Leafing through pages of photo albums triggers memories of special places, special people, and special events, but pictures do not tell the whole story. What sounds filled summer nights at camp? What smells permeated Mothers garden in spring? What tastes tempted tongues at Grandmothers holiday feasts? Why not capture these sensory images in written snapshots that will last a lifetime?

When I was teaching, one of my high school students told me how her grandmother filled several notebooks with writings that ranged from her high school days to her ninetieth birthday. Her grandmother recorded her first date with her future husband, her marriage, her childrens births, and most other landmark events of her life. Reading her grandmothers thoughts and feeling dazzled this young girl.

WRITE THE SNAPSHOTS OF LIFE shows you how to create an heirloom of memories. First you produce the negative, your first draft. Then you develop it and craft it into a story, the final draft. You accomplish this by rewriting and using a new skill with each rewrite. As you write and remember, your album and your writing skills will grow.

People often ask me about the purpose of memoir writing. In other words, Whats the point? Research shows people who write about stressful situations lower their blood pressure and increase their T-cell production, and that boosts the immune system. Maybe there are parts of your past lurking deep within that threaten your well-being because you have not let them go. If an unpleasant memory causes you angst, write it down. This is the first step in getting rid of the pasts poison.

When you have cleansed yourself of hurtful memories, start writing pleasant ones. Recalling memorable people and happy events of the past takes the mind away from everyday annoyances such as bills, traffic jams, unreasonable bosses or teachers, final exams, technological malfunctions, and other irritations of life in the twenty-first century.

Dwelling on stress and negativity only harms the body and psyche, so let go of the negative and embrace the positive memories. Write the snapshots of life for the health of it. Boost that immune system!

Unlike other memoir writing books, WRITE THE SNAPSHOTS OF LIFE, not only shows you how to begin a written memory album, it also helps you sharpen your writing skills, brush up on grammar and punctuation, and review spelling rules. Then it takes another step and shows you how writing provides positive effects on health and well-being. I designed this book so you can take what you want and leave the rest. Not interested in complex sentences? Overlook them. Want to know when to use who or whom? Language Lesson 1 shows you. Want to see if you really feel

In six easy lessons, I show you how to perfect your written snapshot. You can set a six- week goal for yourself, or you can take as long as you want to develop your story. Use this book as a reference tool. When a question arises, flip the pages and get the answer.

Writing takes practice, and the only way to improve is to write. WRITE THE SNAPSHOTS OF LIFE will help you get started, show you different ways to record memories, and motivate you to keep writing. Do not leave your loved ones unacquainted with you. I wish my relatives had written their stories. I wish I had known them better. I wish they had used a book like this one. So do your family a favor and write the snapshots of your life. It is never too early or too late to begin. What are you waiting for? Snap that picture.