Memoir Writing
Memoirs provide an enduring and accessible means of passing down a personal history. Some memoirs have made their way to universities, libraries and archives, in addition to the bookcases of children and grandchildren.
My goal is to chronicle the family journey in the voice of the storyteller. I love having my client’s children tell me that they experience their parent’s voice and personality when they read the memoir. Working with a writer makes it easier for my clients to be confident that their book is thoughtfully written, with insight and clarity.
What are memoirs all about? In my humble opinion, memoirs can be a window into another person’s heart and mind.
Here are a few thoughts from famous authors and some of my clients on why they’ve written their memoir:
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To Inspire Others
"My hope is that this book will inspire everyone to tap into their own journeys of becoming and to share those stories with one another."
– Michelle Obama, Becoming Michelle Obama
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To Share Insights and Wisdom
“I have learned so much in this long life of mine and I’d like my grandkids to understand that much of my success was from luck, but also from hard work and a lot of failure.”
– A.W., one of my clients
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To Convey a Family's Journey
“I want my family to have pride in our European roots. My family was stripped of our possessions and dignity. Some of us made it to America, one by one, and fought to be successful in this country. I want my family to never forget that our success was forged by the sacrifice and fortitude of our ancestors.”
– B.D., one of my clients
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“It is my emotional gene map.”
– Fern Schumer Chapman, Motherland: Beyond the Holocaust: A Mother-Daughter Journey to Reclaim the Past
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To Keep Stories Alive
“No one you have been and no place you have gone ever leaves you. The new parts of you simply jump in the car and go along for the rest of the ride. The success of your journey and your destination all depend on who's driving.”
– Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run
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To Provide a Historical Account
“…[I]t will be found much better by all parties to leave the past to history, especially as I propose to write that history myself."
– Winston Churchill, in his speech to the House of Commons on January 23, 1948
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