This Christmas or any occasion is the perfect time to give the gift of a memory. Wouldn’t any parent or grandparent love to receive a memoir of their lives seen through the eyes of their children? The memoir is a virtual time capsule that documents their journey through life, showcasing their personality and what led them to where they are today. Those reading it might find traits in themselves that are similar. It may inspire the next generations in ways you never thought possible.
Writing your thoughts and memories can be done on a document, such as Word, and possibly later published. Or, one could write in an online journal, such as those offered by Penzu. Their plans range from free to Penzu Pro+. If you require help with the writing, my company can assist. I run Ghostwriters Central, Inc. We’ve been providing affordable ghostwriting services to clients worldwide since 2002.
Imagine a great-grandchild in high school who finds they have a flair for fashion and after reading the memoir they find out grandma worked as a seamstress during wartime. Or a 22-year-old who has graduated and feels lost because their real passion is not their major. What would it be like to find out grandpa had the same aspirations?
Typically, a memoir is written by the person who lived it, but that doesn’t mean you can’t write one about someone you know very well. A memoir differs from an autobiography or biography in that it focuses more on concentrated periods of time in a more intimate way rather than following entire spans of people’s lives with less detail. A family memoir is even more treasured in that it tells the stories to be passed down through generations.
Penning a loved one’s memoir through journaling is a wonderful way of preserving someone’s legacy, along with their emotions, experiences, and the powerful lessons they have learned. A thematic memoir focuses more on certain aspects of a person’s life like relationships, personal struggles, and career. It could cover how they impacted others, especially family, and the legacy they will leave behind.
Another important aspect of this gift is whether you want the memoir to be collaborative. Writing it alone produces a great surprise gift and gives an interesting perspective, especially if the person of interest is not around anymore. Maybe you’re writing the memoir of grandpa to gift to grandma. On the flip side, if you write the memoir together, you’ll get more of an authentic and intimate depiction. This is a personal preference and something to consider before putting pen to paper. You always want to respect the privacy of your loved ones, so getting permission and consent is essential.
It can be challenging to organize your memoir. Do you want it to be juicy tidbits arranged chronologically or would you rather jump around life experiences, hopping from one anecdote to another? It starts by digging through all the information depicting their journey, ensuring a clear timeline. You need cohesion when tying together the story, and that’s where your writing skills come in. Developing an overarching theme can help keep it focused and allow room to showcase the emotional ride to the climax and ultimately to where they are today. You also need to keep in mind the pacing of how you build your emotionally impacting memoir.
Choosing the best narrative voice for your memoir will set the tone. If you are close to the subject of the memoir, using a first-person narrative can yield a more deeply, introspective story. You can use some pertinent dialogue straight from your loved one to make it even more personal and to give generations to come more insight into their great-great-great grandpa. You can also choose to use a third-person narrative from your perspective and what you witnessed growing up. Either way, that memoir will be touching someone’s heart.
These are all techniques to consider when embarking on this journey. To get the most dynamic and meaningful memoir, it’s important to showcase the details to the best of your ability to preserve their legacy for generations. When their grandchildren pick up that book or read your online journal, they will see their heritage in a way they never thought possible. They will learn fascinating things about their ancestors that otherwise would have been lost to the sands of time.
With a passion for helping students navigate their educational journey, I strive to create informative and relatable blog content. Whether it’s tackling exam stress, offering career guidance, or sharing effective study techniques
