Getting Started with Our Memoir-Writing Programs
MyMemoirEducation
Welcome you to MyMemoirEducation. You will find doing the work of these pages to be an effective way to “stay in the memoir conversation.”
MyMemoirEducation provides an extensive education in the essentials of conceiving, writing, and publishing an interesting and meaningful memoir—and MyMemoirEducation mentors you free of charge. Because this is a comprehensive introductory resource, I’ve created this page to orient you to its possibilities.
The information is right here for you, at your fingertips when you need it and are ready to use it.
#1: Building your foundation
Each week in your email box for the next several months, you’ll find a key lesson on improving your writing.
These are designed to build a step-by-step understanding of the bedrock foundation for creating a memoir.
When I looked closely at what was working best in my own writing and in the writing of my students over the years, I found that success rested on four pillars:
- A strong relationship with your audience (these are the folks who will say, “I’ve been waiting for just this [sort of] book.”)
- Knowledge of technical elements of writing—grammar, style, structuring, etc.
- An understanding of the inner life of the writer. This is not just a story you are putting out. It is a relationship with yourself that you are polishing. Many memoirs are lost for want of understanding how a writer creates and perseveres.
- Skill at marketing your book—whether that involves selling your book idea to a traditional publisher or managing the publication process yourself.
Each pillar enhances the others. Together, they’re much stronger than they would be if any of the pillars were missing. They are all necessary to bring your idea through writing to the moment it arrives in the hands of the reader.
(That’s not theory, by the way. I’ve seen this is so with my own books and I have seen it so with writers I have worked for/with.)
So that is why, during the first few months of MyMemoirEducation, I will kick off with 10 core lessons on the nuts and bolts of what goes into conceiving, writing, and publishing your memoir.
#2: Memoir writing from the inside out
My Memoir Education encourages you to make use of your 24/7 access to the Memoir Writer’s Blog, the extensive memoir-writing “library” that continues to expand.
The blog is where you’ll find in-depth information on writing, polishing, publication—mostly indie publishing, marketing your book, and more.
This is where you can dive deeply into a topic at the time that’s right for you. So if you need to learn how to best rework a text, you can do that today, or next month, or two years from now. We’re ready when you are.
#3. Taking your education further
In MyMemoirEducation, you receive a wealth of information, and this may be everything you need to “rock and roll” with your writing. If that’s the case, that’s awesome! Please send me a copy of your book to enjoy and feature on the blog. I’ve heard some amazing success stories from people who have taken the free information and run with it … and I love it.
But some writers want to go deeper.
- They want the personal touch they can get from working directly with a coach, editor or ghostwriter. Being in live contact can be catalytic.
- They need more in-depth “professional grade” education to achieve their writing goals.
- They would benefit from more personalized attention to their specific writing problems and challenges. They want to maximize their investment of time.
- They want more information about their best publication options.
- They’re ready for “master class” level education on key topics like pacing and shaping a story, creating sustained imagery, or plunging into archetypal content.
If that’s you, it sounds like you are ready to join the Write Your First Memoir Draft Program. We’d love to have you join us in the comprehensive, on-line program for memoir writers. Click here for all the details about the Write Your First Memoir Draft Program.
#4 Becoming a Smart Memoir Professional
Some people enjoy the experience of writing their memoir so much and have gotten so much out of it that they want to share their love of writing with others. These are the people who decide to teach, coach, edit, or ghostwrite for others.
We help them with the free Smart Memoir Professional area which is analogous MyMemoirEducation.
They get free e-books, MP3, and a 10 week course. After this, many decide to go even deeper and acquire the Memoir Professional Package. But we know this is not for every one. If this is for you, click here for more info. Memoir work is satisfying.
What happens next?
Watch your email box for those core writing lessons. They’ll give you a real grounding in how to make the most of your writing time.
After that, I’ll keep you up to date on the latest advice to refine your thinking, sharpen your tactics, and improve your strategies. That way you can keep your momentum going and keep write, finish and publish your memoir.
Each lesson will contain many links to articles from around the web. Many of those will be from The Memoir Network blog, but we’ll also include links to others who I think “get it.”
Before you move on to other things today, allow me to suggest one thing: Add [email protected] to your email program’s “white list” or list of “safe senders” so you’re sure to get all of the lessons. If you don’t do that, some messages might end up in your junk folder.
I am pleased to share your writing journey. I’m really looking forward to getting started, so let’s jump in!