WRITE ABOUT YOUR LIFE AND MEMORIES

Have you ever considered that you'd like to write some of the significant memories from your lifetime to share with family members, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and beyond? Many people frequently think about it, but never take the time to tackle what seems to be an overwhelming project.

As a Certified Lifewriting Instructor, I would be delighted to assist you through the process of bringing those distant memories into manuscript form. We'll make it fun, interesting, and hopefully enjoyable! This will be accomplished through group workshops, though I will also schedule select individual consultations.

Emphasis will not be on the family tree, but on information--feelings, events, experiences, individuals who influenced your life, and values that you may wish to pass on to future generations. Make certain that they will know exactly who you were!

If you believe that you might be interested in preserving your memories for loved ones, here is a little hint! Start NOW by using a special note pad, and as you think of various stories or experiences that you would like to include in your manuscript, jot down just a one-liner that will jog your memory about these items so you will have a jump start on your project. You can add to your list at your leisure, as thoughts spontaneously pop into your mind, rather than feeling pressure to recall.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (518) 441-8107, (843) 215-4676 or e-mail me at info@awriterspresence.com or mbenedetto@sccoast.net.

REMEMBER---EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAS A UNIQUE HISTORY AND A WORTHY STORY TO WRITE! I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!!

UPCOMING WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITY:

"7 EASY STEPS TO MEMOIR WRITING"

2 Saturdays, 2/4 & 2/11/12 from 10:00 am to 12 pm

To be held at:

OLLI at COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

Waccamaw Higher Education Center

160 Willbrook Blvd. Litchfield, SC

Call (843) 349-6584 to register!

Call Mary Anne at (843)215-4676 for information or to schedule a workshop series for your group at a suitable location!

AN ADDITIONAL OPTION: DO YOU HAVE AN AVERSION TO WRITING BUT WANT YOUR STORY TOLD? FOR AN HOURLY FEE PLUS COST OF MATERIALS, WE WILL SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WHERE I WILL ASK YOU PERTINENT QUESTIONS, RECORD YOUR ANSWERS, AND PRODUCE A MANUSCRIPT FOR YOU. YOU CAN ALSO MAKE THIS ARRANGEMENT FOR A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE.

                       *WORKSHOPS/SEMINARS*     *PET MEMOIRS* *SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS* *FAMILY REUNIONS*
              *CONFERENCE SPOUSE PROGRAMS*                            *INDIVIDUAL/GROUP CONSULTATIONS*

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It is one of my goals to introduce individuals and groups to The Mini-Memoir©. Because I so strongly believe in helping our loved ones learn more about us, I developed a list of items that people can simply print and fill in their answers. It can be the first baby step in generating interest in developing a more extensive memoir project, or it can be the single item of information that is passed along to the next generation. This Mini-Memoir© works especially well for elderly folks who are unable to tackle a full memoir project. I recommend printing these for groups of seniors, creating booklets of their completed pages, and distributing them so these individuals can learn more about each other, eliciting conversation and enabling them to discover various areas that they may have in common. If you utilize The Mini-Memoir©, I'd love to hear about your experiences with it. Please see below:

Click here to view/print THE MINI-MEMOIR!

If you have trouble viewing, please contact Mary Anne at (843) 215-4676

LEGACY OF MEMORIES

I wish I had told my story
Like my children asked me to.
While I could still remember
What they wanted me to do.

They were seeking our family history,
Anything I'd be willing to share.
I always meant to get started on that project,
It wasn't that I didn't care.

I was just busy with so many other tasks,
I had far too much on my mind
To zero in on my memories
For the loved ones I'd leave behind.

I could have told some humorous tales,
Pertinent occurrences, things I had learned and more.
I'd have clued them in on stories they'd never have known
If I hadn't provided the key to my special memories door.

But it's too late for me now.
My eyes are closed--there's nothing more I can do,
Except to tell others--don't take your stories to the grave!
Leave behind a remembrance of you.

by Mary Anne Benedetto March, 2011

WRITING YOUR MEMOIRS IS A PRICELESS GIFT