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 memory, for a mythic god who has thwarted you all this time, for the contact lens that is lost in the grasses of your psyche. No… The problem with writing prompts is they lead to stories that can so easily miss the energy of a (more…)

In this post, you will learn the many benefits of a regular writing practice.

Many people set off to write their memoirs with considerable enthusiasm. It’s a new project and it’s full of energy. This is going to be the greatest memoir the world has ever known!

How long can that last? Enthusiasm takes you only so far. Over the months and years it takes to complete a manuscript, the initial enthusiasm wanes and the memoir project that had seemed so interesting at its onset now begins to bore the writer. We begin to hear about the writer “trying to write a memoir.” Unless the writer changes attitude, the memoir will soon be abandoned.

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The difference between a memoir and an autobiography can be rather minimal—or fairly large.

“So what is the difference between a memoir and an autobiography?” you may persist in asking as so many people do. Perhaps they are masking their diffidence about writing, wanting to “get it right.”

Practically speaking, for most people, there is no difference between a memoir and an autobiography. In common speech, the terms are interchangeable.

People say, “I’m writing an autobiography” or, “I’m writing a memoir.” (It’s the word memoir that has grown not the word autobiography that has shrunk.)

But, technically (or perhaps in the historical meaning of the two words), there is a difference between a memoir and an autobiography.

Two definitions

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Your photos tell stories. Did you store away a slew of photos in shoe boxes over the years—and more recently created huge photo files in your computer? (These are perhaps even worse than shoe boxes. At least, photos in shoe boxes are easy to look at vs photos as thumbnails!) Now is the time to write the stories behind your photos. If your family is like mine, you have photos of people that no one can any longer identify. At best, you might opine “I think that’s someone on my mother’ s side.” Actions to take to better access your (more…)

Hiring a memoir ghostwriter will lead to a long-term relationship. This relationship will cost you money. It will also cost you time and energy. It is reasonable that you want it to function smoothly and well. Of course, you ask the writer for references, but are they reliable? Here are five areas of questions you ought to explore as you are checking a memoir ghostwriter‘s references. 1. How much like your own project was the project of the reference(s) your prospect has given you? If the project involved writing an annual business report, it will hardly help you to evaluate (more…)

Tips to help you write All of us struggle to some extent to produce writing content. Writing is often difficult. It takes time and energy—both of which the laws of entropy suggest we ought to preserve. We find many compelling and valid reasons not to write. “The house is a mess.” “I ought to go to the gym while there aren’t many people there.” “My sister and I haven’t talked in a long time.” All valid but ultimately all excuses. So… Without beating down on you, let me offer a few writing processes to help you write that work for (more…)

Q. I am about to have my first opportunity to read from my newly-finished memoir. Any tips for a doing a memoir reading program so that I can make the most of the opportunity? A. I have many tips for doing a memoir reading program, but I will limit myself to five. 1. Specifically, you ought not to read for longer than 30 minutes. Then, 15 minutes for Q & A and 15 minutes for meeting your audience personally. 2. But before you speak, you must set your goals for the program. Why are you participating in this program? I (more…)

We all want to make writing easier. Why is writing so hard? Why does what you want to write become so difficult to do the moment you sit down to write? Where are the words you need to convey the excitement or the dread or the anticipation of your experience? You are shocked to realize that what appears on the computer screen has no pizzazz! This is not what you had in mind when you thought of writing your memoir. So…we all want to make writing easier. What to do to bring passion into you story and make writing easier? (more…)

Don’t let an interview host spring a question on you that you wish you didn’t have to answer! Is this the future you want? You’ve done a whole lot of writing and now you have published your book. You are very proud of your effort—not the least of which has been the marketing that has gotten you on a TV talk show! As the camera is focused on you, the hostess who had seemed so disarmingly charming just a few moments ago turns out to be a barracuda circling her prey! You squirm and fidget. You had had a gnawing (more…)

Writers Learning About the Memory List at a "Turning Memories Into Memoirs" Workshop

The Problem With Writing Prompts

By Denis Ledoux

Regular Writing Practice: An Important Decision!

By Denis Ledoux

Many people set off to write their memoirs with considerable enthusiasm. Frequently however over the months and years it takes to complete the manuscript, their enthusiasm wanes and the memoir project that had seemed so interesting now begins to bore the writer is soon abandoned. I don’t think there was ever a writer whose interest […]

The Difference between a Memoir and an Autobiography

By Denis Ledoux

The difference between a memoir and an autobiography can be rather minimal—or they can be fairly large. “So what is the difference between a memoir and an autobiography?” you may persist in asking as so many people do. Practically speaking, for most people, there is no difference. In common speech, the terms are interchangeable. But […]

Write The Stories Behind Your Photos

By Denis Ledoux

Your photos tell stories. Did you store away a slew of photos in shoe boxes over the years–and more recently created huge photo files in your computer? (These are perhaps even worse than shoe boxes. At least, photos in shoe boxes are easy to look at vs photos as thumbnails!) Your photos tell stories. (more…)

Five Questions for Checking a Memoir Ghostwriter’s References

By Denis Ledoux

3 Tips to Help You Write Today and Everyday

By Denis Ledoux

All of us struggle to some extent to produce writing content. Writing is often difficult. It takes time and energy—both of which the laws of entropy suggest we ought to preserve. Here are a few writing processes to help you write today and every day. While the following are not exactly self-motivation, they have gotten […]

Tips for Doing a Memoir Reading Program

By Denis Ledoux

Q. I am about to have my first opportunity to read from my newly-finished memoir. Any tips for a memoir reading program so that I can make the most of the opportunity? A. I have many tips for a memoir reading program, but I will limit myself to five. (more…)

How to Make Writing Easier

By Denis Ledoux

Why is writing so hard? Why does what you want to write become so difficult the moment you sit down to write? Where are the words you need to convey the excitement or the dread or the anticipation. You are shocked to realize that what appears on the computer screen has no pizzazz! This is […]

Don’t Let A TV Talk Show Host Get You – Three Ways a Memoir Content Editor Can Improve Your Memoir

By Denis Ledoux

A memoir content editor asks how might someone who is not necessarily on your side but out to serve her own needs—a TV hostess concerned with a good fight to get her ratings up, the local book reviewer who has an ax to grind because you have succeeded at writing a book and he hasn’t, […]