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Writing a better memoir become easier when you make use of the core memory list. The extended memory list does not make value judgments about the quality of your memories. The core memory list, however, distinguishes between two sorts of memories—the important from the unimportant—that appear on your extended list. As you write more, you’ll find yourself producing more memories. Some of these are important to you, others are not. Distinguishing between the two is crucial to writing a better memoir and is what a core memory list will facilitate for you.  1) Core memory lists contain only those items or (more…)

“What to write about in a memoir?” is a basic question. The right answer—which I believe is writing with passion—will keep you writing and the wrong may lead you to believe that writing a memoir is too hard and not for you.

My answer to what to write about in a memoir is always to write about something important to you—not what you think is important to others.

Why are you writing? What is it that you hope to get from this effort of creating a memoir? You are about to devote a lot of time and energy to this task. Be sure it is for reasons that will keep you writing with passion. (more…)

“What to write about in a memoir?” is a basic question. The right answer—which I believe is writing with passion—will keep you writing and the wrong may lead you to believe that writing a memoir is too hard and not for you.

My answer to what to write about in a memoir is always to write about something important to you—not what you think is important to others.

Why are you writing? What is it that you hope to get from this effort of creating a memoir? You are about to devote a lot of time and energy to this task. Be sure it is for reasons that will keep you writing with passion. (more…)

Action in Writing Is Essential In writing a life story, it is important to pay attention to three aspects: action, character, and setting. These will enhance your story every time. To neglect these elements is to risk having your story fall flat. In this article, we will concentrate on action. When you use action in writing your story, it is called plot. Something must happen in your story to retain the interest of your reader. Listen to how a child tells a story. It is all action. Nuances of character and setting are immaterial to the child. It’s what happens (more…)
Recently, someone asked me to provide writing tips to remove the biggest barriers memoir writers face to being successful. Three came to mind right away. 1. Writers often put off writing a good memoir in favor of struggling unsuccessfully to create a perfect one. This is insidious because no one says they are putting off writing a good memoir in favor of a perfect one. Instead they say, “I want my story to be meaningful” or “I want to be sure I have something to say” or “I don’t want to bore my readers.” No one wants a boring memoir (more…)
The Right Details Enhance Your Memoir I’ve been thinking again of looking for the right details to enhance your memoir. Of course, details are crucial in the what of a memoir as well as in the who, the where, and the when. They are the facts of your memoir, but there is an expanded role for details in memoir writing. Here are two larger roles that details can serve. 1. The right details can lead to psychological insight, to a deepening of the story. I was recently in a restaurant and I saw a father take his napkin and wipe (more…)
How to End Writer’s Block A low point of memoir writing could often be labeled “writer’s block” Like all long term projects (think raising a family or starting a business or going to college), writing a memoir will have its high points and its low ones. The high points are not difficult to negotiate. They take care of themselves. But, the low periods are challenging. What to do when you are tired of the project and ready for it to be all finished and you are far from finished? Here are some brainstorming ideas to end writer’s block. I have (more…)
Is Your Autobiography Compelling? Granted everyone has stories to tell, but can ordinary people learn the skills and techniques necessary to write meaningful and interesting autobiography? Yes! Anyone who wants to can learn the tasks necessary to write a memoir to bequeath with pride to their children and grandchildren. Every step in the writing process is important and accessible. Lots of people have done step one: writing down their life stories. Too few take another important step: polishing the stories in the editing process to create a more interesting and complete memoir. The secret to giving your stories the finishing (more…)
Three Ways Memoir Writer’s Use Trash Talk Most of us use a certain amount of trash talk when we think about our memoir writing projects or talk about them. We are very clever about our evasive tactics however and disguise the trash as thoughtfulness. Here are a few examples of trash talk. 1. I need to do more research and interviewing before I can write my story. Research and interviewing are essential to a memoir project but these tasks can occur during the writing of an autobiography. For now, compile your Memory List (Chapter 2 of Turning Memories Into Memoirs) (more…)
We All Need a Motivation Technique At Some Point All writers eventually need a motivation technique to spur them on to the finish line. They face the atrophy of motivation that seems to come with writing a long memoir over months and months and even over a period of time. Let’s face it: writing can be hard and discouraging. The most interesting of topics (at least they seemed so at one time) may now grow stale and uninteresting as you write and rewrite (and ask yourself who would possibly want to read it). Writers rightfully want to k now what they (more…)
writing a better memoir

Four Tips for Writing a Better Memoir

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To write a better memoir, make use of the core memory list. The extended memory list does not make value judgments about the quality of your memories. The core memory list, however, distinguishes between two sorts of memories— the important from the unimportant. (more…)

dance

Your Subject—Where Write With Passion Starts

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“What to write about in a memoir?” is a basic question. The right answer will keep you writing and the wrong may lead you to believe that writing a memoir is too hard and not for you. My answer to what to write about in a memoir is always to write about something important to […]

action in a memoir

Why Action in Writing Is Important

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Action in Writing Is Essential In writing a life story, it is important to pay attention to three aspects: action, character, and setting. These will enhance your story every time. To neglect these elements is to risk having your story fall flat. In this article, we will concentrate on action. When you use action in […]

eye glasses

Looking for the Right Details

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I’ve been thinking again of looking for the right details to enhance your memoir. Of course, details are crucial in the what of a memoir as well as in the who, the where, and the when. They are the facts of your memoir, but there is an expanded role for details in memoir writing. Here […]

memoir writer's block

Writer’s Block Solutions

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Like all long term projects (think raising a family or starting a business or going to college), writing a memoir will have its high points and its low ones. (more…)

writing

Polish Your Autobiography Easily

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Is Your Autobiography Compelling? Granted everyone has stories to tell, but can ordinary people learn the skills and techniques necessary to write meaningful and interesting autobiography? Yes! Anyone who wants to can learn the tasks necessary to write a memoir to bequeath with pride to their children and grandchildren. Every step in the writing process […]

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

Memoir Trash Talk

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Three Ways Memoir Writer’s Use Trash Talk Most of us use a certain amount of trash talk when we think about our memoir writing projects or talk about them. We are very clever about our evasive tactics however and disguise the trash as thoughtfulness. Here are a few examples of trash talk. 1. I need […]

finish line

Motivation Technique for Writing

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All writers eventually need a motivation technique to spur them on to the finish line. They face the atrophy of motivation that seems to come with writing a long memoir over months and months and even over a period of time.  Let’s face it: writing can be hard and discouraging. The most interesting of topics […]