The Memoir Revolution

Category: Courage to Write

October 9, 2013

How Can an Adult Learn to Write Stories?

Aging, Courage to Write, Family

Aging, courage, Family, fear, groups, motivation, social anxiety, Storytelling, Toastmasters, Writing

For decades I assumed that since I had not grown up telling stories, I would never learn. Then in my fifties, I became interested in memoir writing. The problem was that without storytelling skills, I would never be able to write the story of my life.

Written by

Jerry Waxler
April 21, 2010

Fear of publishing: Try these ten (more) tips to increase courage

Courage to Write, Self Help for Writers

courage, emotions, How-to, public, Publishing, shame, Shy, social anxiety, suggestions, therapy, Toastmasters

While much has been written about how to market your book, there is relatively little guidance for the emotional struggle. Because I have had to cope with my own social anxiety, I have been studying this issue for years, reading self-help books, and incorporating lessons from my formal training in counseling psychology, and trying the…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
April 13, 2010

Too shy to publish your memoir? Try these ten tips to reach towards strangers

Courage to Write, Overcome Obstacles, Publish

courage, public, Publishing, shame, Shy, social anxiety

Reasons for avoiding the public come in many voices, each one asserting a sense of urgency or even danger. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by these concerns, seek solutions. Remember that writing a memoir is a journey. You don’t need to solve every obstacle before you start. Just solve the ones that stop you.

Written by

Jerry Waxler
October 30, 2009

Philadelphia Push To Publish, Lessons in Courage from a Writing Conference

Courage to Write, Philadelphia Regional

community, courage, craft, essay, memoir, Philadelphia, story, tips, Writers Conference

Funderburg went on to read a passage from her recently published memoir, which I have not yet had an opportunity to read, called “Pig Candy: Taking My Father South, Taking My Father Home: A Memoir.” It’s about discovering her relationship with her father while he was dying of cancer. The passage was rich in imagery,…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
October 14, 2009

Memoir interview about privacy, activism, style

Author Interview, Courage to Write, Grief/Loss, Idealism/Meaning, Regional Memoir, Women

BRAC1, cancer, essay, Goddard College, interview, Judaism, memoir, religion, spirituality, transcendence, Writing

I hope the book does inspire people to, most of all, learn more about their environment, and from that learning, develop a greater connection with their local land, which will naturally lead to the kind of advocacy and stewardship that creates enduring ecological change. I also hope the book helps people see not just more…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
September 24, 2009

10 Ways Writing Helps Develop the New You

Courage to Write, Writer’s Motivation

community, essay, Introspection, life review, memoir, mission statement, neuroplasticity, self-development, self-management, Service, Shyness, social anxiety, Stephen Covey, Writing

And yet, even in these years of social involvement I continue to spend time alone, writing. My words create a sort of social currency, allowing me to share myself in surprising ways. In fact, putting words on paper makes the rest of life richer and more fulfilling. It’s not a result I would have expected,…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
August 31, 2009

More Q&A with Sue William Silverman on confessions, memoirs, and the art of writing

Author Interview, Courage to Write, Heal from Abuse, Trauma, Women

author, child abuse, confession, craft, How-to, interview, memoir, memoir writer, taboo, Writing

For me, the best way to recollect the details of past events is to submerge myself in sensory imagery. For example, say I want to write about a birthday party in sixth grade. Maybe I remember some broad brushstrokes of the party but can’t recall as many details as I’d like. In order to do…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
August 21, 2009

Fearlessly Confessing the Dark Side of Memory in this Memoir of Sexual Abuse

Book Review, Courage to Write, Heal from Abuse

Book Review, child abuse, courage, essay, Family, healing, sexual abuse, Trauma

Some dark memories are so compelling they draw you in and frighten or upset you. If you try to seal them back in their crypt, they remain squirming in the dark. Or you can face them fearlessly, and stay with them until you can shape them into a story. By using your words to describe…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
June 11, 2009

Celebrity Lessons for Writers

Celebrity, Courage to Write

Celebrity, dramatic tension, essay, fame, Joan Rivers, memoir, Steve Martin, tenacity, Writing, Writing Prompt

Furthermore, famous people exert enormous power in our culture, and unless I break down and read their memoirs, I’m going to remain ignorant about them. So when an online friend suggested that Steve Martin’s “Born Standing Up” was authentic and introspective I decided to give it a try. It turned out to be an excellent…

Written by

Jerry Waxler
February 25, 2009

The powerful story of an ordinary woman

Courage to Write, Family, Service

Alzheimer’s, assertiveness, caregiving, Family, feminism, memoir, Polish, scoliosis

As I ponder the memoir Off Kilter, I find another dimension that offers me uplifting hope and optimism. By writing her story, Linda has performed a remarkable service to herself and her readers. She has broken the code of silence, and exposed her family dynamics to the world, where we can all compare notes. In…

Written by

Jerry Waxler