Writing Challenge: Where were you when Kennedy was shot?

One of my Genealogy class students, Frank, suggested that we write a piece on what we remember of where we were and what we were doing when President Kennedy was shot. November 22, 2023 will be the sixtieth anniversary of this national tragedy. As luck would have it they were both Wednesdays before Thanksgiving. It seem like a good way for us to tell part of our own story.

If you happen to be reading this and were not alive then I suggest you interview someone in your family.

I will post what I wrote in a later blog post but I thought reflecting on my process might be helpful to budding family history writers.

After our class decided to take up Frank’s challenge. I let the idea roll around in my head for a couple of days.

A couple of decades ago I had written a piece on one of my teachers and it included a bit on what had happened that day. But the focus of that writing, was on the teacher. I read it, but put it aside. In my mind I kept drawing in things to be included in the story, but then kept realizing that they were unnecessary tangents. I did not want to write a long story or a detailed story. I wanted it to be sparse—and not flowery—a true indication of the day.

As is often the case when I write I fall asleep at night thinking about how to frame or create the story. And usually I am rewarded waking up with an idea. I woke with the start of an idea but it was not yet formulated. As I wrote— it made itself known. I wrote in first person present and I dropped right into what was happening with no preamble. Without thinking about it in advance it perfectly mapped out what happened for me as that day unfolded.

There is a tendency with new writers (and some seasoned ones) to explain. Nothing on that day came with a explanation—and I wanted the reader to feel that. I did not want to add lots of adjectives or sensory clues. I just knew that up front. I think I felt a bit like a news writer. These were not things I was fully conscious of when I started—but as I said earlier they made themselves known.

I read my writing out loud to see if there were an awkward places. I rearranged a couple of clauses to make it read better. I added a quote and a small bit of detail but the rest was simply as it flowed. I could write a longer story from it—but I don’t want to. At least not now. Sixty years is a long time. I wrote what I remembered without filler or embellishment.

If you decide to take up this challenge your story is unique. How you tell it is both a reflection of you as a person, and your experience as a writer. There is no wrong or right way to do it. All I can suggest is that you be authentic. Do not try to sound like anyone but yourself. One member of my class does not like to write, except lists. If that is you write a list. Anything you write will give your descendants a better idea of who you were and what you experienced. That is the point. They won’t give a damn about your grammar or your skill. They will just be grateful that you wrote something down.

Please feel free to add snippets of your story in the comment or a link to your story.

Kelly Wheaton ©2023 – All Rights Reserved