A LIFE’S WORTH OF EXPERIENCES
Are you an older writer considering writing a memoir for the first time? If so, you’re not alone: Perhaps you wish to pass down stories of your life to children or grandchildren. Perhaps you long to make sense of painful experiences you’ve lived through. Maybe you simply wish to rekindle a lifelong dream of writing, and focusing on lived experiences feels like the best entry into the world of literature. Maybe you hope to be widely published, or maybe you hope no one other than a few trusted friends and family members will read your stories.
Regardless of the reasons that lead you to the starting line, there are several myths about writing a memoir that can deter older writers from sharing their stories. In my six years of teaching community college memoir classes geared toward older adults, I have seen many concerns brought up by my students each semester. Many believe that their lives aren’t “book worthy” or that younger generations won’t be interested in reading about their experiences. Others find it hard to select a starting point or can’t decide a theme to settle on. Plenty worry about
