The effort to understand, to forgive or to let go of the past is a universal struggle. “How can I begin anything new with all if yesterday in me?” says Leonard Cohen.
TURN THE PROBLEM INTO A STORY
Stories are meaningful precisely because they help us make sense of the mess of life.
Writing your memoir is a productive way to tell your story to make sense of your own life.
Many factors can influence a writer`s output, but we often become stuck when we experience mental distress. We just cannot stop carrying “all of yesterday” in us, as Cohen said. Whether that distress be death, shame, fear, or public humiliation. You feel doomed and destined to be a failure. Because of these patterns, it is worthwhile to take a step back, and turn the problem into a memoir.
A memoir is a series of formative or notable memories or events that impacted the writer in some way. Memoirs also focus on the writer’s thoughts and feelings about those events, what they learned, and how they integrated the experiences into their life.
HOW WILL YOUR MEMOIR SERVE READERS’ NEEDS AND DESIRES?
Readers have interest, needs and desires. Something magical happens when you deal with your yesterday and write it out of your system. You get to the point where you can start the rest of your life, as you have dealt with your past. And just as importantly, across the board readers crave memoirs which inspire them. Life is hard, but through your eyes, they struggle, conquer, and transform.
WHICH ASPECTS TO KEEP IN MIND FOR THE PROTAGONIST
When you write your memoir, you have three roles: you are the writer, the narrator, and the protagonist.
The protagonist is the character who drives the action–the character whose fate matters most. In other words, they are involved in —and often central to—the plot or conflict of the story but are also usually the emotional heart of the narrative.
There are a few aspects to being the protagonist of your own story to keep in mind.
- You have a longing or a need.
- There is some kind of wound or problem.
- There is an opposing force to solving the problem.
LET GO OF THE PAST IN YOUR MEMOIR
Families are our point of entrance into society. They provide a lot of our starting capital as writers,” says South African writer Imraan Coovadia.
Write about what you know. The important thing is commitment to pen on paper, thus creating a helpful habit. Start with 250 words a day, every day, to focus your thoughts and get words on paper.
THE ADVANTAGE OF OBSESSIONS
Write about stuff you`re obsessed with, says Alex Mathers. Things that merely interest you, is not good enough for a good book. Your advantage will lie in the stuff that you are positively obsessed with. Explore and write more about that, whether it’s a wound, a problem, or obstacles you are overcoming. And the interesting side-effect is, the more you write about that, the more you will become “insanely creative”, and your confidence grows. It leads to being more efficient and less pro to procrastination.
DITCH PROCRASTINATION AND START WRITING!
Aim for your 250 words a day and just do it. And when you feel stuck, remember that, as an author coach, I am here to assist you to talk through the places you get stuck. The effort to let go of the past will change your life.