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Whisky: Not just a drink, but history distilled
Whisky. Its golden glow has warmed the hearts and minds of kings, poets, and adventurers for centuries. Behind every sip
Breath of mountains: The story of the Santa Ana winds
Imagine a force of nature so powerful it could reshape the very world around you. Picture a wind that begins
Absinthe: The drink of stories
If spirits could tell stories, absinthe would spin tales of artists, revolutionaries, and its own perilous journey through time. Known
The power of poetry
Poetry was and is a place where we can express elation, trauma, passion and experiences. MUSE “Swim right into my
Annali Swiegers – Dare to dive deep and write your story
Be vulnerable and courageous enough to invite yourself to write your life story. Dare to dive deep beneath the surface
Write your memoir: the power of storytelling
Either I start writing again, or I die. A dramatic statement, for sure. But when you are at a crossroads,
Wendy’s story: an immigrant in Katlehong
Like many others, Wendy is an immigrant in Katlehong. She has mixed feelings about living conditions in South Africa. “When
Forced migration – the chicken run from Dondo
Forced migration is the involuntary movement of people away from their home, often because of armed conflict. “I was born
Seven years of dedication culminate in debut at 24
“My name is Coenrad Johannes van Dyk, but you can call me Conrad.” Thus begins the amazing story of young
Read extensively to write a good memoir
Read everything, read widely, and tap into the world’s consciousness. A good writer reads not only for research and information,
Never too late – publishing debut book at age 78
“I did it! It is never too late. My name is Koos van der Merwe and at age 78 I
Healing practices to support memoir writing
How do we use healing practices to support our sense of being grounded and present, for memoir writing?
What does Baby Reindeer and your gut have in common?
What does Baby Reindeer and your gut have in common? Let’s explore this connection to strengthen your memoir writing.
Powerful memoirs by South Africans
Let’s look at two powerful memoirs by South Africans, showcasing female and male grit and determination, in the face of shame and loss.
The magic of writing of your life story
You’ve put in the tedious, magical work and collected your memories. Let’s consider the actual process of writing your life story or memoir.
The economy of words in your memoir
Memoir writing has become a worldwide phenomenon. Precisely because of this, write well, and focus on the economy of words in your memoir.
Stargazing in your life story
Life is short. How short, is not common knowledge. Whilst we are here, life and breath are cause for stargazing in your life story!
Seven-year cycles in your life story
Seven-year cycles, instead of a linear approach – extremely valuable as a tool around which your life story can be constructed.
Truth is stranger than fiction in life stories
True life stories often cut to the bone and provide extraordinary facts about a person’s experiences. Stranger than fiction? Definitely.
Land in your life story.
Wars, geopolitical strife, and inheritance battles have something in common: land. Your presence and life story on land, somewhere in
The birds and the bees in your memoir
We all do it. We all think about it. Yet to write about sex in an imaginative and unusual way
Matters of the heart in your memoir
A heart is a delicate, cruel thing. It can lead you astray, keep you in the throes of passion or
Feet first into your life story
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing,” Walt Disney said. So, let’s consider what it
Time and your memoir – part 2
Time slips through our fingers like sand. To capture the moments that define you takes courage and discipline. Let’s consider
Time and your memoir – part 1
We use why, how, and when questions when we write. How do we deal with the “when”, or the time
Hands-on in your life story or memoir
Our hands are the expressive, holy, and devastating tools of our everyday trade. What are your hands doing and saying?
The African bush: setting or source of inspiration in your memoir
The bushveld is part of our heritage and habitat. Use the African bush as a setting or a source of
Hero/heroine stories to nourish and inspire
We need hero/heroine stories to nourish and inspire us. Our need is wholeness. We especially need to recognise the hero/heroine
Anemari Jansen and Per Carlson on the Pelle Neroth Taylor Show
On today’s show, Anemari Jansen discusses her biography of Apartheid State Assassin Eugene de Kock, know for being one of
How to explore water in my life story or memoir
Newborn babies consist of 70-83% of water. Bodies of water like the sea have an irresistible pull for most humans.
Journaling as framework for your memoir – part 2
Journaling can be the framework for your memoir or life story. Let’s explore reasons, topics, and practical solutions. CONSISTENCY Consistency
Journaling for your memoir – part 1
Journaling is a fancy word for what we always called keeping a diary. Finger movements necessary for writing by hand
Journaling for your memoir – part 1
Journaling is a fancy word for what we always called keeping a diary. It is a space where you write
Dinner tables as a chronological thread for your life story
Dinner tables are theatres for family gatherings and drama. Celebrations, familial feuds, heartbreaking tragedy, mundane conversations – all take place
Your body as landscape in your life story
Our bodies consist of thousands of intricate systems and are miraculous vessels with which we experience life. As our bodies
Men and fear: use fear as the catalyst in your life story
Fear holds us back. Fears are often ingrained in our brains and hard to overcome. Use fear as a catalyst
Anger is an action emotion in your life story
Use anger to relive and recreate uncomfortable truths in your life story. Anger is your super tool as a writer,
Accurate emotional vocabulary to write your memoir
Did you know that there are 87 human emotions, according to Brené Brown? Most people identify three. As writers we
Trees to shape and shade your life story
Whichever way you see yourself, trees are a perfect metaphor for personality, the writing process and to shape and shade
Setting: the when and where of your life story
Setting is the dynamic backdrop to our lives. It is the time, place, and environment in which your story gets told.
Ditch the recipes and write from your gut in memoir
Recipes give us a list of ingredients to cook with, recipes for memoir writing do the same. But when we
Use conflict to spark action in your life-story
A good piece of writing will be full of unforeseen tensions, competition, and power struggles. Use conflict central to the
Notice the miracles to transform your memoir
Your memoir is the story of your struggle and transformation. Noticing and recording everyday miracles is a useful tool to
Let go of the past in your memoir
The effort to understand, to forgive or to let go of the past is a universal struggle. “How can I