Great post, Amber. Your email address will not be published. Finally, Emma asked us each to read out one of our excerpts and we were able to discuss them as a group. The greatest challenge is to keep research and information shared age appropriate – For example, a seven-year old would be more inclined to be disappointed a news bulletin interrupted favorite show than what the bulletin contained. What kinds of research could you do to increase your knowledge of setting or theme. Good insights! Developing ideas from prompts—no struggling for start-up ideas. Memoir, obviously, has to do with memory, and though that might mean writing about an event in your childhood, it is well worth remembering that you are by no means so limited. Two of us had attended the taster session in June. Instruction includes: Research, interviews, personal stories, genealogy, photos, permissions. At 5:30pm, Emma welcomed us and asked us share what we were writing or what we were trying to write. Attendee and committed Genesis supporter, Janet Baird has shared her write up of the event. She has a successful background in non-fiction writing through law, journalism and academics and can guide you to write your own stories in a safe, comfortable, sometimes life-changing environment. If your memoir is about illness, abuse, or other social and psychological themes, research may mean reading studies or talking to professionals on the subject. I would recommend citing resources in the traditional way unless you are not quoting directly from those sources and they are meant as supporting and/or follow-up resources for your readers, in which case I’d put them in a “Resources” section at the back of the book. It helps you discover and uncover your universally important message. Weather you want to write a memoir 50 pages or 400 pages (like mine), I learned a lot from writing my family's history and am wiling to share this information with YOU and/or your organization. Great example, Nancy. If you’d like to watch the recording, please complete the form below, to donate via PayPal. A successful memoir essay might be written The fun you will have. We examined ‘Feet’. Emma then showed us three examples of memoir writing and we took turns to read these out, before we discussed the point of view used by the writer as well as the use of the senses. A deeper form of reflection, however, is informed by research. And don’t forget the library. The comfort level of our surroundings allowed us to go below the surface of everyday interactions, and the result was an amazing richness of memories and observations.”, “I actually started doing a lot more writing after the workshop. I was amazed how much research I had to do while writing my memoir. What is the ideal method of citing research in a memoir? We also looked at how the writer builds tension and keeps the reader reading! Hi Mary, yes the amount of research can come as a surprise when we think we’re simply writing “from memory.” I also found that research helped to fill gaps I had in my memory. Please leave a comment. This is where present-to-past reflection can help. ;” The searing pain of discrimination  in “My Bro Joe.”. I will go into my next one understanding the need for research and not have to cram it all in at the end. Thinking deeply about what happened — that is, reflecting — is done on more than one level. Much of my research has to do when certain books were published, TV shows at the time (including day of the week they played), moon phases and holidays. Photo Credit: lizkentleon via Compfight cc, Your email address will not be published. Choice of user-comfortable workspace—roundtable or private work area; choice of working materials—laptop or paper supplies. What do you see as the greatest challenge to researching your memoir? By Ruthie MyersCincinnati Jewish Teen Collective-Mayerson JCC, By Elisabeth Johnson Vassar College Student, By Barbara L. MorgensternMemoir Writing LLC Founder, By Tim HughesDirector of Technology Infrastructure Strategy and Development, By Lowanne E. JonesAssociate Professor Emerita & Former Head, Romance Languages and Literature, University of Cincinnati, “When I was first invited to the writing workshop, I was reluctant because I feared that my skills might fall short and that other attendees might be critical once they heard my memoir. Tell me what He did – is my memoir of healing from incest and other abuse. A recent  Memoir Writing workshop group gathering for the lunch provided. Research, when done in this manner, will organically affect the nature and depth of your reflection. The session ended at 7.40 pm which was late, but the time flew! When it comes to creating intrigue with your writing – and trust me, you want to do this, especially for a memoir – you have to write by showing, not telling. can help to round out the context of a memoir without breaking trust with your readers. Importantly, in Barb’s view, memoir writing is redefined. How Evernote Can Revolutionize the Way You Manage Research, Memoir vs. Legacy Writing and Why You Might Want to Do Both. This is one of many examples where research into history can enhance a family history. Research may include digging up old photos, reading newspapers and histories of the time you’re writing about, or studying memoirs by authors who have undergone similar challenges. I was able to find my great grandfather’s enlistment records in the Civil War – once I found his unit, I could track the history of the unit and knew which battles he was in and how he ended up in Andersonville Prison (his whole unit was captured by the Confederates after the battle of Atlanta). I never underestimate the power in its unfolding. It may involve traveling to the places where events occurred. We had 8 minutes for each. Company Limited by Guarantee: 7855645, Registered in England and Wales. Meaning and relevance come from reflection. Charity registration number 1179130. