Today, I have the privilege of interviewing Kate Farrell, founder and editor of Wisdom Has a Voice, a multimedia memoir project in which women write about their relationships with their mothers.

Watch the following video of the interview (in 2 parts), or scroll down and read Kate’s answers to the interview questions.

Transcript:
AS: Kate is a graduate of the School of Library and Information Studies at UC Berkeley, a language arts teacher, author, librarian, lecturer, and storyteller. She founded the Word Weaving Project in 1979-1991, and is author of multiple books and resources for teachers to use and teach storytelling in the classroom. Her newest publication is a young adult novel titled Girl in the Mirror. Currently Kate is a part-time school librarian in San Francisco and lives in Santa Rosa, California.

Now I’d like to welcome you Kate Farrell. I’m happy to have this opportunity to discuss the Wisdom Has a Voice Project with you.

When did you first conceive of the idea for Wisdom Has a Voice, and what triggered the idea?

KF: When my mother died at age 95 in 2006, I felt the lifelong “holding patterns” that had existed between my mother and me simply dissipate. As I let go of these patterns or tensions based on our different expectations of one another, I began discovering who my mother really was in her own right. In reflection and writing, I learned to understand why we were so different, why we had to be different, given our generational influences—from coming of age in the Chicago Depression era to the San Francisco ‘60s.

I wished that I had been able to “separate” and appreciate my mother while she was still alive. But it was only in her absence that I could see the legacy that had always existed between us, how it had defined us, and its hidden power. How much better if I had done so before.

In the months that followed her death, I wrote one memoir after the other about her, about us. Noticing that the in-depth experiences between mother and daughter were not commonly discussed or published, I decided to gather these as stories, as memoirs from many women.

AS: Once you realized this was something you really wanted to do, what was your next step?

KF: In 2007, I began the Wisdom Has a Voice project, first writing a book proposal, then conducting small, local workshops in 2009-2010, just to see what would happen—what insights would emerge.

AS: Your background is primarily in Language Arts education and storytelling. How has this background influenced your approach to Wisdom?

KF: My background as a storyteller was vital to this memoir project. In my decades-long work in education, from classroom teaching at all levels to director of a statewide storytelling project in California, I saw the effectiveness of “story” in learning. But as the cultural context for traditional folklore fragmented, I slowly began to understand that “memoir” was the new folklore. And while the function of traditional folktales was to transmit a cultural truth using metaphor and archetype, the personal narrative as the modern folktale is the same: to tell a truth based on a real experience, a meaningful story.

The problem in our dominant culture is that women’s truths, the feminine voice, women’s experiences and their understandings of life across the generations, are not given the same status as that of men. My work as university adjunct faculty (St. Mary’s College) included research and implementation of adult development theory. In this capacity, I came across the work of Mary Belenky and Carol Gilligan (below) who describe the stunning truth about women’s lack of authentic self-expression.

It was the combination of my work as a storyteller and in adult development work (through teaching reflective essays) that motivated me to begin this project and to name it: Wisdom Has a Voice.

AS: Talk a little about the process of soliciting and selecting the stories in Wisdom, as well as putting together your editorial team.

KF: First, I was determined not to follow the advice of every agent to whom I spoke over the years from 2007 to 2010: that the anthology had to include memoirs written by celebrities about their mothers. This advice, even from New Age editors, was that without “names” no anthology about mother would sell. More importantly, the agents/editors wouldn’t touch the project.

But if these memoirs were to be authentic, real folklore, then they had to be grassroots stories, told by women who were literate (of course), but neither famous nor reputed as authors. It was encouraging to find outlets for women’s memoirs online, groups, networks, associations, e-zines, newsletters, etc. By joining these groups or paying for a Call for Submissions with clear guidelines posted on the website in more detail, I was able to target just that pool of women writers. It was even more wonderful that the final group of 25 authors represented a range of age, ethnicities, races, and geography. That was very exciting. Not only was there an international range among the memoirs, but a variety of mother-daughter relationships.

The editorial team was close at hand: my colleagues who’d worked with me on Redwood Writers anthologies and other Redwood publishing projects over the years. Our relationship was easy, local, informal, and hands-on. However, I maintained all communication with the 25 authors.

AS: What kinds of storytelling and writing touched you the most deeply?

KF: The most touching and most healing memoirs for me were those that describe a nurturing mother. I could experience and recognize in this writing the unconditional mother love that we all hunger. I finally understood that Mother Love is sometimes most present when it is missed.

