Newsletter: How do you choose your story when writing your memoir?

A memoir isn't an all-inclusive story of your life. One of the most difficult choices I had to make when writing my memoir was what my focus would be on

A night out in DC. Laura and Steven pause during a conversation about theatre to take a selfie. They had just gotten back from seeing the National Theatre’s version of The Importance of Being Ernest within the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harmon Hall, and Steven was explaining his latest concept for directing Romeo and Juliet on the high school level. The weekend was their Valentine’s Day celebration — they’ve been married since June 2012. Photo by Steven L. Denlinger

Dear Reader:

One of the things it’s easy to forget is that when I write this letter, I’m writing to people like you, people who follow or subscribe because you are genuinely interested. It’s easy to look at this newsletter as a chore, something I do because I promised to do it.

Yes, this letter is about the work I’m doing as a memoirist. But it’s also about a relationship I have with you, one of my friends. I appreciate that friendship.

Let’s face it. I have a solid group of subscribers. But I don’t have the tens of thousan…