Tag: Memoir

Harmony Stories Strike a Happy Note

Published on by Pearl S. Buck Writing Center3 Comments

By Anne K. Kaler

cindy-hti-book-signing
Cynthia L. Louden at recent book signing.

Pearl S. Buck and her daughter Carol must be smiling down from heaven these days with the recent publication of Stories from the Hearts of Harmony, which is subtitled as the “uplifting stories of harmony, hope and happiness from families of adults with developmental disabilities.”

Why, you ask?

Pearl’s only biological child, Grace Carol Buck, was a victim of a birth defect of a buildup of amino acid called phenylketonuria or PKU which prevent normal physical development.  Pearl’s book on her struggles recognizing and accepting Carol’s delayed development – The Child Who Never Grew – was a clarion call to the world of the dangers of PKU.  (Babies born today are routinely tested at birth for PKU which can now be treated if caught early enough.) Continue reading “Harmony Stories Strike a Happy Note” →

Spring Writing Conference 2017

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By Cynthia L. Louden

The Pearl S. Buck Writing Center presents

“Ready! Set! WRITE!”

Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 9am – 3 pm

in the historical Barn Culture Center

Presenters:     Orlando R. Barone, op-ed writer, poet, author and educator
Jennifer Lin, noted TV journalist and author

Registration is $75 and includes an abbreviated Writers Tour of the Pearl S. Buck’s National Historic Landmark House. Presenters will also read from their works, and have books to sell. A panel of authors & editors will take questions and offer additional writing suggestions to interested participants. Bring your own bag lunch. Coffee, tea, water will be provided. A 10% Discount on Gift Shop purchases is also included. Register for the Spring Writing Conference at www.pearlsbuck.org/writing

Continue reading “Spring Writing Conference 2017” →

2017 Writing Center Calendar

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By Linda Donaldson

Our PSB Writing Center’s calendar of 2017 workshops, classes, discussion groups and Writers Guild meetings is now always available through the heading Calendar of Events appearing as a link at the top center of our blog. The calendar is organized by date.

To register and pay online for any program, visit PSBI website’s Writing Center page http://www.psbi.org/writingcenter and choose the programs you’re interested in. During inclement weather, we urge you to refer to http://www.psbi.org for cancellation information.

Following is a summary of 2017 calendar:

First, classes that offer something for everyone!

  • Creative Writing is Needed for ALL Writing – 8 classes
  • Writing as a Platform for Social Change – 7 classes
  • Writing Short Stories in a Year – 7 classes
  • Write a Novel in a Year – 6 classes
  • Journaling and How to use it in Your Other Writing – 8 classes

Dates for our 2017 Writers Guild Meetings: March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17 and October 15.

Save These Dates!

  • Spring Writers Conference – Sat., April 8, 2017 at 9:00 am – 3 pm
    = Ready! Set! WRITE!

Plus two Susan Wagner Workshops!

  • Labyrinths & Wellness Writing Workshop – Sat., July 15, 2017 at 9:00am
  • Poetry Writing Workshop – Sat., October 21, 2017 at 9:00am

There are Discussion Groups of Pearl S. Buck’s works held each month from March through October. The Book Discussions are from 2:00 to 3:00pm on the 3rd Mondays of each month. The Short Story Discussions on the 2nd Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:00am.

Welcome back to Anne Kaler, Sue Wagner, Anita Nolan, Sandra Cody and Orlando Barone as returning presenters. We look forward to Janet Ruth Falon’s new course: Journaling and How to use it in Your Other Writing.

We’re proud to offer such a comprehensive list of programs. Three cheers to Cindy Louden for coordinating these offerings!!!

 Now, more than ever, we have an abundance of reasons to Keep Writing!

