Having the Last Say: Capturing Your Legacy in One Small Story

"Having the Last Say makes you want to pick up a pen and write--even if you're certain that you're not a writer. Alan Gelb gives you a reason to try, and the conviction that you can. He wagers that you will enjoy writing a 'small' story to leave behind. 'A last say' to share among family and friends or be read aloud at your memorial service. Perhaps you want to convey a deeply held value, describe a passion, reveal a bit of family history that shaped you. Follow Gelb's clear instructions about how to craft a short piece, and, Voila! You'll find that you've expressed something heartfelt and filled with meaning."
--Janna Malamud Smith, author of An Absorbing Errand: How Artists and Craftsmen Make Their Way to Mastery

"With humor, compassion, and an expert's understanding of the difficulties inherent in putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys), writing coach Alan Gelb offers a step-by-step guide to all of us who yearn to examine our lives, validate our unique individuality, and create a valuable and touching slice of family history to bequeath to our offspring. He gently and skillfully guides readers to find a topic and point of view, produce a first draft, and move through the stages of revising and polishing to the finished life story--a 'gift' to oneself and to others."
--Katherine Ketcham, coauthor of Experiencing Spirituality and The Spirituality of Imperfection