Aug1Written by:Beyond The Trees
8/1/2009 4:23 PM 
Abigail Thomas, author of “How To Write Your Own Memoir,” (posted online at Oprah.com), says, “Writing memoir is a way to figure out who you used to be and how you got to be who you are.”
Thomas goes on to say that in writing about her life experiences, she is searching for truth or clarity. As a person who writes regularly, I agree. For me, I can process an emotionally-charged event better on paper than inside my head. My first draft captures raw truth and emotion. But it’s after I edit and revise the piece that clarity begins to emerge. Writing a personal essay is a way for me to chew on a situation, analyze it and draw conclusions. By the time I’m finished writing and revising, the experience feels more integrated, settled and composed. I felt this way after I wrote "Secret sign of love turns women into true sisters" following my sister’s untimely death.
You’ve probably read published memoirs. My beloved book club (we celebrate 15 years together this year!) has read: Burroughs’ Running with Scissors, Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking, Frankl’s A Man’s Search for Meaning, and McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes. But memoirs can also be written solely for your loved ones, or even for an audience of one – you. It doesn’t have to be a 200-page book, either. You can craft a one or two page piece that is meaningful to you and/or those you wish to share it with.
Need help starting? Skim the ten “thought starters” at the bottom of Abigail Thomas’ article and pick one that resonates with you. That may be the jumping-off point you need.
- Jennifer Sauers
Copyright ©2009 Beyond The Trees LLC
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