Family Stories: Writing Our Roots, Relationships & Legacies - with Brenda Johnson

Brenda Johnson is leading a writing workshop called Family Stories: Writing Our Roots, Relationships & Legacies at the West Indianapolis Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library on Saturday, November 14. It runs from 3 PM to 4:30 PM, and it's open to adults of all writing experience levels.

Johnson is an Indianapolis storyteller, writing workshop facilitator, and public speaker whose work centers on aging, family stories, and the power of personal storytelling. She writes a Substack blog called Older, Bolder & Better!, gives storytelling performances, and leads Amherst Writers & Artists workshops. In 2025, she was named the Frank Basile Emerging Storyteller, sponsored by Storytelling Arts of Indiana, and she focuses her community programs on older adults.

The session is a 90-minute workshop built around the Amherst Writers & Artists method. It uses guided prompts to help you dig into memories, family traditions, relationships, and personal history. There's also an optional sharing component, so you can read what you've written out loud if you're comfortable with that, but it's not required. The whole thing is designed to be welcoming to people from all backgrounds, whether you're a lifelong writer or have never put pen to paper.

If you've been meaning to get some of your family history down on paper, this is a good way to start. It's a single afternoon, and you'll leave with something written. The workshop is at the West Indianapolis Branch, 1216 S. Kappes Street, on Saturday, November 14, from 3 PM to 4:30 PM.