Answer: My Personal Journaling

25 January 2013, Friday, 904 a.m.

I barely got any sleep last night and am running on fumes this morning. The good company of a friend will do that, you know. I wouldn't trade it for the world, but I am not the young pup I was once was.

Do you hear me chuckling? Ever since I was a little girl, I have needed at the bare minimum seven hours of sleep and am in bed by 930ish. Last night, thanks to Beagle needed to go outside, I got three and a half hours sleep. Maybe. So, I am dragging.

I, however, woke up with a revelation. First came the words, STAY TRUE.

That resonated.

I heard:
Stay true to yourself.
Stay true to God.
Stay true to your calling.
Stay true to your journaling.
Stay true to your memoir.
Stay true to your priorities.
Stay true.

I knew then and there that fiction is not the way to go. That question
was answered.

'Kay.

Whew.

I felt the weight lift from my shoulders as that decision was made for
me. (The Lord guided me.)

I asked, then, "Now what?"

Memoir... It popped into my mind.

Alright. Which memoir? My writing memoir or my Jamestown memoir?

Silence. There was no response. Of course...

Now, what?

I am still waiting for that answer.

-- Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

My Storykeeper Odyssey, Vol 1: An Introduction

As you know, I’ve dedicated 2013 to writing all of my memories and my life story. I want to get all of my memories down on the page. I want to leave my trace on this world. I want my life to be remembered—as a life dedicated to journaling—and encouraging others to do the same. It is important to me.

I have decided to start over with the writing of my memoir. Earlier this week I made this decision and I am glad to have made it because it’s already taken on a life of its own. The title of my memoir is:

THE STORYKEEPER ODYSSEY, VOL. 1

It’s my story about my writing and journalkeeping.

I have lived—and God has me here, at this time, for a purpose. It is my life story and is my life’s purpose. God wants me to journal first, teach others to journal second, and write my life story third. Every day has a reason and an opportunity for me to live my God-given destiny. I can live a life fulfilled or one that is not. This is the how I will bring God maximum glory (and I will bear much fruit).

I will share some of the memoir here on this blog. But, some is far too personal, so I am going to share it in book format in its unedited, rough draft version at my store on Smashwords. So, check it out next week.

WHY SHOULD YOU READ MY MEMOIR?

Do you like to hear other people’s stories?

Do you want to get the most from and your of your life story?

Have you ever had a dream?

Do you want to know and live your life’s purpose—your big dream?

Have you had obstacles get in the way of you living your big dream and your life’s purpose?

Do you journal?

Do you want to write a book?

If you answered “yes” to any of the previous questions, this memoir, blog post series, and book are for you.

WHAT IS MY MEMOIR ABOUT EXACTLY?

It’s my journaling about my life as a writer and as a journalkeeper. It’s the story of my odyssey as I journal and write, and all of the obstacles that have tried to hinder me from doing either. It’s my story of how I’ve overcome. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper & Memoir Writer

It's in the small details you find the most meaning

As you journal and/or write your story (your memoir), you start by writing the facts of a memory. you write a report like a reporter of just the facts, ma'am. This is the best way to start.

Then, you ask: who, what, where, when. why, how, and what-if questions and answer the endless possibilities.

Next, you add the five senses of: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste.

Finally, you look at the finer, smaller details, more minute--like the sight of Granny's gravy boat--what it looked like, what it meant, and how you have a gravy bowl you use, but it always makes you think of Granny's--and of her--and how much she meant and means to you. 

It's those smaller details that go to the heart of the matter--and the heart of our story. 

These are the memory snapshots. These are the memories we mine and we find the msot valuable treasure in these details and in these memories. 

Look at the smaller details in your journaling. This is when you are finally writing deeply. This is where your true exploration begins. This is what you include in your memoir. This is what you should journal most about. 

But, it takes all of those other steps to get to the heart of the matter. 

These smaller details mean the most and are what will capture your reader's attention mroe than than anything. they also define who you are and what makes you who you are and what make you tick. 

The smaller, finer details are what mean the most. 

It's in the small details you find the most meaning. 

~ Stacy Duplease

Journalkeeper & Memoir Writer

Writing Your Memoir and Your Idea List and File

YOUR IDEA LIST AND FILE

Your 125 memories and your Future Journaling List comprise your idea list and idea file for your memoir writing. This is where you put every single memory and possibility of something or someone to write about in your memoir writing--this book or in future books. This is your catch-all. It's your project file and contains everything that is possible now or later. 

This is your holding bed or crock pot of ideas that simmer for long periods of time as you sort out what to include exactly in your memoir--and what not to. 

Make sure to literally write anything that comes to mind: memories, thoughts, ideas  people, places, things, objects, experiences, memories, lessons learned, etc. that comes to you as you journal your rough draft. 

By the way, anything you do not include in your memoir still should get a journaling entry done on it to expand just the listing of future journaling. Write it out. There is a reason why it came to mind. Make sure to explore everything you can about it. 

