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Write Your Memories to Remember Your Life Author Says Memoir Writing...

Everyone has a book in her (or him). It may not be the great American novel or a non-fiction "how to." But it may just be your own life story. Matilda Butler, author of the collective memoir, Rosie's Daughters: The "First Woman To" Generation Tells Its Story (http://www.rosiesdaughters.com), is a women's-memoir and personal-history writing coach. In her workshops and seminars, Dr. Butler has watched many a first-time writer craft a beautiful memoir worthy of commercial publication.

Because Butler so firmly believes that every life is worth capturing, she wants to help writers find their voice. To this end, she has created a free, digital handbook, called "Top 10 Reasons to Write Your Memoir" (available for download at http://www.rosiesdaughters.com).

"It's funny," says Butler, "so many people think you have to be famous or have lived an extraordinary life to write a memoir." In fact, sometimes it's the simplest story or the smallest episode that conveys the most meaning. Lives are interesting. How people cope with loss. Overcome hardship. How they express happiness. Capitalize on opportunity.

"As people," Butler muses, "we find lessons to live by, inspiration and joy in other people's stories. Sometimes extreme adversity in someone else's life allows us to be more appreciative of our own situation. The fact is, people are naturally curious about the lives of other peoplefamous or not. It's the human story (not the person) we crave." Individually these memories complement one another, and together they compose the story of life.

In "Top 10 Reasons to Write Your Memoir," Butler has collected the reasons most commonly given by her students, published memoirists, and other writing instructors and coaches she knows. There are many reasons to write a memoir, not the least of which is to spark the writer's memory. In short, write to remember. You'll find that the more you write, the more you remember. While you may know the story you want to tell, once you begin to write you'll find yourself remembering more and more details. Sometimes you just tap into a storehouse of memories that were there all the time but covered in mental dust.

You may recall the details while writing, or you may remember them in the days that follow. Then during the editing phase you can go back into the story and add detail. Alternatively, you may read a journal you've put away years ago and suddenly recall the favorite dress you wore on your first date, the color of wallpaper in your childhood bedroom, or the smell of burning apple pie (the one you left in the oven when the children lured you outside to play ball). So many details that seemed long forgotten will suddenly flood the mind.

"Embrace all that you recall," councils Butler. "We say this because sometimes your memories will bring back the heartaches of life as well as the beautiful moments. Perhaps your mother emotionally abused you. Maybe you had an affair you regret or a conversation that changed your life. A loved one died and left you feeling hollow. It is all of our experience s-- the good and the bad -- that create the person we are today."

Just as you can write to remember, you can also write to learn. Perhaps you are telling a story about your close relationship with your grandmother. Once you start writing, you realize you need to do some research. Where was grandma born In what year What did she do to help her family survive the Depression What happened to that brother who went off to Coloradothe one you never met How did Granny make that rich hot chocolate that always made you feel happy inside

You may start your research by finding family records, by searching the Internet, or by interviewing your mother. At the end, you'll know more than you did when you started writing, and the stories about you and your grandmother will be fuller, more detailed, and probably more interesting.

Matilda Butler is the author of Rosie's Daughters: The "First Woman To" Generation Tells Its Story, a collective memoir about the generation of women born during World War II. She is a women's-memoir and personal-history writing coach. She is available for workshops, seminars and lectures about and for women who write. You can reach her through the website: http://www.rosiesdaughters.com.

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