Unveiling the Hidden Harmonies: How John Garrison’s Memoir Transforms Music into Life’s Untold Stories
Here are some lessons learned that might help you integrate music into your memoir writing:
Free-write. If you’re at a loss about what song or songs you might feature in your writing, begin by making a list. What songs do you associate with particular periods of your life? If you don’t immediately remember key songs, you can research top songs from a particular period and jot down your associations with them, as Crighton does above.
Start with a single song. Where do you remember hearing the song? With whom did you listen to it? How have your interpretations changed over time? Maggie Nelson models the use of a single song brilliantly in “Darling Nikki,” an autobiographical essay about how both Prince’s music helped her understand her sexuality when she was a teenager.
