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Here is the Press Release for a wonderful new book from the Association of Personal Historians (APH):
TAMPA, FLA February 12, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — The passion for sharing personal stories is not only the most powerful way to pass on the experiences, wisdom and voices of one generation to the next—it's an expression of a deep human need to shout to the future, "Do not forget me! I was here!"
A new anthology, My Words Are Gonna Linger: The Art of Personal History, celebrates the preservation of stories to ensure that our eyewitness accounts of history endure. Available February 1 from Personal History Press, the publishing arm of the Association of Personal Historians, the book differs from other anthologies by providing insight into the memoir-writing process and practical tips on how to start writing your own or someone else's life story.
This rich collection of forty-nine true stories—gathered or written by members of the Association of Personal Historians Inc.—breathes life into history, places, and cultural differences. My Words Are Gonna Linger shows how personal history can convert experience into wisdom and growth for both the storyteller and those who listen. In the foreword, best-selling author Rick Bragg (All Over but the Shoutin', Ava's Man and The Prince of Frog Town) shares a riveting tale passed down in his family.
My Words Are Gonna Linger explores and explains various ways of presenting life stories, including thematic memoirs, linear autobiographies, and reminiscence about food and possessions. Legacy letters and ethical wills show how personal values and beliefs can be passed to future generations.
"Each story in My Words Are Gonna Linger shares a unique insight," says anthology editor Paula Stallings Yost. "When we realize the challenges others endured, we discover new strength within ourselves. We learn that contentment and wisdom come as much from our small daily achievements as from grand deeds."
To order: www.personalhistorians.org/anthology.php
Or e-mail storemanager@personalhistorians.org
Association of Personal Historians Inc.
The Association of Personal Historians is a nonprofit international trade association whose members preserve memoirs, life stories and community histories in an ever-increasing number of formats.
Press Contact:
Paula Stahel, APH President
president@personalhistorians.org
813-251-8187
Paula Yost, Anthology Editor
eventsmanager@personalhistorians.org
903-383-2126
Pat McNees, Anthology Editor
vicepresident@personalhistorians.org
301-897-8557
Friday, February 13, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
More Ideas on Family Stories
Another easy way to find family stories to write about is to look at all the memorabilia around you. Photographs are terrific tools to recall memories. Think in terms of who?, what?, where?, when? and why?
Who are the people or locations involved? What was the occassion of the picture? Where was it taken? When was it taken? Why does this particular snapshot draw you in?
Write down all the details of what you remember about the photo, or perhaps about where your thoughts lead you. As you take time to let your thoughts wander, a whole world of experiences may unfold.
If nothing happens to capture your attention, then try other exercises, such as looking through an old family recipe box or an heirloom trunk in the attic. Anything that opens up your thinking and shakes loose a few cobwebs is great for digging out prescious memories. Once they have been dug up, make the effort to preserve them forever.
Just write about a few of your personal history to get started and you'll be glad you did. And so will your friends and family.
Who are the people or locations involved? What was the occassion of the picture? Where was it taken? When was it taken? Why does this particular snapshot draw you in?
Write down all the details of what you remember about the photo, or perhaps about where your thoughts lead you. As you take time to let your thoughts wander, a whole world of experiences may unfold.
If nothing happens to capture your attention, then try other exercises, such as looking through an old family recipe box or an heirloom trunk in the attic. Anything that opens up your thinking and shakes loose a few cobwebs is great for digging out prescious memories. Once they have been dug up, make the effort to preserve them forever.
Just write about a few of your personal history to get started and you'll be glad you did. And so will your friends and family.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Finding a Family Story to Write
When you start to write, it is easiest to write about what you already know. You can tell stories about things that you have experienced yourself. What is your favorite or most vivid memory? Is it your first day at a new school, winning a prize at the fair, or learning an important lesson about life?
Think about the stories that you enjoy reading. Notice that the author starts with an idea, such as a day at the lake and builds the story piece by piece. Was the weather warm and sunny, or cool and windy? Who are the people in the story? Can you picture what they looked like from the writer’s descriptions? Did they roast hot dogs or marshmallows? A story does not need to be fiction to be fun to read.
Stories don’t have to be exciting to be interesting. Writing about things that happen on a normal day can make a wonderful story for a person who hasn’t experienced the same thing. In fact, even someone who is familiar with the actual events will enjoy reading about it. When people read your stories, they may experience something new by seeing it through your eyes.
Think about it. You have dozens of interesting stories in your life. Consider the stories that you like to tell to friends and family. Other people will be interested in reading them as well. You’ll have an endless source of stories when you draw from the huge base of what you do and see every day.
When you get an idea for a story, start writing it as soon as you can. Don’t worry about cleaning it up while you write. Otherwise, you may forget a really great idea. If you do happen to lose the thread to the story, try coming back to it a little later. Remember to use your Writing Journal to capture snippets of thoughts and ideas. It makes a wonderful tool when you are ready to start writing.
Think about the stories that you enjoy reading. Notice that the author starts with an idea, such as a day at the lake and builds the story piece by piece. Was the weather warm and sunny, or cool and windy? Who are the people in the story? Can you picture what they looked like from the writer’s descriptions? Did they roast hot dogs or marshmallows? A story does not need to be fiction to be fun to read.
Stories don’t have to be exciting to be interesting. Writing about things that happen on a normal day can make a wonderful story for a person who hasn’t experienced the same thing. In fact, even someone who is familiar with the actual events will enjoy reading about it. When people read your stories, they may experience something new by seeing it through your eyes.
Think about it. You have dozens of interesting stories in your life. Consider the stories that you like to tell to friends and family. Other people will be interested in reading them as well. You’ll have an endless source of stories when you draw from the huge base of what you do and see every day.
