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What Kind of Stalled Writer Are You – And What to Do About It

Denis Ledoux — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 11:36:27 +0000

An unfinished manuscript haunts a writer, sapping energy that ought to go into more writing. Over the years of editing and coaching, I’ve noticed that there seem to be two sorts of people who do not finish their manuscripts. (more…)

9 Tips for a Fast Start Writing Your Memoir

Denis Ledoux — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 10:00:00 +0000

To help you to get a fast start writing and to write your memoirs more prolifically–and even bring them to a finish in the form of a published memoir–I offer these nine suggestions. They are tried and true tips that bear repeating and repeating. (more…)

Slow Writing is the Literary Relative of Slow Cooking

Denis Ledoux — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 12:00:00 +0000

With all the blog posts I have read about learning to write faster—I have even heard of “how to write a book in a weekend, I want to take a moment to re-emphasize the value of writing slowly and carefully. Perhaps, what I would like to stop a moment to ponder is the literary relative […]

Where Do You Begin Writing Your Memoir?

Denis Ledoux — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 14:15:00 +0000

Is there a best place to start writing your memoir? It’s a quandary: where do you start writing your memoir? Many people may say: from the beginning. But, I don’t think that is the best place to start composing. The answer is actually quite simple. (more…)

Write A Better Memoir: 10 How-to Tips

Denis Ledoux — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 10:00:10 +0000

Writers ask me what they can do the most easily to write a better memoir. While I can understand the wish to write more quickly and easily, I’m going to share with you that writing a better memoir needs to be done slowly and thoughtfully. A rushed job is probably going to be a botched […]

5 Steps to Gathering Stories at Family Events

Denis Ledoux — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 10:00:03 +0000

Gathering stories at family events—interviewing—is one of these basic steps you can master for writing your memoir. Following these basic steps, anyone can succeed at writing interesting and meaningful memoirs. People love to tell their stories… (more…)

6 Easy Steps to Creating a Book of Memoirs

Denis Ledoux — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 10:00:58 +0000

Celebrating and honoring your life by remembering and writing both big and small stories is very rewarding. It is a significant way to understand your life and to come to peace with it. Your memoirs are a legacy your family will treasure for generations–don’t you wish your grandparents had written their memoirs? Follow these simple […]

Get More Info From Your Photos–The small details for your memoir are in your photos

Denis Ledoux — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 10:00:43 +0000

Look with new eyes to get more info from your photos “Where do I find more details for my memoir?” you ask. “I remember a lot and I’ve done my Memory List, but where are the small stuff I need to ground my memoir—and possibly provide new insights?” (more…)

Which to Write: Memoir or Autobiographical Fiction? There is a Difference!

Denis Ledoux — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 10:00:07 +0000

Should I write memoir or autobiographical fiction? I sometimes get asked this and I have to confess that my reaction is firm. I don’t believe particularly in an either/or possibility. There is a clear difference—a chasm really—between the choice of memoir or autobiographical fiction. While one has a choice to write one or the other, […]

Writing Your First Draft: Every Memoir Starts That Way!

Denis Ledoux — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 10:00:37 +0000

Writing Your First Draft Give yourself permission to write a rough first draft. Write pages and pages in which you describe the who, the what, the where and the when of the story. Later, as you rework the piece, the why will be written in. (more…)