Oral Histories

https://library.biblioboard.com/anthology/28fd5bd2-49d5-4491-8dc6-9b9730b6399b/collections/masonry

I discovered a treasure trove.

In the early 1970s, faculty at ENMU along with members of the community began recording oral histories of people who had lived in Roosevelt County for over fifty years. The collection can be accessed from the library’s website and through the free biblioboard app.

I’ve listened to several hours of local stories, always hoping that I’ll hear a familiar one. It is exhilarating to hear the voices of people I feel like I’ve come to know. The reality is that I have imagined most of what I know based on government documents and a handful of second-hand stories. It’s an odd feeling, at times unsettling.

Writing Advice

The best writing advice I’ve heard is to sit down and write. It doesn’t matter whether it’s good or bad; the important thing is to write.

In my attempt to finish the first book by the end of the year, I set a monthly word count goal for myself. As a result, my drafting is far ahead of my editing. When I open a chapter to revise and polish, I’m sometimes surprised by how good the writing is. There’s a good level of tension, the dialogue is interesting, and it’s a well-told story. Most mornings though, I open a draft and stare at the blinking cursor wondering what made me think I could be a writer.

Sometimes I’m motivated by the fact that the writing matters so much to me. Other times, I’m paralyzed by how much it matters. I want the work to be a tribute to my grandma, which means that it must be excellent.

Then I remember that a writer writes. I stay in the chair and get a little closer. 

Whatever is True: Part Two

Baby Brother

A story is only as good as its conflict. This fact can make Grandma’s cheerful version of history difficult to write well. Fortunately, she has a surviving brother who has been gracious enough to share his memories and even gave me a copy of his memoir. Even though he lived in the same house and shared the same community, the characters in his accounts are chockfull of malice and envy. Injustices go uncorrected and life for a child was harsh.

Finally! Here were the depression stories of the history books! By incorporating his perspective into Grandma’s narratives, I can remain faithful to the firsthand accounts, but avoid flat characters and boring stories.

Unpacking

The Writing Home Project really began when Mom and I met at Grandma’s house and I started asking questions about our family’s history. I’d heard stories about her childhood and my mom’s childhood, but I was curious about generations further back. Grandma brought out two small suitcases that had belonged to her mother. The cases were filled with letters, maps, recipes, genealogical records, and even a lock of hair. I was fascinated; Mom less so. I sifted through the contents, asking Grandma what she could remember about each person, place, and thing. When I packed up the suitcases later in the night, she said, “Take those with you if you think you’ll ever do anything with them.” It’s been over a decade, but I’m finally doing something with them.