Prince Harry’s long-awaited memoir, scheduled to be released this Christmas, is said to contain some shocking truths which will expose the reality of the Firm. The Duke of Sussex revealed that his first autobiography will tell his unadulterated story, 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, and 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 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 so cathartic, 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. Commenting on Prince Harry’s memoir, 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.”
Craig Melvin, StoryTerrace’s premium ghostwriter, comments on what he has learned through his career of writing about other people’s moving life stories:
“My experience of telling people’s stories through the medium of memoirs has been monumental. It’s relieving, not just for them but for me as well. Our experiences and our stories form our identity, it allows for an individual to tell their truth and their side of the story – in the most authentic way possible. It is a healing process and everyone is so uniquely different and I have the pleasure of revealing these differences through the written word. The best part is, that it is there forever. The legacy is so powerful.”
