Do you have the knack for telling these experiences with hair-raising capability?
Such stories will be compiled in a book as a volunteer fundraising project for the Commonwealth Health Center.
Coordinators Katharyn Tuten-Puckett of the Young Writers Workshop and CNMI Museum of History and Culture executive director Robert Hunter said the stories must not be legends or myths.
“We want stories of things that happened to people who are living in the CNMI. We are interested in beliefs about sea ghosts, sea spirits, how magic works and so forth,” Tuten-Puckett said.
She said contributors can write about events or stories that happened to them in the CNMI or on another island or country, but they should be residing here or have lived here for a period of time.
Tuten-Puckett and Hunter are urging the contributors to follow the basic principles of journalism:
• What happened? Be specific
• When did it happen? Approximate year and time of the year.
• Where did it happen? Island, village, country, city, etc.
• Who did it happen to? If it happened to a family member or friend, give their name if that is acceptable to them. Otherwise you can say “a family member, my youngest cousin, 78-year-old grandmother, etc.”
• Why did it happen? Or, why do you think it happened?
The copyright to the book and profits from its sales will be donated to the CHC Volunteers Association.
“We are all familiar with the work of the group and the difference that they make in health care here in the CNMI. We want to help them to help the community through the development and sales of the proposed book,” Tuten-Puckett said.
Contributors have until Jan. 29, 2010 to submit their stories.
“If you know other people who have stories to tell, you can share our e-mail or send us their contact name and information,” Tuten-Puckett said.
Contributors can e-mail their stories to [email protected] with an attached permission form, or you can bring your stories to the NMI Museum of History and Culture on Middle Road.
For more information, call Tuten-Puckett at 287-4849.
