Exploring Our Lives: A Writing Handbook for Senior Adults

By Francis E. Kazemek

Senior adults can turn their vast experiences into fascinating memoirs, fiction, poetry, children's storybooks, and more using these step-by-step instructions. Practical tips are included for getting... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1891661264
• ISBN13: 9781891661266
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Santa Monica Press
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Writing as a Way Through Life

Poetry, fiction,blending photographs and writing, children's picture books, diaries and dream journals, your life story--whatever you want to write, you'll find help here. Billed as "a writing handbook for senior adults" I think it is useful for any age. . . it's just that seniors have more life experiences to review Francis Kazemek tells us how to honor memory, how to begin, how to see ourselves as writers (someone who WRITES!), how to receive support through writing groups, and how to appreciate the gifts writing brings to our life ("Living with Grace, Force, and Fascination.") His writing style is clear, graceful, and easy to follow as he leads us along this path. This is a good compilation of accepted contemporary writing advice (good advice and examples on revising), sparked with brilliant new ideas like the children's picture book using your family photographs. Definitely worth a place on your writing table. --Janet Riehl, author Sightlines: A Poet's Diary

Help for Memoir, Journal and Poetry Writers

I really liked the variety of writing styles suggested in this book. The list poem is one I'd never seen before and I can think of a number of ways to use it for my personal memories. For prose writing, it gives you structure for writing about a memorable person, writing inspired by old photographs, and even dabbles in writing a children's book. It will get you thinking and hopefully, writing about your life experiences.

Practical guidance for writing your story...

In the classes that we have taught on life review, the single biggest question that we have heard is, "How do I write my story so that it will be interesting?" Indeed, most life stories are, well, a drag. They are a series of vignettes with no coordinated point or direction. In this little volume Francis Kazemak helps the reader avoid the trap of poor writing. He holds your hand through the process of learning to write your story well, in a number of different formats (poetry, as well as prose). As far as English teachers go, he is engaging and not pedantic (in my experience, no small miracle!). He provides good examples and clear instructions. This is a solid roadmap in the designated journey of writing your life story.