Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Memoir Writing is not for me.

People always ask me why I don't write memoirs.

And, when people hear the college that I went to they automatically assume I have gone through the awesome memoir program there.

Also, when people hear I write, they automatically think that my writings must be about my life.

All of these assumptions are wrong.

I guess since my first pieces of writing were emotional poetry, and very shortly after rock n' roll songs, I feel that I 've told "my" stories through song and poetry.

The only sort of memoir writing I have ever done is, in fact, the entries in this blog. But, as any good writing professor will tell you, it's really not the same thing at all.

Before I write these next few sentences, I want to say this:

I do have the utmost respect for those who do write memoirs although it will never be a genre I feel comfortable writing in.

I guess since reality pains me often, I don't think I could even get through writing about myself that much to explore memoir writing. I think I wouldn't be able to be that honest with myself or with others. And, and please do not take this the wrong way memoir writers, but memoir writing seems just a little more self-absorbed than I am comfortable with.

Besides, who the hell would want to read about my life?

I'm really not that important.

I'd rather create personalities, universes, and lives than writing about my own.

I do feel lonely in my opinion since most of the people I know who write talk about their memoirs, and I'm over here like..."Um...my new character is sort of inspired by a real person in my life? Does that count?"

I don't really feel the need for fiction partners, either.
Writing has always been an extremely independent practice for me.

When I do need a beta-read I like to choose people I don't know.
I guess I'd rather near strangers ripping into my writing so I can make it better than someone I can actually be emotionally hurt by.

Thank heavens for the internet editors that fill that requirement.

So, memoir writers!
Keep writing about all of your life's happenings!

I will use them as inspiration for fictional people!

-L





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