Content: memoir

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My story is a novelistic yet factual account of my personal journey of moving to India with my husband. I am in search of adventure and motherhood, but as I struggle to find my feet in a foreign land, I also traverse a rocky path to parenthood. It is a fortuneteller’s prophecy of a “dark-skinned child” which proves my hardest test; my emotional battle with infertility in a developing country makes me contemplate my need for birth children. India’s poverty (her street children, orphans, and child labourers) influences me to question my priorities, and I follow a path of personal growth that is lined with uncertainty and fear. When my husband and I decide to adopt a child we face another set of hurdles. Our touching journey leads us to Cambodia where the clairvoyant’s prediction comes true.

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I felt like sharing my short story that was published with my friends on TNBW. I am now free to market it to other venues and am considering sending it to some women's magazines. We see so much about the success of internet dating, but I wonder how many experiences are more like mine.

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I've wrestled with whether to write this memoir of my childhood for several years, but ultimately decided it would be worthwhile. I'm interested to know how this piece comes across to others.

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Recounting my first date. Does it bring a chuckle to you? Does it make you smile?

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A nightmarish memory, sad, but true. Does the story make you laugh even a little?

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A tribute to my Dad.

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This is a recap of my one experience in a beauty pageant. It's one of a number of short anecdotal stories I plan to include in a book I want to call The Little Book of Things that Are so NOT Funny You Have to Laugh. A note: I may not have used the real names of others involved, but the content is true.

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A Christmas memory that must be included when I put together my Little Book of Things that Are so NOT Funny You Have to Laugh. See if you can feel the emotion.

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This is my excursion into lawlessness as I was arrested when I was stood up by my date--Senator Ted Kennedy.

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A memoir of a time best forgotter because it was so NOT funny. This is one of several short stories I plan to include in a collection entitled The Little Book of Things so NOT Funny You have to Laugh. Just tell me if it makes you laugh.

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I'm trying my hand at memoir writing and have chosen a scene from my past. Do it evoke an image? Is it interesting? What is your reaction to the writing? to the subject? And any other comments you canre to make. Thanks!

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A paperless society is a dream in progress. No forms in an envelope delivered in the post. No filling them in, taking copies then posting the originals back – in another envelope, with a stamp. I’m all for saving trees and our planet but BE WARNED, living in a paperless society comes at a price. - - - - Sanity. I nearly lost mine last week. … All comments very welcome.

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Vignettes from a childhood in northern British Columbia - Canada's most western province. Growing up with the fears of hospitalization tempered with the wonders of the Canadian outdoors and our northern winters. This as a collection of chronological essays or vignettes rather than a typical story with one chapter sliding seamlessly into the next. I believe this is the best way to present this overflowing album of snapshot memories I have bolstered with stories my parents have shared with me. Thanks to the help from TNBW reviewers I’ve chosen to rewrite the first handful of chapters before continuing on. I appreciate any comments you may have and I sincerely hope you enjoy the story.

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Stuck in memoir mode at the moment. Be patient. Comments welcome.

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The day I decided to write stories for a living.

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This is part memoir and part fun "Masterchef" stuff!!! It's not really an editorial though a women's mag might enjoy it.

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This is my first attempt at memoir writing. I'd like to know if you think it's publishable. Tell me about any NITs. Tell me what works and what does not. I'm trying to improve my writing. Please give all feedback, positive and negative. TIA

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This a true long distance romance story between an Indonesian woman and an American man. You will find Indonesian coversations in the first chapter and then for the next chapters, most of the conversations will be in English. I wrote them in a purpose; it is to make the story more natural as the story was from. If I write it in Indonesia, I'll explain them in narration. The most important thing you should know, English is my second language, so please, give any attention for mistaken tenses or gramaticals I might write. Any feedbacks would be accepted and appreciated. Thank you for reading and reviewing my work.

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I am helping my mom write her memoir - Milestone Moments. Each chapter is a milestone moment in her life. It is written in 3rd person, unual for a memoir I'm sure, but the way she wanted it. I post this chapter here with her permission. All suggestions are welcome. Chris

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I had originally posted this in the Flash Fiction Contest. But, as one of my favorite reviewers pointed out, it really isn't a story. Thus, I have reposted it as poem. If, indeed, it is a poem, I have no idea what type of poem it is. I just write what comes to mind or what i feel. I'll let you fine and vastly more knowledgeable folks sort out the details! Any and all comments are welcome. And thanks! Alan

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This is rhiannon on Rhiannon expanded; as suggested. It has an ending, is either more truthful or it is not. Remember when I tell you anything about this story that "I am Lying Now."

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This is a semi-autobiographical work of fiction, in the likes of James Joyce. It is told in the first person, and the protagonist relates his adventures around Boston and New York. The hero of the story is a young man who has already gone through his Bildungsroman and knows who he is - a scholar of Greek and Latin - he just doesn't know what to do now, or what kind of job he'll get. While everyone else is in the 21st century, the protagonist views the world through a prism of marble and papyrus. The novel is divided into five parts. Part I begins in medias res (flashbacks throughout the story fill in prior details), with the protagonist graduating college and admittedly preparing to go to graduate school because he does not know what to do with his degree. Many characters are introduced, as well as preliminary Latin Grammar terms. Part II takes place during the summer before graduate school, and it ends with the protagonist moving to New York to begin the program. The main character feels trapped living in an apartment with his longtime girlfriend, but finally escapes to New York – the girlfriend representing a postmodern version of Calypso from The Odyssey. Other themes of Part II include how the Classics have influenced modern math, science, and medicine. Part III covers the first year of graduate school, introduces characters in New York, and overwhelms the reader with all the sights and sounds of America’s modern Rome. The theme of Part III is how the Classics have influenced modern art, architecture, theater and music. Part IV covers the second year of graduate school, with the main character feeling burnt out by school and living in New York. The theme of Part IV is how the Classics have influenced modern government, politics, and law. Part V concludes with the protagonist moving back to Boston and finding a job as a Latin teacher. The theme of Part V is how the Classics have influenced modern religion and philosophy. The irony is that, while the protagonist understands that his degree encompasses so many areas of knowledge, he realizes that the entire story he has been educating the reader. In the end, he becomes a teacher. Throughout the novel, allusions and references to Greek and Latin abound.

