(Madisyn Taylor)
It's easy to forget sometimes that everyone has a story to tell if we take the time to listen. We are so accustomed to hearing the stories of people in the news that we sometimes lose track of the fact that the random stranger on the bus also has a fascinating story about where they came from and how they got to be where they are. The sheer variety of paths taken in this world … is indicative of how much we can learn from each individual. Sometimes the shy, quiet person at work has the most amazing life story and the biggest dreams, it is up to us to take the time to find out.
When we retain the spark of curiosity and the warmth required to open someone up, we always have in front of us the makings of a great story. All we have to do is ask.
My Thoughts:
I get asked a lot when running writing groups about how to go about compiling life memoirs, where to start and more importantly how to begin.
By the time we get to a stage where we think we’d like to record our life there is already so much of it that has happened that it is impossible to sit and start from the beginning and put it into words in a chronological order.
My advice it is do it in easy to manage chunks.
Get a notebook and jot down every memory as it occurs … use a new page for each memory.
As you remember more details of each memory just add the information to the relevant page.
Repeat with each new memory.
Get a loose-leaf file folder.
Once you have a lot of notes about one memory then write it up as a stand-alone short story on paper or print it out and put it in the file. Remember to add the date that it happened on the top of the first sheet.
Repeat this for all the memories but slot them into the correct date order in the folder.
Continue to add to the notebook and write the stories and this folder will eventually hold the basics for writing your life story … a working draft of memories in date order.
This method allows you to add more memories and fill-in more details for each as they come back to you.