Welcome to the (In)formal Memoir blog!
Hello, my name is Kate. I’ve always loved writing and storytelling. In college, I pursued creative writing, crafting short stories about young adults and escapism. While I enjoyed fiction, I found myself increasingly drawn to a different kind of storytelling—memoir writing. This passion was sparked by my grandfather, who wrote a memoir about his experiences in World War II and rebuilding his life afterward. His story, shared with our family before he passed, showed me how powerful it is to document a life. Combined with my love of meeting new people and hearing their stories, this interest stayed with me for over a decade after college—until the pandemic made me realize it was time to act on it.
I posted on Nextdoor, asking if anyone would be interested in having me document their life stories. I avoided the word memoir at first, worried it might feel too overwhelming or formal. The response was overwhelming in the best way.
People reached out with incredible stories:
A woman asked me to document her mother’s journey immigrating to the U.S. to create a better life for her children.
Another asked me to interview her husband about his career path so their toddler would one day understand how he got there.
A man wanted to capture his childhood adventures growing up in Queens with his best friends.
And many more.
Each response validated my belief that everyone has a story worth telling, and that the process of creating a memoir doesn’t have to feel daunting.
One of my first projects was working with Louie, who wanted to document his favorite childhood memories—mostly about getting into shenanigans with friends. I was both excited and nervous. What were his expectations? Would there be enough to document? (Spoiler: There was plenty!)
That’s the beauty of memoir writing. It’s not about having a life full of dramatic twists and grand achievements. It’s about preserving the moments—big and small—that make you you.
If you've ever thought about writing your story or documenting a loved one’s, I’d love to help. Let’s make sure your story is told.
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📖 Ready to create your (or a loved one’s) memoir?
