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Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Exploring the Inner Self in Memoir

Santa puts the tinsel on the tree!
I need to show my hard-won epiphanies through self-reflection.  I need to present my memoir in ways to allow readers to enter upon the college journey.  I went to college as a mother of five, but that journey needs to be more than just a collection of experiences at college and at home with my family as I struggled to keep up with my studies, struggled to comprehend new subject material, struggled to discover a new Victoria Marie.

I must explore the inner self, reflect upon it, so that my reader can identify with me.  This sounds like the inner dialogue, which I’m incorporating into my memoir manuscript.  But through inner dialogue, the memoirist needs to discover something about herself, through reliving the experiences, the struggles.

In the throes of my second revision of the college memoir, I discover courage.  It took courage to attend each class.  Courage to believe in myself though surrounded with doubts and inadequacy, embarrassment.  Courage to face my fear of failure.  Courage to face the fear of success, for in success comes opportunity.  Opportunity changes lives. 

I would never be the same after my adventures through college.  And neither would my family.  It took a whole family to get this mother through college.     

I need to craft these discoveries into well-stated epiphanies/themes and then be sure that they resonate throughout the memoir.  Through specific details, the memoirist can achieve universality. 


There’s my timer again.  My home smells of cinnamon and honey.  Time to take the Amish friendship breads out of the oven.  Time to share the smells of Christmas with family, neighbors and friends.  May your Christmas be filled with the treasure of family and friends and may you all achieve success in 2015.  Thanks for stopping by Adventures in Writing.
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11 comments:

  1. Theresa MilsteinDecember 24, 2014 at 9:10 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Theresa MilsteinDecember 24, 2014 at 9:15 PM

    I like how you know what's important to emphasize. I like how reflective you're being for the new year. Have a happy holiday season.

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  3. Victoria Marie LeesDecember 26, 2014 at 12:15 PM

    Thank you, Theresa. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Hope you holiday season is wonderful. Thanks for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog.

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  4. BECKYJanuary 2, 2015 at 11:46 AM

    Hello Victoria! Thank you so much for your two comments on my bog! I will be back to read yours just as soon as I can. I'm always happy to meet new friends through blogging, especially writer ones! I hope to post much more often this year than I did last. I'm your new follower, too.

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  5. Victoria Marie LeesJanuary 2, 2015 at 11:55 AM

    Welcome, Becky! Thank you so much for stopping by my Adventures in Writing blog. I'm happy to meet new friends through the blogosphere, too. Like you, I hope to post more often in 2015. I have 2 blogs because I thought in the beginning that blogs needed to be mono-subject. My other blog: http://campingwithfivekids.blogspot.com, is about my family's camping adventures and what we have learned. Again, thank you for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog. Happy New Year!

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    1. BECKYJanuary 2, 2015 at 12:49 PM

      Thank you, Victoria and I wish you beautiful, blissful year of writing!

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    2. Victoria Marie LeesJanuary 2, 2015 at 3:30 PM

      Thank you, Becky! A beautiful, blissful year of writing to you, too.

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  6. Michelle MaderJanuary 2, 2015 at 5:46 PM

    I enjoy reading your blogs. It is always insightful. I also like how you ended this one. I feel like I can smell the cooking in my own house. I hope you had a nice holiday!

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  7. Victoria Marie LeesJanuary 5, 2015 at 11:10 AM

    Thank you, Michelle. Yes, I had a wonderful holiday full of family and friends. I hope you holiday was filled with happiness as well. Thank you so much for reading my Adventures in Writing blog posts and leaving comments. It is truly appreciated. Happy New Year, my dear!

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  8. NasJanuary 18, 2015 at 3:22 PM

    Great post. I hope you had a lovely start to the New Year!

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  9. Victoria Marie LeesJanuary 23, 2015 at 10:52 AM

    Thank you, Nas, for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog. Your comments are always appreciated. Yes, my New Year is starting off wonderfully. I hope yours is as well. Here's to a successful 2015!

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