The Courage to Share: Crafting Your Life Story as a Memoir

Writing a memoir of your life requires a significant amount of courage, a thick skin, and an unyielding desire to make a difference in someone else's life. This isn't a task for the faint of heart; it involves opening your life to scrutiny, vulnerability, and critique. But it also offers an incredible journey of self-expression and catharsis.

From Scary to Inspiring

Back in 2008, when I received the news from my cardiologist that I had only 6 months to live, the panic and fear were overwhelming. However, out of this difficult situation, a story began to take shape that would eventually become one of my most cherished works: LOVE The Beat Goes On.

The memoir was written not only to detail my personal struggles but also to give hope to others who might be suffering from an incurable disease. The journey of crafting this book was scary, but it was also rewarding. It allowed me to channel my experiences into something that could benefit others, which is incredibly fulfilling. As a writer, I have always found that sharing my thoughts and experiences can be a deeply cathartic process. It can be good for the soul, and it can also be an excellent way to process and come to terms with past events.

Motivation and Audience

An event or a significant moment often serves as a catalyst for both writing and reading memoirs. You can see this in the bestseller lists, where the authors are either famous, infamous, or have an incredible story to share with their audience. But even if you don't fit into these categories, the process of writing your life story can still be profoundly meaningful.

In 2019, I took a leap of faith that would change my life forever. I sold all my belongings and embarked on a series of one-way tickets to destinations around the world, with no return ticket. While this journey wasn't about writing a memoir, people were naturally curious about why a woman my age would do something so audacious. In one way, my life story started resembling a movie.

Editorial and Publishing Journey

Given my background as a writer, I have published 19 books on Amazon, covering poetry, fiction, romantic suspense, and spy stories. The decision to publish my memoirs came from a place of wanting to document these life experiences, even though I knew I would face criticism. I released my first memoir in 2008, titled LOVE The Beat Goes On, and waited many years before releasing the book in case my "miracle" didn't last. But the feedback from readers, comments on YouTube, and the connections I made made it all worth it.

My current project is the third memoir. I started with the intention of writing about life during the pandemic in Istanbul, Turkey. However, as the story evolved, it led me to live just down the street from the Presidential Palace where high-level meetings would be held, between Ukraine and Russia. On my 75th birthday, I found myself in love with a young Turkish man in the Middle East. This journey of writing memoirs has been an incredibly enriching experience, and I encourage anyone with a story to share to go ahead and write it.

If you have a story to tell, take the plunge. Life is a beautiful, complex tapestry, and every chapter holds valuable lessons and triumphs. Let your experiences shine through in your memoir and inspire others to find the courage to share their stories as well.

Conclusion

Writing a memoir of your life can be a life-changing process. It requires courage, resilience, and a willingness to share your experiences, even if it means facing criticism. It's a personal journey that can bring healing, catharsis, and a sense of fulfillment. Whether you choose to publish your memoir or keep it private, the act of writing can be incredibly rewarding.

So, if you have a story to tell, grab a pen and paper (or open a word document), and start writing. Your story is waiting to be shared.

I'm currently in Istanbul, Turkey, working on my next memoir, having just taken a quick break to answer these questions from Starbucks. Stay tuned for more updates!