AS: How did you find this publisher (Unlimited Publishing) and what was the submission process?

KF: After 3 years of struggling with query letters and book proposals, I returned to my friend, Danny Snow of Unlimited Publishing. Danny and I had worked on anthologies for CWC branches and other CWC publishing projects following our meeting at the SF Writers Conference in 2006. Ironically, we had first discussed my idea for a book of memoirs about mother in Fall 2007 at some length. He was extremely supportive of the idea since Mary Belenky had been his professor at Harvard—so he understood the need for women’s voices in contemporary society. He suggested the subtitle (Every Daughter’s Memories of Mother) to indicate that this was not by rich and famous women. In Spring 2010, we put together a production schedule and followed up with a final contract package August 2010.

To this day, Danny is supportive of the mission behind the book and is assisting in its launch and promotion. It is a great benefit to have a publisher partner whose business is based on marketing success.

AS: On the website, it says that Wisdom is a “multi-media project.” Do you have plans for an audiobook or other forms of media?

KF: Yes, I’ll begin with simple audio files, excerpts read by the authors next week, using Audio Acrobat, that I’ll post on the website along with the brief text and a photo. We may have video files as well. An audio book is a perfect idea.

Even better would be a documentary series for cable TV, a concept the publisher and I have personally discussed with a producer in LA, Kate McCallum of Bridge Arts Media: http://www.bridgeartsmedia.com.

AS: What do you see for the project’s future? Do you plan on a sequel?

KF: Because the authors reside throughout the US, Canada, UK, and South Africa, there are many opportunities for their own initiative in promoting the book and the project. We’ll do a local Book Tour locally in the Bay Area at launch and I’m planning a Blog Tour in April prior to Mother’s Day. I would also like to promote use of the Book Club Discussion Guide.
I do plan on publishing another anthology in 2013 and would hope to have explored cross media platforms by then.

AS: What’s on your desk now (any projects, writing, speaking, etc.)?

KF: Promotion: Book Tour with author readings, implementing Social Media tools, attending literary events and conferences, developing concept papers for media properties based on the anthology, query letters out to women’s mags for serialization, etc.

AS: Is there anything else you’d like to share about yourself and/or Wisdom Has a Voice?

KF: I am so GLAD that production is OVER and the print book is due to launch Sept 1st! This was a long journey that I was privileged to make. It may sound strange, but I have felt the support of the “mothers” in this work through the long months of selecting, editing, and production. May they be proud!

AS: Thank you, Kate! To read more about Wisdom Has a Voice, check out the Wisdom Has a Voice website and read Kate’s article at womensmemoirs.com.

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Notes: The seminal work of Belenky (1986) examined “women’s ways of knowing” and found that the first stage in female development was silence. Significantly, women feared self-expression, suppressed through generations of conditioning, and denied a right to an independent voice. Women’s experiences were typically discredited and their constructed knowledge dismissed as “old wives’ tales.” Yet what women have to share through self-reflection, focusing on generational truths communicated matrilineally, is essential to the balance of our contemporary society. Women’s voices, silenced, debased and ignored for centuries, are vibrant, lively, and full.

I’ve been reading so many good blog posts lately — about journal writing, writing in general, publishing, you name it.  And I’ve picked a few to share with you this week.

If you’re the kind of person who constantly makes lists and sets goals, you might want (or need?) an antidote to my article about journaling to help achieve goals posted earlier this week. In that case, you’ll enjoy Dan Curtis’s blog post, Stop With the Productivity Pitches! Not that there’s anything wrong with my article, but there is a place and a season for everything.

One of the things I love about journal writing is its natural connection to memoir writing. (For me, it all comes under the general heading of “life-writing.”) If you’ve been journaling for a while and want to venture out into the world of memoir writing, I encourage you to participate in one or more of the ongoing contests over at WomensMemoirs.com. Take a risk, spread your wings, and take your writing outside the private sphere of journaling.

I’ve recently discovered The Rumpus, an online magazine with an edge. Kate Geiselman’s post, Where I Write #3: Wherever and Whenever I can really spoke to me. If I’m serious about my writing, whether it’s journal writing or fiction, I need to be able to make room for it wherever and whenever I can. Right now, I have the luxury of sitting in my nice, quiet office. But sometimes, writing just happens because it needs to.

The other night I had the privilege of attending a reading by pulitzer prize winner, Jane Smiley. After the reading, one of the audience members asked her about her writing habits, and she said she writes all the time, even while she’s driving. (I tried to picture this, but couldn’t.) The point is, that to complete as many books as she has, she’s had to be persistent and disciplined.

