IS IT TIME TO TELL YOUR STORY?

by George Allen, CPM Emeritus, MHM-Master

Five years ago, the inaugural issue of MHInsider magazine featured the first Allen Legacy column. Titled Preserving Your Personal & Corporate Legacy, it was an introduction to the newly published booklet, “Who Will Preserve Your Legacy? Answer: You!”. Since then, this popular pamphlet has gone through several printings, and just recently a rewrite. The new publication, containing four additional autobiographies, will be distributed to members of RV/MH Heritage Foundation’s prestigious Hall of Fame Class of 2023, and you, if desired.

In the meantime, I have to ask, again, is it time for you to tell your personal or corporate story? What follows here is advice to Hall of Fame enshrinees, and readers of this column, interested in collecting, writing, and sharing personal as well as business career stories, including lessons learned along life’s way.

And especially to those being inducted into the prestigious RV/MH Hall of Fame on Aug. 21, now might be time to pause and reflect on your personal adventures, business career, and the important lessons learned during your lifetime.

How to go about this once-in-a-lifetime endeavor? Well, that’s the purpose of what follows here, and in the referenced booklet. Follow the logical steps, and your legacy project will achieve fruition and possibly publication.

For motivation, we have provided, on the MHInsider blog, 14 summaries of autobiographies and memoirs from RV & MH pioneers and notable leaders. All the titles are available in the RV/MH Hall of Fame library in Elkhart, Ind. And here we describe how to organize and collect one’s memoirs; and then, if desired, compile them into an autobiography.

1.

Decide, “I’m going to do this!” Then, compile a preliminary list (It will change and grow throughout the writing and editing process!) of personal and or corporate short stories and memories. Next; pen at least one or two short stories each month from this list – as hard copy (i.e. pen on paper or electronically). These are your memoirs! Hint. Simply sit down alone, write, or type what comes to mind, not worrying about grammar, spelling, errors, word choices or how it flows – until later. It helps to tell these stories from a consistent perspective, e.g. first or second person, but likely not third.

Always wait 24 hours before making changes to what you’ve written. Reread the story slowly, making pen changes along the way, e.g. better word choices, correct spelling, comma placement, and grammar. Then retype the story, wait another 24 hours, and edit again! Hint. On average, I fine tune my memoirs five times before compiling them into an autobiography; then some more fine tuning…

Over time, collect the edited memoirs and put them in some sort of order, usually chronological, but possibly topical. Doing so will trigger memories of more events, other short stories, and incidents worth recording. So, add those new topics to aforementioned list, and write about them as well.

Memoirs can be fun to write, especially when pacing oneself to pen just one or a few each month. But this also takes time, meaning the overall writing and editing process can easily take the better part of a year or longer, to tell all one’s stories. This is wise use of our time. Better to avoid rush; and wishing later you’d penned more memoirs. »

Again, if memoirs haven’t already been organized chronologically or by topics, do so. This will highlight gaps that may need to be filled with additional stories. Hint. At this stage, if not already doing so, make it a point to read other memoirs, even autobiographies. Observe the writer’s style, perspective from which they write, type size and style used, and how easy or difficult their story is to read.

3. EDIT WITH A PASSION.

If not qualified to do this, hire or enlist a trusted, capable, experienced, motivated individual (preferably non-family member) to do this for or with you. Hint. Both parties learning and using basic proofreader marks makes this process easier and more productive.

4. DECIDE WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Do the memoirs cover the desired, limited or broad scope of personal and or corporate life for now – or forever? Only you can decide. Hint. One’s story can just as easily be a portion of one’s life, business experience, or much more. Just take one part at a time, if need be, and then decide.

5. SEEK ASSISTANCE WITH PRE-PRESS MATTERS.

Identify and interview more than one printer/binder, for price, product quality, and service comparisons. Ensure they’re experienced with basics and nuances of the self-publishing process. Ask for samples of their past work. Hint. Become familiar with front and back material requirements, to legitimize your finished product, e.g. ISBN#, copyright information, and more.

6. BE PREPARED TO MARKET YOUR BOOK OR SIMPLY GIVE THEM AWAY.

No one but you is going to market and sell your self-published book! Seriously. Traditional publishers won’t be interested if you’re not already published; and, vanity publishers will publish anything for a price that varies with book quantity and services.

“The main thing is to do this before it’s too late. Some people find telling their story to be very gratifying, even therapeutic. And the story could have a profound impact on others now or in the future. Every story matters.” — Jo Harris. MHV

George Allen is a nonfiction author, internet blogger, and magazine columnist with expertise in manufactured housing and land-lease communities. He also is a retired lieutenant colonel of U.S. Marines, with a combat tour in the Republic of Vietnam and service during Desert Storm. Read his autobiography, “FromSmittyAlpha6 to MHMaven” available via www. educatemhc.com, and also his “Chapbook of Prayer” and “Chapbook of Business Management & Wisdom” as well as other interesting titles. Allem can be reached at gfa7156@aol.com, (317) 881-3815 & GFA c/o Box # 47024, Indianapolis, IN. 46247.