Writing Workshops
See the current schedule for the Writing Workshops in the table below.
Why is the NCWSA doing writing workshops?
- To encourage members to write their stories and share them so we may learn from each other.
- To encourage members to help WSO publish its new book on Intimacy and the Alcoholic Relationship. (Working title only, final title yet decided.) They need a LOT more member stories to get the book out. Anything YOU think may be relevant to this issue IS relevant. They especially want unusual stories and diversity of members. So if you do not think your story has been printed, it probably has not, so YOU must write it! Please send any share to wso@ al-anon.org (Remove the space after the “at” sign before sending), and put Intimacy in the subject line.
- To encourage interest in The Forum!
We hear lots of shares in meetings all the time. When you hear someone tell a story you think needs to be heard by others, suggest that they write their story up for The Forum. All you have to do is email it to wso@ al-anon.org. (Remove the space after the “at” sign before sending).
If your district or several districts are interested in hosting a workshop, please contact the NCWSA Literature/Forum Coordinator.
If you have interest in doing your own workshop, it is pretty simple. I can send you my outline and suggestions for how to run it. Give it a try!
Why Read CAL?
Conference Approved Literature (CAL) is one of the tools to help families and friends recover from the effects of someone else’s drinking. Our daily readers inspire many to change their attitudes, for we believe changed attitudes can aid recovery. It’s nice to know that we can turn to our literature for hope and inspiration whenever a meeting is not immediately available or our sponsor or other members cannot be reached at 3:00 am.
Some of our literature explains in detail what the Al-Anon and Alateen programs are all about. In many pieces, members share their personal experiences of how they go about recovering from the deadly affects of alcoholism permeating their households. Other books cover specific topics such as learning how to handle loss, in all it’s many forms, found in the alcoholic drama swirling around us. Like any other tool, the more you use it, the better you’ll become at recovery.
Al-Anon has a process of approving the content of its literature called the Conference Approval Process. This assures that the literature is identifiably Al-Anon in content and feeling, is understandable by the broadest based reading audience, is timely and factually accurate.
The books, pamphlets and periodicals listed here reflect the experiences of Al-Anon and Alateen members as they recover from the disease of alcoholism. Literature that has completed this process include the words “Approved by World Service Conference Al-Anon Family Groups”. Many items are also available in Spanish and French (see SS-16 or FS-16).
CAL Quote of the Month!
(known as a “Lit Hit”)
Go to Lit Hits below.
Writing Workshops Schedule
| When? | City | Host | Day | Date | Topic | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Next | Modesto | D18 | Sun | March 3, 2013 11:45 - 1:00 | Writing for the New Book, “Intimacy and the Alcoholic Relationship” | Doctors Hospital 1441 Florida Ave Modesto, Ca 95350 | As part of the Day in Al-Anon |
| Future | Pleasanton | D16 | Sat | Apr 27, 2013 | |||
| Past | Sacramento | D6 | Sat | Nov 3, 2012 | Writing for the New Book, “Intimacy and the Alcoholic Relationship” | ||
| Past | Fremont | D8 | Sat | Oct 20, 2012 | Writing for the Forum | As part of the Day in Al-Anon | |
| Past | San Jose | D22 | Sat | Aug 18, 2012 | Writing for the New Book, “Intimacy and the Alcoholic Relationship” | ||
| Past | Concord | Sat | May 5, 2012 | Writing for the New Book, “Intimacy and the Alcoholic Relationship” | As part of the One Day Assembly | ||
| Past | Petaluma | D11 & | Sat | Mar 31, 2012 | Writing for the New Book, “Intimacy and the Alcoholic Relationship” |
Updated: January 26, 2013 6:28 pm
How to Obtain Al-Anon and Alateen Literature
Al-Anon members, the public and health professionals wishing to obtain Al-Anon or Alateen literature may do so in one of several ways.
Meetings: Most Al-Anon and Alateen meetings have Al-Anon and Alateen literature available. They may sell the literature or ask for a donation, usually at the price that they paid for it. For a list of meeting locations, visit the Meetings Page.
Literature Distribution Centers: Many Al-Anon and Alateen groups staff local centers where literature may be purchased. Some will also accept phone, FAX or mail orders. Some will also arrange to mail the order to you. Since volunteers staff most of the literature distribution centers, centers are open for limited hours. Click to find a Literature Distribution Center near you.
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters: To purchase literature from Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., write to 1600 Corporate Landing Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617, click on this web site address www.al-anon.alateen.org or call 757-563-1600.
Current Public Service Announcements (PSAs): All PSAs contain the WSO’s toll-free meeting information number for the US and Canada.
Guidelines are available in PDF format on the Al-Anon Members Website (password required): www.al-anon.org/members.
Lit Hits
CAL Quotes of the Month!
Welcome to the NCWSA Quote of the Month!