Journaling helps you develop good writing habits. I believe this. Melissa Donovan’s article how and why journaling works for writers.

Write the Story you Must Write is about ignoring the people who tell you what you should write and, instead, following your heart to write the book that feels urgent. Whether you’re writing a book or writing short memoir vignettes, this is true. Write what inspires you and, I believe, it will also inspire others.

Michael Hyatt is CEO of a publishing company, and I think his post, Six E-Book Trends to Watch in 2011 is spot on. I particularly like the ideas of e-book clubs and social reading.

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Enjoying this week’s Blogtalk? Which articles speak to you and/or which articles don’t? Leave a comment and let me know.

EVER wondered if journaling by hand was better than journaling on the computer? Way back in April of 2010, I posted an article about why I (generally) prefer journaling on the computer to using pen and paper. Then, in November, I posted an article about recent research that detailed the benefits of handwriting. In the article, I challenged readers to participate with me in a journaling experiment that would begin after the new year. Eleven people volunteered.

Beginning January 5th, the twelve of us journaled only by computer for one week, then we journaled only by hand for one week. During the third week, we journaled using a combination of handwriting and the computer. Finally, during week four, we analyzed our journal entries using a survey that I created for the purpose.

Here are the results:

Of the original twelve, nine responded to the survey (I have no idea what happened to the others and just have to assume they dropped out somewhere along the way). Of the nine participants, all of us were women, one between the ages of 26-40, three between the ages of 45-55, and five between the ages of 56-70.

At the beginning of the experiment, four of us preferred journaling by hand, two had no preference (usually did either or both), and three preferred to journal on the computer.

Over the course of the experiment, the average number of handwritten journal entries was 9. And the average number of computer journal entries was also 9. (I couldn’t have asked for it to be more even!)

For each of the following statements, I asked the participants to rate each entry on a scale of 1 to 3, where 1=Not at all, 2=Some, and 3=Quite a bit. Then, they were to average their handwritten and computer entries separately and enter the results to the survey.

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All of the responses are necessarily subjective, but it’s interesting to me that the handwritten entries scored slightly higher on all statements except for the two related to daily activities and problems.

When asked what their overall experience was with the experiment, and whether or not they discovered anything about themselves, participants wrote the following (some entries have been edited for brevity):

• I was quite surprised that I found the computer journaling beneficial! What further amazed me was that on the days I was doing both methods, I felt a synergistic link between the two, almost as if it was one process.
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• I tend to move more quickly through the day, through the entries written on the computer. There were some entries that had bits of insight and some were quick run throughs of the day. Even though my entries are a bit shorter when written, they are more thoughtful and have more substance. I use the computer to sometimes avoid the hard stuff, just to get the top layer written. I take a little more time and do more digging when I write.
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• I found that I write differently; maybe because I journaled by hand for so many more years than I have blogged on the computer, but it seems that the sweep of my hand across the page stimulates more thought, and I go on and on, sometimes in tangents I hadn’t been conscious of thinking when I began. I tend to write and not stop for anything, until something in me seems to say ‘that’s it….;’ and I would lay the pen down, whereas with blogging, I might sit and stare at the screen for a while and not really know what I wanted to say. And with computer journaling, I found that I was stopping, deleting, re-writing as I went, and while I loved the finished work it seems likely that I interrupted my own creative thought process.
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• I enjoyed writing by hand more than I thought I would, after so long at the computer. Still, though, I felt relieved to go back to the computer when I was done. And I didn’t like having to transcribe my handwritten entries to the computer later. In general, neither seemed to have a higher percentage of description or emotional content, which surprised me. I thought that the handwriting would score much higher in that regard. It was really more about what I was focused on.
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• I was amazed that my “results” for hand vs. computer were so similar. I would have sworn that I went “deeper” by hand, but apparently not.
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• It seems to me that I have more trouble getting started when I write with pen and paper as opposed to the computer. However, once I get that first line or thought written, I believe that I write much better when NOT in front of the computer.
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• I’ve always believed I can get to more subconscious thoughts and feelings through handwritten journal entries. I find that writing on the computer releases more technical writing and seems to trigger my mind in the kind of writing I use for business letters and reports.
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• I found that I was much more apt to tap into inner emotions when handwriting entries vs. using the computer. When I used the computer I tended to go back and correct typos as I wrote which seemed to disrupt the creative flow. The entries that were handwritten became the seeds for several stories. I also found that I had easier access to handwriting entries than using the computer i.e., if a had a thought in the grocery store, I could write it on a piece of scrap paper rather than lugging a computer around!
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• I became more aware of the advantages of computer journaling, and I could get used to it. Over time I think I’d relate to it more and begin going deeper. But there is no way around the fact that I already spend too much time on the computer and face distractions there, the biggest being the constant backing up to fix erratic results of my touchy laptop keyboard. I tried eyes-closed typing but the results were such a mess … Also, I did not get the satisfying meditative feeling that usually accompanies hand-written journaling sessions.

