Tell Your Story

Leni Santora rests her hands on pieces of her writing during the monthly Memoir Group meeting at the Cape Girardeau Public Library Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian

Join the Memoir Writing Group at the Cape Public Library

In the core of who we are, we know we are connected: to ourselves, to each other, to the rest of the world. While our lives may differ in where we live or what we experience, much of our stories are the same. For the Memoir Writing Group in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, sharing their stories with each other has only deepened that connection. A connection that began with a love of writing.

John Piepho holds a page in a plastic sleeve from Elsie Miller's memoir binder as she points to photos of herself as a young child during the Memoir Group's monthly meeting at the Cape Girardeau Public Library Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com

Though admittedly, co-founders Elsie Miller and John Piepho never set out to start a memoir group.

“We were trying to come up with programs that would attract senior citizens to the library,” Miller says of the reason they first started the group.

John Piepho talks about his experience being a member of the Memoir Group before the beginning of their meeting at the Cape Girardeau Public Library Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Cape Girardeau.

KASSI JACKSON ~ kjackson@semissourian.com

They formed a committee and several ideas were tossed around, but the plans never took root. However, what came from their collaboration was a group of people all interested in storytelling; more specifically, telling their own story and creating their memoir. At last, the idea stuck and the writing group was formed.

For the last five years, that’s exactly what they’ve been working on.

“I’ve written about 30,000 words about my experience with the Army and Vietnam,” says Piepho, who brought 1,800 more words to share with the group at their meeting. “In sharing my experiences, I’m hoping that it may be interesting to my family and future generations; it’s about leaving a legacy.”

For other members of the group, like Bill Whitlock, it’s about nostalgia.

“It’s amazing how many memories come back when you take the time to think through them and write them down,” Whitlock says.

While most members don’t have plans to publish their books, some group members like Jeff Harms want to share their experiences with the world. He self-published his first book, “Harm’s Way,” in 2012 and is currently working on his second. He and his wife, Kim, attend the group together.

Yet other group members write for an audience of one.

“When I started working on my memoir, I thought I was doing it for my children and grandchildren, but I found out that I’m really doing it for myself,” Miller says, who admits she is having a lot of fun in the process. And it’s easy to see why.

With each group member bringing what they have and what they know, there is no pressure to publish; no competition in their writing. Each person is encouraged to find her or his voice and style. They come for feedback and constructive criticism, but they leave with encouragement to keep going, to keep writing, to keep telling their story.

These stories often start out as “snippets.” Snippets are a way to get started, to share just one piece of your life; one small experience, member Bill Hopkins says. If you can start with a snippet of your life, you can write a memoir, and at the Memoir Writing Group, you’ll have at least 10 other people cheering you on. That’s just what they do.

The second Monday of every month, the Memoir Writing Group meets at 10 a.m. in the Penzel Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library to share their snippets. For two hours, they read, share and inspire. They are open to anyone of any age and are always accepting new members. If you have a desire to write poetry, memoir or even just a snippet, this group could be your next step.