"Free Range" Story Circles
Around the World

"Good stories have the power to save us...We can all make a difference by simply sharing our own stories with real people in real times and places."
~Mary Pipher~

If you're looking for a Story Circle, check here to see if there's one in your area. If not, why not start one? You can get ideas from the Circles described on this page, or from our Facilitator's Guide, which will give you some helpful advice on starting a group. Or you may want to contact one of the facilitators listed below—they're full of useful information and would be glad to help.

If you are a dues-paying member of Story Circle, and are organizing a Story Circle, please tell us about it. And check back often—our circles are widening!

Check out our growing list of OWL-Circles around the world (and see our list of OWL-Circles in the Austin area). These OWL-Circles meet monthly and are led by women who have purchased our OWL-Circle facilitator's manual/workbook. For more information, see our OWL-Circle website.

Need more help? Have questions? Contact our "Free Range" Circles experts, at freerangecircles@storycircle.org.

Ontario CANADA Where: circle member home, Nipigon ON When: every 2nd Tues, 7-9pm Facilitator: Eveline Maedel (emaedel@mac.com) Circle Description: We've just recently held our first "circle". We are a small group of 4 women, ages 40-60's, various professions, one of us retired. We've felt drawn together, to work in a story circle to explore our lives deeper and to kick-start our creativity. We've decided we will work through the facilitator guide for the 6 sessions, and then decide if we want to go further from there. Our circle is casual, but committed and excited about exploring our stories, and who we are, together. Date posted: 05/18/06

Ma'bar YEMEN Where: Ma'bar YEMEN When: Facilitator: Khadijah Lacina (ummu.mujaahid@gmail.com) Circle Description: We have started a circle in Yemen and currently have 5 members: there is me, another American sister who is an artist, a Tunisian French sister, a Yemeni, and a Somali woman! And we are growing... Date posted: 02/16/07

California Where: Lincoln CA When: Weekly Facilitator: Arloa Walter (ajwsw@aol.com) Circle Description: I have started a Story Circle Group here in Lincoln, California. It is going very well. The women are enjoying it and writing their stories. We are a group of retired friends in our 60's and 70's. We have seven who meet at my home once a week. There are more women around who are interested in writing who want to be in a story circle. Date posted: 03/27/07

Colorado Where: Donna Remmert's home: 1755 Sunset Blvd, Boulder CO 80304 When: once a month Facilitator: Donna Remmert (donnaremmert@comcast.net) Circle Description: Each member (currently there are 4) has a project that she is working on and for which she would like feedback and support. In advance of our meeting, we'll e-mail 5-10 pages of material to each member to critique and edit. At the meeting, we'll talk about those pages. Date posted: 11/11/06 Where: Community Center Room, Denver CO When: 1st Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8pm Facilitator: Valene Raymer Baskfield, LCSW (valene@bellybreath.com) Circle Description: A Story Circle Date posted: 12/29/03

Florida Where: Largo Library, Largo FL When: Four Tuesdays in November, 2008: 1-3pm Facilitator: Jan Golden (jangolden@tampabay.rr.com); 727-535-7816. Circle Description: Memoir Writing Date updated: 11/17/08 Where: Bloomingdale Regional Library, Valrico FL When: Monthly Facilitator: Val Perry (LSBloom2@hotmail.com): Circle Description: We are part of a much larger program of life story writing which has been established here at Bloomingdale Library for several years. We range in age—some retired, some working, some a little of both. We welcome new members to contact us. 4-10 week co-ed memoir classes are given three times a year. Date posted: 01/21/08 Where: Largo Library, Largo FL When: 7-9pm Thursdays Facilitator: Jan Golden (jangolden@tampabay.rr.com); 727-535-7816. Circle Description: "Women of The Round Table" meets at the Largo Library, in Largo Florida, on Thursday evenings at 7pm. Date updated: 05/12/08

Georgia Where: Firehouse Gallery—Decatur County Arts Council, Bainbridge GA When: Monthly, flexible date Facilitator: Patricia Pando (ppando@gmail.com); Pam Immendorf (vintage@mchsi.com); Circle Description: The 'Silver Retrievers' is an ongoing OWL Circle. Last update: 06/12/07

Illinois Where: homes of participants in North Shore of Chicago, IL When: monthly, 1-3pm or 1-4pm; days vary Facilitator: Susan Myrick (suemyrick@comcast.net) Circle Description: WordWomen began our monthly afternoon meetings (with delicious snacks, sometimes healthy, sometimes yummy) in February, 1999. We split from a larger memoir group at the Women's Exchange in Winnetka, IL. Our group wavers between three and four participants, a size small enough to give us plenty of time (2-3 hours) to share and discuss our work. We rotate as hostesses, but the facilitator remains Susan Myrick (penname Susan James). The facilitator brings a prompt for a free-write, memoir story ideas, and writing exercises that help us use tools such senses, time and point of view. We also participate in various exercises that stretch our vocabulary and add dimension to our writing. During workshop meetings, we free-write for 20 minutes from a prompt, read our work aloud, listen to others' works, and hear our work discussed (in a supportive and encouraging environment). We leave with 3 or more new prompts for free-writes at home. Between meetings, writers do any of the following: begin work on the suggested topic, revise a past piece, or work on an expanding project. We keep limber with the prompts for fast writes. Last update: 06/06/07

