Reports on 2006-2007 Past Events Saturday, April 28, 1-3 PM A group of 30 Women Who Write members and guests came together on April 28th at the Madison Community House to learn about the art and craft of memoir writing. Workshop leader Anndee Hochman emphasized both "showing and telling" in writing memoir; the writer describes her actual lived experience to the best of her ability plus reflects on what the story means to her with a distinctive voice. Everyone who attended this workshop was given the opportunity to practice what they learned with specific writing exercises. To learn more about storytelling (both nonfiction and fiction), treat yourself to Anndee Hochman's books, Everyday Acts & Small Subversions: Women Reinventing Family, Community and Home and Anatomies: A Novella and Stories. vivian Fransen
Saturday, March 24, 1-4 PM The Women Who Write Spring Reading took place March 24th at the Madison Public Library. Maureen Haggerty, Acting President, introduced Karen Haefelein, president-elect, MC, and first reader. Karen started the afternoon off with three powerful poems on girlhood, family, and living through crisis. She then introduced each reader. Among the highlights of the afternoon were Marcia Ivans’ poems of the past and present, Sharon William’s children’s story of Olive , Saffron, and the TV chef, and Michelle Cameron’s novel excerpt about the burning of the Talmud in medieval Paris. I was glad to have an opportunity to read poems I have worked on
with the group
in Poet’s Corner, and appreciate the talent and skill of the writers I
have met through this organization. We are Women Who Write!
A relaxed and social event for all members, including potential new members. This was an evening to mix and mingle with writers across WWW.
On Saturday, November 4, fifteen WWW members and one non-member gathered at the Madison Community House for a poetry/prose workshop with writer Renee Ashley. Renee shared her views on the creative process as it applies to fiction and poetry, emphasizing the differences between the genre. She drew on her own experience as a poet, essayist, and novelist and the views of other authors. Passages from her first novel and several poems by others prompted group discussion of plot, image, and character and the distinction between poet logic and prose logic. Participants then wrote from a prompt, a letter to an advice columnist. The story beginnings and poem drafts, many of which were read aloud, took a variety of approaches and points of view, impressing the group with the individuality of each treatment. Karen Haefelein, VP Programs
September, 2006
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