We have been meeting weekly for several years. After reading and discussing works in progress, we follow with a timed writing exercise. Last update: 02/10/2011

New Jersey Where: Lambertville Library, Lambertville, NJ When: Two Thursdays a month, 10am-noon Facilitator: Victoria McNabb Wheeler (wheelinwool at aol.com) Circle Description: Our first session is June 4, 2009, and three of us will be in attendance. Hopefully we will grow to six. We plan to follow the SCN facilitator's guide, with time for impromptu writing, reading aloud, and discussion. Date posted: 05/31/09

Oklahoma Where: Wickline UMC, 417 Mid America Blvd, Midwest City OK 73110 When: Sat 3:30-5:30pm, beginning Sep 3, 2011 Facilitator: P. Jan Hall (tajleanna at hotmail.com) Circle Description: RSVP: 405-610-6144, 405-708-3414 or tajleanna at hotmail.com or phall at rose.edu Circle will run from 09/03/2011 to 10/08/2011; then we'll see what happens. Date posted: 08/16/2011 Where: Rose State College, Midwest City OK When: Tue 5:30-7pm and Wed 1-2:30pm, beginning Oct 26, 2011 Facilitator: P. Jan Hall (tajleanna at hotmail.com) Circle Description: We use Writing From Life and the OWL Workbook, plus other Memoir/Journaling resources. We write in class, do homework and try to put together a chapbook from each group. My groups change with the semesters, but are most always women 55+. Date posted: 07/09/2011