 

What the Teacher Learned

Published on by Pearl S. Buck Writing Center6 Comments

by Linda C. Wisniewski

linda-wisniewski

I’ve been teaching memoir writing classes for adults for twelve years, and as time goes by, I have found it necessary to keep reading and learning, if only to stay one step ahead of my students. Some of them have been with me for three or four years, and I want to give them fresh, new material, so I have to create it from resources I access outside my own experience. My own writing teacher has been covering much of the same ground for the seven years I have studied with her, but each class and its accompanying handout offers more for me to practice and absorb, and I know she is still learning too. Continue reading “What the Teacher Learned” →

Fall 2016 ♦ Volume 1, Number 2

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Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal

From Gateways to Graves

Seeing the works of Pearl S. Buck through her use of the strong symbol of gateways, our first issue of the PSB Journal centered on that theme from her best known novel The Good Earth. The theme of the second issue of the PSB Journal grew out of that natural cycle of our human existence on this planet. What starts to live must also come to death and, so, the theme became our writings on the Living Earth and the Dying Earth.

Since the Journal is an outreach to continue the awareness of Pearl S. Buck through her life, her literature, and her legacy, we found especial inspiration in two recent events which confirmed Pearl’s resurgence into the literary limelight after years of neglect. Continue reading “Fall 2016 ♦ Volume 1, Number 2” →

Guild Meets Sunday Oct. 16

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Whew! This year certainly sped by. Our Guild meetings included many lively discussions of the talented selections that were shared. We enjoyed essays, poems, memoirs, novel excerpts and proudly launched our biannual Pearl S. Buck Literary Journal.

Tomorrow our October meeting concludes our 2016 Writers Guild season. At promptly 1:30pm tomorrow, Cindy Louden will be leading a private authors’ tour of the Pearl S. Buck house for Guild members. The tour will last about 30 minutes. Please be on time because our tour time has been reserved! Anyone who cannot negotiate the steps is welcome to wait in the Cultural Center until 2pm when our regular Guild meeting will begin. Continue reading “Guild Meets Sunday Oct. 16” →

September Writers Guild Meeting Recap

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We bookworms met early in the parking lot for our tailgate book swap. Many prizes headed home with new readers, but, sadly, quite a few ended up in our trunks.

Good news, though! One carton of books related to writing were rescued – to keep on hand for a lending library at future meetings: writing techniques, grammar tips, phrase finders, root word dictionary, screenplay writing, copyright and libel rules, creating characters, writing for children & teenagers, writing science fiction, fantasy and horror.

Our meeting began with the first of seven excerpts brought for reading and discussion. Continue reading “September Writers Guild Meeting Recap” →

Summer Connections

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By Susan Wagner

Sue WagnerWe spent a week this summer at the Jersey shore with three of our grandchildren. Watching another generation enjoy our special place was a huge pleasure. I met my husband in Ocean City when we were both 18 and newly graduated from high school. We have been together since.

My husband’s parents worked and played there when they were in college. He was a cook and she a waitress, just like us. They continued to visit every summer with their children and my husband’s grandmother. We brought our own children down every summer, sometimes for a week, more often for day trips.

These grandchildren, the oldest three of our grandchildren, had been in Ocean City as babies. Now we returned with them as preteens and teen. A lot has changed. Continue reading “Summer Connections” →

Guild Meets, Reviews Authors’ Works

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The August Writers Guild meeting welcomed some new faces, updated health issues of members, and discussed the Literary Journal and PSBWC blog.

Most important, the deadline of the Fall Issue of the PSB Literary Journal has been extended to September 30th, 2016. You can find the submission guidelines here.

Cindy Loudon announced that she and Anne Kaler have a trove of books they will offer members. That sparked a debate about how best to handle the “swap” with more members participating. Continue reading “Guild Meets, Reviews Authors’ Works” →

Writers Guild Meets Sunday August 21st

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Bring your work and join us in the Cultural Center (Red Barn) at Pearl S. Buck’s historic home site, Green Hills Farm, 520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm this Sunday, August 21st.

Be sure to make 15 copies of any poem, essay, memoir, fiction or non-fiction selection you’d like to share for comments from our friendly group of writers. We all sometimes struggle to polish our works and invite each other to weigh in with constructive critiques.

We usually limit the reading and discussion of each piece to 15 minutes, so 3 to 4 pages maximum is suggested, though longer pieces can be handed out. Please add your email address to any selection since discussion time is limited, and members can respond later via email.

Don’t forget our deadline for submissions to the Fall Literary Journal has been extended to September 30th. Guidelines for submission can be found here.