Indiana Where: Lafayette, IN When: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month Facilitator: Sandra Gaylor (nsgaylor01@verizon.net) & Marcy Wooldridge (dicmar3236@netusa1.net) Circle Description: Women's Ink writing circle: organized by SCN members (and sisters) Sandra Gaylor & Marcy Wooldridge with a few of the women who didn't want to stop after their Writing from Life workshop in 1998. They will soon publish their second chapbook with stories from nine members (six are original members). They are most grateful for Kathy Mayer, Lafayette IN for starting all of them on the writing path! They make up writing assignments for six months, and never cease to marvel at the many different takes they get on each subject matter. Marcy sends out an email greeting/reminder each month and has become affectionally known as "Mom" to our group. Date posted: 04/16/04

Iowa Where: Cedar Falls IA When: Thursdays, Aug 21-Oct 9, 2008 Facilitator: Sue Schuerman (pbragg@cfu.net) Circle Description: The FAB Sisters Story Circle will meet for eight weeks this fall, in my home in Cedar Falls. We'll write one or two pages based on the theme of the week. We have traveled, played and prayed together. We now look forward to sharing our lives through writing. Date posted: 08/06/08

Michigan Where: Wayne, MI When: 2nd Wednesday, 7pm Facilitator: Sherrie Pryor (auntiesherrie@gmail.com) Circle Description: Beginning January 9, 2008, this circle will meet in the Wayne Public Library, 3737 S Wayne Rd, Wayne, MI 48184. Contact the facilitator if you are interested in joining this circle. Date posted: 11/27/07

New Jersey Where: Sussex Public Library, Sussex County NJ When: 2nd & 4th Saturday, 10am-noon Facilitator: Deborah Maya Lazarus (deblazarus@yahoo.com) Circle Description: I have started a Story Circle at the Sussex Public Library in Sussex County, New Jersey. I started by giving a two-part memoir writing workshop. The women wanted to continue so I told them about Story Circle.org. So far we've had two meetings of the Story Circle group with six members each time. Email or call Deborah (570-296-4159) if you are interested in joining. Date posted: 10/11/06

North Carolina Where: facilitator's home, Winston-Salem, NC When: 2nd & 4th Thursdays Facilitator: Elsa McKeithan (thesisdoctor@bellsouth.net) Circle Description: Despite hurricane rain, five women met at Elsa's house September 13 and organized themselves into a Story Circle. They started writing on September 28 with two new people present. The meeting went extremely well; everyone wrote and shared and all felt the glow of connection! They have all skill and experience levels in writing, but every woman spoke from her heart, and there is no lack of heart in any one. The group will be taking new members for awhile as we collect other interested women into the plans. Date posted: 10/04/06 Where: Participant's homes, Charlotte, NC When: 3rd Monday of every month (except June-August) from 7-8:30pm Facilitator: Robin Edgar (robinedgar@earthlink.net) Circle Description: The Red Tent Society has been meeting for over two years. The core group is comprised of women of all ages and backgrounds, from a 16 year-old aspiring writer to published authors and poets to a 90 year-old woman who simply enjoys reminiscing and hearing other people's stories. Newcomers are welcome. When we get back together after the summer break, the first meeting prompt reminds me of the story you wrote when school started up again: "How I Spent My Summer Vacation." Date updated: 08/06/07

Oklahoma Where: Midwest City, OK; afternoon session: a different local restaurant each week (call 405-610-6144 for location); Midwest City Library for evening session When: Wednesdays, 1-3pm; Mondays, 6:30pm Facilitator: P. Jan Hall (jansstorycircle@aol.com) Circle Description: "Come-When-You-Can" Have lunch, write, informal sharing & discussion. Come-When-You-Can has added a Monday night @ 6:30 pm at the Midwest City Library. The Monday night is good through Sep. 17 and then will move to Jan's home—dates and times TBA. Last update: 06/11/07 Where: 203 W Douglas Dr, Midwest City OK (Call 405-610-6144 to enroll) When: Weds 6-8pm Facilitator: P. Jan Hall (jansstorycircle@aol.com) Circle Description: WolfSong Story Circle Last update: 06/11/07

