I loved this conversation and was so glad to catch it live. Three things really spoke to me:

#1 Let history support the story, not overtake it. Offer just enough context, then stay in the scene and let the moment carry meaning. I need to do more of this.

#2 Brick walls might actually be evidence! Gaps, contradictions, missing names, and family myths can be clues, not just frustrations.

#3 Stories need a storyteller. Archives and quotes matter, but they come alive best when framed through your own voice as a writer.

Grateful for the generosity and clarity in this discussion. If you care about family stories or memoir craft, this is well worth your time. Thank you, Barbara at Projectkin and Annette Gendler, for creating spaces like this for writers to learn and grow.