Kathy Morrell is deeply interested in literature. She used to work part-time with Yorkton This Week. She鈥檚 an avid reader. But one of her favourite mediums is the memoir.
Morrell has ghostwritten memoirs for people. She鈥檚 also put pen to paper for her own life stories. She thinks the memoir provides the perfect outlet for preserving personal tales for future generations.
鈥淸It鈥檚] a legacy for families,鈥� she said. 鈥淸People] have a desire to record their life stories.鈥�
Morrell is bringing her love for memoirs to Yorkton later this month. The Saskatoon-resident is leading the 鈥淭elling Your Past - Introduction to Memoir Writing鈥� workshop on Sept. 29 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The Yorkton Film Festival is hosting the event as part of Culture Days across Saskatchewan.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a huge interest in people telling their own stories,鈥� Morrell said.
Morrell will offer tips and tricks to crafting a compelling memoir. Workshop participants are encouraged to bring a significant memento to spark inspiration for the memoir process. Morrell said she鈥檒l guide writers with their work, but they鈥檒l have to make the biggest decisions for their writing.
鈥淧eople who come to the workshop have to determine [what they want to say],鈥� she said.
In Morrell鈥檚 opinion, the hardest part of the memoir (derived from the French word for 鈥渕emory鈥�) is recalling parts of your life in crystal-clarity. Two people could experience the same moment and they could both remember it in completely opposite ways.
鈥淧eople have different memories of events,鈥� Morrell said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the most difficult thing.鈥�
Morrell thinks the memoir serves an important function as a historical document and a familial gift. Families enjoy connecting to their loved ones by reading the human and personal stories in memoirs.
鈥淔amilies like to know what鈥檚 gone on in the past,鈥� Morrell said.
The memoir workshop is free to attend. Participants need register for the class by calling 306-782-7077 before Sept. 28.
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