Post #42 – Women’s Memoirs, Book Raves – Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett
Janet Grace Riehl, reviewer
Linda Joy Myers’ The Power of Memoir: How to Write Your Healing Story combines a manual of writing craft with a companion to guide the writer’s psyche towards health and wholeness. As a family therapist Myers understandably focuses on family-based memoir, often ones that tell stories of traumatic childhoods. She knows what she’s talking about both as a therapist and memoirist herself (Don’t Call Me Mother: Breaking the Chain of Mother-Daughter Abandonment).
Lately I’ve been pondering the intersection between the genres of family stories and memoir. The key question, as I understand it, is: Who owns the story? Myers’ repeatedly reminds us that in memoir, the story is ours, and we own it—if only we’re willing to own up to it.
Although Power of Memoir contains some material not found elsewhere, the bulk of the book is a useful compression of a shelf filled with how-to-write-memoir books. Organized into two parts, this accessible survey of everything you need to know to write your life story is a valuable resource for both writers and therapists as it toggles between writing process and writing practice. Dedicated toward clearing the obstacles, her book presents information, techniques and exercises, examples from published memoirs, psychological theory, and resources.
In Part 1 Myers’ eight-step process for writing a healing memoir is equally balanced between psychology and practical writing advice. Step 1 explores motivation (Understanding Your Reasons for Writing). I know I’ll be thinking deeply about this pre-writing step. Other steps focusing on inner process are: The Psychology of Memoir Writing, The Dark Stuff, and Power of Writing to Heal. Steps that guide us in writing practice and authorship are: Doing Your Research, Planning Your Memoir [with a nifty timeline template tool], Organizing the Narrative Arc, and To Publish—or Not.
Part 2 provides more food for thought and the soul. Here we find meditation exercises and advice for therapists using writing as a healing tool. The sample stories from writing workshops demonstrate the substance and range possible from following the eight-step process. The last 38 pages provide extras that include resources, suggested reading, a reader’s guide, bibliography, and index.
Really, what more could you want?
If you’re interested in Linda Joy Myers’ new book about writing memoir, you’ll also be interested in her memoir, Don’t Call Me Mother.
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You can purchase Janet Riehl’s audio book Sightlines: A Family Love Story in Poetry and Music at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/janetgraceriehl
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memoir book review
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THE POWER OF MEMOIR sounds both fascinating and useful. Thank you for the review, and for keeping us up-to-date on the latest memoirs and memoir material. All best, Pamela
I’m reading the book right now and it’s super. I’m getting all sorts of ideas, and especially like her section on “The Power of Writing to Heal.” I’ve read several books on memoir writing, and nobody else covers this material. If you can only manage one book, make it this one.
Thanks at Women’s Memoirs for getting the review listed and my memoir too! Emma, thank you too for mentioning the chapter on writing to heal. Yes, this is such special and exciting research–I love spreading the good news! The amazing thing is that people start writing their stories, often not focusing on healing per se, but then discover along the way how helpful it is to review their turning points and life altering moments. They discover that some kind of inner transformation happens, so it might not be that there is a need for deep healing, but many memoirists are likely using writing as a way to introspect as well as enjoying the story writing process and being creative.
–Linda Joy
Linda,
Thanks for making us conscious of this additional dimension for writing memoir. As we shape our story we bring deeper understanding to our lives. Our readers heal with us as their world expands.
Congratulations on birthing this useful tool.
Janet Riehl