06/06/2026
Yesterday I had the pleasure of being invited to speak to a wonderful group of writers here in Galena. What a delightful afternoon it was—filled with conversation, curiosity, laughter, and a shared love of stories.
We talked about finding stories all around us. Not just in books, but in houses, streets, photographs, memories, and the ordinary moments we might otherwise pass by.
One of the stories I shared came from childhood. All seven of us packed into the station wagon, when my dad would say, “Look up. Look out. What do you see?”
Someone would answer, “A tree, Dad.”
And he’d reply, “Really? That’s all you got?”
Another would chime in, “A green tree, Dad.”
But Dad was teaching us something much bigger than identifying what was in front of us. He was teaching us to notice.
I eventually understood the assignment.
I didn’t just see the tree.
I became the tree. I was the tree. I talked for the tree.
And so the stories began.
Before today’s presentation began, I quietly took a few photographs of the building, the room, and the gathering itself.
Now I’d like to turn those photographs into a writing prompt.
Choose one image and tell us a story.
It can be factual.
It can be historical.
It can be completely imagined.
Perhaps it’s the story of the building.
Perhaps it’s the story of someone attending.
Perhaps it’s a story inspired by a detail only you noticed.
There are no rules except one:
Trust your observation, and by golly, trust your feeling.
To the writers who attended today, I hope you’ll join in.
And to my Galena Homes Do Tell Stories followers, you’re invited too.
Let’s see where these photographs take us and create a thread filled with stories.
I’ll begin with the photographs below.
The rest is up to you.
📷
