Writing my Life
Now, it's out in the open. One of my life's goals is to write a memoir; capture my life in a few words, a few keystrokes. My life in a nutshell, in a book with 200 pages or so. Is that ever possible?
Well, other people are able to. I suppose I can do it, too.
As a first step into writing this memoir, I bought this book about 3 years ago, On Writing Well by William Zinser. The book has a good discussion on how to write nonfiction without the clutter.
Here are snippets of what Mr. Zinser say:
Writers must therefore constantly ask: what am I trying to say? Surprisingly often they don't know. Then they must look at what they have written and ask: have I said it? Is it clear to someone encountering the subject for the first time? If it's not, some fuzz has worked its way into the machinery. The clear writer is someone clearheaded enough to see this stuff for what it is: fuzz.
I've written a few chapters but I'm still struggling with the most part of it. In time, I get the fuzz out. :)
Comments
Kudos on your progress!
Hi, LC! Remember William Zinsser himself says that writing is hardwork :). And there's a cultural aspect that comes into our fear of writing. We have been made to believe in the classrooms that writing takes a special skill. I like it when Zinsser says that writing is talking to someone else on paper. That line became my inspiration. The editing will come later when I have poured out all my thoughts already.
As to your question about fear or feeling pain as I write about my life. I do sometimes especially when I remember some painful memories, but I always focus on my end goal, which is to share this aspect of my life because people will learn from it, or will be inspired by it.
You can do it, and just do it! :)