Stepping into the forest of my mind

Stepping into the forest of my mind
Just as every journey begins with a first step, every story begins with the first word.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

The Need for Universal Questions or Themes in Memoir

http://victoriamarielees.blogspot.com
Darlings everywhere!  Where's the meat?
The necessity to attend college brings to mind the universal questions through which to filter my story.  To build suspense, I need to show the search for the answers to these questions through my writing, my internal dialogue, in order to offer the reader insight into any journey he or she may be planning. 

Possible Themes: 
Making the right decision.  The idea of seemingly selfish ambitions of a mother at odds with the demands of motherhood. 
Taking the risk.  The tension between being a responsible wife and mother to 5 children and a college student. 
A sense of belonging.  Feelings of being an outsider at college.  It's not just the younger students who suffer from this.  Older students can feel they are starting behind the traditional college students because of a lack of college preparation. 

As my darlings lay, kicking and screaming on the library floor, I contemplate these questions and possibly redrafting my entire memoir.  No one ever said writing was easy.  And if they did, throw them on the floor with my kicking darlings.


Any insight you can offer, please do.  Thanks for reading.
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14 comments:

  1. Karen LangeJuly 9, 2015 at 9:55 PM

    Anyone who thinks writing is easy is sorely mistaken. It takes a ton of thought and just plain work. :) Wishing you all the best with this project!

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  2. Victoria Marie LeesJuly 10, 2015 at 12:03 PM

    Thank you so much, Karen, for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog and leaving your good wishes. They are greatly appreciated. Writing is absolutely a ton of work, much staring and oodles of thought. Thanks again for your note. Always a pleasure to hear from you.

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  3. Jennifer R. HubbardJuly 10, 2015 at 3:24 PM

    I love the aspect of a person starting a new venture, stretching for a goal, not sure they'll fit in. It's a nearly universal experience.

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  4. Victoria Marie LeesJuly 10, 2015 at 3:57 PM

    Yes, Jennifer, I believe many people try new ventures to see where they will lead. I believe I will redraft my memoir with these new universal discoveries in mind. Thank you so much, Jennifer, for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog and leaving a note. I truly appreciate it.

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  5. Marie GilbertJuly 10, 2015 at 4:52 PM

    If your memoir is like the stories you shared at our writers' group meeting, it will be a best seller. Love your adventures

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  6. Victoria Marie LeesJuly 10, 2015 at 9:58 PM

    Thank you so much, Marie. I hope my experiences will be entertaining as well as helpful. I truly appreciate your visiting my Adventures in Writing blog and leaving a note.

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  7. Arlee BirdJuly 13, 2015 at 8:57 AM

    In memoir as in all writing I think it is important to connect with the readers in some way such as shared experiences or dreams that they'd like to achieve. Since readers typically read for enlightenment it's a good idea to ask the same questions that readers might be asking and provide the answers from the perspective of what the writer has learned from their own experiences.

    Hope you're having fun with the writing.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

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    1. Victoria Marie LeesJuly 29, 2015 at 7:12 PM

      Thank you so much for this, Lee. These are great points to remember. Another theme I thought of, while on my camping vacation, was "never give up your dream." Thank you so much, Lee, for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog. It means a lot.

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  8. Theresa MilsteinJuly 15, 2015 at 7:24 PM

    I agree with what you say here. Just make sure while you're connecting your readers to you, you keep letting us root for you. People love rooting for those whom they think aren't going to make it. I don't think it's selfish to want to go to school. It should be an inspiration for your children. :)

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    1. Victoria Marie LeesJuly 29, 2015 at 7:18 PM

      And that's what I thought too, Theresa. I was hoping that I was showing the children both the importance of education and how to remain committed to a goal. Thank you for this great insight. I truly appreciate it. And thanks for leaving a note on my Adventures in Writing blog.

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  9. NasJuly 26, 2015 at 5:21 PM

    I would love to read your adventurous memoir one day!

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    1. Victoria Marie LeesJuly 29, 2015 at 7:22 PM

      That would be wonderful, Nas. Truly wonderful. I do feel now, after my camping vacation, that I need to redraft the memoir through the lens I've mentioned here and also: Never give up your dream. Thank you so much for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog and leaving your encouragement. It means so much.

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  10. clarbojahnAugust 9, 2015 at 11:38 AM

    After doing three drafts on my own memoir, Spiralling, My Battle With Bipolar , I find the very medicine I take makes it hard for me learn the lessons I put forth.

    No, writing is not easy. Or learning from it.

    Good luck with this spunky sounding memoir, Victoria. I wish you the best. :)

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  11. Victoria Marie LeesAugust 9, 2015 at 1:22 PM

    Thank you so much, Clarbojahn, for visiting my Adventures in Writing blog and leaving a note. It is greatly appreciated. It is truly difficult to learn from what we have experienced and write about, medication or no medication. Thank you for your compliment. I hope my memoir IS spunky. Any experience we live through--and survive--takes spunk. Good luck with your memoir as well.

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