Writing an autobiography
Have you ever considered writing an autobiography?
In the last few years, you all have shared thoughts here or in other social media as blogs or posts. If anyone compiled all your writings in some order, the words could typically portray you – your beliefs, interests and everything you stand for. Give these to a psychologist and he would describe your personality reading between the lines!! Though there might be an element of pretense discussing controversial or exclusively personal subjects but over a period of time; you tend to reveal yourself through your posts. But all that you write, over time, fades away into oblivion.
Having written numerous posts in forums and some articles in print, I have lately realized had I utilized this time writing a book on what I figured my life and this world was all about, it would give me great pleasure presenting a copy of it to my children and possibly grand children in the future.
I plan to do it nevertheless.
Would you also like to gift an autobiography to your descendants? Or, what other tangible ways could you leave behind your legacy as?
I for one find it very hard to pen down my own experiences, specially the negative ones, for these very reasons.
It's easy to talk at lengths of our happier moments and more positive traits, but to analyze our downfalls and life's trialing periods can be soul searching and very strenuous.
I've always found it easier to express another's, be them for real or fictitious characters, emotions in words than my own. Back in my teenage years I used to write all these passion fueled letters and poems on behalf of my friends for their various interests, but to date cannot do the same for myself.
But I was pondering over what you said of the whole legacy bit today(even voiced it to my hubby) and I must say your idea sounds commendable. Who knows perhaps unknown to us,decades from now, our younger generations may actually benefit and cultivate their lives based on our experiences and how we dealt with various struggles!
Fathima, I feel writing ones biography is one of the toughest literary work a person can undertake and do justice to. Not only the work needs to be artistic and creative, it has to be true to life bringing out all the shades of gray in ones personality. Analysing, justifying or accepting ones darker sides needs courage. Finally, relating the events in a subtle sequence delving more into personal experience and inner conflicts while making it interesting to the reader...isn't easy.
And maybe I will..just need to get into the writing groove so to speak. I miss those carefree school days when all I'd do in my free time is write,write and write!
And you certainly should. Your OPs are among the most thought provoking ones here on QL, specially considering they are your own works and not random copy pastes.
I have not yet thought over the title of the book but do remember vividly many happy and sad moments of my childhood which would always remain with me till the end. Also,I have gone through many highs and lows in my career that I really want to talk about in my book.
Finally, my views about this world do not match with that of most people. So, it would be something my family and friends would talk about after they read it. They would love it or hate it.
Fathima has a flair for writing...I have always loved her posts since she joined QL. I feel people like her should always give it a go.
Just stick with your diaries, at least you got to jot down an everyday memorable moment ;)
I think the problem is and I have often found with countless pages of paper screwed and thrown across the floor in an attempt at this, is where to begin, it takes more than just writing the highs and lows of this great journey of life. planning, preparation ordering etc in the UK I have lots of letter type pages i have written to myself over the years seems a little sad I know but to me it is a way of encapsulating what is going on around me friends, work, home life moods etc, I enjoy reading over them and often laugh at myself for the situations that seemed so important in my life at that time. good luck if you attempt it what would your title be? i always thought an autobiography of an ordinary would be mine
I've always always loved writing from childhood:stories, poems,essays. But as for autobiographies I'm not sure.. afraid my descendants might find it a tad bit boring!
Oh,but I've met people who've had such eventful and exiting lives that I'd take pleasure in writing their biographies.