Texas Where: private residences (locations provided upon registration) in Austin, TX When: 7-9pm, 2nd Monday of every month (South Austin) or 2nd Wednesday of every month (North Austin) Facilitator: Jeanne Guy (jeanne at jeanneguy.com) Circle Description: Would you like to explore your life's possibilities, discuss issues, share thoughts, be heard without judgment, and practice deep listening? Are you looking for a way to have some time just for yourself and stay connected to others but with ease and without a huge time commitment? Jeanne Guy's Re-Story Circle is the answer. The Circle process (The Circle Way, Christina Baldwin) is a safe structure for group sharing, deep listening and conversation, and for generating ideas to re-story your life through writing prompts. It's a place where you can feel nurtured, supported and empowered—in community. For questions or to make a reservation: email Jeanne. Want to sign up as a monthly "regular" attendee or sign up in advance for future months? Just let Jeanne know when you RSVP and she will register you for whatever months you wish to attend. Cost is $15/meeting. Last update: 12/29/2011 Where: Querencia, a retirement community in Austin, TX When: 4th Saturday of each month. Facilitator: Anne Beckner (abeckner at austin.rr.com) Circle Description: Continuing OWL-Circle group formed in May, 2009. A new group wil start in the Fall, 2009. Last update: 06/16/09 Where: St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Austin TX When: 1st Tuesday of each month, 1-2:30pm Facilitator: Pat Flathouse (pflat at austin.rr.com) Circle Description: The Reflections Writing Circle has been meeting since 2003 to write and share our stories. Facilitation is shared by the members of the circle. Contact Pat Flathouse for information about joining the circle. Last update: 06/13/2011 Where: varies; see Reading Circle web page for details When: noon-1pm, 2nd Monday of the month Facilitator: Peggy Moody (pmoody at pobox.com) Circle Description: A reading circle that has been together since 1997. We read and discuss women's memoirs and women's fiction. For more information, see our Reading Circle web page. Last update: 11/01/2010 Where: members' homes, Austin TX When: 2nd Monday of each month, 7-9pm Facilitator: Barbara Miller (barbaralindq at gmail.com) Circle Description: This group of ten members has been meeting for one year. We focus on family/personal stories, write from prompts or from personal topics of the members. The group is closed to new members at this time. Last update: 08/02/2011 Where: facilitator's home in NW Austin TX When: Thurs 6-8pm Facilitator: Sharon Spector (sharingjoy at ymail.com) Circle Description: Looking for new members who delight in the journey. Beginners welcome (and embraced!) For more information contact Sharon. We begin our circle with a check-in, brief meditation, timed writings, then share our writings in a safe and nurturing environment. I provide tea and we share bringing light snacks. Last update: 05/04/2010 Where: Chestelle Samford's home, Austin TX When: 2nd Monday of the month, 7-9pm Facilitator: Chestelle Samford (bob.chestelle at yahoo.com) Circle Description: We are a closed circle of 9 members. We begin each meeting with a timed writing of whatever's on our minds at the time. Get some pretty interesting insights. Wine and sparkling water are served with a light snack. Then we all read our prepared pieces and discuss them. At the end of the evening, we draw 3 new prompts from our prompt box and for the next meeting, each member writes a piece either from one of the prompts or whatever she wants to write about. Three of our members are published authors and another is working on a book. Last update: 06/15/2011 Where: facilitator's home, Austin TX When: 1st Wednesday of the month, 1-3pm Facilitator: Jackie Newman (jacquelinenewman at msn.com) Circle Description: This is one of the oldest ongoing circles in SCN. We've gone by the name Millwood for many years. We have 8 members, most of whom come to every meeting, thus we are not currently open to new members. Last update: 03/30/2010 Where: Old Quarry library, Austin TX When: 4th Tuesday of the month, 1-2:30pm Facilitator: Judith Helburn (thehelburns at sbcglobal.net) Circle Description: The "Sharing Our Stories Writing Circle" was one of the original Austin Chapter writing circles. We work from prompts and have been meeting since 1999? We laugh a lot and sometimes cry. Last update: 09/30/2010 Where: members' homes, Austin TX When: 3rd Wednesday of the month, 6:30-8:30pm Facilitator: Rebecca Roberts (rebecca at rebeccar.com) Circle Description: INKlings meetings begin with a timed writing. The host of the month provides the prompt, which varies greatly from silly to serious. The rest of the evening is devoted to sharing personal essays written during the month. Inklings currently has nine members and is a closed group in order to allow adequate time for all to read. The "INKlings Writing Circle" was one of the original Austin Chapter writing circles. Last update: 06/14/2011 Where: PJ Pierce's home, 6811 Glen Ridge Dr, Austin TX 78731 When: 2nd Thursday of the month, 7-8:30pm Facilitator: PJ Pierce (pjpierce at cvctx.com) Circle Description: The "Wordweavers Writing Circle" was one of the original Austin Chapter writing circles and is still meeting and thriving. It is currently closed to new members. Last update: 07/26/2010 Where: members' homes in Austin When: 1st & 3rd Mondays of the month, 10am-noon Facilitator: Betty McCreary (bdownes211 at aol.com) Circle Description: Rock Rose Writers is a Free Range Story Circle and open to women at all levels of writing experience who want to practice life writing using writing prompts and timed exercises. Although the focus will be life writing,other types of writers are welcome (fiction, poetry, etc.) We encourage sharing our writing and learning from each other. We are currently closed to new members. Last update: 06/30/2011 Where: Borders at Southpark Meadows, Austin TX When: Two Sundays a month, 12:30pm Facilitator: Rose McCorkle (rosiemac4 at yahoo.com) & Johnett Scogin (johnett42 at yahoo.com) Circle Description: The "Free Range Chickenscratchers" is a small circle of women who meet to get/give feedback on longer pieces (ongoing) and to do short focused work to develop our craft. Due to the nature of our work, we have to remain small, and are currently closed to new members. Read our blog. Last update: 01/02/2010 Where: private home, Joshua/Burleson TX When: Tuesdays, 11am-12:30pm Facilitator: Caryn FitzGerald (cgfbooks at gmail.com; 817-400-1153) Circle Description: New story circle class meets weekly between 9/28-11/16/2010. Writing assignments, readings, feedback and support. Small class size. Members will have option to continue with bi-weekly class in spring 2011. Phone or email for details. Last update: 08/30/2010 Where: Judy Alter's home, Fort Worth TX When: Every other Thursday for eight-week sessions, 7-8:30pm Facilitator: Judy Alter (j.alter at tcu.edu) Circle Description: Meetings consist mainly of readings and critiques, with comments by the facilitator and members. Discussions that follow readings range far and wide, often encouraging the writer to take a deeper look at herself. Now going into its fifth session, with most of the original members continuing. A small fee is charged. Members take turns bring snacks and wine. Facilitator hand edits papers after each session and returns them to the author. Some of the group have been with me for five sessions and have grown very close to each other, but we always welcome newcomers cordially. The class began using Writing from Life as a guide but has now branched out to more individual approaches. Some write for family, a few for publication, most just for themselves. Writing, one said, is therapy. Last update: 08/29/2011 Where: Lone Star College, Houston TX When: Wednesdays, 10am-12pm Facilitator: Joyce Boatright (joyce.m.boatright at lonestar.edu) Circle Description: Continuing OWL-Circle group. Last update: 01/03/2010 Where: church, Kerrville TX When: every other Tuesday, noon to 1:30pm, with breaks in schedule Facilitator: Leia Francisco (leiafrancisco1 at gmail.com) Circle Description: The Kerrville, Texas Story Circle is concluding its first year of meetings, a year of writing, shared wisdom, humor, and appreciation for the richness of our stories. We have written across the landscape of these stories, choosing our own topics as well as those suggested in the facilitation guide and rotating facilitators. We have also used poetry extensively as a warm fire in our circle and the poetry writing prompts have generated lots of juice and discussion. Women of like hearts do seem to find a way to gather and share their experiences and to encourage each other not only in writing, but other creative expressions. We will be taking a short break and resuming in January. All in all, 'twas a wonderful first year! Last update: 11/18/2010 Where: Northwood Presbyterian Church library, 518 Pike St, San Antonio TX 78109 When: every other Wednesday, 6:30-8:30pm, from Sep 22-Dec 15, 2010 Facilitator: Marcy Bashore (marcyandwalt at yahoo.com; 210-655-7916) Circle Description: Writing from the Heart Story Circle meets twice monthly. Spring semester dates to be posted later. Twelve women gather to light the sparks of creativity each time we meet. Each woman's words inspire the other. This circle uses journal writing, memoir, poetry, creative fiction and non-fiction to learn, teach and support one another on the wonderful writing journey. This is a group of various backgrounds, ages and writing styles, making the food for thought all the more toothsome. Last update: 09/23/2010 Where: Barnes & Noble, Sunset Valley TX When: 4th Thursdays, 1-2pm Facilitator: Stephanie Barko (steffercat at austin.rr.com) Circle Description: The South Austin Book Group is non-denominational, co-ed, and reads spiritually-oriented books from all traditions. The group meets for an hour and then those who can stay are welcome to linger for another half hour or so. Meetings are open to the public. The group has been meeting since Fall, 2005. Last update: 01/16/09 Where: First Presbyterian Church, Temple TX When: 2nd & 4th Thursdays of month, 1-2:30pm Facilitator: Laura Jo Fojtasek (jfojtasek at hot.rr.com) Circle Description: This group writes with a prompt and we have sharing time for those that want to share their writing for the day. Occasionally we take a field trip to a museum or interesting location and use that as our writing focus. New members are welcome. Last update: 03/10/2011 Where: Facilitator's home, Tyler TX When: 2nd Wednesday of month; 2-4pm Facilitator: Pat Turner (capturn2 at yahoo.com) Circle Description: The Memory Keepers Story Circle is currently seeking new members. We have been meeting to write for over ten years and are now down to four faithful members. We feel we need the renewed energy and look forward to a new season of writing in the fall. Last update: 06/28/2011 Where: facilitator's home, The Woodlands TX When: 2nd & 4th Wed., 1pm Facilitator: Sonja Borstner (borstner at swbell.net) Circle Description: We've been meeting for 5 years, are a small, intimate group, and are not currently open to new members. Last update: 06/13/2011 Where: The Forum, The Woodlands, TX When: 1st Thursday of the month Facilitator: Sonja Borstner (borstner at swbell.net) Circle Description: The "15 Minute Writers", who range in age from 80-90 years, meet on the first Thursday of the month at The Forum. The group is closed to new members. Last update: 01/02/2010 Where: The Forum, The Woodlands, TX When: Tuesdays in September, 2009 Facilitator: Evelyn Cook (ecook at pdq.net) Circle Description: In September, 2009 the "Telling Your Life Story" group will meet on 4 Tuesdays for the fall session. Last update: 01/15/09

