Beyond the Memoir: Telling Life Stories Using Multiple Literary Forms

Abstract

Critical discussions on written life stories and the elderly often focus on the memoir format alone. Consequently, the role that literary form plays in influencing what types of stories are voiced and what are silenced is often not addressed. This article describes an approach to written life story work that includes the use of several literary forms such as letters, poems, and third-person stories. Through writing examples from older adults who participated in a series of “Share Your Life Story” writing workshops, I argue that literary form greatly influences what story is voiced, and stress the importance of a multiform approach in life story work.