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In my search for a father, I got caught up in other “games” played that did not help healing. Also, another thought I have about this topic is that, like back story, much of the research we do doesn’t actually go into the final work; yet the research we do informs and makes richer our reflection, adding dimension to the final piece. And they are more than journalistically written true stories. Without reflection, you do not have a memoir — you have a vignette or series of vignettes that describes events, but does not imbue the events with meaning and relevance. A deeper form of reflection is informed by research, No Wasted Ink Writer’s Links | No Wasted Ink, Under Our Masks: Honesty in Memoir Writing | Readers Unbound, Word for Writers, Part 1: Why You Should Care. My first line is, “I hate boys’ games.” My father molested me and initially made it a game of hide the soap. If you are already a member of The Memoir Network, this e-book and others are available to … In the second, we were once again reflecting on a time in our lives. Research may include digging up old photos, reading newspapers and histories of the time you’re writing about, or studying memoirs by authors who have undergone similar challenges. Calendars to show what day of the week a particular day occurred and number of days between certain periods of time, etc. Emma showed us how dialogue is vital for making memoir come alive. Finally, we read out part of a Norwegian autobiography ‘My Struggle’ where the writer Karl Ove Knausgaard recalls an awkward social time when he was 16. Click here to read memoir writing examples from our workshops. All-day availability of coffee and soft drinks. Libraries are great recourses, but with the internet at my fingertips there’s no excuse not to have the correct facts and details. Obviously you can’t attend all those conferences. What are its major themes? You will leave the workshop with three memoirs you have written. Before a short break, Emma shared her top tips for writing memoir. Research is also important to help you understand and interpret the scenes you write while placing your story in the larger context of life. For the sake of brevity, I’ll just give you an overview of this writing technique, but if you’re interested in mastering the ability to pull readers in, you can check out this detailed explanation . In fact, going back to places in your past can be incredibly powerful, and provide the emotional, sensory, and concrete details necessary to give life to your scenes. The workshops are curated to reflect diversity and have drawn participants ages 20 through 93, all together for a special space in time, crafting their stories. This time writing in the past tense. The first excerpt was from the semi-fictional ‘Reading in the Dark’ by evocative Irish writer Seamus Deane. * Links marked with an asterisk (*) are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to buy that product, book, or course, I receive a small percentage of the purchase price. Buying through my affiliate links helps to support this website. I’ll bet that discovery of information opened a whole new line of inquiry for you. Statements that begin with, “Looking back, I realize …” or, “Now I know …,” etc. This writing technique works. If you would prefer not to use PayPal, please donate via our Donation Form. Memoir writing is uniquely engaging for students as they close out on another school year. AS ANYONE WHO HAS WRITTEN ABOUT MEMOIR KNOWS. Interviewing is another powerful form of research; what do others remember about that time and the people involved? A recent web search yielded more than 150 writers’ conferences where memoir writing was a part of the program. Pingback: No Wasted Ink Writer’s Links | No Wasted Ink, Pingback: Under Our Masks: Honesty in Memoir Writing | Readers Unbound. I can also ask myself questions about what occurred (the whys and wherefores) and write down the answers that occur to me. Doris Lessing’s memoir ‘Under my Skin’ was next. While your suggestions have been made for journaling and memoir, I think they are perfect for those of us who write fiction as well. Heather, you make a good point about the importance of integrating research into your memoir in a consistent manner with the narration. All written in under 25 minutes with minimal editing later. By responding to simple prompts, you will excavate memoirs located just under the surface of your consciousness. This is also perfect for distance learning as it engages students and My memoir is in first person, set in the 70’s and 80’s and a little current. When writing memoir, I usually do a simple time line that includes major events of the period. This workshop was about point of view, examining using adult perspective or writing through the eyes of a child. Gina, I think it depends on how many you have — what type of memoir it is. And my editors also did research, cleaning up quotes and place names. I also do the math on ages of the people I’m writing about. All Rights Reserved. Suggested donation: £10. In the first exercise we described an