Framing Family Memories to Make Great Stories

While coming up with ideas for Chicken Soup for the Soul stories to write and submit, my grandmother’s oyster dressing and how I didn’t like the taste of oysters kept popping into my head.  The history to the idea is simple: a family member (one to be respected) had a special dish that was made every year and the other family members expected everyone to take a serving and enjoy eating it.  Or, at least, make it look like they enjoyed eating it.  Looking back after enough years, I get it.  I understand the love and respect shown when taking a serving of food and gobbling it down.

So, how to make my grandmother’s oyster dressing into a story that Chicken Soup for the Soul would like enough to purchase?

At first, I thought to go for a comical approach.  One Thanksgiving in particular, Grandma had cut her thumb while opening the can of oysters and told the family all about it while we were at the table and eating.  I decided to make the story revolve around her cutting her thumb and how grossed-out I was after hearing about it.  I liked the idea and went with it.

However…

Once I’d finished the first draft and read it through, I imagined one of my family members reading it.  Then, I thought about my grandmother.  Was I showing her respect by making a gross-out story about her cooking?  No.

My grandmother did a lot for me.  She took care of me when I was sick and my parents had to work.  She made me special dishes that she knew I loved.  I still have the baby blanket she made me.

Realizing that I wanted to remember her in a more honorable light, I rewrote the story to be about honoring her.

I had trudged through the meals, not enjoying her oyster dressing until after her death.  Once she was gone, I looked at that oyster dressing in a new way and have been happily taking a serving of it ever since because that was one of her favorite dishes.

That is the story that got accepted.  That is the story that Chicken Soup for the Soul liked.  Would they have accepted the gross-out version?  I don’t know.  But, I’m proud of the one I submitted and they accepted.  It was a story I was excited to share with my family.