Are We Old Enough Yet?
December 1st, 2010 | 
Author: I never thought I’d be old enough to write a memoir, but that has recently changed. Now I realize that I have an important story to tell at any age, and I started writing it.
Three months ago I took a writing workshop with Natalie Goldberg, and I’ve been consistently working on my book ever since. Yesterday I recorded 25,835 words with NaNoWriMo and I’m still working on my book.
The Galveston County Daily News did a story that includes my participation in the writing contest. The newspaper also mentioned my upcoming writing group that begins on 1/1/11, and they included a link to my web site for more information. Hats off to GCDN. See details on the Power of Writing Practice at www.janetcohenconsulting.com.
My memoir will be published in 2011. On the surface it looks like a book about Hurricane Ike, but it is more than that. Though Ike is the throughline, it’s not just another timeline with stories about how awful the storm was. My book is more about the generosity of the human spirit and the silver linings that arise when people are genuinely evoked to do something for others. It is a story about philanthropy, community building and hope. At times you’ll laugh and at times you may shed a tear or two, especially when you read how the storm impacted my daughter.
A second throughline in the book is the relationship between loss and prior losses. This will be rich with information for people in helping professions who counsel people in grief. More to come.
Years ago, I wanted to write a memoir about AIDS/HIV because I was so impacted by it in the 1980’s and early 1990’s. By the time I was 35 years old I had lost more friends than I had years in my lifetime, so I stopped counting deaths. It’s been nearly 20 years since then. I’m still impacted, but to a lesser degree. And yet, I publish this post on World AIDS Day.
So I ask you. How old do you have to be to write a memoir? And if you are courageous enough to write one, what would it be about, besides your life?
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What wonderful questions my guess is that you can write a memoir anytime. Before I would say you had to wait till you have learned to write but now they have wonderful devices that you can talk into and it types.
I certainly am courageous to write one myself. and what would it be about other than my life….Life as seen and experienced through my eyes…it would be about people on the path with me and how we formed relationships and the wisdom collected along the way…knowing that it is always a work in process as life unfolds in front of me.
I am inspired by what you are going for Janet. Well done my friend.
Mari
Love your point about how it’s a continually unfolding process. Thanks for the comments, and for the acknowledgement. I HEAR you, my dear friend.
nice post. thanks.