authors · memories · writing

Memoir Monday: Origins of Writing

Stacey Shubitz
Link your memory-related post to this one by leaving a comment on this post.
Link your memory-related post to this one by leaving a comment on this post.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the questions Pam Muñoz Ryan posed to the audience at the TCRWP Writing Institute last week. There are many reasons I write: to communicate with others quickly, to persuade, to record family stories, to venture to new worlds, etc. However, none of those quick reasons really get at the reason I write. For that, I have to do a bit more ruminating since I’ve been writing ever since my first grade teacher, Carol Snook, inspired me to put my words on a journal page.

As I got ready to leave my parents’ house to return to Pennsylvania on Friday, I found a copy of a book I wrote for the NJ Young Authors Conference in 1988. It’s a crude-looking thing that has faded over the past 20+ years. However, it marks my foray into the world of writing. Shockingly, I remember making this book when I was in fifth grade and I remember going to the Conference. I recall it having deep meaning for me since I felt empowered as a writer.

If you’re looking for a little writerly inspiration today, think back to the first time someone wanted to hear your story. Try to remember how that made you feel. Then, push yourself to make the connection between telling a story of yours in writing to the reason(s) why you write today.

Regardless of what you choose to write about today, Ruth and I look forward to reading your memories.

A blast from the past:
YAC Book - 1988 Two of the pages from my YAC book

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Published by Stacey Shubitz

Stacey Shubitz is a K-6 literacy consultant and former elementary teacher. She is the author of CRAFT MOVES and other professional books on writing workshop. Her forthcoming book, MAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WORK FOR YOUR CHILD WITH DISABILITIES (Guilford Press, 2026), empowers parents to navigate the special education system.

11 thoughts on “Memoir Monday: Origins of Writing”

  2. This is the first time that I have done a Memoir Monday post, and I hope to start posting them regularly. I already have an idea for a Slice of Life post tomorrow. Even just thinking of ideas and writing them one week is helping to form a better division between the two genres in my mind. Stacey thank you for your responses to my previous questions trying to make the distinction.

    http://enbuscadeequilibrio.blogspot.com/2009/08/summer-swimming.html

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  5. Thanks Stacie! I hesitated posting the pics of it because it’s a little cheesy (contact paper and old font with some GUMS errors), but then I remembered, I WAS IN THE FIFTH GRADE when I did it. Therefore, it’s all good, right? 😉

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  6. I love your book. My mom has so many writings from my childhood and my sister’s (including several wacky and fabulous plays my sister wrote in grade school). We have so much fun looking at them now!

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  8. My mom still has my family history book that I created in 5th grade. It has photographs, illustrations, and writing that I came up with myself. It’s funny because I had a very vivid memory of almost everything that I included in that book before I even took a look at it 20 years later because it was so relevant to me and we took so much time to complete it. Like Lisa said, I think that has a lot to say for the publishing process.

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