Everything changes on a dime, never mind the pandemic or a (possible) world war. But all that shouldn't stop us from seeing the things we know from a different perspective. It might just be the time to do so, seeing how things are these days.
So, we invited Dr. Ranjani Rao for Writing The City's March 2022 workshop: 'Unpacking Our Days: What Memoir Writing Can Do'. During the workshop, we'll explore how we can make sense of our lives through the stories we have, big or small.
Here's a little introduction about Dr. Ranjani: A trained scientist and a self-taught writer, she has written award-winning personal essays and op-eds that appeared in several digital and print publications and anthologies.
In October 2021, she published ‘Rewriting My Happily Ever After - a memoir of divorce and discovery’. Her memoir recounts how her life changed as walks out a sixteen-year marriage, how she embraces a new life despite fear, stigma, and trauma.
Before the workshop, Writing The City got in touch with Dr. Ranjani to dive deeper into how she views memoir writing:
How did you come to write about your life?
Dr. Ranjani: As a scientist by training, I have always been curious about things. When I became a mother, I turned my gaze towards my own life - the daily delights and dilemmas, the comforts and contradictions of all the roles I played everyday. Writing became a form of meditation and an easy way to untangle my thoughts. I began by writing for myself but when my first published piece resonated with many readers, I turned to writing not just as a way of expression but also as a way of connection.
What do you think people misunderstand most about memoir writing?
Dr. Ranjani: There is a general tendency to consider memoir writing as either mere statement of facts (like reporting) or as a self-centered navel-gazing exercise. Among writers, there is a feeling that fiction is more demanding because it requires imagination. However, memoir writing demands introspection and more courage since you can't hide behind the veil of fiction. In a memoir, you have the story (what happened) and the writing (how you tell your story). For readers, well-written memoirs hit very close to home because these contain kernels of truth about our lives. Even if the setting and story are very different from your own, the emotions they evoke are universal. There is a sense of camaraderie that you feel with the memoir writer since the story is true.
How do you continue practising memoir writing?
Dr. Ranjani: I write something everyday, even if I don't publish. In addition to regular blog posts and a biweekly newsletter from my website, I submit articles and op-eds to Straits Times and other publications. In a strange way I have found that posting regularly on social media helps keep my writing muscle in shape. The key requirement is be observant at all times, faithful to detail, and disciplined about writing. Once you gather momentum with your writing ritual and practise, the book/story comes together fairly easily.