Featured Online Generative Writing Workshop

CAPTURED MOMENTS: Writing Life's Stories Using Family Photographs with Ariela Zucker

START DATE: January 13, 2025

DURATION: 6 weeks

LOCATION: Private Group

FEEDBACK: Helpful Instructor Feedback and Encouraging Peer Workshop

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Sometimes, it feels like we’ve lost the stories we always intended to write in our spare time—the family legends we cherish, the tales we want to pass down to our kids and grandkids. These stories, woven into the fabric of our lives, often get buried under the weight of daily routines and the passage of time.

But they’re not truly lost. They linger in the corners of our memories, preserved in family photos, waiting to be rediscovered. These images hold the key to unlocking those moments, capturing the essence of the stories we hold dear. In each photograph, there’s a spark of the past, a glimpse into the lives we’ve lived, and the experiences we’ve shared.

During this six-week course, we’ll learn how to carefully select the best photos and how to use them as powerful tools to record and revive our family histories. Together, we’ll explore how these images can serve as a bridge back to the memories that define us, ensuring that the stories we once feared were lost can be passed down to future generations.

This class invites a range of writing styles—personal essays, poetry, and even fiction based on true events.

The class is asynchronous, including a short lecture (or assigned reading) and weekly assignments. Each week, students will choose a photograph (or two) in response to a prompt. This will be followed by:

Weekly reflection on the process.
A group discussion.
A piece of writing inspired by the photograph (optional).

The instructor will provide topics for discussion and personal feedback.

I enjoyed the class so much! It was one of the few I’ve taken on Zoom that didn’t make me want to leave after a half hour and/or 3 sessions. So much of it was the students, over which, of course, you had no control. But you did bring out the best in us. I’ve attended a lot of OLLI classes in person and have always felt that they didn’t help us get to know each other. I felt a wonderful intimacy in this class. You kept things moving without seeming to rush. — Dianne Sinclair

It was fun and interesting. I am not much of a story writer, but it was interesting to try a few new ideas. It reminded me to think about writing family stories. I thought the teacher explained well and offered good illustrations & examples of the lessons. The class also showed me what a range of writing possibilities there are, illustrated by all the class members. Thanks — Cathy Field

The homework assignments each week were fun, enlightening, and questions I often pondered all week. And I so welcomed the way it enlightened my week to walk with the quests. It was a joy. Ariela was clear and organized in her directions; heart centered in her responses and treated each student with kindness and respect. She also shared appropriately which paved the way for each of us to share fully—and be open to many different interpretations.If it were possible I would enjoy having the class for a longer number of weeks and at the same time the number of weeks worked well. I was just enjoying it so much I hated to see it end. — Patricia Ellen

This class inspired me to enhance and perfect my writing. Ariela helped me organize my writing so I could get across what was most important to say. I was able to articulate a story from a photograph which made it come alive. She had a way of critiquing my writing while at the same time validating my creativity. I would take another one of her classes in a heartbeat. — Ellen J Della Torre, Auburn, Maine

I sought out something to ease my worried mind. Looking at online classes, I discovered Ariela and her novel approach to recalling and recording stories. It was called Picture Writing and it was one of the best writing classes I have ever taken. Ariela’s approach to unleashing memories, writing poetry, and stories, by using photographs made her class one I looked forward to each week. Thank you, Ariela, for a wonderful class in a not so wonderful moment in time. — Susan Meynell

WEEKS AT A GLANCE:

Week One: Visual Introduction
Vision is our most dominant sense and plays a crucial role in memory formation. Our autobiographical memories are predominantly visual, making them essential to our understanding of ourselves. In this lesson, we’ll introduce ourselves using photographs and explore how to select images that can serve as writing prompts.

Week Two: Creating a Timeline
A timeline offers a broad view of one’s life, highlighting significant highs and lows, achievements, failures, and periods of emotional impact or stagnation. This tool helps regenerate lost memories and uncover underexplored periods of our lives, providing a structured way to reflect on our experiences.

Week Three: The Picture I Am Not In
While we often enjoy seeing ourselves in photographs, those images from which we are absent can be equally revealing. Particularly intriguing are photos of events where we believe we should have been present—such as family gatherings, birthdays, weddings, or funerals. We will examine these “missing” moments to understand what they reveal about our lives and relationships.

Week Four: Be a Photographic Detective
At times, we come across photographs that we struggle to place in our memory. The people or places may seem familiar, yet details are elusive. This week, we’ll take on the role of a detective, gathering information about these enigmatic images to uncover their hidden stories.

Week Five: Places as Loved Memories
Certain places from our past hold a special significance and occasionally resurface in our memory. These places—such as a cherished childhood home, a favorite hiding spot, or a place associated with friends or first love—can evoke powerful emotions and vivid memories. We will explore how these “melodic” memories can inspire and enrich our storytelling.

Week Six: Timeline II
Now that we have arrived at the end of our shared pictorial journey, we are not the same people who started it. We searched inside our picture albums. Did some soul searching. Got that nostalgic feeling when we realized how the time passed. Awakened old stories, and perhaps remembered old friends. It is time to revisit the timeline we created at the beginning of our journey, and being wiser, examine it for possible adjustments on our way to our desired memoir.

Throughout our meetings, we’ll consider whether photographs evoke factual memories or stir deeper emotional responses. By understanding how emotions interplay with images, we can harness this connection to create compelling and meaningful stories.

Materials needed: All readings and multi-media resources will be provided by the instructor.

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: Ariela was born in Jerusalem, Israel, and moved to the U.S. with her husband and their three daughters on September 10, 2001. They spent sixteen years in Ellsworth, ME, where they owned and operated a motel. Now retired, Ariela focuses on writing poetry and nonfiction. She has self-published several books about the motel experience, her journey to uncover her family history, and her most recent work on using photography to enhance writing. Her books are available on Amazon. Ariela has also facilitated in-person writing groups and currently offers online writing classes.

COST: $180, which includes weekly assignments and instructor feedback.

BUY NOW: Captured Moments: Writing Life’s Stories Using Family Photographs, with Ariela Zucker (6 weeks, starting 1/13/2025) Limit: 10 students. Early registration is recommended.

This class is closed. Please check here for our current schedule.

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Notes: Upon successful completion of payment, your name, email address, and contact info will be submitted to your instructor.

Questions? Email Marcia & Angela at:
classroom[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com

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