Oregon Where: Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center, 527 E Main, Hillsboro OR 97123 When: 4 times a year (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) Facilitator: Marie Buckley (ariadne30@verizon.net) Circle Description: Four 8-week Life Writing for Women classes are offered at the Arts Center under the auspices of the Hillsboro Parks & Recreation District. Discounted fee for seniors age 62 and older. The groups meets on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm. Women write and share stories about a wide variety of topics. Date updated: 02/05/05 Where: Education Center classroom at Jackson Bottom Wetlands, 2600 SW Hillsboro Hwy (219), Hillsboro OR When: Marie offers three memoir Circles a year (Fall, Winter, & Spring), in 8-week sessions. Facilitator: Marie Buckley (ariadne30@verizon.net) Circle Description: Life Writing for Women groups meet for 8-week sessions on Thursday mornings from 10:00AM to noon. Topics from the natural world are connected to women's lives. Women share their stories and enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding Wetlands. Date updated: 02/05/05

Pennsylvania Where: Facilitator's home, Philadelphia PA When: beginning September 8, 2003, every Monday from 7-9pm Facilitator: Sandra Pesini (walkwithwomen@comcast.net), 215-673-3104 Circle Description: This Story Circle is an intimate group of six women who have been meeting weekly since December, 2002. Timed writing exercises and sharing using prompts is the way they like to interact. We just had our first writing retreat at a campground using the outdoors and summer season to inspire us. It was a great time! They are resuming their Serendipity Ladies workshop on a new night, begining Monday, September 8, 2003. Date posted: 08/10/03 Where: Facilitator's home, Philadelphia PA When: Sundays, 2-4pm Facilitator: Sandra Pesini (walkwithwomen@comcast.net), 215-673-3104 Circle Description: A new group of eight enthusiastic women who come together each week prepared to share their at-home writings from a designated prompt. Additional prompts are provided for several class timed writings. Each week a member offers a fun topic for a final writing and sharing. Date posted: 08/10/03

