Story Guidelines

Diane Carpenter, woman of many talents.

The Stories of the Women of Álamos

Please share your personal story with us, about your interests, family, career, skills and talents, and anything else you would like to convey about your unique life. And, especially, what brought you to Álamos, what you like to do while in Álamos, and why you live in Álamos or frequently return. Summarize with insights and ideas you have to offer others.

There is no charge to submit your story and every woman who contributes will receive a free copy of the published book.

These books will also be available for sale to benefit the children of Álamos (exact details to be decided).

By submitting your story and photo you agree to their publication on this blog and in the book, plus any use for publicizing same. We reserve the right to edit as needed and the right to refuse publication of any unsuitable material, at our discretion.

Please write between 750 to 1000 words, and save as a Word.doc. Send your story and a current jpg photo as e-mail attachments to: love donna@sbcglobal.net. Deadline is March 15, 2012.

We want to get to know you!

Donna Love’s Ten Tips for Writing Your Memoir

Use these tips for a larger memoir project — or — to kick-start your story for this blog/book.

1. Who is your audience? Immediate or extended family? Grandchildren? Yourself? Folks at holiday time?
2. What might be an overall theme of your stories?
3. Make a list of all the stories you want to tell. Each day, begin where your passion lies; write something about which you feel strongly.
4. Buy To Our Children’s Children, Bob Greene. It’s full of story starters.
5. Use humor, family sayings, poetry, quotes from letters, dialogue—even good recipes.
6. Use the senses to enhance the scene: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, balance and acceleration, temperature, kinesthetic sense, pain, other internal senses.
7. Think of a camera on your shoulder. What will it record?
8. Write in the same place and at the same time each day.
9. Write 10 minutes each day. Set the timer and keep your fingers moving. Sleep on it; improve later.
10.  “Remember, you don’t have to start at the beginning.”