Writing Your Memoir: A Gentle Exercise in Creative Non-Fiction

Author Karl Stewart had never written a memoir, did not know anyone who had, and was, in fact, intimidated by the process and all that could go wrong. But using a box of old computer paper, post-it notes and smiley-face stickers, he proceeded to write the award-winning novel Up Harvey’s Creek.

This presentation has two parts: Part One explores the problems and thrills of writing about real people and real events – about the nature of “selective memory,” when to let the chips fall where they may and when to fudge the facts a bit.

Part Two explores the creative yet technical aspects of getting your memoir down in some formal order. The author found post-it notes and colored smiley faces helpful in organizing past events. But perhaps legos are more your style.