MG Kids examines the art of memoir writing in Morris Township

alyse jefferson and lou alexander
MG Kids correspondent Alyse Jefferson with Lou Alexander, who has written a memoir.
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Lou Alexander, a retired New Jersey teacher and current adjunct professor of education at Rutgers, Seton Hall and Fairleigh Dickinson University, recently led a program in Morris Township on memoir writing and becoming a self-published author. Alexander has written his own memoir about growing up through the 1930’s and 1940’s in Lake George, N.Y. MG Kids sent a talented young writer, 11-year-old Alyse Jefferson, to report on what he had to say.

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By Alyse Jefferson, MG Kids correspondent

On Saturday at the Morris Museum, Lou Alexander spoke about Personal Narrative Memoir Writing. Everyone attending the lecture was provided with a packet that contained definitions, examples and resources for writing and self-publishing a memoir.

alyse jefferson and lou alexander
MG Kids correspondent Alyse Jefferson with Lou Alexander, who has written a memoir.

Some of what Lou Alexander spoke about was: What memoir means, how he started his memoir, how to write a memoir, his inspirations and self-publishing.

Mr. Alexander clearly explained that memoirs are different from a journal, biography and autobiography. Memoirs are stories about a certain time in a person’s life.

Writing your own memoir can take a few months — it is not something you can do in an hour. Lou’s memoir “Echoes from a Small Country Town” took nine to 10 months to finish writing.

If you are interested in writing your own memoir, you should know that you don’t have to be famous, a professional writer or old. You have a lot to write about even if you are young.

Mr. Alexander was a principal at “Hanover Park” in New Jersey for several decades.

“Yes, all schools should offer this as a class,” he said. “People today need to read and write more. They shouldn’t fall back on TV or text messaging; it’s something they need to do.”

Mr. Alexander has a few upcoming lectures where you can buy a copy of his memoir or obtain more information: at the Caldwell Public Library, Bound Brook Library and Livingston Senior Center.

lou alexander
Lou Alexander discusses the art of memoir-writing at the Morris Museum in Morris Township.

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