You Don’t Have to Be Old to Write a Memoir
Ann Frank wrote in her journal daily and her story has been told through a book and movie. Other authors who write do so to share their misery, their fame, their politics, or their ideas of how to do or not do what they did in life. Writing down these moments of an individual’s life offers a public witness to their existence in the world. As people age, we often forget that our grandparents lived life much as we did. They had worries, bills, kids, friends, and jobs. They had hardship and sadness, and said things they regretted. All the people that ever existed lived with the same emotions we have today. The times were different, challenges different, but the emotions they had as friends, lovers, parents, and children were much the same as ours.
When we die and our children’s children take over this world, will we be remembered? Will a funny story we always told at Christmas be repeated or forgotten because we are long gone? Writing your story, writing any part of the life that you experienced, if only the memory of one special event, will become a treasure someday to a family member.
No memoir is a waste of time. Short or long, it leaves behind a trail to who we were in our family. It speaks from the past in a distinct voice that those who knew us heard clearly. It whispers to our grandchildren that they are because we were first.
It sounds a little desperate to grasp at witnesses to our being through writing. But that is what we do as writers. We are leaving bread trails with each word dropped so that someone, anyone will follow. Someone will note that we made the effort, that we were here. So write moments, write memories, and be proud of being at whatever age you are.
Writing Memoirs Workshop on February 15th at 9 am – Traylor Writing Services Center, 3025 25th Street, Columbus, In. Call 812-348-2590 to register now. Also Friday, March 1st Memoirs class available.
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