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The story of how a family was changed completely with the purchase of a new car in 1923. (I submitted this last year, and thanks to those of you who offered comments for improvement. I am sending this in to a magazine for a Father's Day anthology and would like to know if there are any more suggestions from anyone as to how it could be improved. Your thoughts are always greatly appreciated.)

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This is my entry for the My Writing Life contest. Parts have been borrowed from my memoir, Root Hog or Die. Any suggestions for improvement will be appreciated. Thanks.

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The first three chapters have been revised and rearranged for the strongest start competition. The novel is posted in its entirety so you may read at your leisure (DISABLED CHAPTERS WILL BE ENABLED FOR ANY NEW REVIEWERS GOING BEYOND CHAPTER 3). Old reviews will not always match up with the chapter that it is attached to. This is in essence a memoir of my life in an orphanage, but I use composite characters and am not sure it qualifies as "memoir" for the contest. I will let the judges decide that. I hope this final go through will make it ready to publish, so any comments whatsoever will be appreciated. Especially interested in the new flow pattern. Opinions? Thanks for your help and advice.

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This novel-length memoir details the growth and emotional shifts that occur when a thirtysomething woman decides to turn her husband's sexual fantasy into reality. While there will certainly be some vivid descriptions of sex as the story progresses, it is intended for a mainstream audience. The more detailed the critique, the better. I can take it!

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Modobenny has been twisting my arm. She has finally convinced me to begin the process of coalescing these stories into a novel format. Some of the chapters are simply cut and paste from the Short Story postings. Others are new. As always, have at it with suggestions. Lord knows, I wouldn't let any of you off the hook. Thanks again, to all who have helped me get even this far. I couldn't have done it without you. Scott

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This story took place two years ago. I still can't talk about it without choking up. Read, offer points and suggestions. My intent is to show what some of these calls do to emergency workers.

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This article had been commissioned for a women's magazine here in Australia. The word count HAS to be 800 words which doesn't leave a lot of room to move! Some advice would be appreciated :) IT has to be sent in by the 30th November, Australian time.

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I wrote this last year but having looked at it, realise how far I have improved in my writing, so decided to polish this up and finally send it off somewhere. Accordingly re-posted :)

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When working in San Francisco you have to ask, “Is pot still illegal?�? Young Jason has taken his first hit of marijuana. It's not sitting well with him. Jason also has a date. I sort through the medical issues while tempering the affections of the two lovebirds. In San Francisco, normal is a little different. Before the story, I've included a "Snippet", a totally unrelated flash. I've got these lying around and wanted to get some thoughts on them as well.

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A woman has died and telling the family is my job. While I don't relish the duty, it must be done with a careful choice of words and compassion. Of course, there are other ways to do it, too.

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Let’s just say an abscess doesn’t happen overnight. When Danielle and I get called at three in the morning, the patience line is a little thin. The ambulance is locked inside a parking lot and I must play twenty questions to find the key to the gate. It’s now four in the morning and I blow my top. These are the calls that eat paramedics alive over the years.

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The cops have found a lady in the communal shower of a hotel. She’s not talking and there is some blood on the floor. Sleep deprived and grumpy, an engine crew, James, and I tromp up the stairs to find out what emergency woke us all up.

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Betty Kay (or is it Kay Betty?) has a nosebleed. She won’t give a straight answer and I am losing my mind just trying to get her name. In the end, I am exhausted after verbally jousting with a difficult patient and even more shocked to find out why her nose started bleeding in the first place.

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It’s time to deliver the baby. Dad’s having a hard time sitting still, Mom is Deaf, and we’re all stuffed inside a ten-foot by four-foot ambulance.

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Balancing the needs of my patients sometimes leaves an emotional mark that must be faced... after the work is done.

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Damn, this guy’s got…one, two, three… My fingers follow the progression of bullet holes I have found…four, five,…six,…seven holes in him. Who’d he piss off? Daryl Robert Preston has been shot – seven times. It’s EMS at its fastest. The patient is talking when the fire crew, my partner, and I get to him. Problems keep popping up. A helpful firefighter and I have to solve them all at the same time while rocketing to the hospital. Can the patient be saved? He's got eight minutes.

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This is my emerging memoir. For the time being, each chapter is a stand-alone "episode," and I have not yet determined the framework for tying them together. Don't worry about reviewing them in order. Imagine that I am making a necklace, and I am crafting the beads one at a time; once they are crafted, I will string them in a pleasing and relevant order, adding the necessary transitions at that time. This memoir will include my childhood in the 1970's, teens in the 1980's, motherhood beginning in 1994. The main themes of the larger work relate to three diagnoses in my forties: Borderline Personality Disorder, Bi-polar Disorder, and Breast Cancer.

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