On Memoir Writing Clare Noone

Introduction Inspiration to write about my grandmother- came from freewrites at the beginning of the semester Inspiration to write about my grandmother- came from freewrites at the beginning of the semester It was the three year anniversary of her death so I decided to write about her and before I knew it, I was filling up pages It was the three year anniversary of her death so I decided to write about her and before I knew it, I was filling up pages “Write what you know” “Write what you know”

But what did I know? I knew my grandmother was a great woman but I had only been there for the last 18 years of her life I knew my grandmother was a great woman but I had only been there for the last 18 years of her life Therefore, to effectively capture her life, I decided to change the voice of my paper Therefore, to effectively capture her life, I decided to change the voice of my paper

What voice?! Initially, I couldn’t make up my mind whose voice I would take when writing the memoir Initially, I couldn’t make up my mind whose voice I would take when writing the memoir Experimented with my own voice, my mother’s voice and my grandmother herself Experimented with my own voice, my mother’s voice and my grandmother herself Thought about other possibilities- her late husband, late son??? Thought about other possibilities- her late husband, late son???

Importance of Freewrites in the Writing Process Helped get my ideas out and ultimately decide which voice to use Helped get my ideas out and ultimately decide which voice to use

I decided to write from my mother’s perspective because: I knew research would be important to my project- she was the only living person in her family I knew research would be important to my project- she was the only living person in her family Her voice was more authentic; my grandmother was too modest to speak of her accomplishments Her voice was more authentic; my grandmother was too modest to speak of her accomplishments My grandmother would never reveal anything personal about her life- truth would be essential to my memoir My grandmother would never reveal anything personal about her life- truth would be essential to my memoir

Alice Gallagher McHale died in 2002 at the age of 84

County Clare, Ireland 7 years old

Scranton, Pennsylvania Northeastern coal mining town

Research William Zinsser’s Inventing the Truth- a collection of memoirs about the process of memoir writing William Zinsser’s Inventing the Truth- a collection of memoirs about the process of memoir writing Contributing memoir writers discuss the challenges faced while composing their pieces Contributing memoir writers discuss the challenges faced while composing their pieces Helpful because I experienced many of these same challenges Helpful because I experienced many of these same challenges

Challenges The greatest challenge I experienced with the project was deciding what to include and what to leave out The greatest challenge I experienced with the project was deciding what to include and what to leave out I knew I couldn’t write about her whole life- wanted to focus on a few specific events that contributed to my mother’s memory I knew I couldn’t write about her whole life- wanted to focus on a few specific events that contributed to my mother’s memory

Importance of background info/Scranton in my memoir “A good memoir is also a work of history, catching a distinctive moment in the life of both a person and a society” (15) *closing of the coal mines*

Research continued… Interviewed my mother Interviewed my mother Painful memories were most prominent in my mother’s recollections and she faced difficulty in remembering specific happy events from her childhood Painful memories were most prominent in my mother’s recollections and she faced difficulty in remembering specific happy events from her childhood Jill Ker Conway- “Often there is a human tendency to obliterate happiness- to live in one’s painful memories,” (47) Jill Ker Conway- “Often there is a human tendency to obliterate happiness- to live in one’s painful memories,” (47)

When Irish Eyes are Smiling… Title reflects my grandmother’s birthplace, love for Irish music and her eternal optimism Title reflects my grandmother’s birthplace, love for Irish music and her eternal optimism

Presentation of selected quotes from When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Bridging the present to the past- Selection 1 Bridging the present to the past- Selection 1 Life background/Description of Scranton- Selection 2 Life background/Description of Scranton- Selection 2 My grandfather’s alcoholism and young death- Selection 3 My grandfather’s alcoholism and young death- Selection 3 Happy Memories- Christmas Selection 4 Happy Memories- Christmas Selection 4 Closing of Scranton’s Coal Mines- Selection 7 Closing of Scranton’s Coal Mines- Selection 7 Wedding Day- Selection 10 Wedding Day- Selection 10 Personal Characteristics- Selection 11 Personal Characteristics- Selection 11

The Importance of Teaching Memoir Writing College Essay Prompts- draw on experience from your personal life College Essay Prompts- draw on experience from your personal life One of the most widely used prompts---- Write about someone who has had a great impact on your life. One of the most widely used prompts---- Write about someone who has had a great impact on your life.

The Importance of Teaching Memoir Writing continued… Writing memoir allows students to experiment with different voices Writing memoir allows students to experiment with different voices