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Blog Entries: 1 to 10 of 12
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Writing Suggestions for April 2024
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10th from 1-3 pm (PT) and IN PERSON on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24th at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center, Room 5. Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Writers Group members will receive a reminder and the zoom link prior to the online meeting in April.
The April theme is: Earning a Living & Having a Career
- What were your first jobs that paid you a salary? Did you start out in an after-school position? How did you find this job? How much were you paid? Were you nervous on your first day? Did you feel you were a good fit at your first job?
- When did you decide on your dream career? Did you have a mentor or someone to inspire you in your chosen field? Were you happy/satisfied in your career? If you could go back, would you have chosen differently?
- What led you to the career choice you made? Special interests or skills, or were your decisions purely economic? Or, did the choice just kind of happen?
- Were you ever fired or laid off from a job? Did you ever go on unemployment? Were you ever passed over for a position/promotion you thought you deserved? Were you ever discriminated against at your place of employment?
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you. Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
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Writing Suggestions for March 2024
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13th from 1-3 pm (PT) and IN PERSON on WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27th at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center. Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Current Writers Group members will receive a reminder and the zoom link prior to the online meeting in March.
The March theme is ‘back-to-basics’: Entertainment
- Did you listen to radio shows when you were growing up? Did you have a favorite show? What do you remember most about these radio shows? What radio stations do you listen to now?
- What is your preference in music? Are you a country, rhythm-and-blues, jazz, pop or classical music fan? When did your tastes change, if at all? Do you have a record collection? Did you attend live concerts?
- When did you get your first TV? How many channels did it get? Was it black and white or color? What were some of your favorite shows growing up?
- Are you a live theater goer or do you prefer movies? What are some of your favorite theater productions? Musicals or plays? What genre of movies to you gravitate towards?
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you. Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
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Writing Suggestions for February 2024
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14th from 1-3 pm (PT) and IN PERSON on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28th at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center. Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Current Writers Group members will receive a reminder and the zoom link prior to the online meeting in February.
The February theme is ‘back-to-basics’: College
- Where did you go to college and why did you choose that school? Did you go directly from high school to college or did you take time off to get a job or go to community college? Or both?
- What was your major and why did you choose it? Was what you learned in college applicable in real life?
- Did you belong to a fraternity or sorority or other social organization while in college? Did your membership enhance or hinder your college experience?
- Was there a professor who had a special impact on your academic career? Good or bad? What were your favorite subjects? Your least favorite?
- Overall, how do you remember your college years? Looking back, would you have made different choices while in college?
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you. Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
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Writing Suggestions for January 2024
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10th from 1-3 pm (PT) and IN PERSON on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24th at the Whittier Uptown Senior Center. Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Current Writers Group members will receive a reminder and the zoom link prior to the online meeting in January.
The January theme is ‘back-to-basics’: High School Years
- What was the name of your high school? What was the student population? Did your school have a mascot or special colors? A school song or cheer?
- Did you have a special teacher that impacted your life? Tell why and in which way it changed your future.
- Was your high school known for anything special? Sports? Academics? Foreign language classes? Music or the arts? Explain.
- Was there a special group you “hung out” with? Were you a jock, a nerd, in student government, in drama or music, etc.? Did you have a high school sweetheart?
- Have you attended your high school reunions? What was it like to see how everyone has matured? Have you kept in touch with former classmates?
- If you could have a conversation with your high school self today, what would you say?
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you. Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
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Writing Suggestions for December 2023
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13th from 1-3 pm (PT). Due to the Holiday season, we WILL NOT be meeting in person in December. Please join us online for friendly sharing and discussion.
Current Writers Group members will receive a reminder and the zoom link prior to the online meeting in December.
The December theme is ‘back-to-basics’: Holidays and Celebrations
- What birthday do you remember the most from your youth? What kinds of parties did your parents give for you? Did the gatherings include neighborhood friends, school friends, or just family? Did you ever have a surprise party? Can you name one gift that outshone every other gift you received? Did you have a sweet sixteen party? A quinceñera? A Bar or Bat Mitzvah?
- How did you celebrate Christmas? Did you have a fresh tree or an artificial tree? Did you hang stockings? Was your tradition to open gifts on Christmas eve or Christmas morning? Did your family serve traditional foods at the holidays? Did you attend Christmas services, pageants, plays, or parades?
- How did you celebrate Hanukkah? With whom did you share the holidays? Describe your holiday traditions and special foods. Did your family put up special decorations? Did you attend services?
- In addition to the holidays mentioned above, which of the following are ones you celebrate? Fourth of July? Halloween? Mother’s Day and Father’s Day? Easter? Passover? Valentine’s Day? New Year’s Eve? Any others? Explain how you like to observe these festive occasions.
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you. Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
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Writing Suggestions for November 2023
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8th from 1-3 pm (PT). Due to the Thanksgiving season, we WILL NOT be meeting in person. Please join us online for friendly sharing and discussion.