In an “any other comments” field, all participants reported some surprise, either in that journaling on the computer worked better than they thought it would or that writing by hand was so satisfying, after journaling on the computer for a long period of time. One person said that when she altered her computer document to display a delicately shaded paper and used a handwriting font she had better results, but still missed the ability to turn the page and do improvised mind-mapping without a lot of effort. I was surprised to discover that I actually wrote more by hand than on the computer (a big surprise, since I type so quickly) and I enjoyed the fact that I could write in the garden or in any space I chose, rather than being tethered to my desk.

Whatever our preference, I think we all felt a little relieved to get back to our usual way of doing things.

So what does it all mean? I leave the interpretation up to you, my faithful readers. What do you think?

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Image credit: mtsofan
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I’ve been sending out Journaling Through Life as a separate e-zine for nearly a year now. For those of you who are not already subscribers, the e-zine discusses a particular topic and then provides seven journaling and life-writing prompts for the week.

I’m happy to announce that as of next Monday, the 14th (hmmm… what do you think the topic will be?) Journaling Through Life is renamed to “A Week’s Worth of Journaling Prompts” and now a regular part of this blog.

What this means in practical terms is that every Monday, the blog post will provide a week’s worth of journal writing prompts on a particular topic. The article itself is usually quite short, while the focus is on the writing prompts. On Wednesdays, our weekly article on different techniques for writing and journaling through life will post. Journaling Blogtalk — discussions about different blogs on writing and/or journaling, as well as links to journaling and life-writing resources — posts every Friday.

If you haven’t already subscribed to Writing Through Life, I encourage you to subscribe via the sign-up form in the right-hand sidebar. As a thank you, you’ll receive a FREE gift: “3 Reasons to Write Every Day,” including ten bonus journaling prompts.

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Here’s my every-once-in-a-while collection of links and resources that I think will enhance your writing and journaling life. Only on Blogtalk:

The Power of “No” and The 50 Best Life Story Questions by Dan Curtis. (I would title that last post “50 Great Journaling Prompts”)

Journeys by Susan Tweit.

Podcast: Writing and Place by Iain Broom, at WriteForYourLife. Iain writes a great blog, and his podcasts are worth listening to … good information and with that great British accent!

Ten Steps to Writing Your Memoir in 2011 by Lisa Dale Norton. Whether you just thinking about a memoir or have already been writing down some memories, Norton gives some excellent advice.

26 Ways to Generate Ideas by Barbara A. Tyler at the Writer Magazine. These ideas are meant for fiction and nonfiction writers, but hey, isn’t journaling someplace in between? Seriously, many of the ideas presented work equally well as journaling prompts.

Another solid post by Mari McCarthy: “And this one time …”: Journaling Your Best Story

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STARTING January 4, you can receive my course, Journaling 101, absolutely FREE. Yep, you read that right. This four-week course, delivered directly to your email inbox is designed to help you start journaling today and supports you in making journal writing a delightful habit — one that you will look forward to each and every day.

Why am I giving the course away? Because it is WritingThroughLife‘s mission to help and encourage you to tell your stories through journal writing, memoir, and art. Journaling helps you to find meaning in life’s events through the act of writing.

To receive the FREE e-course (a $29.95 value), fill out the sign-up form in the sidebar to the right on the home page.

Happy journaling!

To my beloved readers,
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Wishing you

joy and wonder

in this season

of grace.

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In gratitude,

Amber Lea Starfire

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P.S. I will be on “blog vacation” between Christmas and the New Year. I believe that even the Internet needs a break now and then. Blessings to you all.

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Image by Murilo Cardoso
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ART JOURNALING — that is, integrating art and a variety of media into journal writing — is gaining popularity, if blog posts are anything to go on. This month’s Journaling News focuses on a few blog posts (out of the very many that exist out there) that highlight different ways of approaching art journaling.

Check out the posts, enjoy, and leave your comment to let me know what you think. Also, if you know of anyone who has an exemplary art journaling site, send me the link and I’ll be sure to include it in a future Journaling News about art journaling.

