You’ve been there and done that. You’ve seen trends come and go and come back again. You’ve had lots of experiences (positive and negative, funny and serious), so have plenty of stories to tell. Isn’t it time you wrote them down?

In the five-week Older, Wiser and Writing it Down class, students learn how to turn their experiences into essays, stories and articles, whether they’re interested in writing poignant pieces about their childhood or thoughtful descriptions of tough times.

In the class, students use easy, effective writing prompts (in-class writing exercises) to get their creative juices going. Then, with the help of the instructor, they develop those initial writings into finished pieces. Designed for beginning to intermediate students interested in writing for themselves, their family or for publication. Limited enrollment.

About the instructor: Nancy Woods (M. A., Journalism, University of Oregon) is a Baby Boomer who remembers when Hula Hoops first came out and when buying a pair of shoes meant having her feet X-rayed in the shoe store. A freelance writer/editor and writing instructor/coach, her essays and articles have been have been read on Oregon Public Radio and published in the Oregonian, Portland Tribune, katu.com, Northwest Palate, Oregon Home, Oregon Humanities and Oregon Quarterly.

For more information, to register or receive Kickstart, a free e-newsletter for writers: Contact Nancy Woods at (503) 288-2469, wordpics@aracnet.com, www.nancy-woods.com.

What: Older, Wiser and Writing it Down: A Writing Class for Seniors

Dates: Nov. 9-Dec. 7, 2010.

Time: Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-noon.

Where: Hollywood district of Northeast Portland, Oregon. Exact location provide upon registration.

Cost: $125/5 week