Guided Autobiography: People Are Made of Stories

March 18, 2026 @ 7:00 – 8:15 PM via Zoom
Registration Required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9VDqxhg3R5SMuMO6mEHjEg

“People are made of stories.” So says the narrator in Ted Chiang’s “The Truth of Fact, The Truth of Feeling.” In this story, the author examines the roles of memory and identity, asking: How do our memories affect how we see ourselves and others? What impact do they have on our relationships? And how does the process of using technology (something as simple as a computer or even a pen), mediate and change our remembered experiences? These are some of the themes the author explores in this multifaceted piece.

The events of our lives do not change, but how we perceive them can. In Guided Autobiography classes, writing and sharing our stories allows us to gain new insights into life events. We may see life experiences through a broader perspective, as Chiang suggests may be possible in his story.

This Guided Autobiography workshop is open to writers of all backgrounds: no experience needed. The session will start with a series of short writing prompts inspired by Ted Chiang’s piece. We will then spend some time writing about an early childhood memory. Participants are welcome to share their pieces with the group. Finally, we will re-visit that event/moment in time from a later perspective. Does the story change in the re-telling? Come and find out.

Requirements:

Reading: No need to have read the story beforehand. We will provide everything you need during the session.

Technical Note: This workshop is held live via Zoom. To participate fully in the sharing portions, please ensure you have a working microphone and a stable internet connection.

Tools: Paper and a pen or pencil.

Participation: The ability to write during the session and a willingness to read your piece aloud.

Enrollment: 8 – 16 participants

About Our Facilitator: Julie Feibush’s career has spanned professional writing, research, and editing in many forms. As a certified Guided Autobiography instructor, Julie turns her lifelong interest in the craft of writing towards helping others cultivate their own writing practice through guided autobiography. She has offered classes through Pennington Public Library since 2020.

This event is part of our 2026 Beyond the Page – an initiative designed to broaden our imaginations and understanding of our world, our neighbors, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book.  The featured book Exhalation contains nine stunningly original, provocative, and poignant stories, where author Ted Chiang tackles some of humanity’s oldest question s, along with new quandaries only he could imagine. Please visit PenningtonLibrary.org/2026BeyondThePage for a full calendar of events and more information.