Washington Where: Covington or Federal Way Library (depending on availability), WA When: monthly, on Saturday mornings, 10:30-noon Facilitator: Linda Hoye (linda.hoye at gmail.com) Circle Description: We will have a time of timed writing, a time of sharing our work, and a take-away-topic to work on until the next meeting. Last update: 08/30/2010 Where: Seattle WA When: Mondays, 7-9pm Facilitator: Pat Hoglund (hoglundp at aol.com; 206-898-3730; patriciahoglund.com) Circle Description: I am hosting a womens' story circle in my home. We welcome new people to join the circle. Last update: 08/23/2010

Wisconsin Where: Howe Neighborhood Resource Center, Green Bay WI When: February/March, 2009: six Tuesdays (advanced group) and Thursdays (beginning group), 7-8:30pm; 2 groups will also meet in Apr/May, as well as Sep/Oct and Nov/Dec. Facilitator: Sandra Shackelford (sashack10 at athenet.net) Circle Description: Two circles: beginning and advanced. The advanced circle will be working toward putting together our own anthology with funds raised going to a program that works with women cancer patients. Contact Sandra for more information. Eight women are in the advanced group; 15 in the beginning group. The groups bond, becoming a family, celebrating and encouraging each other's efforts. We write. We share. We discuss. We educate each other. We grow. The sixth (final) session of each group's circle is a celebration and summation of what we have accomplished, an evaluation of our growth as women and writers. Recently our group of writers gave a presentation, "Six Women Reading", at the local independent book store, The Reader's Loft. This past fall, some of our circle members assisted Sandra with a writing project working with Homeless Women and Their Adolescent Daughters. This project was sponsored through the local school system's At-Risk program. The women's and girl's writing will be published in book form with funds raised going into more programs for this special group. Last update: 01/15/09