By Kelly A. Shue
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
According to F. Scott Fitzgerald, “An author ought to write for the youth of his own generation, the critics of the next, and the schoolmaster of ever afterwards.”
A daunting task, to be sure, when one faces a big, empty, white piece of paper and dreams of sharing his or her story with the world.
However, for the writers of Greenspring’s popular memoir writing club, the task of penning their personal stories is a joy and one they are eager to share.
Connecting through stories
For the last eight years, the club’s members have been creatively uncovering their inner writers. What started as a memoir writing class grew into the popular club that meets twice a month.
“Our group is open to anyone interested in writing down their memories to share with their families and grandchildren,” says Dorothy Massie, the group’s leader since 2006. “Getting together with other writers hopefully provides an impetus to take an individual’s memoir writing further.”
Putting words into print
The highlight of the group’s activities is a highly anticipated monthly publication
entitled Memories (formerly titled Reflections).
“It’s a real joy to read the different things people have experienced,” says Greenspring community member and memoir writer Wilbur Reynolds. “Every so often some of my writings are printed, and it’s a real joy.”
“While we use our memoir club as the nucleus of the publication, I try very hard to get others within the Greenspring community, who aren’t members of the group, to write and contribute,” says Massie, who also serves as Memories editor-in-chief. “That really provides a variety for our publication.
“The people who live here lead very fascinating lives,” Massie continues, “and many have also been writers. It’s not very hard to edit their work, and it is wonderful to read.”