Memoir as a Slice of Life
When my memoir about my journey through trauma is released, some people who were in my life won’t find themselves in the book. They may wonder why. A memoir isn’t a full account of someone’s entire life like an autobiography. Instead, it’s a “slice of life” story that includes personal reflection and focuses on a specific theme. Scenes in a memoir are recreations of scenes and events from memory. What we find important is what we remember. What one person finds important may not be the same as what another person does. Writing about trauma still needs to be a factual account. However, as recreations, they are always subjective. You can read more about that HERE.
Memoirs usually center on universal human experiences that many people can relate to. These are themes like love and loss, good vs. evil, identity, the search for meaning, and overcoming adversity. The scenes and stories an author chooses to write about are chosen specifically to illustrate that theme. Because of this, not everything that happened during those periods of my life is written about in the book, nor do all the people from those periods appear on its pages.
Why Write About Trauma?
It also helps to know why an author would choose to share some of their darkest, most painful moments so openly. I’ve shared before that a major reason I wrote my memoir was to bear witness to the child I once was. You can read about that HERE. That still holds true. When I dig a little deeper, I realize that my decision to write about these events is strongly connected with my life’s work.
For more than thirty years, I’ve dedicated my life to serving children. My own experiences led me into a career in education because I wanted to make a difference for kids like me. Over time, I realized that on my own, my impact was limited. What I realized I could do was shed light on my experiences so that my colleagues and other caring adults could better understand how developmental trauma takes shape and how it can be lessened by fostering healing and offering hope. In essence, multiplying the positive impact on children’s lives. People who are aware can be people who care.
My Wish for My Memoir’s Journey in the New Year
My wish for the new year isn’t about making it big by writing about my traumatic past for money or sales. I want my book to reach a wide audience because I hope it will make a difference. I want people to understand trauma from a child’s point of view and how it can carry into adulthood, and I want those who are still living with Complex PTSD to know that there is hope for not only surviving it, but thriving.
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