It’s wonderful to read the memoir submissions for Wisdom Has a Voice as they come through cyberspace! I’ve enjoyed reading each one. We are grateful and we thank everyone who sent in a memoir!
Since every anthology has a unique focus and also a consistent expectation of style, I’d like to offer a few tips for those who might be submitting a memoir soon. The basic guidelines are on another website page. These are just friendly, helpful tips:
Start with a good story, one with conflict, tension, or rising action that features you and your mother as the main characters.
Visualize the scenes in sequence in your mind’s eye; you might close your eyes and see details and recall other sensory images.
Refresh your memory by consulting photos, family histories, letters, diaries, and relatives. [We might include B&W photos in the book.]
Describe the setting, time and place. Since this anthology will present a composite legacy, when and where has some social importance. But provide this context naturally.
Develop dialogue, if not exact, then probable and in character.
NOW…you might just write the story! This is the important structure to your memoir, the narrative, scene after memorable, fascinating scene—like a movie you’re watching.
Mother Muse
NEXT…
Weave your thoughts and reflections into the structure of the story as a running commentary, a voice over, your muse.
Shift your POV: sometimes these comments will be thoughts you had as daughter at the time, sometimes you looking back at the event.
Make certain your comments follow a logical progression.
Come to a conclusion that is satisfying, but not predictable.
I know-easier said than done! The key is to let the reader experience with you so as to appreciate your realizations about mother as authentic and vividly real.
Finally, avoid sentimentalism, the pitfall of memoirs. This anthology is not a Hallmark card. Build a true, living story about mother and construct its deepest meaning—to you! Hope to hear from you soon.
Anthology Writing Tips
A Telling Slice of Life
It’s wonderful to read the memoir submissions for Wisdom Has a Voice as they come through cyberspace! I’ve enjoyed reading each one. We are grateful and we thank everyone who sent in a memoir!
Since every anthology has a unique focus and also a consistent expectation of style, I’d like to offer a few tips for those who might be submitting a memoir soon. The basic guidelines are on another website page. These are just friendly, helpful tips:
NOW…you might just write the story! This is the important structure to your memoir, the narrative, scene after memorable, fascinating scene—like a movie you’re watching.
Mother Muse
NEXT…
I know-easier said than done! The key is to let the reader experience with you so as to appreciate your realizations about mother as authentic and vividly real.
Finally, avoid sentimentalism, the pitfall of memoirs. This anthology is not a Hallmark card. Build a true, living story about mother and construct its deepest meaning—to you! Hope to hear from you soon.
Kate Farrell, Editor