Writing family with photographs
15 June, 2025
10:00 am
The impulse to record the details of family history can be strong. But where to begin and how to begin can be overwhelming. How do we write an engaging narrative that comes alive on the page and what tools are available to us?
In this workshop Barbara Kamler will explore just one strategy for how we might write about family. She asks: how can we capture a moment in time inspired by photographs?
To unravel the creative process of using photographs, Barbara will begin by discussing her latest book Sophie, the story of her courageous grandmother who at age 14, fled the pogroms of Poland in 1907, and ventured to New York City on her own. She will explore the multiple ways in which she has used poetic vignettes and photographs to tell this riveting story and she will discuss the many craft issues involved. Participants will then be guided to write about a particular moment in their own family history using photographs they have brought with them. This immersive workshop will conclude with reflections on participant’s writing and possibilities for writing in the future.
No previous knowledge is needed, all are welcome to participate.
Learning & Engagement Supporters
Cost
$36 JMA Member
$40 Non-member
More Information:
About Your Tutor
Barbara Kamler is a writer, researcher, poet and storyteller, born in New Jersey, she came to Australia as a young teacher in the early 70s and developed a distinguished career as an academic over the next 40 years. Kamler has always sought to understand herself and the scattered communities of which she is a part, exploring themes of love, memory and mobility. She is the author of eight academic books and numerous essays, while her most recent publications are works of poetry and creative non-fiction. Leaving New Jersey (2016) is a memoir of loss and re-connection told in prose poetry. Love, Regardless (2022) offers a gallery of 14 long-love portraits crafted into syllabic verse, while Sophie (2023) creates a dynamic, multi-voice collage to tell the story of her spirited grandmother, Sophie Kamler. Barbara currently runs writing and publication workshops for doctoral and early career researchers at a variety of universities in Melbourne, Sydney and Newcastle.
