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Having the Last Say: Capturing Your Legacy in One Small Story
Renowned writing coach Alan Gelb shows baby boomers how to create “last says”—short personal narratives that serve as a powerful form of life review.
As the baby-boomer generation ages, its members are looking ahead to the biggest challenge of making sense of life in its third act. Having the Last Say takes life review out of the realm of memoir writing and journaling—making the rich and timeless tradition of authentic storytelling accessible to those who have never considered themselves “writers.” In creating “legacies” in the form of short personal narratives, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the people, actions, and events that have shaped your life and your values, and to share these stories with those who matter most. Gelb's reassuring and straightforward advice will help you every step of the way, from identifying an engaging topic to employing creative writing techniques to construct a compelling story.
As the baby-boomer generation ages, its members are looking ahead to the biggest challenge of making sense of life in its third act. Having the Last Say takes life review out of the realm of memoir writing and journaling—making the rich and timeless tradition of authentic storytelling accessible to those who have never considered themselves “writers.” In creating “legacies” in the form of short personal narratives, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the people, actions, and events that have shaped your life and your values, and to share these stories with those who matter most. Gelb's reassuring and straightforward advice will help you every step of the way, from identifying an engaging topic to employing creative writing techniques to construct a compelling story.
- GenresWriting
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 1, 2017
Some useful suggestions for writing personal essays.
September 1, 2015
(Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of this book with no request for a review.)
Have you ever listened to a eulogy and wondered who the heck they're talking about? Do you want that to happen to you?
That was the point of Having the Last Say by Alan Gelb, which aims to help you craft your final narrative, a short (up to 1500 words, typically) memoir that defines you and leaves something memorable for your loved ones. In the process, the writer might also, by performing this life review, achieve that sense of integrity and accomplishment that psychologist Erik Erikson says is essential for healthy elderhood.
Having the Last Say is a professional work. It has a nice look and feel, it’s meticulously edited, and the author is well-spoken and has an enjoyable voice. I especially liked his joking comments about Baby Boomer culture. He includes anecdotes and examples. It’s a helpful guide for any writer.
In fact, it’s almost too good. Gelb says at the outset that his mission is to facilitate the writing of a life review/final narrative for people who don’t consider themselves writers. Yet the book includes such topics as active/passive voice, use of adjectives and adverbs, structure and flow, tense, conflict, point of view, and numerous other tools of the serious writer.
Which leads to a compliment: if you’re starting to think about writing, but you don’t have time to take classes or read a ton of books on the subject, this might be for you. As a writing coach, Gelb can be proud of having put together a comprehensive starter manual.
I was pleased that Gelb occasionally addressed the reality of aging. For example, he'll sometimes feel the scrutiny of being the oldest guy in a work situation, but then he “overcomes the stigma” (I hate that there IS one!) by demonstrating his knowledge. Thus, a life lesson:
“The best way to stay relevant is to use your mind. When you can contribute smart thinking, informed opinions, judgment that is rooted in experience, then you will never be irrelevant, no matter how old you are.”
Here’s another:
“I have found that my adult writers are often as intense about the work as these kids who are stepping over one another to get into the best colleges...As I see it, (that intensity) comes from the need to make meaning of one's life. At a certain point, there is obviously less time...”
I recommend this comprehensive book as a guide for anyone who would like to write a life review, or to learn the basics of writing well.
Have you ever listened to a eulogy and wondered who the heck they're talking about? Do you want that to happen to you?
That was the point of Having the Last Say by Alan Gelb, which aims to help you craft your final narrative, a short (up to 1500 words, typically) memoir that defines you and leaves something memorable for your loved ones. In the process, the writer might also, by performing this life review, achieve that sense of integrity and accomplishment that psychologist Erik Erikson says is essential for healthy elderhood.
Having the Last Say is a professional work. It has a nice look and feel, it’s meticulously edited, and the author is well-spoken and has an enjoyable voice. I especially liked his joking comments about Baby Boomer culture. He includes anecdotes and examples. It’s a helpful guide for any writer.
In fact, it’s almost too good. Gelb says at the outset that his mission is to facilitate the writing of a life review/final narrative for people who don’t consider themselves writers. Yet the book includes such topics as active/passive voice, use of adjectives and adverbs, structure and flow, tense, conflict, point of view, and numerous other tools of the serious writer.
