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Choosing writing to ease pain Even before I found out my son had been murdered, I began writing about what I was experiencing as we waited for word of what had happened. Writing to ease pain seemed a natural choice. I was taking notes: 9/8 Amanda (my daughter-in-law to be) brutally raped Prague, Oklahoma Ethan, nowhere to be found And, six years later, the writing hasn’t stopped. The days that followed the loss of my son were fraught with much confusion. I knew that taking writing and taking notes would be the only way I would keep things straight. So, off (more…)
Today’s successful memoir writer is Jean Crichton. Jean attended the very first national workshop that I organized in 2000. From that time, we developed a strong working relationship via coaching and editing. She was one of those writers who was an absolute pleasure to work with. To read other interviews For the most recent interview with Peggy Kennedy, whom we first presented to you on June 5, 2009, click here. Approaching Neverland, her memoir  of a mentally-ill mother and a family that  struggled to survive, is amazing—and redemptive. I hope you will procure a copy. To read Cindy Doucette’s interview in this series of “How to (more…)

Libby Atwater is a memoir writer and long supporter of The Memoir Network. It is our pleasure to share her excellent work with you.

By Horace Dade Ashton and Marc Ashton with Libby J. Atwater

When Marc Ashton was kidnapped at gunpoint in Haiti, he fought to survive. Accosted by four armed thugs, Marc realized how life changes in moments. He made two promises: he would escape his captors, and he would tell his father’s amazing life story. I am proud to have helped tell the stories of both these men in this memoir of a kidnapping.

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Today’s writer is Cindy Doucette whose book is It Can Happen to Any Family. On August 22, 2012, we printed a testimonial written by a young person who was in the correctional system and who wrote of the influence Cindy Doucette’s book had on her. Our last interview was with author Peggy Kennedy. If you haven’t read it, click here. Denis Ledoux: Can you tell our readers what your book is about and why you were impelled to write it? What was driving you to spend the time, energy and money to get this book out into the world? Cindy Doucette: It Can Happen to Any Family (more…)
Today’s writer is Peggy Kennedy, whom we first presented to you on June 5, 2009. Approaching Neverland, her memoir  of a mentally-ill mother and a family that  struggled to survive, is amazing—and redemptive. I hope you will procure a copy. To read Cindy Doucette’s interview in this series of “How to Write a Successful Memoir,” click here. Cindy is the author of It Can Happen to Any Family.   Denis Ledoux: Can you tell our readers what your book is about and why you were impelled to write it? What was driving you to spend the time, energy and money to get this book (more…)
Choose A Voice To Write From Choosing a voice is imperative. This may sound like a joke, but it’s not. In fact, it is a very serious question that will determine-or at least greatly influence-the tone and the theme of your narrative. “But, I’m writing my memoirs!” you might answer. Yes, of course. It’s you! But, which you? We’ve all had the experience of the various parts of ourselves in internal debate. For instance, a friend asks you to go to the movies. One part of you thinks, “Sure!” Another part responds, “Wait a minute. You still have yard work (more…)
Writing My Memoir: Zero to Seventeen / Life Lessons in Story At the beginning, I was concerned about the way to write a memoir of my grandchildren’s stories. My three grandchildren and I had collected a memory list based on completing the sentence “Do you remember when…” Together we built a list of dozens of their earliest memories through their elementary school years. Then we wrote a short paragraph about each memory with the intention to write a children’s story book based on our memories. I felt uncertain how to pull the grandchildren’s memory list into a story that read well and (more…)
Clients will often come to me after having done a considerable amount of writing. Sometimes I will receive 200- and 300-page manuscripts all formatted and seemingly ready for publication. Among them are manuscripts that are really at an end stage of writing and need only a bit of editing, but… There are too many that are still—in spite of their polished look on the page—in an early stage of development. The writer has not mastered voice, or perhaps it’s pacing and shaping. Perhaps the writer is still angry over events in his/her life and is writing too closely—but doesn’t see (more…)
Realize Your Dream: Choose a Ghostwriter “Between you and me, I’m never going to do this,” said the woman on the other end of the phone line, a woman who was signed up for my forthcoming workshop here in Maine. As soon as she said that—actually as soon as she had announced herself, I thought, “Oh, I suppose this is going to be the usual!” She had registered for several of my Turning Memories Into Memoirs™ workshops and had always, somewhat at the last minute, asked to have the tuition rolled over to the next session to be held in (more…)
how to write a successful memoir

How to Write a Successful Memoir: Digging for Treasure

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Today’s successful memoir writer is Jean Crichton. Jean attended the very first national workshop that I organized in 2000. From that time, we developed a strong working relationship via coaching and editing. She was one of those writers who was an absolute pleasure to work with. To read other interviews For the most recent interview with […]

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How to Write a Successful Memoir: It Can Happen to Any Family

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Today’s writer is Cindy Doucette whose book is It Can Happen to Any Family. On August 22, 2012, we printed a testimonial written by a young person who was in the correctional system and who wrote of the influence Cindy Doucette’s book had on her. Our last interview was with author Peggy Kennedy. If you haven’t read it, click here. Denis […]

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How to Write a Successful Memoir: Approaching Neverland

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Denis Ledoux: Can you tell our readers what your successful memoir is about and why you were impelled to write it? What was driving you to spend the time, energy and money to get this book out into the world? Peggy Kennedy: The name of my book is Approaching Neverland, A Memoir of Epic Tragedy […]

memoir or autobiographical fiction

Which Voice Will Write Your Memoir?

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Choose A Voice To Write From Choosing a voice is imperative. This may sound like a joke, but it’s not. In fact, it is a very serious question that will determine-or at least greatly influence-the tone and the theme of your narrative. “But, I’m writing my memoirs!” you might answer. Yes, of course. It’s you! […]

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Writing My Memoir: Zero to Seventeen

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Writing My Memoir: Zero to Seventeen / Life Lessons in Story Writing My Memoir: Zero to Seventeen / Life Lessons in Story I took my concern about leaving a legacy of my grandchildren’s stories and wrote a book. My three grandchildren and I had collected a memory list based on completing the sentence “Do you […]

write for a larger audience

Why You Should Work With a Coach or an Editor Early in the Process

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Clients will often come to me after having done a considerable amount of writing. Sometimes I will receive 200- and 300-page manuscripts. Among them are manuscripts that are really at the editing stage, but… There are too many that are still—in spite of their polished look on the page—in an early stage of development. (more…)

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Why Choose a Ghostwriter?

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Realize Your Dream: Choose a Ghostwriter “Between you and me, I’m never going to do this,” said the woman on the other end of the phone line, a woman who was signed up for my forthcoming workshop here in Maine. (more…)