Resource Tips · Speakers · Writing Tips

A HISTORY OF ME

Led by David Burton, MU Extension community development specialist, the program uses a guided journal to prompt memories and conversation about childhood, family, school, work, relationships, important milestones, life lessons and the wisdom we hope to pass along to others.

Participants don’t need to consider themselves writers. The goal isn’t to produce a polished autobiography. Instead, A History of Me provides questions and prompts that help people remember, reflect, talk and begin preserving the stories that might otherwise be lost.

The program also creates opportunities for participants to share memories with one another. Those conversations can strengthen relationships, build community and remind us that seemingly ordinary experiences often become some of our most meaningful stories.

Participants receive a complimentary A History of Me booklet to continue recording memories after the program.

Your life is history. Your memories are stories. And your story is worth preserving.


David Burton will present this workshop October 24, 2026, at the Schweitzer-Brentwood Library in Springfield, MO, at 11:30 a.m.

SWG AUTHORS BOOKS

SELF-HELP/DIY/Reference Books

RE: Alzheimer’s
RE: Death & Grieving
RE: Rescue Dogs
RE: Self-confidence

HELPS WITH WRITING by Renee Srch and C.A. Simonson

MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP SKILLS BY MICHAEL CANTRELL & KIM BRIXEY

HOW-TO/DO-IT-YOURSELF BOOKS BY WANDA PARROT & SAGE HUNTER

More coming …!

Resource Tips · Writing Tips

Crafting a Winning First Page

A good writer grabs their readers and makes them hang on until the end –
either gripping the edge of their seat or panting all the way.

How do you do that?

The first step in hooking your reader is nailing the first page. Zip over to
One Stop for Writers and download this powerful first-page cheat sheet: https://buff.ly/3pY7rsr

Resource Tips

Writing stories is like excavating a fossil

According to King, there are two necessities to become a good writer: read a lot and write a lot. In order to learn and perfect the craft, it is necessary to read and write every day in a place where you can close the door with zero distractions.

Contrary to the old adage of “write what you know”, King says “don’t write what you know; write what you like.” He uses the metaphor of writing stories like excavating a fossil; it is all there, but the writer needs to discover it.

Erik Shinker, blogger at pastduereview.com says, “It is difficult to find a more well-known contemporary writer than Stephen King …

In his review of King’s memoir/nonfiction book, Shinker gives a great summary of the craft of writing from Stephen King’s POV.

Read more – On Writing – Review — The Past Due Review

Resource Tips

How To Not Give Up On Writing a Book

hopelessDo you have a few abandoned manuscripts sitting on your computer? Are you lured away by new ideas, or do you find that getting started is easy, but continuing to write until the end of a first draft is the hardest thing in the world? You are not alone!

Author Natasha Lester puts together resources about how to not give up on writing a book. ReadMore