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Use an archetype of your experience to revive your memoir.

Denis Ledoux — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:30:11 +0000

Can an archetype of your experience refocus your memoir? One begins a memoir with a sense of the uniqueness of the story. “It simply has to be told,” you realize excitedly. “The world needs to hear about this.” Then as you write week after week, month after month, and sometimes year after year, that uniqueness […]

Similes and Metaphors: A Deeper Emotional Dive

Denis Ledoux — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:25:42 +0000

Memoirs are enhanced by the use of similes and metaphors. Learn to use them easily. (more…)

Writing Feelings into Your Memoir

Denis Ledoux — Sun, 26 Jun 2022 14:42:00 +0000

How to write feelings into your memoir is a rather important topic. Recently on the Forum, David wrote about not accessing the feeling side of his memories, of writing a memoir that, if I am understanding him right, was all details and facts. Below is my response which can serve as a stand alone article, […]

Writing Memoir Is Not Easy

Denis Ledoux — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 11:19:00 +0000

When writing memoir the project typically starts with a burst of energy. “This is going to be a good piece of writing! Help to keep you writing your memoir. (more…)

Memoir Success: Approaching Neverland

Denis Ledoux — Thu, 27 May 2021 11:00:00 +0000

Memoir Success Over the years, I have worked with many writers to help them create and shape their memoirs. It’s my pleasure to bring to your attention once again the success of one such writer: Peggy Kennedy from San Ramon, California, for whom I had the pleasure of providing coaching and editing help that led […]

Dare to Share Your Writing

Denis Ledoux — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 10:06:00 +0000

One of the critical steps you can take as a writer is to find ways to share your work with others. Those others might be writers, they might be friends, or they might be family members. Don’t let your hard work sit in a drawer unread. Writing is meant to be read. We write down […]

Memoir Coaching Laser-focuses on Getting Your Memoir Written Faster and Better

Denis Ledoux — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 11:00:32 +0000

How does memoir coaching improve your manuscript? “What does ‘My family was poor mean,” I asked a memoir writing client in a recent coaching session. “Poor?” he asked at the other end of the phone line. “What do you mean what does poor mean? Poor means poor!” “Does poor mean you didn’t have enough to […]

Telling the Hard Truth in Your Memoir–Are You Holding Back?

Denis Ledoux — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 10:00:36 +0000

Your memoir needs to tell the truth about life—yours—and sometimes that requires exposing yourself getting “naked.” Getting to the truth in memoir is not about being cruel but about adding meaning and depth to your life story. (more…)

Instead of A Writing Prompt – Five Tips for Creating a Memory List

Denis Ledoux — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 10:00:19 +0000

People who are writing a memoir will sometimes say, “I want to write my stories but I have forgotten so many details. Is there any way I can get them back? Should I use writing prompts?” There is one tool above all others that makes the experience of life writing successful. That tool is not […]

The Problem With Writing Prompts

Denis Ledoux — Thu, 24 May 2018 10:20:01 +0000

Is there a problem with writing prompts? This is my issue with writing prompts: they tend to lead to isolated stories, stories that are searching for humor, searching to be shared with a group that is perhaps looking for entertainment. They are not, by and large, searching for meaning lost in the morass of your […]