UNLOCKED MEMORIES

Writing the Story of Your Life

A Reminiscence Writing Workshop

Tutor: ALEC GILL BSc. MSc. Author, broadcaster, historian, University lecturer, English teacher and public speaker.

Reminiscence Writing, of all the five topics highlighted on my website, is the only one I was invited to undertake - the others came from my own calling. But the subject is a good one for me because (a) it involves a historical aspect and (b) centres upon 'what makes people tick'.

Reflecting about ones life (at any age) is therapeutic as long as the individual does not dwell in the past, but learns lessons in life from it in order to enjoy the present and move forward
positively into the future.

Songs are very useful in the process of reminiscing. One such is "Some day I'm goanna write, the story of my life". How many times have these popular lyrics run through your head, you agreed with the sentiment, but did nothing about it? My writing course is designed to get students to put pen to paper. "To start is to half finish the job". I have conducted a successful 20-week reminiscence workshop at the University of Hull (Centre for LifeLong Learning) for several years. As author of five books, four videos and countless
national articles, I provide writing
advice and offers fresh ideas about 'form and content'. The beauty of this workshop-based approach is that students learn from each other too whilst reviewing one's life. See the poem I Remember When... by Maisie Turner which puts the need to write family reminiscences into a wider perspective before its too late.

This special weekend writing course is designed to get you to put pen to paper. "To start is to half finish the job". Alec has conducted a successful 20-week reminiscence workshop at Hull University for several years.

TOPICS INCLUDE

WELCOME: To each other and the workshop. Debate plan: Purpose / Structure. / Benefits.

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE: How to jog the memory; set out your life history; contrast between 'form' and 'content'. Bring along family albums, if you wish. A list of suggested topics is presented in order to Spark Off Memories.

BEGINNING, MIDDLE & END: Creating order out of chaos; putting pen to paper; does reminiscence writing need a plot? A list of writing topics is available.

FRIENDLY FEEDBACK: Students gain a great deal of confidence after reading work out to an appreciative audience who are 'all in the same boat'. The guiding principle being "It ain't what you say, it's the way that you say it" or write in our case.

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY ENGLISH: The origins of our Mother Tongue provide us with a rich linguistic inheritance.

WRITING SKILLS: A few basic rules of grammar; figures of speech; punctuation; common errors - nothing too heavy.

FAMILY LIFE & SOCIAL HISTORY: How does your family's past relate to wider social events?