When I speak to groups I often suggest that folks write a memoir for family and friends.
To view my memoir take a look here
OK, so you might be saying, “I’m not a writer” or “I don’t know what to say. Why should I consider doing a memoir? Who would publish it?”
Good questions. But remember, what you don’t write down for those you care about to see may be forever lost. Too often when we gather for family occasions ideas you might want remembered don’t get talked about.
So you may say, “I’m not important enough to write a memoir.” But you ARE important to those who love you, who care about you. When I wrote my memoir during the pandemic I had time on my hands to think about writing one. And, I thought, telling multiple stories of my life frankly might be of interest to family members after I’m gone and they want to remember me. I never thought it would ever be published. After all, the only name recognition I really have is on signs that appear on the front of certain office supply stores!
I suggest that folks begin by sitting in a quiet place and thinking about your life. Is there a theme to your life story? What stands out? How do you want to be remembered? What stories might you share by writing them down in a way you might never converse about during your daily life routine?
Here’s a funny anecdote from my life. I’ll bet you have one too to include in your story.
One of my first summer jobs was working for my hometown newspaper in Melrose, MA, a little suburb outside of Boston. My mother knew the editor, and so I was hired. I wrote obituaries, playground news, and I pored through wedding forms brides and grooms would fill out for me to write a news story for the weekly paper following their weekend marriage ceremony.
The last day of work, the matronly editor of the paper asked if I would drive the newspaper’s panel truck about nine miles into Boston to pick up some rolls of newsprint. I had just gotten my driver’s license. I had never driven a large panel truck before. I remember the editor, Dorothy Raymond, patting my shoulder as she said, “You can do this…”
Getting in the truck and starting it was the last uneventful thing that happened on the trip to Boston. On the way from the parking lot I steered too close to a corner of the building, sheered off the side mirror and listened to it crash in the driveway. I decided to just keep going.
Next, I needed to cross the Mystic River toll bridge. Unfortunately I did not maneuver the the narrow drive entrance to the toll booth successfully. Rather, I drove the vehicle over the left curb. Horrified, I was heading toward the toll booth itself. I can still picture how the collector ran for his life out the booth side door. Fortunately, I was able to maneuver the truck back onto the drive entrance. I nervously handed him the toll money. We were both really sweating.
Next stop, Clarendon Street at the newsprint warehouse. I backed the vehicle too close to the loading dock, slightly damaging the rear doors. The warehouse foreman came to the driver’s side window and said sarcastically. “Do you want to load newsprint rolls into the truck? If so you are going to have to pull forward.”
The rest of the trip proceeded uneventfully. As I drove into the parking lot of the newspaper, I noticed someone had cleaned up the side view mirror mishap.
Ms. Raymond was very nice to me. “Don’t worry,” she said, “we can fix the truck. I’m glad nothing happened to YOU.”
I wonder what my mother and Ms. Raymond talked about after the truck incident. Or if they hired an intern the next summer.
Suggestion. Think about sitting in a quiet place each day. Think about the stories and events of your life you want to leave behind as a legacy to your family and friends. Make a list. When you are ready, begin to put your story together. Take a little time each day to develop your ideas. Don’t worry about how long it takes, but be disciplined. I like to write in the morning. I sometimes spend an hour or two at it before thinking about breakfast. Storyworth, a new initiative, can help you with a memoir. They send out weekly questions for would-be memoir writers to answer. But you can do the kind of self-storytelling on your own. Honest.
Sometimes reading the stories of others in a memoir they produce may inspire you. But don’t worry if lack of fame is a concern of yours. Remember, every life matters. Especially yours. Write me if you have concerns or questions. I’d be glad to chat with you electronically.
