Zita Christian

Connecticut author Matt Dicks was my guest on Page 1, the show for writers with the reader in mind. We talked about his nonfiction book, Storyworthy, published by New World Library.

Whether you're working on a novel, a memoir, a family history project, or "just" an honest exploration of your life, Jerrie Hurd's thoughts on why, not how, to collect family stories are pure gold.

The family stories Jerrie asks us to identify are those that told and retold at family gatherings, the kind of stories that are passed down through generations. Some of those stories might fall into the "shut the door" category. Once you've identified your story, Jerrie's deceptively simple questions about the point of view of the storyteller can crack the secret code. Using examples from her own family, Jerrie showed how the power of a story can shift. As Jerrie says, "Every story is somebody's version of what happened." And, "There's an element of truth that goes deeper than the facts." I could see healing potential when she said, "There is value in being able to see that there is another version."

Though I had signed up to participate in the workshop, computer problems made that impossible. Fortunately, I could listen to a recording. The online workshop was made possible via The Avocado Sisterhood created by Marj Hahne. You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheAvocadoSisterhood

See www.jerriehurd.com for more info about the "why to" not "how to" book she just finished on this important subject. I can't wait for it to find a publisher!

You're welcome to stop by my Facebook page, too: http://www.facebook.com/ZitaChristian
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