My friend Sandra Miller spent years writing and revising her forthcoming memoir, Trove. Below she explains what prompted her to write this story, and how the memoir developed. - Lynette Sandra (above) writes: The idea of finding treasure has been with me since I was little and would search … [Read more...] about Writing “Trove,” a Memoir
boomers
Seniors Write Stories from Their Lives
As I've written in other posts here, I teach boomers and seniors to write stories from their lives. Our classes are moving, exciting, suspenseful, and a whole lot of fun—because that's what the stories the students write are. My Legacy is Simply This When new students tell me they have this … [Read more...] about Seniors Write Stories from Their Lives
Writing Stories from Your Life
I teach memoir and life story writing. Reading my students' stories has given me a peek into the lives of those who've fought in wars or made ends meet on the home front; and of little girls who wandered along wooden floors in an old dime store, accompanied by the slightly sour aroma that emanated … [Read more...] about Writing Stories from Your Life
What Keeps Me From Writing? The Fire Within, Part 1
Sitting across from each other in her large, disordered office and wearing almost matching sleeveless dresses, the library director and I ignore the fact that my dress is clinging to my chest and my skin is glazed with perspiration. It’s a breezeless August day, and the air conditioning is on the … [Read more...] about What Keeps Me From Writing? The Fire Within, Part 1
What Keeps Me From Writing? The Fire Within, Part 2
Feeble Counter-Measures I have tried all the known methods for minimizing hot flashes. I take deep breaths to calm myself while grasping an icy beverage when a hot flash threatens. I eat tofu, lentils, and garbanzo beans, drizzle flaxseed on my food, and drink one cup of coffee in the morning. I … [Read more...] about What Keeps Me From Writing? The Fire Within, Part 2
Tell Me a Story
In a previous post, I wrote that a "memoir is a story." Here's what I meant. When you're writing a memoir, or doing most types of creative writing for that matter, you're not just presenting a collection of facts or opinions. Not if you want anyone to read and relate to what you've written. Not if … [Read more...] about Tell Me a Story
Memoir Writing Tips
If you're writing a memoir, or planning to start one, I hope you'll follow this series of articles on memoir writing, and leave a comment about challenges you're facing in your writing, or share updates on your progress. Memoir or Autobiography? Many of the boomers and seniors I teach are working … [Read more...] about Memoir Writing Tips
Teaching Memoir Writing to Boomers and Seniors, Part 2
In Part 1 of this post I wrote that I love teaching creative writing, particularly memoir writing to boomers and seniors, in part because of all I'm learning from my students. In addition to ice storms in the Old West, a nudist in San Diego, and POW life during World War II, a student who recently … [Read more...] about Teaching Memoir Writing to Boomers and Seniors, Part 2