The Power of Memoir Writing
January 29, 2010 by Linda Joy Myers
Filed under Blog
The title of my newly released book The Power of Memoir feels muscular and, well, powerful to me. I find myself thinking about what this power is, the power of memoir writing, and then I’m floating back in my mind to all the workshops I have taught, to the moments when I’ve sat enthralled with the story the person is reading. Often they are scared, perhaps embarassed, usually anxious to put such personal writing into the room for others to witness, but also they are brave.
It is an act of courage and personal power to dare to write the truths you hold, to carve a space in the vast realms of time and dive in, using only words as ballast. To enter into memory, to find the body of the child you once were and to dare to listen to him or her–that is courageous, and in this act, new tendrils of self are launched across the abyss from past to present. As we balance on the fine lines of truth, memory, and story, we discover ourselves, we uncover layers that we didn’t know existed. The writing is the key, writing that comes from soul and heart, writing that launches us out from our comfort zone, and into the unknown. There we find wisdom, there we find who we really are.
This is a powerful and inspiring post that touched something in me. I have the book on my Kindle, and I’m looking forward to delving into it.
Loving this whole memoir journey and anxious to dive into the new book. I’m thinking that the power of memoir works in two directions. The healing power it has over the memoirist as well as the power the writer must hoist over the ghosts of the past in order to get the stories down in first draft and then to continue working with those difficult memories to get a book worthy of publication. As women we have been overpowered in many ways and taking the memoir in hand and writing our internal truths gives us back that power. I am grateful to you Linda Joy for sharing your life’s and writer’s journey with us so we can “become whole.”
Thank you both for your comments. And thanks for buying the book! I try to take the reader deep into the journey of writing a memoir, which includes so many layers of skill, emotion, growth, and challenge. Let’s not forget inspiration and healing!
Keep writing!
Wonderful post ,Linda. Such a powerful and believable message! Just received your book in the mail and can’t wait to dive into it. Thanks for all you do!