She thought it was for her sons.

Joan had been writing about her childhood memories growing up in Mobile, Alabama for quite a while.

It started with jotting down snippets of memories here and there and eventually progressed to enrolling in a writing class at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon to “get serious” about her writing. 

With the encouragement and critiques of her instructor and classmates Joan honed her essays and a theme emerged, She discovered how much her upbringing in Mobile, Alabama made her the person she is today.

However, over 25 years later, her finished essays were now languishing in a computer file. 

I met Joan when she attended one of my “Map Your Memoir” workshops and it was shortly after she contacted me to help her over the finish line to a published memoir.

The image above is the cover I created for her book. Inside are about 30 essays and family photographs that detail such events as afternoons walking with her mother to the sandwich shop on Bienville Square, to warm summer nights sitting on the front porch listening to her father tell of his travels as a merchant marine. In her essays, Joan describes the colorful characters and places of Mobile with the charm, and spirit of someone who deeply loves her hometown. 

On the back cover of her book Joan wrote:

“When I began writing my stories, my original intention was that they were to be written for my sons. I hoped that through reading about my experiences, they’d see why I’ve turned out to be who I am. Instead, writing my stories has allowed me to see my life through new lenses, and I’ve become a much more grateful recipient of this endeavor than they will likely ever be.”

The approach to a memoir is as varied as the person telling the story.

The result of each memoir is similar in regards to the insight we gain by reflecting on our personal journey.

So, if you need someone to travel down “memory lane” with you, I’m familiar with the territory. 📖 

Angela

Let me know if you have a memoir project that needs a compatible partner! Working together is not only enjoyable, it’s sure to get done.

Our stories matter,

Angela