Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Julie Jeffs on August 6, 2010 at 6:02am

I submitted a portion of my memoir. Thanks for starting the discussion, I was curious about the same thing. How bout you, what did you submit?

Permalink Reply by Katherine Harms on August 6, 2010 at 8:05am

I guess my book is more standard non-fiction. I write on the subject of living the life of faith, and my book is about ten principles for thriving, not just surviving, the storms of life. It goes beyond the Serenity Prayer, which simply recognizes the necessity of not battering ourselves against things we can't change, and suggests how we can live through such experiences with a sense of fulfillment and peace.

Permalink Reply by Brooke Linville on August 17, 2010 at 10:16am

That sounds really interesting Katherine. I'm curious if you will include stories of people who have managed to do so. I know in my own life traumas, it always was great to read that I *should* react a certain way when my whole body was viscerally reacting differently.

Permalink Reply by Katherine Harms on August 17, 2010 at 12:07pm

At present, my examples are all biblical characters, but I am searching for examples in life. The thing is, those who are thriving don't make good press. I feel that I do live my principles, although certainly not to perfection, but I don't want the book to be about me.

Permalink Reply by Michele Weldon on August 6, 2010 at 8:16am

My first book was a creative nonfiction memoir, I Closed My Eyes, 1999. I just finished my fourth book, a follow-up to that. Love the genre.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Mack on August 6, 2010 at 1:18pm

I submitted a collection of personal essays; a friend submitted a memoir.

Permalink Reply by Mary Keating on August 10, 2010 at 5:09pm

I considered submitting a collection of personal essays too, but instead went with the memoir - hope I made the right choice. What topic(s) do your essays focus on in your essay collection? Bust of luck

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Mack on August 11, 2010 at 5:59am

My collection are personal essays on being a teenage bride/mother and follows me from that time to the present as I grapple with an aging mother and new granddaughter; heavy in place, as it's set in the Ozarks.
Best of luck-

Permalink Reply by Mary Keating on August 11, 2010 at 6:39am

Oh my - I see that I made a typo (bust) ;0 . I try to avoid those little things like squirrels on the road, but every once in a while - there splattered on the road, for all to see ... Anyhow, your essays sound quite interesting. How young a bride? Is the collection complete? Can you share a sampling?

Have a great day and BEST of luck.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Mack on August 11, 2010 at 8:39am

I was 15. It is 2/3 complete. I'm at about 130ish pages now. It started as a Masters thesis and I am still adding to it, trying to get to about 200 pages. "They" say collections of essays aren't as saleable as straight memoir, but I thought I'd go against the grain :)
(BTW-I didn't even notice the typo)

Permalink Reply by Mary Keating on August 11, 2010 at 9:22am

You were definitely a young bride - are you still married to the same man? Do you have more children? Ok- I am spilling over into the interview side and I certainly don’t want to pry. I just love to hear stories about other women and the paths they walk. I did not get married until I was nearly 30 and did not get pregnant until I was 33 – there were challenges to both as we were very set in our ways and unsure of how to balance our careers, houses, live and lawn-mowing duties. I struggle to think about my path had it veered down a different road.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Mack on August 11, 2010 at 9:45am

You have to buy my book- just kidding! No, that one didn't last. Never had more children but am remarried. One of my essays, "Adventures of a Rejected Playboy Bunny" retells a story of applying to be a bunny to support my daughter - so the collection has a humourous slant. I eventually went back to school when she graduated, and long story short, now teach English p/t at local colleges. Actually, this weekend would have been my 30th high school reunion. I am traveling back home to the Ozarks, as I have been invited to attend, but have always felt strange going to reunions when I didn't graduate, so as of yet, haven't decided whether to attend or not. I think there is an essay there somewhere.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• …
• 9
• Next ›
• Page