Nancy Chadwick-Burke, 54, is a writer and author who recently wrote an essay about the process of writing her memoir, “Under the Birch Tree,” for a book titled “The Magic of Memoir.” She lives in Glenview with her husband and grew up in Deerfield.
Q: How did you approach writing the essay?
A: I was having a conversation with my memoir about trying to make it the best it could possibly be, and all the inner dialogue and inner critic I had in my head. It was a pretty honest piece that I wanted to share with other people who are trying to find some inspiration with their writing as well.
Q: What inspired you to write a memoir?
A: When I stopped working full-time, I started writing out all my memories starting from my girlhood back in the house in Deerfield. When I had all of this chronology and timeline, I didn’t know what to do with it. As I started reading more about what memoirs are, I decided that maybe I had something. Maybe I can turn this into a memoir.
Q: What is the biggest challenge of writing a memoir?
A: The most challenging part is really digging down and deep and revealing some inner secrets that you for so long kept within you.
Q: What advice do you have for other writers?
A: Just keep writing. Write every day. Read everything and anything that you can get your hands on.
Shout Out is a weekly feature in which we get to know and introduce our readers to their fellow community members and local visitors throughout suburban Chicago.
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