We recently connected with Amy Chen and have shared our conversation below.

Amy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

Standing in line to check out at the shoe department at Nordstrom my mother looked at the artwork on the wall and whispered to me, “that’s what I used to draw as a kid.” Looking up, I glanced at the piece before turning back to her. “High heels. I used to draw them all over my school notebook. When I looked at pictures in the Sears catalog I used to wonder who was wearing these shoes and where they were going.”

It’s one of those little tidbit stories about my mother, a retired Registered Nurse who immigrated from South Korea decades ago, that her other children or grandchildren might never know.

It made me think of her parents—my grandparents—and how the stories of their lives and childhoods were never be recorded. Both are buried in traditional Korean burial mounds, and the unmarked graves are known only to a few: my surviving aunts, uncles and a few adult children who visit the graves twice a year as a way to honor their memory. But I know the details of their lives will most likely be forgotten to the passage of time.

Preserving the stories, those life stories that capture the mundane details of life, record major decisions or events, or describe the individuals who fill our days, is important not only to the living but to those who will come after and look to the past and wonder at those who helped shape their own lives.

I started recording my life story through a Guided Autobiography (GAB) class five years ago. At the time I was a new mother, struggling to adjust with this huge life change and my new role, all the while feeling utterly alone and unseen. My days were filled with thinking of someone else’s needs and I craved some time to think about myself, to focus on something aside from diapers and bottles. That loneliness drove me to look for something where I could get out of the house and have adult conversations that weren’t focused on my day-to-day. I didn’t know what this new iteration of myself was quite like yet, but I wanted to find a space and some time to myself to figure it out.

The Guided Autobiography class appealed to me because it meant writing just two pages a week and meeting other people. The brochure highlighted the meaningful connections with fellow life-story writers as a benefit. Little did I know that that first class would lead to more and more GAB classes over the next five years. As the years passed I wrestled with past trauma, dynamics within my family of origin and my own fears of not being enough. My writing became more honest and soul-searching as I embraced my vulnerability within the safety of a supportive small group.

The Guided Autobiography method is not new. It was researched and created by the late James Birren PhD in the 1970’s as a way for participants to find meaning in their lives through writing and sharing of life stories. Today there are over 600 certified instructors worldwide.

After years of being a student I decided to become a certified instructor through the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies. Today my business is focused on memoir/autobiography and I advocate especially for sharing life stories from the underrepresented BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and AAPI communities. I encourage everyone to share their story, and see Guided Autobiography as one meaningful way to begin. GAB Seattle is offering the full Guided Autobiography 10-session course in-person and online in Seattle and surrounding areas in Fall 2023 through in-person and online classes. Information about free workshops is also posted on the GAB Seattle website.

Amy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My business is focused on memoir/autobiography and I advocate especially for sharing life stories from the underrepresented BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and AAPI communities.

I encourage everyone to share their story, and see Guided Autobiography (GAB) as one meaningful way to begin. GAB Seattle courses are offered in-person or online, and are perfect for those interested in recording a life story for themselves or others. Participants who complete a course will walk away with nearly 20 pages written and have the option to continue on with additional courses.

GAB is also an excellent way to form meaningful connections with other life story writers.

The pandemic highlighted the human need for connection, and groups like the elderly, teens, new moms or individuals facing illness or divorce are some of the ones that suffer the most from loneliness. Guided Autobiography is a way to mitigate that loneliness and many group participants go on to take additional GAB classes and stay with their GAB group for years. The GAB method has been extensively researched and proven to reduce depression and anxiety and help create a feeling of connectedness and friendship amongst participants. One of the biggest takeaways is increased self-acceptance. GAB participants report writing and sharing life stories with others is an ideal way to find new meaning in life and put life events into perspective.

GAB Seattle is a champion of the local PNW autobiography/memoir community as well. We support authors, bookstores, publishers and libraries and all they do to encourage reading. The products we sell and recommend are meant to inspire and elevate any writer’s practice of recording their story.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I believe everyone’s story should be shared. It enables us to feel heard and seen and many times individuals who participate in groups with the Guided Autobiography method are reluctant for it to end and opt to continue on.

Publishing an commercially successful memoir is not necessarily the end-goal. Many contribute stories to their local historical society as town landscapes continue to change over time. Others tabulate stories for their own families, preserving stories of family history and culture for future generations–many times from different countries of origin.

I am also a firm believer that individuals of any age can writer their story. While it’s common for retirees or others in their “sunset” phase of life to find legacy writing especially rewarding, Guided Autobiography can be useful to anyone going through a major life transition. It can be a powerful catalyst for improved self-esteem, self-confidence and communication within families and within communities.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of teaching and sharing the Guided Autobiography method is meeting people from all walks of life and hearing their stories.

I’ve been able to meet and connect with individuals all over the world. Hearing stories from individuals with different careers, life paths, family situations and backgrounds has enriched my life and given me a greater appreciation of humanity and the universal struggles we all face.

Guided Autobiography groups are a safe and confidential space, and to witness the vulnerability of participants and the growth they experience both as writers and individuals is nothing short of incredible.

Sometimes individuals start GAB thinking, “my life is so weird/crazy/different I could write a book.” What’s amazing to see is how writing the events of their lives evolves into something deeper and more meaningful through the process.

As one past GAB participant Blossom Rosen wrote,

“Guided Autobiography changed my life. As I relived my life exploring the themes, I relived it through the eyes of an adult. It made me understand things a child could never have understood. All of the sad and unhappy things in my memory bank became just experiences. Knowing more about where I have been helps me know more about where I am and where I want to go. And I get to live the rest of my life one wonderful day at a time.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gabseattle.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabseattle/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/GAB-Seattle/100090362420148/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gab-seattle/

Image Credits
Heleyna Holmes North Seattle College Issaquah Reporter