I have found two quotes that seem to illustrate my rationale for the angst I've put myself through for the last five years in writing the family story. These will, I'm sure, become my mantra.
Dylan Thomas said: "Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." I'd like to add a line, "Do not give up without a fight." This explains for me why I don't want to go into my "goodnight" without exposing the way he tried to kill "the light" for so many innocent people.
Kahlil Gibran said: "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." This helps me realize that there may have been something positive in my sisters' and my emergence from our childhood. We are strong.
Dylan Thomas said: "Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light." I'd like to add a line, "Do not give up without a fight." This explains for me why I don't want to go into my "goodnight" without exposing the way he tried to kill "the light" for so many innocent people.
Kahlil Gibran said: "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." This helps me realize that there may have been something positive in my sisters' and my emergence from our childhood. We are strong.
Labels: My theme
posted by Barb @ 10:15 AM
5 Comments:
At 12:35 PM ,
Patia said...
You are strong. Strong and beautiful.
I just listened to the broadcast of the bookfest panel on MTPR. Got a little weepy. My reception here is terrible, so I missed some of it, but heard your retelling of being in Judy's class and doing that exercise.
It was only a 30-minute radio program, too, and I'm guessing the session was longer.
Anyway, I could go on, but just wanted to let you know it aired. I'm so proud of you, and proud to know you.
At 7:40 PM ,
western said...
Barbara Richard,
I am sitting here after being handed The Fence Post (plains edition) with the article of your memoir writing workshop. A slew of stories by an 80 year old cowboy and cattle rancher in Nebraska began after the article was handed my way. Jason Garwood was intrigued with your writings and remarked that too many women are raised with violence and unkindness by their fathers. A writing workshop would be wonderful for him as he has so many stories of a life spent in the Sandhills of NE. He is currently on his ranch in Whitman, NE rehabbing from a stroke with the support of his children. Are there any books you would recommend of writing memoirs since your workshops are taking place in MT only?
I will have to get your books and read them for my own personal reasons. I am just a suburban/city gal who is learning all about country/cowboy life by immersion with visits to this warm and generous family in the plains.
Friend of a well-loved cowboy,
Wendy Thursby
At 9:59 AM ,
Barb said...
To Western: It would be so interesting to see your profile. Would you consider posting one?
My favorite training tools that I recommend in my workshops are:
"If You Can Talk, You Can Write" by Joel Saltzman (Available on audiobook)
"On Writing Well" by William Zinsser. (Available on audiobook)
"The Elements of Style" by Strunk and White (a classic)
Also: "On Writing" by Stephen King
"Bird by Bird" by Anne LaMott, and "Write from Life" by Meg Files.
AND reading all the memoirs you can find (try to find the ones that DID NOT use a ghost writer.)
In your friend's case, at his age, it would be the most time-effective to get a mini-tape recorder and ask him to start recording his memories. If he can talk clearly, a skillful editor could transcribe it and put it in story form. If he cannot talk clearly enough for a tape (from the stroke), someone should take dictation from him a few hours a day. I have a number of tapes and forty years of my mother's dairies (written on scrap newsprint and hidden in manila envelopes under her mattress) that were invaluable in writing our story.
Wish him (Jason?) good luck.
Barbara Richard
At 8:19 AM ,
Barb said...
To Patia: Thanks so much for your kind words. I was surprised to hear that you could receive the YPR broadcast in Missoula. I thought it would only be in the Billings area. If it went out to the whole state, that's wonderful. I am going to try for a tape recording of the feature.
I'll see you in September in Missoula.
At 10:23 PM ,
Patia said...
YPR and MTPR are separate networks, but they sometimes share programs.
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