In Project Keepsake, Amber Lanier Nagle shares fifty-five stories
behind the objects people gather and display proudly on shelves or stow
away in dark closets—a bluebird paperweight, a pocket watch, a quilt, a
locket, a piece of furniture, a cake pan, a scrap of paper, and other
sacred items. Each story breathes life into the inanimate objects.
A few years ago, Nagle began writing stories about her own keepsakes to
preserve the histories surrounding special items in her home. She
encouraged friends and family members to write stories about their
keepsakes, too, and they did. And so, the project was born.
Her book, Project Keepsake, has three simple goals: to prompt aspiring
writers to put their pens to paper and try their hands at writing, to
cultivate a renewed interest in storytelling, and to record the many
stories associated with keepsakes and mementoes.
She hopes that Project Keepsake finds its way into your hands and
inspires you to tell the many stories of your own keepsakes. For readers
and fans who are hesitant to try to write their own stories, Nagle
offers a chapter titled, “Writing About Keepsakes,” including tips and
examples. Here are a few of her tips:Identify a Keepsake—look around your house, on your shelves, in your drawers, in your closets, and in curio cabinets until you find something that has a special place in your heart. Brainstorm—start with a blank sheet of paper and just start writing everything that comes to your mind about your keepsake. Don’t worry about making it sound good at this point. Just get your thoughts on paper. Where did it come from? How long have you had it? What does it look like? Why is it significant to you? Organize your Thoughts—Some writers use outlines to organize all the elements of a story, while other people prefer to draw bubble diagrams to help map it out. Put Pen to Paper—Using the notes from your outline or bubble diagram, write your story. Revise and Polish—Look at your opening paragraph and make it stronger. Make sure your subjects and verbs agree. Check spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar. Replace weak verbs with stronger verbs. Add a dash of dialogue. Revise Again—Put away your story for about two weeks. Don’t think about it. Then, take it out and read it as if you are reading it for the first time. Keep revising your story until you are happy with it.
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