When you get an idea for a story, start writing it as soon as you can. Don’t worry about cleaning it up while you write. Otherwise, you may forget a really great idea. If you do happen to lose the thread to the story, try coming back to it a little later. Remember to use your Writing Journal to capture snippets of thoughts and ideas. It makes a wonderful tool when you are ready to start writing.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Your Own Family Stories
Okay, this is the year when you are finally going to write down all of those charming family stories you want to capture for posterity. But how do you start? Do you start when you were born, or do you start with something big & dramatic, or do you start with something more recent?
Good questions, but the most important thing is to just get started. You know, like the Nike commercial: Just Do It!
Grab a spiral-bound notebook or stack of paper and Voila! you have your own writing journal. Carry it with you so that when a memory pops into your mind, you can jot it down to develop later. Even if you do most of your memoir writing on a computer, using a writing journal will be useful any time you have a few minutes to kill while waiting for the kids to get out of dance class, or at the dentist, or all the other places you get stuck for any length of time. Use that time to get started on your own story.
Start with one of your own special memories and write down all the details you can remember. Think of the typical "who, what, where, when & why" questions that newspapers answer so well. In addition, think about how you felt about the event you are capturing.
So, remember: the most important thing about writing your life story is to just do it!
Good questions, but the most important thing is to just get started. You know, like the Nike commercial: Just Do It!
Grab a spiral-bound notebook or stack of paper and Voila! you have your own writing journal. Carry it with you so that when a memory pops into your mind, you can jot it down to develop later. Even if you do most of your memoir writing on a computer, using a writing journal will be useful any time you have a few minutes to kill while waiting for the kids to get out of dance class, or at the dentist, or all the other places you get stuck for any length of time. Use that time to get started on your own story.
Start with one of your own special memories and write down all the details you can remember. Think of the typical "who, what, where, when & why" questions that newspapers answer so well. In addition, think about how you felt about the event you are capturing.
So, remember: the most important thing about writing your life story is to just do it!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Excuses Self-handicap Us
The New York Times has an article (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/health/06mind.html?_r=1&ref=science) on the scientific research on making excuses, which the experts call self-handicapping. One of my Children's Book writer friends (Gail Piernas-Davenport) talks about the article in her blog today. Yesterday she raised some excellent points about excuses. Please check out her blog at http://gpdavenport.wordpress.com/.
We decide what we want to do and choose whether to follow through on it, so making excuses for whatever reason doesn’t really cut it. If we can talk the talk, we need to walk the walk as well and just do it.
It is nice to get inspired by scientific evidence to back it an idea. This is the year that can make a real difference for each of us. What will you commit to doing this year? As Barbara Sher tells us, "isolation is the dream killer." Find a support group who can help you reach your goals. Together, we can each accomplish so much more.
Do you need help to accomplish those goals, big or small? Check out the Pro Nagger, Rachel Zamek at http://pronagger.weebly.com/ for help in that area. She has unique ways to encourage you to get it done.
We decide what we want to do and choose whether to follow through on it, so making excuses for whatever reason doesn’t really cut it. If we can talk the talk, we need to walk the walk as well and just do it.
It is nice to get inspired by scientific evidence to back it an idea. This is the year that can make a real difference for each of us. What will you commit to doing this year? As Barbara Sher tells us, "isolation is the dream killer." Find a support group who can help you reach your goals. Together, we can each accomplish so much more.
Do you need help to accomplish those goals, big or small? Check out the Pro Nagger, Rachel Zamek at http://pronagger.weebly.com/ for help in that area. She has unique ways to encourage you to get it done.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Sweet Bedtime Stories
My grandson is four and a half years old. He loves to have me lay down with him at bedtime, almost as much as I love it. When his family was here over Christmas, I was elated to put him to bed. In addition to singing the usual songs and rubbing his little tummy and back, I started a new tradition.
I reminded him about all the fun things we had done during the day and then told him stories about what I did at Christmas when I was a child. He seemed to enjoy the stories and asked a few questions about them, so I definitely plan to do it again.
When my grandson is a bit older, I will also start working with him to write down our little adventures. Whenever we read the stories together, I hope he will become even more interested in creating more memories to capture.
What do you remember about your parents and grandparents? How do you build memories with your kids and grandkids? How do you preserve those memories?
I reminded him about all the fun things we had done during the day and then told him stories about what I did at Christmas when I was a child. He seemed to enjoy the stories and asked a few questions about them, so I definitely plan to do it again.
When my grandson is a bit older, I will also start working with him to write down our little adventures. Whenever we read the stories together, I hope he will become even more interested in creating more memories to capture.
What do you remember about your parents and grandparents? How do you build memories with your kids and grandkids? How do you preserve those memories?
Saturday, January 3, 2009
New Year's Non-Resolutions
Happy 2009!
Most years, I make several New Year's resolutions that last for maybe a week or two. This year is going to be different...at least I hope so.
This year, I have one huge resolution: to be less critical of people and to enjoy whatever comes my way to count my blessings. Okay, maybe that is actually two resolutions, but you get the idea.
Oh, one other resolution is to try to post a new blog at least five days a week, so come back often and check out my website as well: www.bethlamie.com. You'll find suggestions on writing your own family stories and have the opportunity to sign up for my new newsletter.
Have a wonderful new year.
Most years, I make several New Year's resolutions that last for maybe a week or two. This year is going to be different...at least I hope so.
This year, I have one huge resolution: to be less critical of people and to enjoy whatever comes my way to count my blessings. Okay, maybe that is actually two resolutions, but you get the idea.
Oh, one other resolution is to try to post a new blog at least five days a week, so come back often and check out my website as well: www.bethlamie.com. You'll find suggestions on writing your own family stories and have the opportunity to sign up for my new newsletter.
Have a wonderful new year.
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