Current Writers Group members will receive a reminder and the zoom link prior to the online meeting in November.
The November theme is ‘back-to-basics’: Childhood/Neighborhood
- How was your neighborhood configured? Describe the layout of your neighborhood. Who was your best friend? Did you play at each other’s homes, in the streets or on a playground? What do you remember about your friend’s family? Was there a neighborhood bully?
- What sidewalk/playground games did you play? Which did you enjoy the most or least? Did you play with friends and/or siblings? What indoor games did you play on rainy days?
- Did you have chores around your house? Did you receive an allowance? Did you earn money outside the house by babysitting, mowing neighbors’ lawns, pet sitting, newspaper route, etc.? How did you spend your allowance/earnings? Did you have a ‘young savers’ account at the local bank? What did you spend your savings on?
- Did you experience a natural disaster during your childhood? Flood, tornado, snow storm, earthquake, or major fire? How did this affect you and your family and friends?
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you. Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
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Writing Suggestions for October 2023
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11th from 1-3 pm (PT) and an in-person meeting at PARNELL PARK on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25th from 1-3 pm (PT). Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Current Writers Group members will receive a reminder before each meeting. The Zoom link will be included in the meeting reminder on October 7th. All are welcome.
The October theme is ‘back-to-basics’:
- What were your parent’s names? What were your grandparent’s names? What were your great-grandparent’s names? What did you call them? Any special nicknames? Are any of your family names reflective of your ethnic background?
- Where were your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents born? If not in America, what circumstances brought them here? Were there people here whom they knew, or were they the first to arrive? Did they join a community with a common background, or settle in a separate location? What do you know about their method of travel?
- Were you named for someone in the family, a family friend, or is your name original to you? How do you think your parents chose your name? Did you have a nickname? Who gave you your nickname? Did you like or dislike your name/nickname?
- Do you remember any special stories your parents or grandparents told you? Have you passed any of them on to your children or grandchildren? Have you written them down? How are these stories special?
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you. Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
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Writing Suggestions for September 2023
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th from 1-3 pm (PT) and an in-person meeting at PARNELL PARK on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th from 1-3 pm (PT). Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Current Writers Group members will receive a reminder before each meeting. The Zoom link will be included in the meeting reminder on September 9th. All are welcome.
The September prompts are:
- What drew you to genealogy? Explain how and why you became interested in documenting your family history. Who or what inspired you? What do you plan to do with all of your research?
- What has been your biggest challenge in life? Describe the challenge and how you approached a possible solution. Was someone or something a key to your success?
- During your genealogical research, who stands out as the most fascinating character in your family tree? Explain why this individual has captured your attention. Did this person live during trying times or lead a distinguished life? Did they rob banks for a living or just quietly succeed against all odds? Tell why their story so fascinates you.
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you. Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
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Writing Suggestions for August 2023
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9th from 1-3 pm (PT) and an in-person meeting at PARNELL PARK on WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23rd from 1-3 pm (PT). Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Current Writers Group members will receive a reminder before each meeting. The Zoom link will be included in the meeting reminder on August 5th. All are welcome.
The August prompts are:
- Choose an ancestor and finish the following: If I could meet _________, I would ask him/her _________.
- Family names and family origins: Going back several generations, compile a list of surnames you have found including various spelling variations. Using your favorite search engine, look up what each name means, their derivations, and where those names historically originated. Do these clues help or hinder your understanding of your ancestry? How do your findings compare to your DNA results and paper research?
- Wills and Probate records: Have you found an old will or probate record and discovered new information that eventually lead to new avenues of research? Details, please.
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you. Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
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Writing Suggestions for July 2023
The WAGS Life Story Writing Group will have a ZOOM meeting on WEDNESDAY, JULY 12th from 1-3 pm (PT) and an in-person meeting at PARNELL PARK on WEDNESDAY, JULY 26th from 1-3 pm (PT). Please join us for friendly sharing and discussion.
Current Writers Group members will receive a reminder before each meeting. The Zoom link will be included in the meeting reminder on July 8th. All are welcome.
The July prompts are:
- Write your own story by interviewing yourself. Begin by answering all the questions that you would ask an ancestor. Include practical as well as personal details and be sure to cover school years, dating, marriage, child rearing, job training, and occupations. Continue with memberships, hobbies, interests, and skills. Don’t overlook religious upbringing, political views, military experience, achievements and awards, favorite foods, friends, illnesses, pets, and vacations. Round out your interview by writing about events that affected you personally and explain how these events shaped your life.
- Write a story about one particular family group in your tree. It is usually not practical to write a story that encompasses your entire genealogy, so choosing one family group to cover is a way to narrow the scope. Determine how you want to organize your information – as a biographical narrative or a chronological study. Choose the form what works best for you. Allow your writing the mimic the flow of your research.
As always, if none of these prompts are of interest, feel free to write about any topic that interests you. Whether you’ve written anything or not, feel free to join us for friendly sharing and discussion at any of our Writers Group meetings!
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