Workshop Oct. 3 explores options for nonfiction authors

Authors Gerry Mandel, Patricia Bubash, and Peter Green, along with Mike Stith of One Legacy, will discuss "Writing fact, creative nonfiction and fiction—differences and difficulties," at the St. Louis Writers Guild's Oct. 3 workshop, held 10 a.m. to noon at Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Road, Kirkwood, Mo. Free to Guild members; $5 for nonmembers. They will explore the spectrum of options available to nonfiction authors, including the advantages and drawbacks.

“If you ‘ve got a great story based on your own life, a fascinating character, or several individuals you’ve come to know well, what are your options for telling it?” asked Peter Green, who will also moderate the panel. “Which form would be better—a first-person memoir, a straight non-fiction biographical account, a creative dramatization of real-life events, or a historical novel with totally fictionalized characters? There are compelling reasons for choosing each type of book.”

Peter Green has written biography and creative nonfiction accounts of his father’s World War II odyssey, culminating in his most recent biographical memoir, Ben’s War with the U. S. Marines. http://www.peterhgreen.com/

Patricia Bubash, a licensed professional counselor, has written a practical guide to living based on real-life case studies, Successful Second Marriages. http://successfulsecondmarriages.com/

Mike Stith is founder of One Legacy™, a social enterprise business with the primary purpose of gathering, sharing, and publishing stories about personal legacy. One Legacy has launched a new community service called “Legacy Sharing™,” where stories are collected by offering a group activity for Senior Communities, Hospice Centers, and many other groups, including youth organizations. Stories from around the world can shared and read by visiting  http://onelegacy.com/

Gerry Mandel, a Charlie Chaplin aficionado, is author of Shadow and Substance: My Time with Charlie Chaplin, a historical novel based on the true-life story of this multi-talented Hollywood innovator, entrepreneur and pioneer. https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/spidermandel

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild at www.stlwritersguild.org.

Workshop today on Twisting a story: Nonlinear plotting strategies

Author/illustrator Jennifer Stolzer will give an overview of Twine--an open-source tool for creating interactive, nonlinear stories--at the St. Louis Writers Guild’s Sept. 12 workshop.  “Twisting a story: Nonlinear plotting strategies” will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Road, in Kirkwood. Free for Guild members; $5 for nonmembers.

“Nonlinear plotting is thinking outside the box, considering every option, even the unexpected,” Jennifer said. “Like a conspiracy theorist connecting every incidental bit of evidence into their proof, nonlinear plotting lets your story spread out so you can look at it from a lot of different angles.”

Twine publishes directly to HTML, so you can post your work nearly anywhere. Anything you create with it is completely free to use any way you like, including for commercial purposes. http://twinery.org/

Jennifer Stolzer is an author and freelance illustrator who serves as secretary for the St. Louis Writer's Guild. She delights in well-woven stories, complex emotional characters, and conclusions that tie everything up in a bow. Her author-illustrated picture book, Dog Park, is available on Amazon. You can check out her illustration portfolio at www.jenniferstolzer.com and follow Jennifer Stolzer Illustration on Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter. 

Learn more about the St. Louis Writers Guild at www.stlwritersguild.org.

See Christy Smith 9/12 at 6 North-Wentzville

Click image to enlarge.