I always wanted to do that but never have. I open up Word on the computer and immediately undergo paralysis. I do a little better with pure fiction although it's been my experience that my experiences always come through, if only recognizable to me. What else is there I guess? :)

Is Ernest Gaines still down there?

The Creative Writing program used to have some wonderful folks in it--created it from nothing and were truly interested in seeing people advance, very attentive. One of them left and came out here to run the CW program at UC Santa Cruz and another one of my faves has passed away.

MichaelAT

I signed up for one once, buyt the instructor was a dip... would like to try again tho. What I would like would be more of a writing group, getting together weekly or so to read our stuff, get opinions, etc.; so I would be accountable to do ing it...

I thought about getting a mini tape recorder- many of my better ideas or memories/stories come when I am not where I can write them down- they also come faster than I can capture them.

I had a wonderful teacher in high school, of all places. He required you to write something every day - about anything - you just had to write. He collected the notebooks (not the whole class, just several people a week) and made comments. I found myself looking at everything around me as something I could write about. I credit him with my comfort in front of a word processor. One of my high school mates is published - she has real talent.

I think the little tape recorder is a good idea. A great way to capture those thoughts, those moments of wonder and gratitude or angst or comedy.

Friday morning was the end of this semester's writing class. Myself, and others were invited to attend. Some of the writers read their papers. All really good reports. I really enjoyed them. I did sign up for next semester's class. I found out that most, don't stop at the end of one semester, they continue on. Some have been doing this for several years.
It is life writing, but it is all in segments, or events in their lives.
One elderly gentleman said, he gives his stories to family members as gifts. More later, T