How to Write Slices of Life

Edmund Hansen is the pioneer in the use of the episode approach to memoir writing. In the episode approach, an activity like family camping is told in its entirety and not integrated piece-meal chronologically with other on-going activities. Many episodes have the capability to stand-alone as a publishable short story. Edmund views life''''s peaks and valleys as equally important in defining the person we are today, and both are to appear in a memoir. While we share in common with humanity the growth stages of life, individually we have a separate and unique walk. Our task is to identify the 100 or so episodes that clearly characterize us so our relatives both living and yet unborn will better understand the era and culture that molded us, the decisions we made, the historical and family events that occurred and the significant individuals who helped shape our personality. SO HOW DOES THIS MANUAL HELP? It provides step-by-step- assistance with: . Listing the significant dates and events in one''''s life . Identifying the 100 or so episodes the composite of which is one''''s memoirs .Helping organize and start one in writing episodes It provides an explanation of the tools for one''''s writer toolbox. . How to engage the reader using a ''''hook'''' . Creativity: what others have done . Writing tools: metaphor, cliche''''s, slang, hyperbole, euphemism and dialogue. It will explore options for publishing one''''s memoirs. It has assignments with ''''memory sparklers'''' to stimulate the mind and to retrieve lost information. This manual is so complete that an individual who has the ability to work independently could use it. It''''s also ideal when used in a class on memoir writing. This manual has been class tested by the author.