Which leads to a compliment: if you’re starting to think about writing, but you don’t have time to take classes or read a ton of books on the subject, this might be for you. As a writing coach, Gelb can be proud of having put together a comprehensive starter manual.
I was pleased that Gelb occasionally addressed the reality of aging. For example, he'll sometimes feel the scrutiny of being the oldest guy in a work situation, but then he “overcomes the stigma” (I hate that there IS one!) by demonstrating his knowledge. Thus, a life lesson:
“The best way to stay relevant is to use your mind. When you can contribute smart thinking, informed opinions, judgment that is rooted in experience, then you will never be irrelevant, no matter how old you are.”
Here’s another:
“I have found that my adult writers are often as intense about the work as these kids who are stepping over one another to get into the best colleges...As I see it, (that intensity) comes from the need to make meaning of one's life. At a certain point, there is obviously less time...”
I recommend this comprehensive book as a guide for anyone who would like to write a life review, or to learn the basics of writing well.
September 11, 2015
(Disclosure—I was given this book with no request for a review)
The thought of writing our memories as a way to be better understood and remembered after our death intrigued me as I read this book. Gelb stresses that Having Your Last Say may be the best gift you can leave your family and friends. Our survivors benefit from the memories we choose to share and often feel a closer bond when hearing those thoughts in the words of the deceased rather than in a eulogy written by someone else.
Gelb stresses that writing memories is also good for the writer. The act of writing our memories keeps things in perspective as we age. It prompts us to come to a better understanding of who we think we are and evaluate how we live up to our own expectations.
Contrary to what you might think, this book is not just for those who love to write. Gelb’s suggestions of why and how to craft our own story guides readers to see that it’s not as difficult to write that memoir as one might think.
In his introduction to creating our own narrative, Gelb envisions himself as Michelangelo, taking a hunk of marble and bringing it to life. Just as sculpting requires certain elements to be successful, writing narrative does also. He refers to these elements as The Once, The Ordinary and Extraordinary, Tension and Conflict and The Point. Where do you begin? How do you show the extraordinary in your message? What is the tension in the story and what is your point in sharing it?
With helpful explanations of each element, Gelb brings, even the non-writer, to see they have a story to tell and that they can do it well. Examples of drafts by others he has tutored depict how one’s message becomes absorbing with just a few adjustments to the first draft.
This is a book worth reading, and practicing the lessons within, no matter your age. Because it’s never too soon to ponder what is really important to us, Gelb’s ideas offer an unusual, but helpful way to accomplish that goal…and to create a gift for our loved ones.
The thought of writing our memories as a way to be better understood and remembered after our death intrigued me as I read this book. Gelb stresses that Having Your Last Say may be the best gift you can leave your family and friends. Our survivors benefit from the memories we choose to share and often feel a closer bond when hearing those thoughts in the words of the deceased rather than in a eulogy written by someone else.
Gelb stresses that writing memories is also good for the writer. The act of writing our memories keeps things in perspective as we age. It prompts us to come to a better understanding of who we think we are and evaluate how we live up to our own expectations.
Contrary to what you might think, this book is not just for those who love to write. Gelb’s suggestions of why and how to craft our own story guides readers to see that it’s not as difficult to write that memoir as one might think.
In his introduction to creating our own narrative, Gelb envisions himself as Michelangelo, taking a hunk of marble and bringing it to life. Just as sculpting requires certain elements to be successful, writing narrative does also. He refers to these elements as The Once, The Ordinary and Extraordinary, Tension and Conflict and The Point. Where do you begin? How do you show the extraordinary in your message? What is the tension in the story and what is your point in sharing it?
With helpful explanations of each element, Gelb brings, even the non-writer, to see they have a story to tell and that they can do it well. Examples of drafts by others he has tutored depict how one’s message becomes absorbing with just a few adjustments to the first draft.
This is a book worth reading, and practicing the lessons within, no matter your age. Because it’s never too soon to ponder what is really important to us, Gelb’s ideas offer an unusual, but helpful way to accomplish that goal…and to create a gift for our loved ones.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews