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Thursday, September 1, 2016

The "Telling Your Life in Story" Story

It was an ordinary day. Remembering back to when I started this blog years ago.  Up until the time when I put "pencil or pen to paper", or should I say "fingers to keys", many of my  friends and relatives told me I should write this story or that story of what has happened to me and my family during my lifetime. Seems I had experienced many events, lessons, occurrences, vacations ........ during my life and many enjoyed hearing me tell about them.  
And then they began to tell me I ought to write a book of stories to share. Well, this blog is the best I can do so all those people will have to may do with it.  But, you know, this is something that everyone should do to share their life experiences for future generations.  All you have to be is interested and not afraid to try!  Hey, I found it to be a simple and a fun thing to do.  As you can see, you don't have to be a language major for your computer's spellcheck will make you look like a wizard with spelling. As for punctuation, just throw in a few commas and explanation points here and there and people will think you were a whiz in high school or college English.  No one will grade what you write or judge your writing.  If you have lived as long as I have, you more than likely will have more stories to share than you will ever have a chance to write.   
Start by thinking back to your childhood.  There has to be a few stories that you can remember!  No one can tell your story as well as you can or the way that you can.  And, when you begin to write, more stories or memories will pop into your head.  Many people, such as myself, began to write so I could pass my stories along to family, but if someone else enjoys it, so be it.  Some stories will be humorous, while others may be emotional or life-changing, but all still need to be told.  All you have to do is find your own personal writing technique for the way you write.  Base your technique on a favorite author you may have.  Stuart Woods, no relation to me sorry to say, is one of my favorite authors who at one time began all his books with .... Elaine's late.  So, I decided to start each story with .... It was an ordinary day.  At first I would write a story, have my wife read it, make suggestions, and then I'd decide on what my final draft would be.  Now, my wife has gotten tired of listening to the stories, telling me that she lived through most of my stories already and she doesn't want to live through them again.  Hey, writing and sharing your stories is a very inexpensive hobby.  While reading the local newspaper, I noticed that many retirement villages and homes offer classes or help in "Life-Story Writing."  I find that putting words onto paper, or in my case onto my computer screen, is very therapeutic.  Well, it's your turn now to give it a try.  Pick out an era of your life, write a life story, read it aloud, take constructive criticism, but don't change anything if you feel it doesn't need changing.  After all, it's your story!!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - If you are a reader of my blog and decide to start one of your own, make sure you send me a comment with the link to your blog so I can follow your life stories.

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