Make sure to write it all down--anything that comes to mind--and keep in this catch-all list/file. 

JOURNALING EXERCISE OR PROMPT

Think of how you want to write your memoir. Jot down anything that comes to mind.

Then, read through your list of 125 memories and jot down anything else that comes to mind.

~ Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper

Writing Your Memoir: The Steps

What are the steps of writing a memoir?

1 Make a list of the first 125 memories in your life that come to mind.

2 Write a full account of each of the 125 memories. Do a SOC, a mining your memories exercise, and memory snapshots of each of the 125 memories. 

3 As you list and write about each of your 125 memories, other memories will come to mind. Make sure to jot those down on a Future Journaling List so they are not forgotten. They will be covered in another memoir that you will write later. 

4 Once you get all 125 memories journaled out and at least 1 page of journaling each, it's time to look at your old journal entries if you have them. Journal about what your recollection today is different, and the same, as when you wrote about it originally. If you did not keep past journals, skip this step.

5 Look at your journaling and see if any patterns emerge. Whatever patterns you see, or whatever seems to fit together is what you will write about in your first memoir. You may use only a handful of the 125 memories, or you may use a majority. See what feels right to you and what makes the most sense.

6 Start to write your memoir. Remember that a memoir does not go in chronological order. 

7 Finish your rough draft.

8 Edit your first draft.

9 Edit your second draft.

10 Edit your third draft.

11 Publish it. 

Stacy Duplease
Journalkeeper & Author

* My Storykeeper Odyssey in 2013: Journaling & Memoir

* The Journaling & Storykeeping Encyclopedia of 2013

MEMOIR WRITING

Have you always wanted to write your story? Or is it something that has just come upon your heart--and won't let go? Either way, this blog post is for you.

4 QUOTATIONS THAT MATTER

There is something really important you need to know before you take another step in the direction of writing your story. Listen carefully and read carefully.

Your story matters.

There is something else that is critical for you to understand:

Your story is sacred.

And, there is one more thing for you to know:

Your story matters, and is sacred, because it's exclusively yours--and because it intertwines with every single person you come across in your life--including those who hear about you and your story.

And, the final thing to know is that:

Every single person you come across, their story intertwines with yours and shapes and transforms your story.

Stop. Re-read those several times and let them sink in slowly, word by word. 

You should not write your memoir until each of those quotations sink in and you take them to heart. 

Go through and journal about each of those 4 quotes. 

Spend a couple of days fully digesting, pondering/contemplating, and journaling about these quotes before you continue to the next section of this blog post.

YOUR PAST JOURNALS

Given the 4 quotations written previously, what do you think I am going to say about your past journals? 

Here is the answer: Until you look back at your memories through today's lens, I would not look back at your previous journal entries. In other words, I would start to write my memoir today through journaling my past memories today. Then, I would go back and look at old journal entries--and journal about those--from today's perspective. I would then see what has changed and how my perception has changed. Also, I would look at how they've influenced the road I've traveled, how I got here  who I am today, and where I am headed in the future. 

This is critical. It is important to keep this in mind. Please re-read that previous paragraph and then read ahead. 

WHY SHOULD I NOT LOOK AT OLD JOURNAL ENTRIES FIRST?

They will cloud your perception today.

Figure out who you are today and where you stand today--then look back. After all, there is a reason why you see the things you do today and in the manner you see them. Do not ever shortchange this. Do not ever take this for granted. There is a reason why you perceive the things you do today. There is a reason why you remember the things, and in the way you remember them, today. Do not ever--and I mean EVER--not take this into consideration. It's important what you see and how yous ee things today. Your point-of-view today matters far more than it did then. 

The previous paragraph is critical and important and should not be overlooked or taken for granted. (Yes. I was just extremely redundant in what I said. That was intentional  I want to get your attention and cannot stress this enough.)

HOW TO WRITE YOUR MEMOIR: YOUR LIFE STORY

1 Figure out where you are today. Journal about things from today's perspective. Then, look at the past. Journal your memories from today's perspective. 

2 Then, look back at your old journal entries. Do a new journal entry talking about what you observed, including what you had forgotten, and how your perception of the memory and journal entry has changed and/or remained the same. 

3 Look for lessons learned--then and now. Journal about them from today's eyes. 

4 Look for patterns in your old and new journal entries. These are important. These patterns are what make your memoir and shape it. Journal about the patterns.

5 Taking everything mentioned in this blog post  including items 1-4, start to write your memoir. 

2013 STORYKEEPER ODYSSEY

I am taking 2013 to do #1. I have 125 memories I am focusing on. This is the first part of my memoir. Then, in 2014, I am going to look at items 2-5 and write the next part of my memoir. After all, I need to fully know where I am today in order to understand yesterday and get the most out of tomorrow. 

You can find your rhythm. But, whatever you do, make sure you look at things through today's point-of-view before you look at yesterday's or tomorrow's.