Tomorrow I am giving a "memoir" workshop at Gilda's Club in Royal Oak. I have spent the better part of the afternoon preparing for the class.I feel it's not for me to critique or give advice to my students, but to be an enthuiastic cheerleader. We all have a story to tell. A lesson learned. A funny encounter. An "A-ha!" moment. We just need to find a pen and get it on paper. It seems to me that is the hardest part of writing a memoir--making time to do it.
Before my grandmother passed away, she wrote an 88 page autobiography in her own handwriting. I don't think any of us that read it looked for spelling or grammar errors. We looked for meaning in her life, and it was there. Everywhere. Everyday. I am so glad she found the time and energy to leave her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren such a loving memory. We shall never forget her.
So, I'm bringing Grandma's work, a couple of my favorite published memoirs and my own "Rock Star Mommy" to share. I've got a few exercises to get the creative juices flowing and a big megaphone to cheer my students on!
