It’s amazing to see what the Sheldrick Foundation is doing. One of the most moving aspects is when the now wild orphan elephants come back to visit - especially the grown up females bringing their new babies. Glad you enjoyed Kenya - it’s a special place.
As for the writing a memoir -- yes, yes, a thousand times yes! Whether a publisher likes it or not, it will become absolutely priceless to any descendants you or this person may have. Not to mention future historians -- as one, I can tell you we love nothing better than to find a lesser-known or even unknown person who wrote down their life story -- it's as close to interviewing someone across the centuries as you can get. And I not only speak from professional experience but personal -- somehow my family managed to hang onto letters and other writings by my great-grandfather, and as a result, he and other family members spring to life -- not only are the tales of their adventures amazing (escaping Russia in 1917 via Siberia, working as missionaries in India, etc.) but you get the jokes, the likes and dislikes, the little things that make a person come to life.
And while there are other ways of recording family histories, that which is written triumphs over all the other media that change with the technological winds: cassettes, CDs, DVDs, videotapes, etc.
When I taught my class on the History of Women in the United States and Great Britain, the favored paper option was to write up the life of a "woman you know and admire" -- I got a lot of grandmothers, and the authors had something which, unlike most college terms papers, were worth keeping, to share with one's own children and grandchildren.
Your answer to the young writer asking if a career like yours is still possible stayed with me. The stepping stones have crumbled, you said, but the path still exists. As an apprentice working through a literary journalism, that is exactly what I needed to hear. My guide emphasises 'baseline clarity' and 'loaded facts', skills that feel timeless. But where to practice them? Your optimism, rooted in the enduring need for stories, not the fading platforms that once housed them, is a kind of permission. Write because you have a story, not because the skies will part. That is the discipline. Thank you for it.
You got me at taxidermy, then orchids, and now your memoir. I devour your writing. Thank you for your insight into how you find, follow and write your stories. Your ledes inspire me to improve mine. I’ll never forget hearing you speak in SF about The Library Book. I’ve just written a memoir, and landed an agent. I’m managing expectations on its publication as I know the market isn’t thirsty for memoir. But if mine were ever to end up in a bookstore next to yours, I’d faint. Thank you for your every word.
It's a sleepless 3ish am in UK + I've just encountered a Laugh Out Loud moment in your book Joyride - in a very good way. It's on page 191 the fashion designer for the film they are going to make of your book The Orchid Thief (enjoyed it on Audible) visited you to get an idea of your style of clothes for the actor Meryl Streep,no less who was going to play you in the film. After an enjoyable afternoon going through your wardrobe he says none of it is suitable as you don't dress like a journalist and the character has to wear clothes that signal to the dumb audience ie us,that she's a journalist. I found this really funny but also revealing how hidden signs we don't notice are used all the time to tell us things tacitly.
Joyce Carol Oates is one of my favorite authors. I really forget everything when I'm reading one of her books. I have read many. The topic of memoir is an interesting one to me. I reconnected with a friend from 40 years ago who had a an interesting life. He became famous for being one of the co-founders of ACT UP in NY in the early 80s. He subsequently wrote books, made videos, taught at the Art Institute Of Chicago and the Whitney Museum. I read about his life and watched one of his videos. I looked at phot6s and watched talks he gave. We started emailing and he asked me about my life. As I wrote, I began to realize I have had a pretty interesting life. I wondered if anyone else would find it so. I most likely won't write a memoir but I thought about it. Telling my life story to someone via email ,might satisfy the desire to do it. Love, Anne
For a taste of memoir reality, take a look at Sari Botton's Memoir Land on Substack. It's everything you could ever want to know about memoir writing, plus inspiration from some amazing people, Sari included.
Self-publishing is really a misnomer, unless you're a writer/coach who has published long ago - enough time to set up your own printing press in your extra garage or basement.
Your distributor takes all your work (stipulated bar code, cover, pages containing the words you've crafted over hours/years) and then, if you're lucky sends the IT to the legal entity and others.
Memoirs, I believe, are listed 8th in importance in this particular business.
We hear stories of great success but see, to great horror, just how many aspiring writers are suddenly coaches, editors and...
I’m really looking forward to your National Geographic piece!! And I will say once again, that I absolutely loved your memoir. It was just about perfect for me! Xo
It’s amazing to see what the Sheldrick Foundation is doing. One of the most moving aspects is when the now wild orphan elephants come back to visit - especially the grown up females bringing their new babies. Glad you enjoyed Kenya - it’s a special place.
