Your key people: Who are they and how did they shape you?

Today we continue looking at ways to rediscover stories from the past so you can include them in your memoir. 

(Click on these recent posts if you missed them: Your stories: Where do you find them? and Where can you find your stories? And don't miss Sharon Lippincott's comment: "I just wrote a section for my Work in Progress about all the stories packed into a copper Aztec calendar that has hung on walls in four houses for nearly fifty years now....")

Look over the list of people, below. Take your time. A few will stand out because they played a significant role in shaping who you are today. Their words or actions caught your attention, taught you, inspired you, helped you make good choices—and maybe even changed the direction of your life. 

• your best friend in high school
• grandparent
• pilot
• school bus driver
• neighbor
• boss
• lifeguard
• parents
• politician
• college roommate
• janitor
• pastor
• grandchild
• professor
• fireman
• Scout leader
• librarian
• law enforcement person
• pediatrician
• sibling
• teacher
• garbage collector
• farmer
• foster parents
• Sunday School teacher
• crosswalk guard
• aunt or uncle
• fellow student
• boss
• homeless person
• author
• teammate
• a person with Down Syndrome
• social worker
• in-laws
• military veteran
• a stranger

Did one or more person catch your attention? If so, ask yourself how different you’d be if that person hadn’t come into your life. Jot down ideas now, and in coming days and weeks craft a rough draft.

Sometimes the best life lessons result from dealing with negative people—they model the kind of person you don’t want to be. Ask yourself what you learned from people who:

• gossip
• bully
• lie
• break promises
• whine
• manipulate
• steal
• criticize
• judge
• abuse
• complain

Think about people who are:

• fickle
• jealous
• addicted to alcohol or drugs
• perfectionists
• irrational
• unpredictable
• violent
• moody
• temperamental
• bitter

How did they model the kind of person you did not want to be?

Also think about positive examples demonstrated by those who are:

• cheerful
• faithful
• affectionate
• helpful
• patient
• complimentary
• grace-filled
• optimistic
• kind
• longsuffering
• funny
• gentle
• soft-spoken
• generous
• encouraging
• affirming

How did they inspire you to be the kind of person you are?

Think of the people who modeled for you:

• trust in God
• forgiveness
• tenacity
• love of life
• integrity
• creativity
• spunk
• thoughtfulness
• inquisitiveness
• commitment
• joy
• self-discipline
• honesty
• loyalty
• humility
• contentment

Believe this:

Your stories can serve as guides

for your kids, grandkids, great-grands, friends, and other readers.

Your stories can influence who they choose to be.

Your stories are important.

Write them!

Tuesday Tidbit: When was the last time you attended a writers’ conference?

Some people say writers should attend a conference at least once a year. 

Are you overdue?

Writers’ conferences offer a wealth of information and inspiration, things such as:

• Networking with other writers, people who share your goals and dreams. You might even make a new friend or meet someone who will become a valuable critique partner.
• Learning from professionals—writers, editors, publishers, marketers, and agents. Whether you’re a beginning writer or an accomplished author, professionals’ expertise will educate and help you move toward publishing a high-quality memoir.
• Making appointments with pros. Most conferences offer participants opportunities to get critiques and to meet with editors and agents.
• Schmoozing with pros. Around lunch tables and at social times, you can rub elbows with those professionals—and that can lead to some delightful results.
• Inspiration to improve your skills and work hard on your manuscript. At writers’ conferences you’ll find a lot of enthusiastic people, and their passion will rub off on you. 

Be selective about which conferences you attend. Scrutinize brochures for offerings and faculty and choose a conference that best suits your purposes and needs.

I encourage you to look into Colorado Christian Writers Conference coming up May 17-20, 2017. Many consider it one of the best in America.

“Through us, with us, in spite of us”

Your Tuesday Tidbit, your 15 seconds of inspiration:

“For such a long time, I felt my story wasn’t important….

I didn’t know who my story had made me….

But exhuming it, the healing had been profound,

pulling from the ashes of charred memories….

And the things I’ve discovered have been treasures….

Through writing I’ve discovered that…

protecting and preserving our stories

is about discovering God’s story.

What he did through us, with us, in spite of us,

continually pursuing that story

is a matter of faithfulness and obedience,

to become aware and invest in this life he’s given.

To speak its life-affirming power

in proper words and context,

it can be the delight of our lives,

an endless source of inspiration.”

Mick Silva

Tuesday Tidbit: Offering readers hope

Here’s your 15 seconds of inspiration,

your Tuesday Tidbit:

“Hope is the answer your readers are searching for.…

We write hard things to inspire others.

We inspire them to overcome their fears,

and to tell them they are not alone

in their dark night of the soul.”

Kellie McGann,

guest blogger at Wayne Groner’s

“Your Memories Your Book”

Inspiration and Celebration

Spiritual Memoirs 101 is about inspiration and celebration, with a focus on Deuteronomy 4:9, “Always remember the things you’ve seen God do for you, and be sure to tell your children and grandchildren!”

Inspiration is one of my favorite words. I pray that within this blog, you’ll find inspiration.

What words come to mind when you think of inspiration? 

I think of infusing with enthusiasm, encouragement, passion, gusto, and eagerness.

Inspire: to cheer, persuade, set in motion, buoy up, guide, fire up, and energize.

Week by week, you and I will examine the art and craft of memoir and, as we do, my heart’s desire is that you’ll receive inspiration to write and write and write and write.

Celebration is another of my favorite words. It conjures up images of joy, glee, jubilation, and delight.

Celebrate: to cheer, applaud, shout approval, give a standing ovation, praise, honor, and pay tribute.

I pray that within and beyond this blog, you’ll participate in a celebration—ultimately a celebration of God in all His goodness, faithfulness, holiness, and splendor.

May God help us remember all we’ve seen Him do for us, and with us—and even in spite of us.

May He give us a longing to write those stories for our children, grandchildren, and “spiritual” children as well—precious people God has brought into our lives whether we share DNA or not.

Your stories are part of God’s stories, and God’s stories are part of your stories.

People need to hear those stories. Believe it!

Get ready to write!

This week’s assignment: Start a list of things you’ve seen God do for you and add to it throughout the week.

Next week we’ll answer the question, “What is a memoir?” and you can get started in earnest.

I’m so excited you have this opportunity to write your stories. You might not realize it yet, but penning your memoir could change your life!