Here is an informative blog post about journaling with watercolor pencils, titled Pottery, Parks & Art Journaling at Live Cheap & Make Art USA blog. Scroll down to see an example of how Bob and Rosemary use art journals  (not sure which one of the two is the article author). And, as an added bonus the post gives us a link to artjournaling.ning.com — a community of art journal keepers of course!

Jeanne, at All Things Quilty has taken the time to offer us a superb example of the flexibility and beauty of a free-form art journal. If you think you’re not creative, or have always been the type of person to “color in the lines,” then check out this post for ideas that will help you to move outside of your comfort zone.

Ann Somerset Miles, a self-described “73-year-old writer” who is passionate about many things is, apparently, also passionate about experimenting with mixed-media journals using paper and fabric. Her blog of the 17th, titled Still Experimenting, is quite an example of artistic journal pages — beautiful, bright colors, floral and abstract forms.

If you wonder about what supplies to use, check out this fascinating six-minute video about how to use Gesso Gel, as well as watercolor crayons, pencils, and acrylics to create collage and art journal pages.

An October Monday’s blog post by Lucy Edson about Meaningful Journaling, discusses how it’s important to keep in mind the purpose of a journal, which is that of memory keeper, of telling a story. How, sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in the art of it all, that the reason behind keeping a journal can get lost in the crafts. This combination of art, scrapbooking, and journaling is time-consuming. But the end results are worth the effort. As a photographer, one of the things I like about this method is that it combines photos with art.

Okay, so let’s say you don’t think you’re into all the time and supplies to create an art journal. What about changing the tactile nature of your journal by using calligraphy pens and inks? This idea comes from a middle school teacher, Wm Chamberlain at At the Teacher’s Desk. Journaling is not just for kids, you know!

If you want to really capture yourself on the page, why not a self-portrait? Want to see an example of how to do this within the context of art journaling? Check out Self Portrait Journaling by Creative Carmelina.

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Photo by Monocat

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ONCE every four weeks, Blogtalk: Journaling News highlights articles about journaling, research, and recent blog posts about various facets of journal writing — benefits, ways to start and keep writing, and tips for continued practice. Read on …

Kim Suhr, Director of the writing community titled RedBird-RedOak shares a list of favorite writing exercises and practices contributed by students during a recent writers’ conference.

The blog site by Bryan Ogilvie, Today’s Transcendence, has an article about a unique and interesting “Brave-Heart Journaling Technique.” The idea is to help you cultivate courage in your daily life. Check it out.

I recently discovered Kristin Donovan’s website titled Journaling Saves! You’ll want to check out the entire site, including her podcast “Inspiration in All the Wrong Places.”

New Data Blogs offers a good summary of how journaling can help you move forward in your life — “How to Discover Your Dreams Through Journaling” — and six tips to help you accomplish just that. (Link to New Data Blog removed on 1/10/2011 because it’s no longer functioning.)

Thinking more traditionally about dreams — the nighttime kind — Crystal in Seattle shares ways to get a Dream Journal (link no longer working, as of 02/17/2011) going. And don’t miss the great video at the bottom of her post!

How about this short and succinct blog about how “Journaling Can Help You Meet Your Goals” by Jayne?

And finally, for those of you who want to journal, but don’t really like to write, read about one woman’s love/hate relationship with journaling on Hummingbird Homemaking.

THIS WEEK’S BLOGTALK is the first of monthly posts that will highlight journaling news, research, and other blog posts about journaling. For today’s Journaling News, we’re taking a look at journal writing for children — the benefits, ways to get them writing, and tips for continued practice.

This week’s National Writing Center for Children’s blog article is all about creating a nature journal. A great idea for children of all ages.

How about creating a Family Journal Night? What a unique (and excellent) idea! Now why didn’t I do this with my kids when they were young?

Courtney has some writing prompts for children at her blog, Women Living Well.

Kim Henry is a high school teacher who writes about the benefits of getting kids to write down their thoughts, from better understanding of what they read to improving their thinking skills.

And finally, though this article by Neil Rosenthal isn’t specifically about journaling for children, Angry Adults Given Specific Messages as Children is about some of the childhood causes of anger and depression in adults. One of these is not having constructive outlets for self expression, such as art and journaling.

I invite your feedback about Blogtalk: Journaling News, as well as comments about any of the articles. If you have news to share on Blogtalk, contact me via my web form.

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Photo art: Amber Starfire

Original Photo: Sunandita

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