As for the writing a memoir -- yes, yes, a thousand times yes! Whether a publisher likes it or not, it will become absolutely priceless to any descendants you or this person may have. Not to mention future historians -- as one, I can tell you we love nothing better than to find a lesser-known or even unknown person who wrote down their life story -- it's as close to interviewing someone across the centuries as you can get. And I not only speak from professional experience but personal -- somehow my family managed to hang onto letters and other writings by my great-grandfather, and as a result, he and other family members spring to life -- not only are the tales of their adventures amazing (escaping Russia in 1917 via Siberia, working as missionaries in India, etc.) but you get the jokes, the likes and dislikes, the little things that make a person come to life.
And while there are other ways of recording family histories, that which is written triumphs over all the other media that change with the technological winds: cassettes, CDs, DVDs, videotapes, etc.
When I taught my class on the History of Women in the United States and Great Britain, the favored paper option was to write up the life of a "woman you know and admire" -- I got a lot of grandmothers, and the authors had something which, unlike most college terms papers, were worth keeping, to share with one's own children and grandchildren.
I hope you enjoy JCO's The Falls as much as I did. @joycecaroloates is simply amazeballs to me. The Energizer Bunny of literature.
Your answer to the young writer asking if a career like yours is still possible stayed with me. The stepping stones have crumbled, you said, but the path still exists. As an apprentice working through a literary journalism, that is exactly what I needed to hear. My guide emphasises 'baseline clarity' and 'loaded facts', skills that feel timeless. But where to practice them? Your optimism, rooted in the enduring need for stories, not the fading platforms that once housed them, is a kind of permission. Write because you have a story, not because the skies will part. That is the discipline. Thank you for it.
Well put. It’s a tough moment but I still believe in storytelling as essential.
You got me at taxidermy, then orchids, and now your memoir. I devour your writing. Thank you for your insight into how you find, follow and write your stories. Your ledes inspire me to improve mine. I’ll never forget hearing you speak in SF about The Library Book. I’ve just written a memoir, and landed an agent. I’m managing expectations on its publication as I know the market isn’t thirsty for memoir. But if mine were ever to end up in a bookstore next to yours, I’d faint. Thank you for your every word.
🙏
It's a sleepless 3ish am in UK + I've just encountered a Laugh Out Loud moment in your book Joyride - in a very good way. It's on page 191 the fashion designer for the film they are going to make of your book The Orchid Thief (enjoyed it on Audible) visited you to get an idea of your style of clothes for the actor Meryl Streep,no less who was going to play you in the film. After an enjoyable afternoon going through your wardrobe he says none of it is suitable as you don't dress like a journalist and the character has to wear clothes that signal to the dumb audience ie us,that she's a journalist. I found this really funny but also revealing how hidden signs we don't notice are used all the time to tell us things tacitly.
🤣
"Families Like Ours" send me in a complete frenzy of checking which places will and which won't be flooded by 2050 🫣 ( you can check here: https://coastal.climatecentral.org/map/5/9.1209/49.9276/?theme=sea_level_rise&map_type=year&basemap=roadmap&contiguous=true&elevation_model=best_available&forecast_year=2050&pathway=ssp3rcp70&percentile=p50&refresh=true&return_level=return_level_1&rl_model=coast_rp&slr_model=ipcc_2021_med)
Isn’t it such a good show? And SO TERRIFYING.
SO TERRIFYING!!!
Joyce Carol Oates is one of my favorite authors. I really forget everything when I'm reading one of her books. I have read many. The topic of memoir is an interesting one to me. I reconnected with a friend from 40 years ago who had a an interesting life. He became famous for being one of the co-founders of ACT UP in NY in the early 80s. He subsequently wrote books, made videos, taught at the Art Institute Of Chicago and the Whitney Museum. I read about his life and watched one of his videos. I looked at phot6s and watched talks he gave. We started emailing and he asked me about my life. As I wrote, I began to realize I have had a pretty interesting life. I wondered if anyone else would find it so. I most likely won't write a memoir but I thought about it. Telling my life story to someone via email ,might satisfy the desire to do it. Love, Anne
For a taste of memoir reality, take a look at Sari Botton's Memoir Land on Substack. It's everything you could ever want to know about memoir writing, plus inspiration from some amazing people, Sari included.
Self-publishing is really a misnomer, unless you're a writer/coach who has published long ago - enough time to set up your own printing press in your extra garage or basement.
Your distributor takes all your work (stipulated bar code, cover, pages containing the words you've crafted over hours/years) and then, if you're lucky sends the IT to the legal entity and others.
Memoirs, I believe, are listed 8th in importance in this particular business.
We hear stories of great success but see, to great horror, just how many aspiring writers are suddenly coaches, editors and...
Any idea when your NatGeo story will come out? I don’t want to miss it.
I don’t yet but I’ll post when I know!
I’m really looking forward to your National Geographic piece!! And I will say once again, that I absolutely loved your memoir. It was just about perfect for me! Xo