Texas Where: Querencia, a retirement community in Austin, TX When: Friday, January 23, 2008 for 5 weeks Facilitator: Anne Beckner (abeckner@austin.rr.com) Circle Description: OWL-Circle group starting on January 23, 2009 and running for 5 weeks. Last update: 12/31/08 Where: St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Austin TX When: 1st Tuesday of each month, 1-2:30pm Facilitator: Jane Ross (mjrpubs3@sbcglobal.net) Circle Description: Continuing OWL-Circle group formed in January, 2003. Open to new members. Last update: 06/07/07 Where: Riverbend Church, Austin TX When: 2nd Thursday of each month Facilitator: Penny Appleby (penny.appleby@sbcglobal.net) Circle Description: Continuing OWL-Circle group that has been meeting together since 2000. Closed to new members. Date posted: 03/16/05 Where: various, Austin, TX When: various, monthly Facilitator: various, see below: Reading Circle: storycircle.org/Reading_Circle Writing Circles: storycircle.org/AustinChapter/WritingCircle.shtml Circle Description: These circles are member services of the Story Circle Network. For more info, see links above. Date updated: 01/09/08 Where: Austin TX When: every other Thursday, 6-9pm Facilitator: Rose McCorkle (rosiemac4@yahoo.com) & Johnett Scogin (johnett42@yahoo.com) (co-facilitators) Circle Description: The "Free Range Chickenscratchers" is a small circle of women who meet to get/give feedback on longer pieces (ongoing) and to do short focused work to develop our craft. Some members prefer memoir writing, and others fiction. Due to the nature of our work, we have to remain small, and so may not be open to new members. (We generally have far south Austin membership.) Read their blog. Date updated: 02/11/08 Where: Georgetown TX, various members' homes When: Third Thursday each month, 9:30-11:30am Facilitator: Linda Watkins (lwatkins1@mac.com) Circle Description: This is a writing circle. We meet once per month to share our writings, mostly focusing on life stories but all writing is accepted. This is a new group that began Fall '08 and we are just now learning our goals. Members are SCN & other, number of members is not yet set. Date updated: 11/18/08 Where: Georgetown/Sun City/Round Rock TX When: every other Monday afternoon Facilitator: Karen Hett (kmchett@verizon.net) Circle Description: "The Writing Group" writing circle meets every other Monday afternoon for two hours, in members' homes. Our schedule is flexible, and we change meeting dates according to conflicting schedules of key members. Our core group has been writing for more than two years. Date updated: 10/18/04 Where: Harker Heights Public Library, 100 E Beeline, Harker Heights TX When: 1st Saturday of the month, 9-10:30am (if the first Saturday falls on a holiday weekend, we meet the following Saturday) Facilitator: Meghan Brawley (mbrawley@ci.harker-heights.tx.us) Circle Description: Our circle meets regularly once a month, and we have 4 regular attendees. Even though we're a very diverse group, ranging from a college student to a grandmother, we've gotten to be good friends through sharing our stories. We're small enough so facilitating is a very loose responsibility—we use the SCN Facilitator's Guide, but sometimes we adapt the topics to fit our needs. It's more of a round-table group. We're just about 25 minutes west of Temple, and serve the Ft. Hood/Killeen area, so if anyone's interested in finding a group here we're always open to new members! Date updated: 08/03/08 Where: Borders Books, Houston TX When: 3rd Saturday of month, 1-2:30pm Facilitator: Joyce Boatright (joyce.m.boatright@lonestar.edu) Circle Description: We are reading Tender Mercies by Ann Lamott and writing to prompts inspired by her writing. Other books will be read later, following this format. Date updated: 12/07/05 Where: 129 Running Water, Sun City TX When: 3rd Thursday of month, 1:30-3pm Facilitator: Jackie Woolley (jackie@booksbyjackie.com) Circle Description: The Hill Country Rough Writers have 12 to 14 members, some of which are members of Story Circle. The group evolved from my previous Round Rock Rough Writer group. Date updated: 12/07/05 Where: Barnes & Noble, Sunset Valley TX When: 4th Thursdays, 1-2pm Facilitator: Stephanie Barko (steffercat@austin.rr.com) Circle Description: The South Austin Book Group is non-denominational, co-ed, and reads spiritually-oriented books from all traditions. The group meets for an hour and then those who can stay are welcome to linger for another half hour or so. Meetings are open to the public. The group has been meeting since Fall, 2005. Last update: 06/12/07 Where: Facilitator's home, Tyler TX When: 2nd Wednesday of month; 2-4pm Facilitator: Pat Turner (capturn2@yahoo.com) Circle Description: The Memory Keepers Story Circle is made up of five to six very faithful and enthusiastic ladies who meet monthly to share our writing and to write together. Date updated: 08/06/07 Where: Visitor's Center, Wimberley TX When: 2nd and 4th Tuesday, 12-2pm Facilitator: Linda M. Calvert (lmcalvert@gmail.com) Circle Description: New circle—started April 2006. Right now we are a small group of writers experimenting with what works best for us. Date updated: 06/10/06 Where: facilitator's home, The Woodlands TX When: 2nd & 4th Wed., 1pm Facilitator: Sonja Borstner (borstner@swbell.net) Circle Description: The Story Gardeners meet on the 2nd and 4th Wed. at 1pm. Last update: 08/06/07 Where: The Forum at the Woodlands and The Academy for Lifelong Learning at Montgomery College, The Woodlands, TX When: 1st Tuesday of the month ("Telling Your Life Story"); 1st Thursday of the month ("15 Minute Writers"); Facilitator: Evelyn Cook (ecook@pdq.net) Circle Description: The "15 Minute Writers", who range in age from 80-90 years, meet on the first Thursday of the month at The Forum. In September the "Telling Your Life Story" group will meet on Tuesdays for the fall session of The Academy for Lifelong Learning. Last update: 08/06/07 Where: The Outdoor Pavillion at Creekwood Park, The Woodlands TX When: Every Tuesday morning at 8:30am after Qigong practice Facilitator: Evelyn Cook (ecook@pdq.net), Diane Williams, and Cheryl Schroeder Circle Description: This new group was formed as a spin-off of Telling Your Life Story at Montgomery College where I also teach Qigong. They meet at 8:30 AM under the outdoor pavillion next to the lake with ducks and birds intruding and I join them to support their early efforts. They write for 15 minutes and read afterwards. This format has mushroomed. There is no critique, only responsive listening to heartfelt words. No members for Story Circle Network yet but I continue my efforts among receptive participants. Thank you for your support. Last update: 01/13/08

Vermont Where: Pawlet VT When: Thursday, beginning March 23, for 6 weeks Facilitator: Lauryn Axelrod (circleworkshops@yahoo.com) Circle Description: Story Circle at the Circle of Healing in Pawlet, VT (about 30 minutes northwest of Manchester) begins March 23 and runs for six weeks initially. Date posted: 03/06/06

Washington Where: Seattle WA When: Mondays from 7-9pm beginning July 28th, 2008 Facilitator: Pat Hoglund (hoglundp@aol.com), 206-786-5377 Circle Description: I am hosting a womans' story circle in my home. Date posted: 07/18/08

Wisconsin Where: Green Bay WI When: beginning March 22, 2006, every Wednesday for 6 weeks, 6:30pm Facilitator: Sandra Shackelford (sashack10@athenet.net) Circle Description: Circle meets at Howe Neighborhood Resource Center. Contact Sandra for more information. Last update: 06/06/07

If you'd like to know about our Story Circle sponsored classes and workshops, check out our Austin-Area Events.