“You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves in your heart—your stories, visions, memories, songs: your truth, your version of things, in your voice.”
WOMEN ROWING NORTH: WRITING OUR LIFE STORIES
Do you want to leave a legacy for family and friends? Do you want to write a memoir? Or are you going through a transition and, as Brené Brown writes, you want to own your own history so you can write a brave new ending to your story? What tugs at your heart as you contemplate looking back and looking forward? As older women, many of us are pausing to reflect and explore the experiences and relationships that put our lives in motion many years ago.
Women Rowing North: Writing Our Life Stories provides a dedicated and supported space for women to reflect and write about their lives. Based on Guided Autobiography (GAB), an evidence-based method for helping people document their life stories, Women Rowing North: Writing Our Life Stories explores weekly themes and offers activities and writing prompts to help you write your life stories.
This is not a writing course; you do not need writing experience. This workshop series offers you a safe space to explore your life stories. Feedback from group members is supportive and encouraging. There are never any critiques of writing style or content.
Your stories are powerful; by sharing this experience with like-minded women, you will learn about yourself and our shared female experience. In these workshops, we will paddle north together, holding space for each other, and offering deep listening and encouragement.
Women Rowing North: Writing Our Life Stories offers a safe, small-group experience for women interested in writing their life stories. We will travel back to look at where we have been and reflect on what we have learned thus far on this life journey. As John Donoghue wrote, you will travel “into the temple of your memory where all your vanished days are secretly gathered and awaiting you.”
Supported by a trained facilitator, you are led through weekly themes, activities, and writing prompts that foster memories and recollections to help you with your writing. You are invited to write 800 – 1,000 word stories on weekly themes and then read your stories within the safety of a small group. You only share what you are comfortable sharing.
Reduced pricing is available if needed. Please email me to work out a price that is affordable for you.
WRITING MY LIFE STORIES
Wednesday, 9:30 am - Noon (PST)
January 8 - February 12, 2025
Cost: $175 (CDN)
Guided Autobiography (GAB) offers women an opportunity to deeply reflect on and chronicle significant life experiences, enabling them to gain valuable insight, perspective, and a richer understanding of their personal journey.
Each week you will be introduced to one of the following themes through conversation, activities and poetry, and writing prompts to trigger memories and spark creativity. All five stories are written at home and then shared with the group.
Branching Points
A Home for the Heart
A Sense of Belonging
Phenomenal Women
On the Brink of Everything
This series is for women who are new to my workshops as well as women who have previously participated in Exploring My Life Journey.
ALL WOMEN ARE DAUGHTERS
Wednesday, 9:30 am - Noon (PST)
February 19 - March 26, 2025
Cost: $175 (CDN)
Psychologist Harriet Lerner wrote that our relationship with our mother anchored every other relationship in our lives. My mother died three years ago, and I am still unraveling the intricacies of our relationship and the impact she has had on my life.
Join me for this new offering to delve deeper into your relationship with your mother through life stories. Themes we will explore include - getting to know your roots; your mother and yourself; the gifts your mother gave you; what you and your mother never talked about; and the journey to saying goodbye mother, hello woman.
In a small, safe group of like-minded women, you will be led through the Guided Autobiography (GAB) process to create your life stories, two pages at a time. The group setting gives structure for your writing and an opportunity to connect with other women rowing north.
Wednesday, 9:30 am - Noon (PST)
November 13 - December 18, 2024
Cost: $175 (CDN)
Wednesday, 9:30 am - Noon (PST)
February 19 - March 26, 2025
Cost: $175 (CDN)
2024-2025 MONTHLY ALUMNI SERIES I
Thursday mornings, September 2024 - June 2025
A monthly life story writing opportunity for anyone who has taken a writing workshop with me! On the first Thursday of the month, we gather via Zoom to connect, laugh, talk, and explore a new theme. Two weeks later, we meet to share and listen to each other's stories. This year, this group will be delving into themes explored by geriatric social worker, Ann Burack-Weiss in her book, The Lioness in Winter: Writing An Old Woman’s Life.
2025 MONTHLY ALUMNI SERIES II
Thursday mornings, January - June 2025
Now that I am in my fourth year of facilitating workshops, the list of women wanting to explore more themes in the company of like-minded women continues to grow. So in 2025, I am opening another monthly alumni life story writing opportunity for anyone who has taken a writing workshop with me! On the 2nd Thursday of the month, we will gather via Zoom to connect, laugh, talk, and explore a new theme. Two weeks later, we will meet to share and listen to each other's stories. This year, this group will be writing and taking about the following themes - exploring your stories, stories of generations, the magic of every day, telling all one’s heart, and a lifetime of relationships.
I will be reaching out to those of you on the waiting list in the next few weeks. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please contact me at agelesspossibilities@shaw.ca.
“We write stories, women’s stories that spring from joy, pain, curiosity, uncertainty, and strength…The voices of the women who read aloud their deeply personal stories bring laughter, tears, questions, kudos, and often a silence that is understood by us all.”
Linda, Vermont, USA
Writing Our Life Stories unleashed an inner voice longing to be seen and heard. I found myself wanting to write more. I continue to take workshops with Helen, including her monthly alumni series. Helen’s selection of relevant photography, poetry, activities and writing prompts accompany one to take a more in-depth journey towards authenticity, exploring alluring topics such as intimacy and vulnerability. My stories have become more poignant, intuitive and self-revealing.”
- Ruby, Deep River, Ontario, Canada
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Guided Autobiography (GAB) is a method for helping people document their life stories. Guided by a trained instructor, participants are led through themes and priming questions that evoke memories of events once known but filed away and seemingly forgotten.
GAB was created by James Birren in the mid 1970s while he was the founding dean of the Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California (USC). The Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies has trained over 700 instructors who offer guided autobiography workshops around the globe.
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It is helpful to understand how your life has flowed in certain directions, but that is not the same as analyzing your life. Women Rowing North is about gathering a personal history.
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This is not a writing class and there will be no critique of your writing. Group members are invited to give each other respectful feedback and ask clarifying questions without critiquing your writing skills or your experiences. You will find that your writing skills and storytelling abilities will deepen over the weeks.
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Write the stories you have a strong emotional connection to. Only share what you are comfortable sharing. Confidentiality is a strong component of this process and everyone will be asked to commit to keeping stories and discussions to themselves.
Welcome to Women Rowing North! I’m Helen. I am driven by wonder, curiosity, and a deep sense of purpose. I am passionate about supporting women looking for a safe space and small group experience to write their life stories.
I have been a writer and storyteller since my childhood. I learned early on in life that writing my stories gives me insight and clarity. My hope is to offer you the same experience. As a group facilitator, blogger, and certified Guided Autobiography instructor, I am skilled at helping people tell their stories.
I am certified as a Guided Autobiography instructor by the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies. And, I am currently completing my Journal Therapy Diploma.