incident from our own childhood, writing in the first person and the present tense. Memoir Writing 101 comes with The Lifewriter's Guides , a biweekly "workshop in an email.". A memoir can be based on events just minutes old or decades ago. On Wednesday 9th September, we were delighted to once again welcome Emma Darwall Smith from Communication Collective as she led us through our second Online Memoir Writing workshop, exploring narrative ‘Point of View’. Are you also researching abuse and incest in general? We read a part where Doris is only two but remembers the rough physicality of riding with her father on his horse. I realized that our written expressions sometimes give a deeper understanding of who we are and our connections to others.”, — Marcia Bunce Koehler, J.D., Butler County, “I was surprised by the depth of the responses to such apparently simple writing prompts. The themes are – searching for a father who loves me, that healing is possible even after major abuse, and many of the things we do are based on the hurts we’ve received in the past. Of course, research is important for fact checking your memories, giving your memoir a high level of credibility. And without the baggage of fear, nor negativity about your writing, the words flow. That’s a lot to ask of any writer, though a good way to begin the challenge of writing a memoir is to start a list of the most memorable events of your life. The library offers a rich resource of materials not to be found online, as well as staff to help you find what you’re looking for. Each conference offers something different, so you want to do an online search and discover which conference is the best fit for you. I’ve had to research music and musicians of a certain time period when writing a story about my mother, a singer. Some of these links are to products on Amazon — as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Don’t start on the actual book manuscript until […] AS ANYONE WHO HAS WRITTEN ABOUT MEMOIR KNOWS, memoirs are much more than memories put to paper. Importantly, in Barb’s view, memoir writing is redefined. It encouraged me to just write more and improve different parts of my writing.”, — Paul DeMott, Jr., Chief Technology Officer, Helium SEOWinner, 2019 Cincinnati Business Courier Innovation and Technology Award. Emma then showed us three examples of memoir writing and we took turns to read these out, before we discussed the point of view used by the writer as well as the use of the senses. Also in poetry, I have researched names of plants, flowers, rocks, rivers, etc. Writing a memoir means you’re author and subject, researcher and storyteller, narrator and audience. I couldn’t have been more wrong. With gentle prompts and a fun and relaxing atmosphere, I felt very at ease with myself and the other participants. The confidence you will gain. Considering one does not want to resemble an academic dissertation. Doris was born in Iran, before her family moved to Southern-Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The first excerpt was from the semi-fictional ‘Reading in the Dark’ by evocative Irish writer Seamus Deane. I’ve found that research adds an element of “truth” and credibility to my memoir writing. Learn how your comment data is processed. A memoir can be based on events just minutes old or decades ago. Barb is dedicated to dismantling the fear associated with writing, often born by criticism during education when we were taught to write “correctly.”. In many cases it helped flesh out fragmented memories. A sampling: “I Skipped My Senior Prom to Visit Concentration Camps in Poland;” a sardonic lawyer’s choice of clothing in “What Not To Wear;” fear of flying in “Up, Up and Away….And I Didn’t Die;” a mother’s sweet memory of her first time alone with her adopted daughter from China in “My Love…. We then returned to do two writing exercises. Describe what kind of research you’ve done so far. It’s so sensual and I was very moved by it as it’s all through the eyes of a child under a table as he watches the shoes of the adults during a family crisis. I learned a lot about myself through the positive, warm feedback others gave. End of year writing activities can be difficult for students. The first, and easiest level, is that provided by distance of time and experience; for example, I can tell the story of an event that occurred in my youth while providing reflection that comes naturally from a mature point of view. While writing family history the internet has become an invaluable source of information. In her career, Barb personally discovered the joy of writing memoirs and she’s here to guide others to create their own. As you research, take copious notes, and allow yourself to digest the facts and history and conversations and opinions. Of course, you will then need to decide how much history and facts you want to (or can) include in your work without interfering with the narrative. Memoirs are comprised of two important elements: scene (narrative) and reflection. © Genesis Research Trust 2020. And by “research,” I mean any form of inquiry that helps you increase your understanding of what happened. Each chapter is short and chronological. If your memoir … Sharing (if you desire) positive group insights. The internet is helpful with details, but reading other memoirs set in the same period helps me to remember the mindset of the times. How has research helped to inform your memoir or legacy writing? What is the memoir you are writing (or want to write) about? Thank you.