ONE WORD AT A TIME

Michelle Monet
Sep 6, 2018 · 4 min read

Writing my Memoir is — coming together

A pile of my old journals from age 8 to 56.

“Memoir writing is not for sissies” KATHLEEN POOLER

I am editing three chapters a day towards my memoir now. This is my 2nd time through my manuscript. The first draft was a ‘shitty first draft’ I spewed out over a year ago. It was my vomit draft, as Anne Lamott says in her classic book Bird by Bird.

Now, going back through my chapters it feels less painful, and less daunting.

I made a commitment to stay accountable to myself, by sending three chapters off to editor friend who has been kind enough, and supportive enough to read all my chapters, and give me constructive feedback.

I don’t want to send my work to anyone else right now. It would be too much for my brain to deal with, so I’m only choosing one more set of eyeballs, for now.

It feels good that this project is moving forward. I do love forward movement.

The days that I feel like crap and can’t fathom writing the painful stuff I write the happier, ‘lighter’, easier chapters. This has been key for me, to still write something every day. Forward Momentum.

Just do SOMETHING daily towards a goal and eventually you WILL get there.


I reminded myself of this often while writing my last 5 books. Four ‘poetic memoirs’, one other non fiction book. I knew there would be uninspired, unmotivated times which I accepted would just be a part of the process!

I’m beginning with the less painful chapters for this Memoir because they are far easier and don’t take me down.

They are actually fun to edit, clean up and send off. It’s like polishing a diamond. Boy, it’s getting shinier!!

I feel that I am being ‘summoned’ to do this memoir by a persistent higher voice . This inner voice tells me I must do this NOW and not wait. Damn I’m 56, not 26. NOW is the time, even though my boyfriend of 22 years might not understand this, and might not think it’s worth it. He thinks memoir writing is silly, but, I’m ok with that. He doesn’t get the whole ‘purpose of memoir’.

He said ‘You’d never catch me reading a memoir, unless it’s a super famous or interesting person!” Gee thanks…


NARCISSISTIC NAVAL GAZING?

Memoir is not necessarily about the author. The author is merely the ‘illustration’. It is about what the author learned through what they have been through. The reason why Memoirs are popular is because the good ones speak to a ‘Universal Truth’.

My boyfriend might agree with those who say memoir writing is like ‘Narcissistic Naval gazing’. Oh well.

He said ‘Why in the world would you want to cause yourself so much pain? Why don’t you just burn those old bad memories?, after I pulled a pile of old papers from a file the other day and had a horrible panic attack!

But, I know deep down that I must write this. No way will I burn that stuff. Within those old painful memories, journals and writings lie the key to my story.

I want to mine them eventually for the gold that is within them. I know the ‘gold’ is in there.

Here’s just a ‘few’ of my old journals from age 8.

Another new awareness I’ve had is how lonely a process writing Memoir is. I don’t mention it to family and most friends either.

It’s my own private mission.

I’d love to stay off all social media and just honker down on this book, unencumbered by life, or humans or writing groups or…opinions, for a full YEAR?! Hmm..it’s tempting!

I get up sometimes in the middle of the night —startled by a memory that I just MUST jot down. Some memory or thought I can’t afford to miss because like an elusive butterfly I might not be able to catch it! So, I grab my pen, turn on a light and feel I MUST write it down ASAP!

(By the way, catching my thoughts when they arise was an inspiration for my first book title, Catch a Poem by the Tale )

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JBPF900/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

So, this whole Memoir process feels daunting at times, but if I take it one chunk at a time (chisel away at it), not try to eat a whole elephant at once, and stay focused and determined, no matter what, then I do believe it WILL be done.

It WILL be fulfilling and worthwhile.

It already is.

So at times writing this Memoir is a painful undertaking ( A ‘blood sport’ ) but, I know I can and will do it…

…one word at a time.


THANKS FOR READING!
www.michellemonet.com

Check out all my books on my Amazon Author Page:

https://www.amazon.com/Michelle-Monet/e/B01J5X26QS/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

Hopes and Dreams for Our Future

We believe in dreaming big and smashing our goals.

Michelle Monet

Written by

Musician. Author. Poet. Cat Mama. Seeker. Curious Creator. Currently writing showbiz memoir and Broadway style Musical. contact: michelle@michellemonet.com

Hopes and Dreams for Our Future

We believe in dreaming big and smashing our goals.

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