Workshops

Develop your inner storyteller! Cheerful Word workshops are great memory making moments for groups.

  • Families (celebrations such as birthdays, anniversaries or weddings)
  • Friends (favorite moments together through the years or special occasions)
  • Colleagues (celebrate alifetime achievement or retirement)
  • Active Adult Retirement Communities (Residents come together in these guided workshops to write favorite personal life stories) 

With Sam guiding each workshop, you'll be encouraged, and moved to write down cherished memories that may  have gone untapped for decades! You'll also be inspired by the stories shared around your table. With your new "can-do" attitude, you'll gain a huge sense of confidence and accomplishment.

 

Flash Fables

Flash Fables is a 15-20 minute storytelling workshop that introduces people to how I work, and how fun and easy it is to tell stories. The group builds a story together, with each participant contributing. The technique I use is common in improvisational acting and standup comedy; it requires only a little imagination and often leads to unexpected treasures of dialogue and enjoyment.

Once this collective story is done, I read the Flash Fable out loud to everyone's delight!

Flash Fables are especially effective for those with memory deficits because they require no pressure to recall facts from their own lives. A little imagination is all it takes! Everyone is included in the conversation and are fully engaged in this brief and enjoyable experience.
 

Price:

  • $50 per workshop
  • Active Adult Retirement, Assisted Living, and Skilled Care Communities can host a Flash Fable for free! Contact Sam Uhl for details.

 

My Life in Stories Workshop

In this 90-minute workshop, participants receive a workbook and guidance from me on choosing and writing a true, short story from their lives. Anyone can attend these workshops, which are offered publicly around the Triangle North Carolina area, or with a minimum of 8 participants, I'm happy to hold it onsite at your location.
 

Price to host workshops

Single workshop: $250

Package of 3 workshops: $675 (10% discount)

Package of 6 workshops: $1200 (20% discount)

Package of 12 workshops: $2100 (30% discount)

 

The Story Collectors Club

Participants who have attended a "My Life in Stories Workshop" can continue writing with my guidance as part of The Story Collectors Club. The Club is an ongoing event based on the "My Life in Stories Workshop" technique. In the Club, I serve as your personal historian to help you discover and write the many stories of your life that you most cherish and want to preserve.

The Club may be offered publicly or I can bring The Story Collectors Club to you for exclusive gatherings with a minimum of 8 participants. These are arranged on a regular schedule so that I can personally encourage, inspire, and guide you to write one complete story at each gathering. Over time, you build a whole collection of your favorite, personal stories, written by you! The Club workshops are 60 minutes in length.

Price to host workshops

The Story Collectors Club is an exclusive, members-only club and works best when participants get to know one another and can encourage each other and share stories as they become friends through the weeks.

If you'd like to host a private, Story Collectors Club gathering at your home or community center, schedule a Get Acquainted Call with Sam and discover how you and your favorite people can begin writing your life stories together! From 8-16 participants.
 

Private Club Gatherings

Vignettes package [6 workshops]

  • $25/workshop per person for a group of 8
  • $12.50/workshop per person for a group of 16!
  • Active Adult Retirement Community discount rate: $1200  (up to 20 participants)

Chapters package [12 workshops]

  • $22/workshop per person for a group of 8
  • $11.25/workshop per person for a group of 16!
  • Active Adult Retirement Community discount rate: $2400 $2160 (10% discount for up to 20 participants)

Novellas package [24 workshops]

  • $20/workshop per person for a group of 8
  • $10/workshop per person for a group of 16
  • Active Adult Retirement Community discount rate: $4800 $3840 (20% discount for up to 20 participants)

 

Private Workshops

Private workshops are intimate gatherings for up to six family members or friends to celebrate life and capture audio recordings of your favorite stories. Workshops are facilitated and recorded by me, Sam Uhl, your personal historian. Each participant receives an audio CD of the interview. You can choose to create a custom Life Story Book from the workshop content. Of course, I'll give you a discount on your book.

Contact me to schedule your private workshop today. You may choose from the following list of themed workshops, or we can customize one just for you.

  • Friends Forever – 2-hour interview workshop customized to the special occasion of your choice. Bring up to three friends and celebrate the stories around a friendship, wedding, anniversary, achievement, adventure, event, retirement, etc.
  • Family Time – 2-hour interview workshop with family members capturing shared feelings, gratitude and love. A wonderful dedication gift to parents, or from parents to their children.
  • Enchanting Trips – 2-hour interview workshop reminiscing about the delights and wonders of vacations, holidays, and other special trips or adventures. Makes a wonderful travel journal.
  • Life Celebration – 2-hour interview workshop held in the home or hospice facility with close family and friends (up to 6). This is an inspiring, living memorial to share memories, stories, and gratitude with a loved one nearing the end of her life.
  • Tell Me a Story – 2-hour workshop; bring a small circle of friends, each bringing a story to tell about a significant experience that changed them or a favorite tale about someone else and the impact their life had on yours. I can give you tips on choosing a theme for each story, or you can simply let each person say what's on his heart.
  • Solitary Thoughts – 2-hour guided workshop for one person to explore personal insights, values, beliefs, wishes and dreams. It is helpful to tell your stories from the viewpoint of your inner child or as a reflection of your life to date.

You receive

  • Guided interview with the group by your personal historian, Sam Uhl
  • Up to 100 questions customized to your theme
  • A participant guide for each individual
  • One audio CD recording of the guided workshop in the theme you select
  • Additional CDs are available for $25 each

Price

  • $325 per private workshop
  • First 50 miles to your residence is free. $1 for each additional mile, if applicable.

 

Public Workshops

 

My Life in Stories Workshop

In this 90-minute workshop you'll actually write one, true, short story from your life from start to finish! Of course, you'll have guidance from your very own personal historian, Sam Uhl.

Anyone can attend this enriching writing experience one time or many times. If you attend more than three, you'll probably want to save some bucks and join one of our Story Collectors Clubs or start one of your own.

Delving into the My Life in Stories Workbook and chatting with other participants, together we spark the memories, experiences, and ideas that you cherish the most. I host workshops for groups of 8 to 16, so check my events calendar for a workshop near you or contact me if you'd like to host a workshop in your town.
 

Price

  • $38 per person, paid in advance

Public Story Collectors Club Workshops

These 60-minute workshops are hosted by The Cheerful Word in the Central North Carolina Community. Guided by Sam Uhl, you'll write one, true, short story from your life at each workshop. Workshops are held every other week for 4 weeks.

Check the Events Calendar for a Story Collectors Club near you!

Price

  • $112 for 4 workshops. That's only $28 per workshop to preserve your precious and cherished memories!