The Heart and Craft of Lifestory Writing: How to Transform Memories Into Meaningful Stories

by Sharon M. Lippincott

Book Overview

The Heart and Craft of Lifestory Writing provides you with all the tools and encouragement you need to preserve the memorable tales of your life. Within these pages, you will learn effective methods... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0979299802
• ISBN13: 9780979299803
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Lighthouse Point Press
• Length: 275 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Hits the Sweet Spot

You should only read this book if you are prepared to give up all your excuses for not writing those great stories you always meant to get to "someday." Because after you read it, all your reasons for not sharing who you are - on paper - will be dead in the dust. You know what they are - "I don't have time" - "I'm not a writer" - "I don't know how" - "I don't know what to leave out or put in" - "I don't know how to start" - "But what will my mother-uncle-girlfriend-husband-children-boss-neighbors think?" and so on. Dead. Gone. You will be a writer. This practical yet inspiring book finds the sweet spot between "want to" and "how to", and addresses both. In concrete, practical terms it gives you instructions and exercises in everything from how to know what to write about; how to start; how to make your writing sizzle; how to plot and plan; how to edit drafts; how to organize; even how to illustrate and publish, if that is your desire. This is a truly complete guide to writing down the events of your life without stressing yourself out in the process. Yet the book also goes right to the heart of why people write. It speaks to that still, small voice within us that tells us to "Share this!" Otherwise, why are we here?

Pick Up Your Pen and Write

This is a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-going book. Its encouraging admonishments should fall on the willing ears of beginning life-writers and experienced ones as well. "Start writing," the author urges the reluctant writer at any skill level. With this book, the writer will never go it alone. Sharon Lippincott is a master project person, a worker bee, not a flitting butterfly. Sticking-with-it is a problem all writers experience at one time or another. The solution? "When you have a purpose...you'll discover awesome staying power." Having this purpose is critical, no matter if it is to share the story, your story, with family and friends, to use writing as a means of self-exploration, or...? Since "Sharon's Stories" comprise the first appendix, I feel comfortable using the author's first name. Indeed, after completing the book, I felt we are great and close friends. Sharon defines what she deems "lifestory writing" on the very first page, indeed the first line of the book. It is "the process of transforming your own essence into works on paper for other people to know--daring to expose not only your actions and experiences, but your thoughts, your choices, your perceptions, and your feelings." It may sound daunting, but as Sharon explains, it becomes not only doable but fun and challenging. As a part of the main text, she recounts her own experiences in discovering this creative process. She peppers the text with exercises. Stop and do them! As examples, she uses her own life stories from the appendix. Again, stop! Put in a bookmark and take the time to read the stories as you proceed through the text. Don't worry about what goes down on the page as you "start writing." "The underlying theme of this book is that anything you write is okay," says Sharon. Fine, so far. But there's more--we can't stop there but must make a choice--let it stand and go on to another story or make this story better. Each choice is fine, but make the decision. Those who make the second choice move on to editing and tightening--fine-tuning their stories. This is a book for storytellers of all levels of skill and degrees of experience. The outright beginner will benefit by starting at page 1 and working through to the level where she is both comfortable and satisfied. The more seasoned writer may do the same or pick and choose. I found the chapter on "Stories from the Shadows" particularly helpful as I did the sections on conflicting family memories and writing other people's stories. The four appendices will be useful to all. As I've stated, Sharon's personal stories are a delight and can either stand alone or serve as outstanding examples. The "stuck" writer may head for the second appendix, which is a series of memory triggers. There will be something here to get your pen moving. I've worked with word processors for well over twenty years, yet until I browsed "Layout and Other Geeky Stuff" in Appendix 3, I've never known how to insert a caption with a picture. T

A superbly written, organized, and presented instructional manual

"The Heart And Craft Of Lifestory Writing: How To Transform Memories Into Meaningful Stories" by Sharon M. Lippincott is an expertly written, 'reader friendly', specialized instruction guide that is especially recommended reading for anyone aspiring to write their memoirs and autobiographies. It is also an excellent 'how to' reference for authors who are writing biographies based upon the reminiscences and anecdotal stories of their subjects and others such as family members, friends and associates. All the proper writing tools are covered, as well as such vitally important issues as clearly identifying the overall purpose of the life-story, a personal plan of action adapted to the writer's workstyle preference and personality, stimulating the recall of memories, editing, and preparing the final manuscript for publication. A superbly written, organized, and presented instructional manual, "The Heart And Craft Of Lifestory Writing" especially commended to the attention of anyone who would like to record their own life story for the benefit of their posterity, as well as the general reading public.