The Five Most Amazing Rewards from Writing Memoir
Speaker Information
First Name
Sarah
Middle Name
Blizzard
Last Name
Robinson
Speaker Type
Author
Pen Name
Genre
Memoir
Speaker Email
Previous Speaker?
Yes
Where/When
West Virginia Writers Conference, June 2019, Ripley, WV
Website
Speaker Bio
Sarah Blizzard Robinson’s memoir, As a Result, is a cautionary tale. Published in 2019, the coming-of-age stories are woven together from the author’s depth of experiences, ultimately offering hope to generations of families dealing with the effects of loss, grief, alcoholism and codependency. A graduate of Caron Foundations’ Family Program in 1986, the author is grateful to report her codependency has been greatly lessened, and her sobriety is alive and well for the past 37 years. In her book talks, Sarah highlights how the discipline of writing has led to new freedoms. She shares her craft through writing workshops with both adults and young people, encouraging the next generation to “Let your heart type out your brain’s recordings.” In addition to her memoir, the author writes essays, short stories and narrative poetry based on her experiences with grief, codependency and recovery. Sarah’s essays, short stories, poems and profile articles appear in newspapers, literary journals, magazines and anthologies. The author gives book talks to recovery groups, women’s groups, and book clubs. Her writings have won awards and have been published since 2009 in many different print formats: Outside Bozeman Magazine; WV Living Magazine; Morgantown Living. Grand Prize winner: Greater Greenbrier Valley Foundation Poetry Contest, 2010. Sarah’s Short Story, “Donovan’s Intuition” appears in Diner Stories Anthology, 2014. Sarah’s Poetry has been published in Madwomen of the Attic Anthologies, 2014, 2017 and 2023 as well as in “The Skinny” Poetry Journal, July 2016. “Burnt Sienna” is an essay that is featured in her memoir. The piece was first published in Heartwood Literary Magazine.
Presentation Info
Description
The author will highlight and expand upon the psychological, emotional, spiritual, relational and engaging-with-your-reader benefits of purpose-driven memoir writing.
The listeners will benefit from the author's experience giving workshops in memoir writing, creative nonfiction writing, and self-publishing workshops.
“The act of writing about traumatic or difficult events can reduce stress, lessen depression and improve cognitive functioning, according to researchers. Several studies have even shown such writing to improve the function of the immune system.”
“Perhaps this is an exercise of self-affirmation, that one’s existence has been worthwhile and possibly even memorable. Or does it have a higher purpose, to fill in gaps for future generations who, one hopes, might care and even enjoy it? Then again, maybe it’s a desire to explain to one’s children just why one is the way one is. It might even be interesting for them to identify characteristics in themselves they may have inherited!”
By Lisa Ward, Wall Street Journal, November 13, 2017
Writing Memoir: An Exercise in Self-Affirmation.
Even if nobody ever reads the book, it can help people make sense of their lives.
The author will share excerpts of her memoir, and anecdotes from her grandmother's journal, expressing the importance and benefits from recording our stories. The author's grandmother, born in 1899, had a strong influence on her. The grandmother's journal, though never published, has added insight and wisdom to the author's writing journey.
Time permitting, the author plans to share her memoir style prose, which evolved organically from having to process grief, untimely deaths in the family and her marital struggles. Having resolved a number of issues during years in 12 Step recovery, the author attributes the success of her marriage and her freedom to Live and Let Live to the 12 Step program.
Format
Workshop
Other Format
The author has presented to numerous recovery groups, women's groups, library patrons, nonprofits and book clubs.
Company Name
Sell Merchandise?
Yes
Book Signing?
Yes
Contact Info
Contact Name
Contact Address
834 Apricot Ln, Fairhope, AL 36532, USA
Contact Email
Contact Phone
304-282-0484
Social Media
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