The Momoir Project: Live It, Write It, Remember It
If you are a mom, you have stories. Big stories, little stories…but you are most definitely full of stories. The very, very first story emits from the first time you see the two pink lines on the pregnancy test (or hear your physician say, “You’re pregnant.”). See? Every mom has a story!
I have stories and memories resounding and reverberating in my head all day long. Instances are brought to mind several times each day, springing up to consciousness in the midst of my daily duties. The problem is this: How to stream all of these memories, stories, scenarios? How to channel them into cohesiveness and get it down on paper for posterity? Therein lies the problem.
Whether you don’t have time or you aren’t sure how, recording your motherhood-based stories may seem impossible and impractical. For you and me, though, there’s help….thanks to Cori Howard and her Momoir Project.
The Momoir Project is the brainchild of Howard, an award-winning journalist whose passion for writing goes beyond her past profession. She formerly published Between Interruptions: Thirty Women Tell the Truth About Motherhood, an anthology of stories by moms and about all-things-motherhood. The Momoir Project is an extension of that effort….a way to help all moms out there figure out how to write down their lives, how to record their experiences (from the mundane to the extraordinary).
Howard offers actual writing classes for moms, as well as online seminars. Brand new, however, is a condensed e-book, The Momoir Workbook, that can be purchased and printed out. It allows you to learn and work independently at your “momoir,” setting your own pace and exploring at your own leisure the writing yet to bloom from your experiences.
The workbook teaches the importance of carrying around a notebook at all times, how to realize what your own unique story really is, and reminds you to remember who your audience is. It goes back to the basics and teaches you how to brainstorm anecdotes, write leads, composes theses, formulate the body, and close your story neatly in a bound ending.
Every chapter in the e-book offers a writing prompt that will set your creativity and memory bank ablaze. There’s also a call to record in writing the random conversations (or Q&As) you have with your children. I found this especially endearing, since I am consistently trying to write down (or email, or text, or Twitter) my children’s quizzical ponderings or hilarious realizations that they frequently vocalize.
Last but not least, great tips for actually finding time for writing and keeping up with it once you’ve begun wrap up this instructional, inspiration e-book.
You can purchase The Memoir Workbook (in PDF format) directly from The Momoir Project’s website. The cost is $32.95 in US dollars and $34.95 in Canadian Dollars. This book is certainly an investment in the things that matter most — penning and remembering these precious days with our little ones, the angst, trials, and decision-making along the way, and as moms, recording our hopes and dreams for the future (both ours and theirs).
Win it! We’re giving away a copy to one reader who comments before noon mst on September 4, 2009.
CONTEST CLOSED & WINNER EMAILED
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:51 am
Momoir. what a great, catchy name! This is fantastic, now that moms can channel their stories into something.
Marq | UPrinting.com´s last blog ..14 Business Card Designs in Dark Colors
September 2nd, 2009 at 6:39 am
i hope i am the one mverno@roadrunner.com
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:32 am
how cool.
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:05 am
This sounds like a great project. I try to write something each day in a plain composition notebook, but having more structure and guidance would be wonderful!
September 2nd, 2009 at 8:38 am
I love writing, but sometimes I agonize over tone or word choice, and finding the time certainly can be tricky. I’d love to read those tips about how to make the time and keep up with it! Thanks for the giveaway.
Ammie´s last blog ..Mirabel
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Interesting idea, thanks for posting the link!
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:02 pm
A superb project! Moms have stories to tell, and our kids want to hear them over and over again. I love it when I remember the details of what happened, but when I come up blank, “sorry honey, I don’t actually remember what your first words were… I think they were da, da… or was that your brother that said that.” My daughter shoots me looks of – ‘you wicked, neglectful mother… how could you?’
But now that I have taken the classes, which were rather excellent, I write more of my stories so my kids can enjoy them now and later. It was a great way to meet some very cool and interesting mom-writers, in an environment where critique is not criticism, and there are no grades handed out… how perfect is that?
Lorrie ´s last blog ..Hornby Island Retreat
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:55 pm
I feel sorry for my two sons because I write their daily doings in two day planners. One for each and sometimes I am so tired I mix them up. Sorry guys. I too have so many firsts with my oldest and lasts with my youngest that are so precious to me. So thanks for the chance to win this and make some sence out of what I have wrote over the years.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I subscribe.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:28 am
Now THIS I could get behind too!! I’ve totally slacked in blogging over the past year, which was my daily “momoir” for a long time. I’d love something to kick start my writing juices again…or else we’re going to have no documentation of these crazy years
Amy ´s last blog ..nothing cures… [2]
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:04 am
I’d love to win!
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:28 am
Having read Cori Howards Anthology, Between Interruptions, I jumped at the chance to take her online Momoir Tutorial. I met 7 amazing Mom’s from all over Canada and the US. We shared our deeply funny, tender, and agonizing moments of motherhood. I am hoping to take the second level next Spring!
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:28 am
Thanks for posting information about Cori Howards Momoir Project!
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:32 am
I was thinking that personal essays that capture cute and curious moments from your child’s life would make great addtions to your scrapbook.
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 pm
This would be neat to transfer my journals into.
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
would love to win this
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:36 pm
This is great. I have always wanted to do something like this. Thanks!
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I am a subscriber. Thanks!
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:13 pm
I have been trying to write about being a new mom and my experiences with my twins but get caught up in trying to find the right way to say it. So much, in fact, that I haven’t written much. Time is passing and memory fading. I would love the help. Thanks!
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Thanx for the opportunity.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Id love to win this
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:49 pm
This would be fantastic to win. I love this sort of thing.
September 4th, 2009 at 6:26 am
I am a subscriber.
September 4th, 2009 at 7:22 am
this is an awesome tool to help us put everything in writing for the kids.
September 4th, 2009 at 8:53 am
I would love to win. I would love to write a memoir.
September 4th, 2009 at 9:05 am
I really need this. I want to write an ebook.
September 4th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Hey does anyone think thatmoir” is is the most clever name ever?
September 4th, 2009 at 10:11 am
I mean ‘momoir’ oops
September 4th, 2009 at 10:15 am
When my son was a baby my ‘momoir’ writing was really introverted and reflective. Now that he’s 9, my writing reflects his more extroverted nature like BMXing, beach parties and building sling shots with old shoes.
September 4th, 2009 at 10:16 am
The Momoir. I suppose this falls into the genre of creative non-fiction.
September 4th, 2009 at 10:17 am
I once took a class in Creative non-fiction where we wrote a series of personal essays and I never seemed to grow tired of writing about my self. Huh.
September 4th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I really really really want the Momoir workbook in case you all can’t tell.
September 4th, 2009 at 10:36 am
SOUNDS WONDERFUL:)
September 4th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
September 4th, 2009 at 11:46 am
This sounds like a great lifelong project!
September 4th, 2009 at 11:52 am
please please please please!