This is an opportunity to get more acquainted with our Conference Approved Literature (CAL) in Al-Anon. It is a service of the Literature/Forum Coordinator and Alternate Coordinator in Northern California Al-Anon.
Find the answer to a quote and send it to the Literature Coordinator and see if you are the first to receive a Lit Hit Hurrah! Send your favorite quotes to the same email and see if you can stump the fellowship!
Current Lit Hit
May 2013
“We who have turned to Al-Anon have often done so in despair, unable to believe in the possibility of change and unable to go on as we have before. We feel cheated out of a loving companion, over-burdened with responsibilities, unwanted, unloved and alone. There are even those of us who are arrogant, smug self-righteous and dominating. We come to Al-Anon, however, because we want and need help.”
Answer to come
…
Past Lit Hits
Below is the history of the quotes which have been posted. They were originally posted only on the NCWSC list serve and were added to the NCWSA website Literature page in January 2013.
April 2013
“The spiritual awakening that came to me through the Al-Anon Steps shows me how to find and use that unseen force in every area of my life, one day at a time.”
From “As We understood” page 104.
March 2013
“If I were to find a single word to describe my experience of growing up with the family disease of alcoholism, that word would be loneliness. Until I came to Al-Anon, my loneliness was so intense and all-encompassing that I assumed it had always always been with me. I though I was, by nature, a shy, quiet, withdrawn loner who was better off not even trying to communicate with anyone.”
From Survival to Recovery “I had choices” page 190 in my edition.
February 2013
“Al-Anon has taught me that change is possible, in fact, inevitable, so that I don’t have to be mired in unhappiness when things go badly, or regret that something is gone when I lose someone or something I love. A new beauty, a new life, will spring out of everything that happens if I keep practicing the Twelve Steps and learn to live joyfully, acceptingly, one day at a time.”
Hint, this comes from one of the older pieces of literature. Good luck to everyone.
From “As we understood”, page 68.
January 2013
“Along the lines of Easy Does It (but do it), I sometimes need to expand the scope of this slogan: ‘Think’ (in moderation), ‘Think’ (and pray), ‘Think’ (out loud with a sponsor), or ‘Think’ (and feel).”
“Think is an invitation for clarity, but not endless rumination. God help me to think, but not too much!”
In Hope for Today, p. 36, February 5th
December 2012
“While most of us know that alcoholism is a disease, too few recognize it as ‘family disease’, which may emotionally, spiritually, and often physically affect three or four people in addition to the alcoholic.”
This comes from one of our pamphlets. Good Luck!
It comes from the beginning of P-4, Alcoholism The Family Disease
November 2012
“It is said that we never get more than we can handle. This can be hard to believe as we watch the door slam shut on twenty years of marriage or sit in an emergency room with undeniably broken ribs from the latest violent alcoholic episode . . . “
Clue – it was groundbreaking CAL when it was published. Let us know why, if you know the source.
Not only did a member find the quote, but knew why it was a special publication – the book In All Our Affairs, page 7. This landmark book opened issues of abuse and violence in the program and gave them validity, no longer treating them as outside issues.
October 2012
“If my faith has been dimmed by disappointment I can begin to regain it by clinging to a spiritual idea like the ones expressed in the Serenity Prayer. This living philosophy will give me a secure foundation of faith.”
ODAT, October 10th
September 2012
“Living with an alcoholic, drunk or sober, can be a mind-altering experience. . . This uncertainty can carry over into every aspect of our lives, including matters of sex and intimacy. Our ability to have healthy sexual relationships can be hurt by the effects of alcoholism in our lives.”
Discovering Choices, p.40.
August 2, 2012
“We look for our answers in other people, ‘If only she’d change, –I’d be fine’ — yet can never quite convince anyone else to go along with or plans. As a result, we feel victimized by these ‘insensitive’ people who, we believe, could make our lives better if they cared about us enough to make a few changes.”
How Al-Anon Works, p. 6.
July NCWSC, 2012
“When we reach this point of letting to, we can begin to see others for who they are, rather than for who we hope they will become.”
From Opening Our Hearts, Chapter 2, Loss of the Dream, p. 42
July 12, 2012
“Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”
From One Day at a Time in Al-Anon, p. 84.
June 4, 2012
“There’s something more than my own weak will that keeps me coming back to Al-Anon.”
From Opening our Hearts, Transforming Our Losses, page 152, under the chapter of “Taking Care of Ourselves”.
May 5, 2012
“We hear a lot in Al-Anon about unconditional love. Such love makes no demands, exacts no payment, has no expectations. . . Unconditional love asks for nothing except expression. It blesses both the giver and the receiver.”
From How Al-Anon Works, Chapter on Service, beginning paragraphs, p. 101.
April 13, 2012
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
From Alcoholism the Family Disease, page 21, under Thoughts to Live By.
March 8, 2012
“Besides the noble art or getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.”
From Courage to Change, p. 281.