SU AZIZ hears about a memoir-writing workshop which should make the hearts of prospective writers skip a beat in excitement.

de Silva: 'It is difficult to write a memoir without first learning to write well.'

THE big question here is, why should Malaysians write memoirs? What is the benefit of writing about the past when people are too busy even to live their present?

According to Edda de Silva and Dr C. Nesamalar, one a retired publisher and the latter a retired professor in the teaching of the English language, this is one of the issues their “How to Write Memoirs and Biographies” workshop will address.

“Briefly, it has something to do with writing history,” explained Dr Nesamalar. “Historians write about the events and ideas that change the macrostructure of society. They write about sociopolitical events, broad policy changes etc, that affect the way we live.

“The memoir writer writes another kind of history. (S)he writes his-story, her-story, their story, my-story, our story. A great man once said, you cannot step into the same river twice. The water that flows in it a minute after you first stepped into it will not be the same as the water that will flow in it a minute after you stepped out. So too, life.
“Collectively, the memoirs of Malaysians can capture for the now living and the future generations of Malaysians the texture of life as it was experienced in Malaysia by the rich variety of people — the individuals, the families, the associations — living at a particular point in Malaysia’s history.”

Furthermore, Dr Nesamalar added, memoirs “give permanence to the ephemeral but important.” De Silva has had an abiding interest in publishing because of her love for books.

“I worked with publishers in Singapore and Malaysia for 35 years until I retired in 2006. The larger part of my career was with the Oxford University Press where I started as an editor and then became the Publishing Director and finished as the Managing Director.

“Authors are the lifeblood of the publishing industry. I would like to continue to encourage aspiring writers. Dr Nesamalar and I enjoyed a fruitful relationship as author and editor for several years. Nesam wrote several excellent and diverse books, from primary to college level.”

This course, they both admitted, stemmed from the growing interest and awareness in writing life stories in Australia and the United States. “Ordinary people want to tell their children and their grandchildren about their family history,” said de Silva.

“Writing workshops help them and some very interesting human interest stories have been published.”

Malaysia, according to de Silva, is changing rapidly. “Our lives are so different from that of our parents. So much will be lost if memories are not recorded. A friend told me she grew up in the Malayan Railway grounds in Sentul.

Today YTL has skilfully turned that location into the KLPaC, set in a lush landscape, while retaining some of the beautiful old brickwork and the lovely wooden Malayan bungalows that are fast disappearing.

“Sentul is transforming like many other parts of KL. Soon we won’t remember what went before.

“At a personal level, I was struck by the fact that my friend lived in an extended family household, as her bachelor uncle was a Malayan Railway officer. Railways were a very important mode of transport in colonial Malaya and the Ceylonese community, which my friend belonged to, played a key role in this industry.

“What is also interesting is the reality of a shared extended household. Today we have different notions of family responsibility, privacy and space. It has to do with changing values and lifestyles.”

de Silva reminded that you don’t have to be a superstar, politician or tycoon to tell your story. There are good stories in every family. They could be stories of courage, fortitude, integrity, responsibility, self-sacrifice.

“There are also, of course, obverse stories. Put together, they make a valuable family document as well as social history,” she added.

The reason why one should attend their workshop is the plain fact that although many out there are interested in writing, they lack the confidence and don’t know where to begin?

“When you write about your family, there is always the thorny question of confidentiality and privacy. How to handle sensitive issues without causing hurt or damage? Writing is remembering and there are always things that we don’t want to revisit,” replied de Silva.

“It is difficult to write a memoir without first learning to write well. You are trying to learn how to do two things at once: to write, and come to terms with your life directly. This is a complex transaction.” Indeed!

While that may be the challenge aspiring authors face, publishers often find keeping the balance between the culture and commerce of publishing a major challenge, said de Silva.

“An innovative publisher can create a new list from contemporary social and political issues, emerging trends, changes, interests and lifestyles. However, they have to target the right audience.

More people are reading now; many do so on-line. So the challenge for the publisher is to keep alive the mystique of the book which is unique.”

For budding authors out there, remember this, the quality of the writing and presentation of the material are two important things for the publisher.

Also, according to de Silva, ask yourself what is new and interesting about your story — are the views expressed fair and balanced. “Suggestions for appropriate illustrative material will greatly enhance the attractiveness of the manuscript. The publisher will, in the case of a memoir, be most interested in the personality involved.”

de Silva went on to an interesting example of a recently published memoir by Awang Goneng.

“Normally publishers will not take on materials from blogs because they employ a different kind of coherence which does not translate readily into the book format. But despite the limitation of its blog origins, this is a remarkable book because of the exceptional use of language, the delightful humour, the humanity portrayed and the presentation of precious but disappearing lifestyle. It is an excellent record of old Terengganu.”

So what is interesting in a memoir?

“Much like what is interesting in life,” replied de Silva. “It varies from person to person. However, there are some features of writing that seem to have more universal appeal. For example, it is generally believed or expected that a memoir that illustrates with anecdotes the qualities of a personal life and at the same time reflects the social or political background of that time is more interesting than one which has no concrete illustrations and no resonance of larger issues.

“A good biography has appeal beyond the individual. It has resonance and relevance for the reader. It engages the reader if the reminiscences strike a chord, rekindle memory, introduce a new perspective and make sense of the past. The best memoirs are informed by close observation of the world: of the nation, the workplace, family and self.”

Basically, as Dr Nesamalar puts it, participants should be able to write even before they come to the workshop.

“We hope to create people who want to write, who believe that what they want to write is worthwhile and who feel they have picked up some ideas about writing and some strategies to use that can give their writing career a kickstart.

“Writing is a lifetime’s journey. People don’t become writers merely by knowing what a three-day workshop tells them they can do, any more than a person becomes a driver by reading a how-to-drive manual.”

Self-publishing, said de Silva, is a very sensible option. “It is not easy to get your work published. Some memoirs will be more relevant to the family circle. The family may not want it in the public domain.

“Today’s technology makes self-publishing easy. You can easily produce a limited number of copies using high-end printers or print on demand. But you need editorial advice and input into design. A company like Salt Media, which is organising the workshop, can offer such advice.”

During the three-day workshop, which begins on May 22 and is limited to only 20 participants, de Silva and Dr Nesamalar will provide guidance on how to gather resources, the art of unlocking memories, the art of interviewing, and on recording information.

They will be guided through the writing process and how to craft a biography, how to handle writer’s block and how to enhance creativity. The duo will also give advice on finding a publisher and self-publication.

Don’t take my word for it, call up 03-7726-9078 and find out more.