Prince Harry’s long-awaited memoir, scheduled to be released in Autumn 2022, is said to be undergoing major adjustments over fear of how his story will be received by his family and the wider public. The Duke of Sussex revealed that his first autobiography will tell his unadulterated truth sharing the “experiences, adventures, losses, and life lessons that have helped shape him”. It is a brave and admirable act – to tell your version of events for the world to read – the journey of putting pen to paper is certainly not linear. Research from the international memoir-writing service, StoryTerrace, has found that despite its challenges, 31% of Brits agree that having your story written is easier than speaking about it.
Following the Duke of Sussex’s controversial withdrawal from the Royal Family, Prince Harry’s life story has certainly taken an unexpected turn. As a public figure, he and his wife have since received an insurmountable amount of attention. After being publicly interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, a conversation which rocked the public’s views on the couple, we got an insight into what more to expect. But what is salient and highlighted throughout the conversation, is the vulnerability that can be felt when recounting one’s life story – no matter who they are.
In their nationally representative study, StoryTerrace found that over half the population (51%) wish they could tell their younger self to document their family’s life story, as they feel most of it has been forgotten. Despite the process being both cathartic and relieving, recalling all manner of life events can cause an unexpected internal struggle. What to include? What to leave out? So, how does one truly tell their story in the most authentic way – especially when in the public eye?
Rutger Bruining, Founder and CEO of StoryTerrace, has seen how thousands of people have benefitted from documenting their life stories. He says:
“One similarity I have come across in so many of our stories is that people with a seemingly clear-cut life path laid out before them often make a decision that completely changes the course of their lives. What is interesting is often this key moment actually comes when they decide to put pen to paper and share their unfiltered story with the world. Despite facing criticism or adversity, these individuals are taking control of their lives, forging their own paths and simply taking the next step in their personal journeys. Prince Harry is one such individual.
“What I have learned from the stories I’ve been privileged to hear is that people who make conscious decisions around the turning points in their lives – at times breaking with the expectations of their loved ones and taking their destinies into their own hands to carve out a path for themselves – are often the people who are happiest when reflecting on their lives to date.
“There is power in writing. Whether it is daily journaling, writing a novel, or even writing a card. It is one of the purest forms of self-expression and allows room for creativity, self-exploration and even just some fun to past the time. We have the pleasure of seeing exactly how writing directly benefits not just our clients but our amazing ghostwriters as well.”
