Telling the Story

 When writing a memoir that spans 25 years and at least 35 automobiles, I relied heavily on hand-written journals and old photographs. Telling a whimsical story is the easy part, but all those stories need organization. How about a timeline to see how a life changes over time?  Rolling out butcher paper on a long counter-top allowed room to draw 30 columns, three inches wide; One for each year of driving. Here I began noting the numerous cars, challenges and adventures of my early adulthood.  Because memories and events tend to bleed from one year into the next, I drew a horizontal red line to connect one year to the next.  Looking for connections, I try to put enough emotional distance to view my dance floor of life from a third story balcony perspective. What am I not seeing?

  As the bigger picture emerged, the art of story-telling begins to evolve. Sticky notes and pictures of cars and events were placed on the timeline, which helped. Later I drew graphs that illustrated the peaks and valleys of a compelling story. What about timing? How long for the introduction? (No more than 1-2%). How much space will be given for the setting? (8%) When should the first drama show up that will keep readers fully engaged? (At least by the 15% mark) Allow 5-10% for the ending.

   With only 65% of the book left for the meat of my story, I wanted to make sure the narrative had a rhythm that could make this book a real page turner. When it was time to edit, there were more than a few cherished stories that had to go. (Otherwise known as “killing your darlings!”)  

In other words, writing is like life. If it doesn’t fit; it has to be spit in order to savor what remains.