October 9, 2009; Vol. 2, No 21  


   Story Circle Online Classes


The Story Circle Network is the only lifewriting program designed exclusively for women. Since 1997, our nonprofit organization has offered learning opportunities in memoir, reminiscence, journaling, poetry, family stories, kitchen table stories, writing-as-healing, writing for personal growth and spiritual development, poetry, blogging, and other areas. We teach general writing skills, organization, and critical editing, as well as technical skills in book design and development, online marketing, blogging, and other Internet-related activities.

We're now teaching our fall classes, but will be offering one more mini-course, beginning October 12. For full class listings, faculty bios, enrollment, and more, visit our website. And check out our upcoming National Conference (Feb. 5-7, 2010).


One More Fall Course—Just For You!


"Finding Your Voice, Part II" [mini-course].
Taught by Amber Starfire, Publisher & Editor of The Writer's Eye Magazine, freelance editor, writer, & photographer, Editor of SCN's 2009 True Words Anthology.

Each writer has a unique way of seeing and experiencing life. Each writer also has a unique style, or "voice," a one-of-a-kind way of expressing herself, yet it requires practice and skill to identify and allow that voice to be "heard" through the act of putting words on paper. What makes your writing authentic, powerful, and uniquely yours? If you're just discovering this course now, no worry. You can take one or both of the four-week courses; there are no prerequisites other than a desire to learn.

Finding Your Voice II begins with looking at the importance of place and time in writing and how they influence a writer's voice. We'll also explore the importance of backstory, both implicit and implied. Then we'll discuss and explore our own roots, discovering our personal life metaphors along the way. Lastly, we'll look at the power of emotion in writing, define our own reading audiences, and practice putting all of what we've learned together through authentic, heartfelt writing. more

Enrollment closes October 12. The class size is limited so enroll now to be sure of a place!


One-on-One Mentoring


If you are looking for professional help with a specific writing project, or searching for guidance and direction to improve your work, you'll want to check out SCN's Writing Mentorship Program. Professional writers are able to help you direct your energies, focus your talents, and produce your best work.

Looking for Teachers!


We are looking for women teachers/writers who want to share their passion for lifewriting by working with women (SCN members and non-members) in classes carried out on the Internet and via email. If you are a skilled writer with experience in teaching memoir, journaling, life-based fiction, and other lifewriting forms and are interested in joining our faculty, we'd like to hear from you.


Who We Are & How to Join Us


You don't have to be a member of Story Circle to enroll in our online classes, but we'd love to count you as one of our members. And there's a big plus! You'll save almost the cost of a membership by joining SCN and becoming eligible for a lower tuition.

Our mission: The Story Circle Network is dedicated to helping women share the stories of their lives and to raising public awareness of the importance of women's personal histories. We carry out our mission through publications, a web site, classes, workshops, writing and reading circles, and woman-focused programs. Our activities empower women to tell their stories, discover their identities through their stories, and choose to be the authors of their own lives.

Learn more about how SCN can help you tell your story. We offer

  • our quarterly print Journal, a newsletter with features on women's lifewriting
  • opportunities to publish your work
  • workshops, classes, online courses
  • writing circles
  • an Internet Chapter
  • Speaker's Bureau
  • much more

Membership categories:

  • Member: $35; Canada & Mexico: $45; International $50
  • Supporter: $70
  • Sponsor: $125
  • Patron: $200
  • Benefactor: $400+

Internet Chapter membership: $18
(To join the Internet chapter you must also be a member of the national organization; chapter dues are in addition to the national dues.)

To join, see our online membership form, or go to our web site & click on "Join" at the top of the page. You can pay online, or send a check to Story Circle Network, P.O. Box 500127, Austin TX 78750-0127



E-Letters


We publish four monthly e-Letters:

  • This e-Letter brings you information about our upcoming online classes and workshops.

  • The National e-Letter brings you writing tips, quotes, and book reviews.

  • The Story Circle Book Reviews e-Letter brings you information about book reviews and features.

  • The Internet Chapter e-Letter is sent only to members of the Internet Chapter; it features chapter news and events.

We appreciate your help in spreading the word about Story Circle Network. Please forward this e-Letter to anyone interested in lifewriting—family and friends, students, clients, members of your writing group.

If a friend has forwarded this to you, add your e-address and click below to get your own subscription.

To join any of our Story Circle Network e-Letter mailing lists, type your email address below, then click the 'Go' button:

To unsubscribe: see link at the very bottom of this email.



Story Circle Network
Story Circle Network
...for women with stories to tell

Meet Our Faculty:
Amber Starfire
                       Amber Starfire                       

Amber Starfire is Publisher & Editor of The Writer's Eye Magazine, freelance editor, writer, & photographer, Editor of SCN's 2009 True Words Anthology. She is teaching "Finding Your Voice, Part II."
We're Holding a Conference!

Story Circle Network

February 5-7, 2010
Austin, TX
Story Circle Blog

Telling HerStories

Join the conversation about
our stories at
Telling Herstories: The Broad View

We're on Facebook & Twitter!

If you're on Facebook, you're invited to join our new Facebook group and keep with our SCN goings-on.

And check us out on Twitter, too!

Story Circle Network Three Publications from SCN

Kitchen Table Stories

KTS cover   

Kitchen Table Stories is a 160-page soft-cover cookbook and story collection from SCN members, including over 70 recipes from our members together with their funny, heartwarming, and touching stories behind those recipes (click to see the table of contents). The beautiful cover is illustrated and designed by SCN member Katherine Misegades.

Available in a spiral binding (Special Edition) or perfect binding (Trade Edition).

Order the spiral bound Special Edition through the SCN cookbook web page: $18 plus shipping and handling.

What Wildness is This

What Wildness is This

What Wildness is This: Women Write About the Southwest celebrates women's experiences in the landscapes of the Southwest. Published by the University of Texas Press and Story Circle Network, this exciting collection is made up of memoir, creative non-fiction, essay, and poetry, and includes pieces by both emerging and established writers. See our book web site for more details.

Starting Points

       Starting Points       

Starting Points is SCN's writing prompt e-book. Based on the weekly writing prompts that Susan Albert sent to the Internet Chapter members for six years, this book is available for purchase as either a pdf download or in a spiral-bound edition (shown here). See the Starting Points web page for more details and to place your order with our bookseller, Lulu.com.

To read this e-Letter on our web site, click here: www.storycircleonlineclasses.org/newsletters/091009.html

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. ©2008-2009 Story Circle Network

Feel free to forward this e-Letter to friends and colleagues with appropriate credit to Story Circle Network.

This e-Letter is written and edited by Peggy Moody & Susan Wittig Albert.


      email: programdirector@storycircleonlineclasses.org
      voice: 512-454-9833
      web: www.storycircleonlineclasses.org