In her book “I Lived to Tell the World,” writer Elizabeth Mehren profiles survivors of mass tragedies, including the Holocaust and Rwandan genocide. To create this poignant work, she accumulated a vast collection of research, including audio and video recordings, notes, and interview transcripts from 16 survivors, as well as insights from regional experts and academic articles.
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Speaking at the 2024 Power of Narrative conference at Boston University, Mehren, a former journalism professor and seasoned journalist, detailed her systematic approach to transforming extensive research into engaging narratives.
Mehren emphasized the significance of starting with foundational questions during her initial interviews. She often asked about her subjects’ early lives, seeking to establish a timeline of events that led to the crises they faced. For instance, even Holocaust survivors recounted normal childhoods before the onset of anti-Semitism. Her focus on chronology led her to pose numerous “when” questions to understand critical moments.
To manage her research effectively, Mehren transcribed her interviews, despite the tediousness of the task. She also cross-referenced her interview notes with background material on the political and cultural contexts of the various tragedies covered in her book. This meticulous organization helped her avoid redundancy when discussing multiple individuals from the same region.
One of Mehren’s key strategies for narrative organization was to create a timeline. She explained that while narratives don’t always need to be told chronologically, understanding the sequence of events can greatly aid in structuring the story.
While analyzing her collected material, Mehren routinely reflected on the core theme of her work, asking herself, “What is this about?” This introspection guided her in deciding which information was relevant to include.
Mehren also highlighted the importance of collaboration for ethical storytelling. Unlike traditional journalism, she allowed her sources to review drafts of their stories, ensuring factual accuracy while maintaining her own narrative voice. She explained that this approach respects the complexity of their experiences without crossing into advocacy, which seeks to dictate a specific viewpoint.
In the final stages of publishing her book, Mehren faced a title change due to the publisher’s note that her original title, based on a quote by Elie Wiesel, had been overused. As she reviewed her materials, she found inspiration in a survivor's statement about his survival serving a purpose—to share his story. This reflection led to the eventual title “I Lived to Tell the World,” encapsulating the essence of the narratives she sought to convey.
Madeline Bodin is a freelance environmental and science journalist based in Vermont.