One of my lovely nieces introduced me to Storyworth when she mentioned giving a subscription to her mom as a present. An online service, Storyworth sends subscribers weekly questions by email to stimulate memories of their lives. Once they respond to the prompts, their anecdotes are saved to their account and after 52 weeks printed in a bound book. Then she asked if I wanted to receive a subscription. “Thanks for your kind offer, Hayley, but for now I like working on my blog.”
The topic came up on another occasion when Glen and I were out with a friend who expressed her interest in the project. We discussed sample questions: “What surprised you most about becoming a parent the first time?” “What’s a small decision you’ve made that had a big impact on your life?” “How did you get your first job?” If the app-generated question isn’t inspiring, you can write your own to answer. Glen stated emphatically he had no interest in reviewing his past until… Last Christmas Marina gave him a subscription. He overcame his reluctance and has been writing ever since.
A while ago I came to a realization: I am happy when I’m writing and I must be happy to write. Since 2017 Sunset Years has satisfied my desire, or need, to write. But after publishing 155 posts (a lot of words!), I’m running out of topics to address. I thought about Storyworth, but it doesn’t feel right. For me. Eventually my mind found its way to considering a different genre: “A memoir is a literary form in which the author relates and reflects on experiences from their own life.” I bought and borrowed books on the craft of writing memoir. The authors claim everyone has a story worth telling; the challenge is to write it in an engaging style.
After a fair bit of research, I wrote, revised, and rewrote 1500 words to send to a niece and a friend for their opinions. They both gave the green light to my new project. I’m meeting another friend, herself a memoirist, to talk about the process. And I enrolled in an online course at SFU: “Memoir of Inquiry.” Although the prospect of reading my text aloud to strangers unnerves me, it’s apparently essential to creating a good work. And while I don’t aim to write a bestseller, I do hope to please my modest audience. Family and some friends beware — though it will take me years to complete my book.
As writing is a solitary and sedentary activity that can be all-consuming, I must guard against devoting too much time to it. At the expense of exercising and socializing. So I’m pausing my postings on Sunset Years. My blog, however, is still “open for business.” I encourage you to email your musings to me; guest writers have submitted 15 articles over the years. And I may still post occasionally myself.
Thank you for being loyal readers, sometimes commenters too, of Sunset Years. •
Janet Anderson says
Pam,
I will miss your blogs but believe your memoir will be a masterpiece!
Happy writing!
Janet
Joy says
I cannot wait to read your memoir, Pam! You’re such a lovely writer.
Al Frank says
I, too, rejected the idea of participating in Storyworth, not wanting to be required to respond on a schedule.
I did want to document some thoughts for my children and grandchildren, so I opted to write an ethical will. Ethical wills have their roots in Jewish tradition and can take many forms.
Mine are random thoughts about what experiences have contributed to a satisfying and rewarding life. I hope that they will gain some insight into my life and encouragement to live fruitful lives of their own.
It is a work in progress and I add to it as inspiration strikes me.
I will also miss your weekly blog and look forward to your return to Scottsdale so we can share thoughts in person.
Pam McPhail says
What a wonderful tradition, Al, and I know you have many valuable experiences to share in your ethical will. I too look forward to sharing our thoughts in person.
Linda Richardson says
Pam, you never attempt new things in half measure. Witness your latest endeavor – researching, reading about and taking an online course about writing a memoir, Not everyone would be as thorough when starting a new writing project. Although I will miss your weekly blogs, even if it takes some time to write, I’m sure that your memoir will be memorable (no pun intended) and I look forward to reading it.
I enjoyed the process of writing a year’s worth of memories using StoryWorth. I liked the flexibility of the subscription – that I could substitute my own questions as needed and also the weekly requirement to write which kept me on track. Adding photos to the text when I wanted was fun as well because it allowed me to reminisce about some lovely and sometimes forgotten times.
Happy memoir writing.
Grant McPhail says
As you say, a good writer can make any story interesting. I remember in university reading Aldous Huxley’s fabulous Point Countetpoint which was, if I remember correctly, about a bunch of people in a house.
I look forward to learning more about your process and progress!
Glen Wickens says
I will do my best to make sure that the sun does not set completely on Pam’s blog. Perhaps she should rename it the Twilight Years. As for Storyworth: it is like writing an extended obituary, with the likelihood that no one will read it. I have written 37 of 52 stories and am determined to finish this summer to cut the writing time in half. Since I am accentuating the positive, I might give the “book” a filmic title: It’s a Wonderful Life. To encourage people to read Pam, I will be giving away free copies of my PG rated Storyworth with her memoir.
Christine Krueger says
Glenn, I can’t wait to get your Storyworth, with her memoir!
Pam, I admire your courage to fully involve yourself in your memoirs! If you love the whole of writing and it brings you such happiness it’s great you are doing this. I will miss your blogs but am looking forward to reading your memoirs!
Marilyn RB says
Dear Pam,
Wonderful! This sounds like just the right time to set out on a new writing venture. I am so excited for you and look forward to reading your stories whenever you would like to share.
With all good wishes,
Marilyn
Pam McPhail says
Thanks everyone for your encouragement of my memoir writing and for saying you will read my book! Guess the print run will exceed one.