So not only did you teach me about writing memoir, you also taught me about reading and thinking about how others write memoir. Thank you so much! Rebecca

Accepting what is to come

You can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Writing From Photographs



Recently my long time friend, Rose H., sent me some old photos she found among her things. The photos were black and white and taken in the late fifties. An astounding flood of memories rushed over me.

In my memoir classes we use photographs to refresh memories that provoke stories of our lives. In the photo I’m sharing here, I can easily remember the names of the young people. I am one of them.

But there is so much more in this picture. I see sadness, death, and disillusionment. From this photo, I can create a book of stories.
Do you have old photos that bring back memories?
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8 comments:

  1. TipperFebruary 20, 2011 at 7:06 AM

    I love the picture! Your post reminds me of the old saying a picture is worth a thousand words-it really is.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JLCFebruary 24, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    Some of these pictures are almost too painful to view when you get to a certain place and realize the contacts you've lost. They remind you that you simply can't contain everything for good. Makes me sad, but probably will stimulate some kind of written response when I next view some of my own like it . Thank you for the prompt.

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  3. Brenda Kay LedfordFebruary 24, 2011 at 2:52 PM

    Glenda,
    This is a great idea to write stories. I like this old-time photo. It sure brings back a lot of memories. What an excellent way to moltivate people to write about the past. Thanks for the prompt.
    I hope your class is going well. I sure wish I could have taken it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Glenda BeallFebruary 25, 2011 at 3:49 PM

    Hi Tipper,
    This picture does tell some stories. My brother is on the far right. He is the one who passed away in 2009 just months before Barry died.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glenda BeallFebruary 25, 2011 at 3:51 PM

    Hi Joan,
    Thanks for your comment. Yes, these old photos can be quite painful. In writing about our lives we include the bad times as well as the good, and photos can really bring up emotions.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Joan Ellen Gage AdminFebruary 27, 2011 at 10:46 AM

    Glenda, I love to look at old photos. Some of the memories are bitter-sweet, others evoke very fond memories.

    They are pieces of our history.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Susie SwansonFebruary 27, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    Thanks for this info. I have found it to be very helpful in writing to look at an old photo. Just finished writing one after doing this... Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Glenda BeallFebruary 28, 2011 at 1:40 AM

    Hi Susie,
    Thank you for stopping by my blog.
    I hope you find it helpful and interesting and that you will comment again.

    ReplyDelete

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