Sometimes it’s necessary to just take a break from writing a memoir—or any writing project you’re doing. And that’s where I’m at right now.

I’m trying to cram so much information into my head about the technical side of writing a memoir as well as writing scenes that I’ve already identified will be part of my book, which has been a bit emotionally draining.

I’m battering my head from both sides. Creative output, plus analytical input. I’m been pulled in two different directions, plus I’m sharing the technical side of writing a memoir on my new blog.

Learning to outrun Dementia

Don’t get me wrong, I love learning. I love the process of feeding my brain new information. It’s a quest, a passion, no… it’s an addiction. I worry sometimes (well a lot), that the life I have now will come to an end sooner than I want it to. I don’t mean dying – although we’re all going to do that at some point. What I’m referring to is my Grandma and Mother having dementia. It’s not hereditary, well they don’t think so, but maybe I’m going to draw the short straw on Alzheimer’s too! Who knows.

I listened to a Ted Talk a few years ago about how learning creates new connections in your brain, and whereas dementia plugs up your existing connections with plaques, and there’s nothing that can be done about that, you do have control over creating the new connections. So this drive to learn new things stems from this fear of dementia.

So while I’m still running away from it as fast as my little legs will carry me, I’m going to continue to seek the knowledge to get me to where I need to be. And that knowledge is currently focused around learning to write a memoir.

Positive Character Arc Memoir

Thing is .. maybe I’m being stupid, but I’ve been focused on learning about writing fiction and writing screenplays, simply because they’re compelling stories. I don’t want to write a memoir that’s just a chronological recounting of events. All action and no substance. I want to write a memoir that shows a positive character arc. Where the character, me, grows from the journey I’m on. And my story inspires or helps the reader.

What I’ve realized about those chronological memoirs is that they focus on activities and action, and although things go wrong, and there’s emotional reactions involved, we never get to see the core of the person in the memoir, because although we see their external motivation that is driving the plot, we don’t see their internal motivation.

This is one of the key learnings from this whole memoir process. It’s the importance of the internal motivation. But it’s not that simple, because you can’t take that internal motivation on face value, you have to delve deeper. There’s hurt in our past that has created the person we are today, and these wounds inflicted on us by our environment, our circumstances or the important people in our lives, drive us to act and reaction in specific ways.

There’s the old adage of nature and nurture … but whatever the cause of our behavior, it’s rooted in our past. We can’t change unless our hand is forced. And that’s the beauty of writing a memoir. The catalyst in Act One is the what drives us towards making that change.

I wonder if it would just be simpler to write one of those memoirs that bore me, the action and no substance ones. Then all you need to worry about is plot. There’s no need to find a universal theme, and you don’t have to worry about a character arc.

So should I?

I don’t even know why I’m considering it. I either have to write the memoir I need to write, or I don’t write one at all.

The idea of writing the memoir without any internal motivation and universal theme just isn’t me. So I need to plod on with my research. Read my books, Read the websites, and read more memoirs. I keep reading them and I keep getting disappointed. Surely there has to be a market out there for the type of memoir I want to write.

I want to inspire others to take that leap of faith to follow their dreams. So I need to find that market and be true to my self about the messages I want to write. This journey is going to take me longer than I thought. I really thought I could crack out a book by the end of the year, But it’s a process. An emotional journey.

Let’s hope it’s worth it.

Has taking a break from your writing improved your creative process?

#AuthorToolboxBlogHop

This post is part of the #AuthorToolboxBlogHop. It’s a monthly event sharing resources and learning for authors, which is held every third Wednesday of the month. All authors at all stages of their careers are welcome to participate. 

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