’Tis the season (or soon will be) for gift-giving. And don’t forget those upcoming New Year’s Resolutions. (Hope yours will include writing!) Whether you’re thinking about a gift for a fellow writer, or perhaps a motivational gift for yourself, here are six fun gift ideas. And keep reading to the end for three helpful writing tips to keep your inspiration […]
GUEST BLOG: Memoir Author Sally Bailey Jasperson
Sally Bailey has danced with some of the biggest names in professional ballet. Think Rudolph Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. She became a professional ballerina with the San Francisco Ballet at the age of 19, and spent the next 16 years on a whirlwind of stages: from New York to Ecuador, Istanbul to Cairo, Egypt to […]
Writing About an “Ordinary” Life
MEMOIR TIP: Finding the Special in an “Ordinary” Life Ever feel like “my life was nothing special”? It’s a common refrain among memoir writers. You went to work; came home; cooked; did laundry. Then rinse and repeat, day after day. Where’s the special to write about in that so-called “ordinary” life? Here’s my take-away after interviewing dozens of folks who […]
GUEST BLOG: Q&A With Memoir Author Lisa Lombardi O’Reilly
Jim Lombardi may have started out in life as an altar boy. But his years as a teen were a somewhat different story: Jim was shipped off to boarding school for “not shaping up.” Shape up he did, operating a successful L.A. restaurant and then joining LAPD as a reserve, patrolling the beat and working undercover […]
Dream of the Water Children: Memoir Tips from Fredrick Cloyd
GUEST BLOG: Q&A With Memoir Author Fredrick D. Kakinami Cloyd Some stories just grab your heart and demand to be shared. Dream of the Water Children is one of those special books. Author Fredrick D. Kakinami Cloyd was kind enough to share some thoughts about his new memoir that I hope will inspire you. A […]
Inspiration for your Memoir Writing
GUEST BLOG: Q&A With Memoir Author Fran Macilvey I was so excited to “meet” this memoir author on Facebook recently, and wanted to share her story and tips with you! Hope it inspires your own memoir writing. Author Fran Macilvey has not just one inspiring memoir book under her belt, but three. Her first book, Trapped: My Life with Cerebral Palsy, […]
Mental Yoga
Starting to write can feel like this. Awkward. Uncomfortable. Totally unfamiliar. And like everyone else is better at this than you. Just close your eyes and dive in. Remember any words you write can be fixed up, corrected, and changed later. But a blank page can’t be edited. So pull out a pen. Top off […]
Valentine’s Day Memories
Everyone loves a good love story. And love stories make an especially wonderful addition to a life story or memoir! Maybe it’s that magic moment you first saw your future wife or husband; Or the accidental meeting that brought your parents together. Maybe it’s the high school sweetheart you loved and lost – but never quite […]
Memoir Tip – A Funny Thing Happened
Life isn’t humor-free. Don’t forget to capture those silly, awkward, and downright hilarious times in your memoir, too! What pranks did you play on friends and family — or got played on you? What stunts did you pull as a kid? (And did you get away with it, or did you get caught?) Tales of our […]
Memoir Tip – Small stuff IS the big stuff
For us memoir writers, the small stuff really is the big stuff. Great stories often spring from really humble things. Mom’s pin-cushion, always at the ready to mend a tear, re-attach a button, or stitch up a hem. The smell of baking bread from the kitchen. The flat stones by the ocean that you learned to […]
Memoir Tip – Finding Time
How do I find time to write? It’s a dilemma for nearly every memoir writer. Here’s a fresh thought: instead of fighting the calendar, treat it as your friend. Remember that every day brings you 24 fresh hours. Every week, that’s 168 precious chances to find an hour – just ONE hour! – to write. Steal […]
Memoirs: Turning Fear Into Fire
Let’s face it: we memoir writers are a sensitive lot. After all, this is our life we’re writing about! What if no one likes it? What if someone says my writing’s no good? What if I piss off Great-Aunt Martha or that grumpy uncle who shows up at our house at Christmas? Worse yet, what if I […]