TELL YOUR STORY
(you have plenty of them)
Before we talk about TELL YOUR STORY, I want to ask if you checked out Janice Hanna Thompson’s blog (www.outoftheboxbaking.com) from last month’s newsletter? So here’s another chance if you didn’t. She’s waiting to share recipes with you.
Now to my June newsletter. Stories, as any author would say, are a topic close to our hearts. As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved to write. Be it poems or short stories. Thoughts of becoming a New York Bestselling Author danced in my head.
But a short story I wrote in seventh grade almost derailed my writing career before it even began. Four of my friends decided we’d each write a ‘racy’ story and let the others read it when we finished it. This happened 1968/1969 timeframe. So, how spicy could it have been?
I wrote mine, and somehow, in passing it to one of my friends, it was intercepted by my teacher. Even though she promised to keep it to herself, I caught sight of my mother sitting in the principal’s office a few days later.
OH MY GOODNESS!!! I’M DEAD!!!
When I got home that afternoon, the only words my mom said to me after she came to my room were, “You’ll never do that again, will you?” At that moment, I would have agreed to anything to stop Mom’s wrath.
Oh, how I’d love to read that story today. The steamiest it got was kissing a boy, and I’m not sure I knew what I was talking about at such a young age. And even with my mom’s warning. I kept writing, which most of you are aware of.
And that’s enough about me and my love of storytelling. I want to talk about how YOU need to TELL YOUR STORY. I came up with this idea when I spent a month with my mom as she transitioned into a nursing home.
One day I started asking Mom random questions. Nothing earth-shattering. Basic questions about her childhood, siblings, parents, etc. At the end of our month together, I had over thirty-five pages of what I like to call: Mom’s Story. I’m glad I did it since my mom passed away two months later. (See picture above of the book I made for my siblings. They loved it.)
I don’t share this story to depress you, but to let you know you also have stories to tell. Memories from your past (and present). Stories that made you who you are today. Nuggets of gold your family wants to read about.
I can hear some of you murmuring. You’re saying what my mom said, “No one will want to read what I have to say.” But, people, take it from me. Your family is interested in the stories of your childhood and beyond.
One story I have to share from my mom is when she was in California around 1942. She would have been eighteen years old. I asked her about the war, and she said, “Oh, there were lots of good-looking soldiers on the train. I dated a man named Pickle.”
That’s right. I said, Pickle. After I quit laughing, I said, “Mom, you dated a Pickle and married a Fudge. What are the odds?” She smiled and added, “I never thought about that.”
My mother had plenty to say…once I got her going. But she wouldn’t have shared her stories if I hadn’t asked her the questions. And to help you get started in your quest to TELL YOUR STORY, I’ve compiled a list of questions to get you started. If you are interested in receiving the, emailed me and I will send you the file.
As a reminder, so you don’t get overwhelmed: You can answer the questions with a sentence, a paragraph, or write a page. There’s not a right or wrong way to do it. My advice to you is – Sit down and begin. Remember, YOU HAVE STORIES TO TELL.
QUOTE from Anne Lamott: “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.”
WRITING NEWS:
I'm done with my novella. It's off to my editors. I have two titles, so I'll let YOU pick which one you like. 1) A SEASON OF UNDENIABLE MIRACLES or 2) REKINDLED FOR CHRISTMAS. Whichever one gets the most votes - is the winner. Please help. I like them both!!!
I’ll end with a poem I wrote, concerning Tell Your Story:
The words we pen are ours alone.
Pieces of our story are priceless.
Places in it are painful.
But most of all – it’s praiseworthy.
Our legacy within the pages.
Our journey mapped out.
Our life forever lived.
I hope I’ve helped you to begin your journey of telling your story. Don't forget to email me so I can send you the questions. AND vote for the best title. Thank you!!!
Until next time…
Blessings!
Now to my June newsletter. Stories, as any author would say, are a topic close to our hearts. As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved to write. Be it poems or short stories. Thoughts of becoming a New York Bestselling Author danced in my head.
But a short story I wrote in seventh grade almost derailed my writing career before it even began. Four of my friends decided we’d each write a ‘racy’ story and let the others read it when we finished it. This happened 1968/1969 timeframe. So, how spicy could it have been?
I wrote mine, and somehow, in passing it to one of my friends, it was intercepted by my teacher. Even though she promised to keep it to herself, I caught sight of my mother sitting in the principal’s office a few days later.
OH MY GOODNESS!!! I’M DEAD!!!
When I got home that afternoon, the only words my mom said to me after she came to my room were, “You’ll never do that again, will you?” At that moment, I would have agreed to anything to stop Mom’s wrath.
Oh, how I’d love to read that story today. The steamiest it got was kissing a boy, and I’m not sure I knew what I was talking about at such a young age. And even with my mom’s warning. I kept writing, which most of you are aware of.
And that’s enough about me and my love of storytelling. I want to talk about how YOU need to TELL YOUR STORY. I came up with this idea when I spent a month with my mom as she transitioned into a nursing home.
One day I started asking Mom random questions. Nothing earth-shattering. Basic questions about her childhood, siblings, parents, etc. At the end of our month together, I had over thirty-five pages of what I like to call: Mom’s Story. I’m glad I did it since my mom passed away two months later. (See picture above of the book I made for my siblings. They loved it.)
I don’t share this story to depress you, but to let you know you also have stories to tell. Memories from your past (and present). Stories that made you who you are today. Nuggets of gold your family wants to read about.
I can hear some of you murmuring. You’re saying what my mom said, “No one will want to read what I have to say.” But, people, take it from me. Your family is interested in the stories of your childhood and beyond.
One story I have to share from my mom is when she was in California around 1942. She would have been eighteen years old. I asked her about the war, and she said, “Oh, there were lots of good-looking soldiers on the train. I dated a man named Pickle.”
That’s right. I said, Pickle. After I quit laughing, I said, “Mom, you dated a Pickle and married a Fudge. What are the odds?” She smiled and added, “I never thought about that.”
My mother had plenty to say…once I got her going. But she wouldn’t have shared her stories if I hadn’t asked her the questions. And to help you get started in your quest to TELL YOUR STORY, I’ve compiled a list of questions to get you started. If you are interested in receiving the, emailed me and I will send you the file.
As a reminder, so you don’t get overwhelmed: You can answer the questions with a sentence, a paragraph, or write a page. There’s not a right or wrong way to do it. My advice to you is – Sit down and begin. Remember, YOU HAVE STORIES TO TELL.
QUOTE from Anne Lamott: “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.”
WRITING NEWS:
I'm done with my novella. It's off to my editors. I have two titles, so I'll let YOU pick which one you like. 1) A SEASON OF UNDENIABLE MIRACLES or 2) REKINDLED FOR CHRISTMAS. Whichever one gets the most votes - is the winner. Please help. I like them both!!!
I’ll end with a poem I wrote, concerning Tell Your Story:
The words we pen are ours alone.
Pieces of our story are priceless.
Places in it are painful.
But most of all – it’s praiseworthy.
Our legacy within the pages.
Our journey mapped out.
Our life forever lived.
I hope I’ve helped you to begin your journey of telling your story. Don't forget to email me so I can send you the questions. AND vote for the best title. Thank you!!!
Until next time…
Blessings!
Janetta Fudge Messmer - Author of Christian Comedy/Romance
“Turning Life Into Comedy”
E-mail: janettafudgemessmer@gmail.com
Website and sign up for the newsletter: http://janettafudgemessmer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetta.fudge.messmer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nettiefudge
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