I started the journey writing a memoir without much planning. It was merely an idea that is closer and closer to becoming reality everyday. It had been a lot of work and there have been a plethora of emotions and rethinking.
Most would view a memoir as a chance to tell all especially if they have been wronged and while there have been events in my life I could expunge on that is not the purpose of my memoir. The people who have wronged me, have otherwise used or hurt me are not the focal point. They are blip in my story but they are not my story.
Yet I can see how controversy and wrong doings make a story more exciting. I too on occasion love to read the juicer parts of someones life, the conflicts, the backstabbing, the fear, and the absolute joys they experience. Of course I want my own work to reflect many of the same things but my memoir has a deeper meaning for me.
As a self taught photographer I have learnt a lot of things on my own without a lot of direction and help. I have struggled and succeeded and I know so many photographers starting out who are doing it the same way. My story is not unique, but my story can help make someone else’s journey easier and that is why I am writing Glass Eyes.
I didn’t enter into writing a memoir without the necessary research. After all there are many cases of the authors of memoirs being sued for writing their story. Things based on people and their real life can bring up uncomfortable subjects and treatment it is the nature of writing about ones personal experiences after all.
Writing and books fall under the protection of the first amendment— freedom of speech. Of course there are limits as there are with all things. You can not make things up to support your side of things, but you can discuss things as they happened.
Of course a memoirs manuscript is interestingly thought of as a journal or a diary until it is published. What makes this truly interesting is that no one can hold your personal writings against you so you can write with impunity. However once it is published and available to the public that little protection disappears.
Fear of having your work held against you shouldn’t keep you from telling your story. There are ways to write a memoir that keeps it true without affecting the reputation of those who have done you wrong. Most writers will change the characteristics, jobs, names, and all identifying features. Some will speak in generalities and omit all personal information, and others will take the challenging road of getting those who wrong them permission to write about them.
When I started writing I didn’t consider if anyone would be upset because I never thought I would complete the writing. I have never finished a writing project that was meant to be something more than a paper, a blog, or an article. Yet, my story burned within me begging me to tell it and with time more words flowed out and soon I had what one would determine as a book.
I have learned a lot in this process and can not wait to share Glass Eyes with everyone. My hope is that if it helps one photographer avoid the struggles I have gone through at least a little bit then it is worth the pain of editing— my least favorite part of writing.