How To Write Slices of Life

About the Book

Edmund Hansen is the pioneer in the use of the episode approach to memoir writing. In the episode approach, an activity like family camping is told in its entirety and not integrated piece-meal chronologically with other on-going activities. Many episodes have the capability to stand-alone as a publishable short story.

Edmund views life''''s peaks and valleys as equally important in defining the person we are today, and both are to appear in a memoir.

While we share in common with humanity the growth stages of life, individually we have a separate and unique walk. Our task is to identify the 100 or so episodes that clearly characterize us so our relatives both living and yet unborn will better understand the era and culture that molded us, the decisions we made, the historical and family events that occurred and the significant individuals who helped shape our personality.

SO HOW DOES THIS MANUAL HELP?

It provides step-by-step- assistance with:

•     Listing the significant dates and events in one''''s life

•     Identifying the 100 or so episodes the composite of which is
one''''s memoirs

•Helping organize and start one in writing episodes
It provides an explanation of the tools for one''''s writer toolbox.

•     How to engage the reader using a ''''hook''''

•     Creativity: what others have done

•     Writing tools: metaphor, cliche''''s, slang, hyperbole,
euphemism and dialogue.

It will explore options for publishing one''''s memoirs.

It has assignments with ''''memory sparklers'''' to stimulate the mind and to retrieve lost information.

This manual is so complete that an individual who has the ability to work independently could use it. It''''s also ideal when used in a class on memoir writing. This manual has been class tested by the author.

About the Author

Edmund Hansen graduated with a B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin—Oshkosh and an M.S. degree from the University of Kansas. In addition he had extensive postgraduate training at Tulane University and the University of Kansas.

Edmund taught for 3 years in secondary schools and 31 years at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin—Oshkosh. His university career was split between the teaching of mathematics and administration, ending his collegiate career as the Coordinator of Academic Advisement for the College of Business Administration. As a university administrator Edmund frequently wrote technical reports and position papers.

Following an early retirement Edmund turned his attention to personal writing. After he and his wife completed care giving their third son he penned the book, A Father''s Story:  The Story of a Son''s Battle with AIDS.

This book was followed by a 406-page memoir, From Grandson to Grandfather: Reflections of a University Professor on his Career and Family. His wife''s memoirs were next and he wrote, Grin and Share It: The Story of a Loyal Daughter''s Quest for a Meaningful Relationship with Her Mother.

In addition to three published books Edmund has written many short stories for "The Tampa Tribune" in the ''I Remember It Well'' section. He has written for the "Lutheran" magazine and has a short story in Chicken Soup for the Writer''s Soul. This latter short story related his search for a publisher of his first book and how the writing of this book was his method of grieving the death of his son.

Mr. Hansen has taught a course entitled ''Writing Your Memoirs'' at a local community college for the last three years. It is from this experience that he wrote his fourth book. How to Write Slices of Life: The Episode Approach to Memoir Writing