Long one of the most popular FCLIR programs, Writing to Remember offers participants the opportunity to get to know themselves and each other better. The purpose of Writing to Remember (WTR) is to share your life experiences with fellow participants and, at the same time, record them for yourself and your family. Many participants have taken advantage of this seminar to write their family story for their children and grandchildren. The writing takes all forms, from rough drafts to polished pieces, and all are welcome.
WTR sections for Fall 2026:
Red – Thursday Morning – Closed – Catharine Porter & Patricia Callard
Orange – Wednesday Afternoon – Waitlist – Rachel Borson & Francie Borden
Yellow – Tuesday Afternoon – Waitlist – William Diehl
Green – Tuesday Morning – Waitlist – Naomi Klayman
Blue – Monday Afternoon – Waitlist – Cat Batson & Darcy Johnson
Purple – Wednesday Afternoon – Waitlist – Finnegan Alford-Cooper
A new WTR section may be created if there is enough demand.
Writing to Remember runs each semester with multiple groups, many of whom have been writing together for years, or decades. About a quarter of FCLIR members participate in Writing to Remember; its popularity is due to the opportunity that WTR provides to fulfill many different interests and approaches to writing and remembering.
Writing to Remember is often an opportunity for its participants to collect and pass on family stories. Whatever we call the form – autobiography, memoir, personal story, family history – writing about one’s life is a powerful human need. Many people want to leave behind some record of their thoughts, adventures, and accomplishments. If it’s a family story, it will have the added value of telling one’s grandchildren about their heritage. Other participants aspire to explore both memory and invention through fiction or poetry. And everyone is graced with the richness of shared lives, adventures, places, and perspectives beyond our own stories.
While each group may run slightly differently, in general each participant has the opportunity to read aloud two pieces of original writing during the semester. The group offers the writer feedback and, if desired, will offer suggestions for revisions or possible additions, as well as clarifications. The seminar is not a course on how to write; it aims, rather, to stimulate and encourage you to continue writing your own story. Your writing can center on the events of family life, career experiences, or anything else you would like to tell about yourself. The atmosphere is relaxed, but the serious efforts of all concerned help to make this a rewarding experience for everyone. Each participant chooses the format, style, genre, and content of his or her submission and specifies the feedback desired.
Current WTR participants are guaranteed to keep their spot, if desired, for the following semester. FCLIR also commits to providing WTR to every member who wishes to participate, and new sections are created when needed.
