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Writing a Memoir – The Story of Your Life
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On January 27, 2026, the AARP Tuesday Explorers program highlighted how each of us can make a gift of our life story. It is easier than you think!
This program was presented by Cathy Smith, a professional writer and editor for over 40 years. She is currently an adjunct professor at Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland where she teaches classes on writing.
Cathy started by asking: “Do you enjoy stories, and don’t you wish that your parents and grandparents had written down some of the things that were important in their lives?” She proposed that you can offer your life story to the people in your life. Memoirs are stories. They do not require the effort of developing a full autobiography which is a rendering of the entire life of a person. A memoir is about an aspect of a person’s life, which is much less daunting to develop. Memoirs have a theme, and the author is the illustration of that theme or idea.
Cathy next explained why we write memoirs and who wants to know about our life. She offered that for some it is a healing journey, or it is a chance to reflect on a life well lived. For others it is a desire to share memories with families and friends or convey a spiritual journey.
As a teacher, Cathy helps people write their stories. In this presentation, she noted the five C’s that make up a story: characters (including yourself), context, complications, climax and conclusion. She explained that writing is a craft and requires patience and rework to achieve its goals. She laid out a process from getting started to publication of a final product that can be shared with others.
Cathy is an advocate of memoir writing communities. She stated it is easy to start one in retiree organizations, church groups, community colleges and book clubs. These groups help people feel safe by establishing a confidentiality agreement within the group. Your community group can help you to keep writing.
Cathy’s presentation can be found on the AARP Virginia Youtube channel.
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