For all the "openness" in our society everyone
wears masks. We take them off in the writer's group and I believe the
authenticity is why the group is so vital for all of us. My fellow
members revelations draw me to their stories. Who can't relate to the
abandonment, pain, and hurt or the triumph and joy when we transcend it? So, the challenge we face is whether the
commitment to honesty, for me part of the purpose in writing the book, can be
reconciled with the cost of telling the truth, especially when it includes the
lives and feelings of others.
What we reveal in memoirs, for all of the warts and ugliness, is the beauty and honor that comes when we face our shadow selves and our humanity. Our memoirs are about how we did the best we could at the time and they reveal what was powerful and important in our growth and our lives.
Posted by Molly Mahoney Matthews
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Posted by: petersteel | 12/26/2009 at 06:04 AM
Have you read "The Help"? It really addresses the issues you raise toward the middle and through to the end of the book. Plus, it's a WONDERFUL book on any number of other levels. Must read! Love
Posted by: Betty Robinson | 12/07/2009 at 09:06 PM