Life Write Services

The most original thing a writer can do is write like himself. 

It is also his most difficult task – Robertson Davies

Mission

Life Write Services assists individuals, families and organizations in documenting their stories through coaching, writing, editing and book publishing.  Together we transmit values, heal wounded souls and celebrate life--for ourselves and for future generations to come.    We also offer a variety of writing groups to libraries, churches, agencies and schools including Write Your Life Workshops, Write Your Spiritual Life Workshops, and Writer's Society, Ink Therapeutic Writing groups and writing classes for youth. 

Who plans to write your family's life story?  Could it be you?

Bobbe Taber, MA, LLPC, HHC, owner of  Life Write Services is certified as a teacher of the Turning memories into memoirs (TM) technique and is an expert in teaching the writing of memoir and life stories.  She offers her services to individuals, families and churches who wish to have support in the writing and publishing of their life story or family history.  Grants from Bread for the Journey of Southwest Michigan, The Arts Council of Kalamazoo, The Hospice and Arts Council Partnership Grant Fund and the Kalamazoo Foundation have funded life story coaching, therapeutic writing groups and provided equipment to publish stories of Hospice patients and their families. 

Bobbe also freelance writes for The Kalamazoo Gazette.  Her writing has been published in The Grand Rapids Press, Scene Magazine, The New Pentagruel, Windhover Journal of Christian Art and Writing, and The Secret Place among other publications.  She began her writing career in 1986 as a staff writer for West Michigan Magazine.  The  Kent County Dyer Ives poetry contest awarded her poems second and third place two different years and she took second place at a Kalamazoo cool jazz and poetry slam.  

A Certificate in Holistic Health along with a Master of Arts Degree in Community Agency Counseling  from Western Michigan University allowed Bobbe to study of writing as a way celebrating human authenticity.  A former prevention specialist and educator, Ms. Taber has facilitated groups since 1993 in schools, community centers, health clubs and churches.  She teaches creative writing, poetry, non-fiction, and lifestory writing to individuals, groups and communities and has also written her own memoir in both poetry and prose.   She recently worked with Muskegon Author Connie Holmberg to publish her children's book, The Treasure of Friendship, a true story about a best friend from her home town.  Life Write Services has also published The Life of Bernice Pierce Wolverton and her family. 

Past Partnerships and Presentations

2008:

• Write Your Life -- Ionia County Libraries, a special celebration of the Same Page Reading Together Program

      Thank you to the Ionia Libraries for sponsoring 5 Write Your Life Workshops in 15 days from March 1 to March 15, 2008         

                Saranac Public Library

                Lake Odessa Library

                Ionia Public Library

                Portland Library in conjunction with Lyons Library

                Belding Public Library

• Write Your Life for Youth -- a four part workshop -- held at two elementary schools in 2008. Available for Libraries as well.

This is a mix of creative writing, journaling, poetry and writing of life stories.  We've also added some social justice writing as well. 

                March, 2008 --

Write, Create, You in conjunction with Grand Valley State University at Buchannon Elementary School

                April, 2008 --

Thank you to Kalamazoo Communities In the Schools Grant Program, for sponsoring an eight-session youth writing class at King-Westwood Elementary in Kalamazoo, Michigan

2007

• What happened to 2007!  I never got all the classes listed!  There were many held all over Michigan! We also continued the writers group at InterAct Casemanagement Agency until one of my brightest students took it over. 

• OK, I've cut an pasted my old calendar below this.  I've really got to spend more time creating my webpage and less on other writing....on second though, nah. 

January

Wednesday, the 10^th from 12:30 to 1:30, Spiritual Autobiography Talk, Ecumenical Senior Center, - 702 N Burdick St, Kalamazoo.  Call Jeannette to register at 381-9752.  Donations to the Senior Center are deeply appreciated. 

Wednesdays, the 17th, 24th and 31st, from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m., Spiritual Autobiography Workshop, Parchment Community Library.  (10 minutes North of Kalamazoo on Riverview Avenue)  See front of flyer for more information and to register.  $40 fee: Value of capturing the story--priceless.

Saturdays, the 20^th and 27^th, from 2:00 to 5:00, Write Your Life, Hackley Public Library, Muskegon, Michigan.  Paid for by the Friends of Hackley Library.  This two-part workshop is free to participants.  Call Hackley Library for more information and to register:  (231) 722-7276. 

February

Saturdays, the 3^rd, 10^th, 17^th and 24^th, Write Your Life, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Friendship Village, Kalamazoo.  Open to residents of Friendship Village.

April

Saturdays, the 14^th, 21^st and 28^th, Write Your Life, Charles A. Ransom District Library,180 South Sherwood Avenue, Plainwell, Michigan.  Paid for by the Friends of the Charles A. Ransom District Library.  Call 269-685-8024 to register. 

Fall Write Your Life classes included a six-week Write Your Life class at Walker Memorial Library in North Muskegon, Michigan.  We are holding another one in fall of 2008.  See the events calendar for more information. 

2006

• Write Your Life Seminar, Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society, November, 2006. 

• Write Your Life--Decatur and Lawrence Libraries, part of the VanBuren Public Library System. Fall 2006

• Write Your Life--Comstock Senior Center in partnership with the Ecumenical Senior Center, Kalamazoo, 2006

• Writer's Society, Ink, InterAct Casemanagement Agency, June to December, 2006

• Writer's Society, Ink 4 youth, Plainwell Taste of the Arts Summer Camp, July, 2006

• Writer's Society Ink 4 youth, Parchment Library, June, 2006
• Therapeutic Writing Classes, Hospice Grief Camp, May, 2006
• Write Your Spiritual Life, First Presbyterian Church, Richland, March, 2006
• Write Your Life, Alma Public Library, in conjunction with the African American Book Fair, February, 2006
• Writers’ Society, Ink, Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, February, 2006
• Write Your Life, Parchment Community Library, January, 2006

2005

• Write Your Life, Lawrence Public Library, November, 2005
• Write Your Life, Bangor Public Library, October, 2005
• Swimming Upstream in America: Stories of personal challenges -- Panel Speaker, Reading Together Program, Portage Public Library, March 22nd, 2005
• Write Your Life, Bangor Public Library,
• Depression and BiPolar Support Alliance, Writing Therapy-Spots of Time, June, 2005
• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, State of Michigan Conference, Therapeutic Writing Techniques, April, 2005
• Write Your Spiritual Life, First United Methodist Church, February & March, 2005
• Goodwill Industries, writing applications for the G.E.D. essay test, January, February 2005

2004

• Writers’ Society, Ink poetry shout, Students’ read writing, Ministry w/ Community, Dec. 2004
• Write Your Life, Parchment Community Library, November, 2004
• Write Your Life, Washington Square Public Library, October and November, 2004
• Write Your Life, Borgess Hospital Integrative Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI June 2004
• Write Your Life, YMCA, Kalamazoo, MI December 2003, January, February, 2004
• Write Your Life, Borgess Hospital Integrative Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI June 2004
• Write Your Life, Nagel’s Top Dog, Kalamazoo, MI January 2004