Your Story! Writing Prompt from Writer's Digest Magazine Aug. 2006
"Fill in the blank: Seven days ago, ________. Now, nobody will talk to me."
-From The Pocket Muse by Monica Wood
(Author's note: Please keep in mind this is mostly a fictitious essay.)
Seven days ago, I informed my dear friends and beloved family that I had begun writing my memoir of my teenage years. Now, nobody will talk to me. I've gotten a few e-mails informing me that so-and-so does not give permission for me to use his name, image, or likeness in any form; my presence will not be required at children's future birthday parties; my e-mail address has been blocked from in-boxes.
These people have deep dark secrets they have not told their spouses, children, or other friends and family that I just happen to know. They're terrified I am going to expose them all. They are all so focused on themselves, on their own pathetic lives that they can't even fathom I would want to write this book for me, for my own children. This book is about me, what happened in my life, and yes, many people have played pivotal roles in my life, but this book is not about how many people's lives I can ruin with my pen filled with venom. It's about how those events, those secrets, shaped who I am today.
I made mistakes in my teen years, as many people do, but I've learned from them and I want to warn my children not to do what I did. This memoir would be the perfect opportunity. I even tried to compromise and offer to not publish my book for the general public. I'd just do a small vanity publishing and use a pen name so if my book ever fell into outsider hands, who would know? I still have not heard from anyone.
So, I must ask myself, how important is writing this memoir? Or, a better question might be, do I still want these selfish people in my life if they could abandon me over the mere mention of me writing the story of my life?
