Yes, Finishing Your Memoir Really Is Important! It’s natural to question things. Sometimes we even question ourselves. Does it really matter if we finish writing our memoir? Well, here are three good reasons to keep going! First, of course, your memoir matters to you. After all, something stirred you to begin […]
How To Structure Your Memoir
Structuring a Memoir: Scratching your head over how to structure your memoir? It can seem like such an intimidating puzzle! How do you un-jumble a lifetime of experiences? What’s the best way to tell your unique story? Memoir experts will blithely assure you, of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But that’s not […]
Writing Magic: Transporting Your Reader
Ever read a passage so good it gave you goosebumps? What is that word-magic that can transport a reader to another time, another place? Two readers kindly shared favorites from their memoirs with us, as examples. Here’s one I loved, from Dana Quinney’s second memoir, Wildflower Woman (and I bet […]
Passages from a Memoir
Memoir author Candy Mitchell shares a story Candy Mitchell is working on her second family history. Her first book was about her great-grandfather, who traveled from Connecticut to Oklahoma during the land rush, and wound up as a newspaperman in Muskogee. Candy was able to use excerpts […]
Sharing a Story: from Margaret McCaffrey
This month I put out a call to fellow memoir writers, asking if anyone would like to share a short snippet they’re especially proud of from their memoir-in-progress. Such beautiful responses flowed in! Margaret McCaffrey of Melbourne, Australia shared not only a beautiful story about her dad, but also […]
Finding Your Writer’s Voice
MEMOIR TIP: You’ve probably heard about “writer’s voice”: that distinctive style that sets you apart from every other writer who’s come before. Part of it’s your tone. Maybe distinguished. Compelling. Funny. Or quirky. But it’s also the feeling your readers get as they read those words you strung together. It’s the way […]
Keeping the Writing Spark Alive
What keeps you going, when you’re writing a memoir? It’s different for everyone, of course. But sometimes a simple word of encouragement can make all the difference. We asked a group of fellow memoir writers recently what keeps them going, and what advice they […]