Have
you ever been smacked in the head by a lightning bolt? Figurative lightning
bolt strikes occur when a particular event elicits an enlightenment, a major
change, a turning point.
A
few years ago, my husband Fred and I visited Hawaii, and as we reverently stood
on the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, my personal lightning bolt flashed
before my eyes.
Listening
to the history of December 7, 1941 was a moving, emotional moment for everyone
present, but especially for me as I remembered that my own dad was present at
Pearl Harbor during the bombing and had survived. I tried to recall anything
that he had ever told me about that day, but there were no details coming to
mind. I had a multitude of questions running through my head, but it was too
late to ask him. He had passed away about five years before my Hawaiian trip. I
would never learn his version or perspective of that day.
I
was incredibly upset with myself for never having taken the time and effort to
obtain his stories while it was possible. Had I been so self-absorbed that it
never occurred to me? This concern ignited a fire in my heart to inspire others
to preserve their stories and to capture the memories of their loved ones before
it is too late. Everyone has a worthy story, even if not as dramatic as a war
tale.
Through
extensive research, I discovered memoir writing expert, Denis Ledoux, and his
certification program for memoir writing instructors now known as The Memoir
Network. Visit http://www.TheMemoirNetwork.com.
Ledoux and his comprehensive program gave me the foundation to begin a mission to influence
and instruct on this important topic.
Through
teaching workshops for a few years, I
sensed a personal need to present the subject in a totally uncomplicated manner. My important goal was to simplify the process into easy steps for
people, especially senior citizens, and to give them confidence that preserving
their stories does not have to be overwhelming. 7 Easy Steps to
Memoir Writing: Build a Priceless Legacy One Story at a Time! was born.
Using the step-by-step method in my book might not produce a Pulitzer Prize-winning story, but it will get significant life stories and some family history
into the hands of loved ones, and that is my primary goal and passion.
This
book is a compact publication containing a powerful tool kit, message and
program. Following the seven logical steps will guide the reader on a
successful journey of memoir writing. It offers additional tips and hints that
help in alleviating the overwhelmed feeling inherent in tackling a memoir
project. It provides a comprehensive list of questions for interviewing
relatives or for formulating your own story, a list of additional resources and
select sample stories by a few of my amazing memoir writing workshop students.
The
reader will discover that preserving our stories, before they are no longer
obtainable, can actually be an enjoyable experience! Children, grandchildren,
nieces and nephews will be thankful to have in their possession the stories
that we choose to write today! It is the only way they will really know us, how
we lived, our significant life events and the paths we traveled. I view memoir
writing as a priceless gift that we present to loved ones and a legacy of
memories that we provide to future generations.
Utilizing
the 7 Easy Steps will ensure
that we don’t internally hoard our stories and take them to the grave. Allow
this article to be your personal lightning bolt! Capture the stories of a loved
one, as well as your own, in 7 Easy Steps.
Please
visit http://www.awriterspresence.com
for links to all formats including print, Kindle and Nook.
Book Description
Share with
others the significant moments of your life. Make available a collection of
your written memories for loved ones to cherish. 7 Easy Steps to Memoir Writing removes the fear and apprehension of starting a memoir
preservation project. Loved ones and future generations will someday appreciate
the stories that you choose to write today!
About the Author
 |
| Mary Anne Benedetto |
Mary
Anne Benedetto is an author, speaker, blogger, ghostwriter and Certified
Lifewriting Instructor. Although she writes inspirational fiction, her foremost
passion is teaching memoir writing workshops and helping people capture their
life stories to pass along to future generations. Author of Eyelash, Never Say Perfect, 7 Easy Steps to Memoir Writing:
Build a Priceless Legacy One Story at a
Time! and From Italy with Love &
Limoncello, she enjoys golf, travel, walking the spectacular South Carolina
beaches and curling up with a great book. Mary Anne is the founder of Beach
Author Network in the South Carolina Grand Strand.
Contact
Mary Anne at info@awriterspresence.com
and visit her at www.awriterspresence.com,
www.maryannebenedetto.blogspot.com, www.abookfeast4u.blogspot.com,
www.4womenwholove2travel.blogspot.com.
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