My Big, Fat Memoir-Writing Synthesis

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Assisted by Sharon Lippincott’s and Jerry Waxler’s Lifewriters Forum Yahoo group, I’ve become increasingly interested in memoir-writing as a form of identity-constructing storytelling.

Here are some interesting bits I’ve come across on the topic:

    • You don’t have to have had great drama in your life or a rags-to-riches story to write a good memoir. So says memoirist Jeannette Walls (The Glass Castle) in a Reader’s Digest article by Joe Kita.
    • Writing a memoir can be therapeutic and cathartic, Walls says. “Even if the book hadn’t sold a single copy, it would still have been worth it.” Kita adds that writing a memoir helps the writer “make some sense out of his or her existence, to find some meaning in the world.” (You don’t even have to publish your story, Kita notes.)
    • In the same issue of Reader’s Digest, you’ll find five excerpts from

      Open magic book with flying shining stars

      memoirs, and Maureen Mackey suggests 10 Great Memoirs to Read.

    • One of the books on memoir-writing that I’ve seen discussed quite favorably is Shimmering Images: A Handy Little Guide to Memoir Writing by Lisa Dale Norton. A blogger (and memoir author) on Amazon, Theo Pauline Nestor, interviewed Norton, and spotlighted her thesis that “memoir writing is a means for transformation, not only of oneself but of the world.” Here’s how that process works, in Norton’s words:

      When we write memoir we craft a story of our past from disparate pieces. One could argue that all experience is random. To make a story from this random experience we must apply structure. By applying structure we create form and meaning. As we create meaning about our past, we have the opportunity to re-envision what we believe those past events meant. In so doing we open up the possibility of living a new way in the future. (If you see the past differently, the future that rises from it will consequently have to be different, too.)

      When we claim new meaning around our past and offer that story as a written narrative for others to read, they are given an opportunity to rethink and rewrite their lives. This process of transforming oneself and then passing on the transformation is a radical act of change. The more people who do it, the more apt change on a large scale will take place. This is an organic, subtle and powerful way to influence the world.

      Norton suggests that would-be memoirists consider the first 15 years practice, as well as read and analyze texts.

    • Judy H. Wright offers a PDF download entitled “Reasons for Recording Your Life Story,” of which some of my favorites of the 24 listed include:
    • When we record something, we remember more.
    • A life examined and recorded is twice precious, first the experience itself and then the memories it evokes when we read about it later.
    • There is an inner need in each of us to be remembered. To reflect and to see that our lives had value.
    • It is the ultimate journey of self-discovery, even if no one else ever reads it.
    • Wright ends the list with this telling tidbit: “A recent survey taken of a group of elderly people indicated that their major life regrets were in not contributing and sharing more feelings, thoughts and emotions with family, friends and community.”
    • Tips for getting started on a memoir include choosing a favorite object or photograph as a jumping-off point for the memoir, as well as speaking your story into a recording device if the idea of writing it daunts you. These ideas come from personal historian Dan Curtis (though I couldn’t find them on his site) by way of the blog Legacy Smile.
    • Back around New Year’s, I cited Gena Haskett, who blogged about 2008 as having been the Year of Personal Narratives. That blog posting is also notable for several striking examples of ” personal narratives … that not only could touch your heart but cause you to think beyond the surface of the story.” Check them out.
    • If you like the idea of a memoir but feel too overwhelmed or intimidated to write yours, consider hiring a personal historian to assist. The Web site of the Association of Personal Historians offers a great list of Frequently Asked Questions about Personal History to help folks make decisions about committing to a personal history. I’ll feature a Q&A interview with association member Sarah White in early April.
    • A ton of sites focus on memoir-writing, lifewriting, and similar pursuits. An intriguing site about learning from the past experiences of others (while connecting with them) is the Legacy Project. Here’s the site’s focus:

The Legacy Project is about creating your life, connecting with others, and changing the world. A multigenerational education project, it offers free online activities and guides, books, essay contests, workshops, exhibits, community programs, and more.

This is a “big picture” education project for children and adults that draws on scientific research. The Legacy Project’s three banner programs reflect the three ways we make a difference and evolve our legacy. LifeDreams explores individual potential and creating your life. Across Generations explores our connections with others and encourages closer relationships between generations. Our World explores the world around us and our role in it, looking at how each of us can change the world to deal with challenges like the environment.

    • Another admirable memoir-related project is Timeslips, “a creative storytelling method, originally designed to be used with people with dementia and their caregivers.” Says the site:

TimeSlips is a group process that opens storytelling to people with cognitive challenges by replacing the pressure to remember with the encouragement to imagine.

[TimeSlips] stories capture the hopes, dreams, regrets, fears, humor, and desires of people with memory loss, and help them connect with staff, family, and friends.