Lene Fogelberg

Writing in Two Languages—Translating Your Story into a Memoir

Lene Fogelberg

Thursday February 4, 2016

4 pm PST   5 pm MST   6 pm CST   7 pm EST

We all struggle with how to get our story told; essentially we translate our experiences into words. Join us as Lene Fogelberg talks about the process of writing her memoir Beautiful Affliction which is now on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list.

Lene had a life and death story–as she was living it, she didn’t know the outcome. She was short of breath, but doctors in Sweden pronounced her healthy. Her book is the story of how she found someone to listen to her heart, and her story.

All her life Lene had been a writer, but the real challenge came when Lene decided to write her story—would it be in Swedish, her native tongue, or in English? Lene will discuss her journey with language, culture, and writing.

When we want to write a memoir, all of us struggle for permission, wondering if we can tell a story that others will relate to. Lene took classes and worked on her writing in both languages, , but winning a poetry prize encouraged her to think she might have a voice—and a story—that others would value.

As I wrote the book, I decided to be vulnerable, transparent. and write from my heart. I did not hold back and tried not to concern myself with how I would be perceived. I thought of the reader and what I wanted to tell her (my younger self…).

Lene and I will talk about these points:

• Dare to matter. Recognize the importance of your story and your voice.
• Recognize the strength that comes with your vulnerability.
• Find the details that build your story so others can be in your world.
• The challenge of multi-lingual writing
• Keep trying to get your book out into the world—how Lene followed various publishing options, and why she chose She Writes Press over a traditional publishing deal.

Short bio:

Lene Fogelberg is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, an award-winning poet and double open-heart surgery survivor. Born in Sweden, she currently lives with her family in Malaysia, where she is working on a novel that takes place in Asia.

http://lenefogelberg.com

http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Affliction-Memoir-Surviving-Disease/dp/1631529854

Listen to the recording below: