@lightwardinc asked me to write about writing about family. Check the link in their bio if you too have struggled with saying true hard things, not saying them at all, or blowing everything to hell.
instagram.com@lightwardinc asked me to write about writing about family. Check the link in their bio if you too have struggled with saying true hard things, not saying them at all, or blowing everything to hell.
Something a lot of people struggle with is, what is the ethical standard for one to write about something? When are you allowed to mind your own family’s history? Does it ever feel icky? Does it feel like you’re profiting off of your parents and your grandparents’ trauma? And I don’t think anybody really knows the answer. I think everyone should do... See more
Book
Perhaps there was an element of envy in what I hoped was mostly a protective instinct towards my students. I was drawn to write about the circumstances of my own life but had always felt it wouldn’t be possible to do that without betraying or upsetting my family. I feared the instincts of a writer might overpower the instincts of a daughter, a
... See moreMiranda France • The Writing School
Remember that you own what happened to you. If your childhood was less than ideal, you may have been raised thinking that if you told the truth about what really went on in your family, a long bony white finger would emerge from a cloud and point at you, while a chilling voice thundered, “We told you not to tell.” But that was then. Just put down
... See moreAnne Lamott • Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
Parents, children, teachers, clergy, and friends add to the mix, helping to determine what is allowed to be expressed and what is not. For some families, emotional vulnerability and crying are encouraged; for others, they are banished into shadow. For some families, anger and conflict are tolerated; for others, they are the worst taboo. For some
... See moreSteven Wolf • Romancing the Shadow
(d) How do you handle disagreements between the people that are most important to you?