Archive for August, 2011

Am I Qualified to Write Memoir?
By August 27, 2011 10 Comments Read More →

Am I Qualified to Write Memoir?

Am I Qualified to Write Memoir? During my research into writing memoir, I have run across this question quite a few times. The answer is a resound YES! You don’t have to have a career as a writer, have an MFA to write memoir or be qualified in any other manner. The subject is your [...]

Why Read Memoir or Life Story
By August 26, 2011 0 Comments Read More →

Why Read Memoir or Life Story

“This post is about me – I know, I know, why would anybody want to know about me and my life? I’m not a celebrity, tops in my field or famous in any way, shape, form or fashion (at least outside of my mind). I don’t have a rags to riches story nor have I overcome [...]

Memoir Writing and Twitter
By August 26, 2011 0 Comments Read More →

Memoir Writing and Twitter

Twitter is a great way to get the word out about memoir writing. Recently, I have started a paper.li called The #memoir Daily. When you post to twitter and use the hashtag in front of the word memoir (example #memoir) then your link and an excerpt of  the link will be featured in this daily [...]

Memoir Writing Prompt
By August 25, 2011 0 Comments Read More →

Memoir Writing Prompt

I sat in a hospital room with my father today. As I looked at him frail and weak, I couldn’t help but think how this person wasn’t daddy. It was, of course, but my memories are of a strong, full of life career Navy man. His flat top and straight posture always in attendance. His [...]

Posted in: Memoir, My Life, Prompt
Types of Memoir, Part II
By August 25, 2011 0 Comments Read More →

Types of Memoir, Part II

Again, while your memoir may not fall into any specific category, if you are seeking traditional publishing you should know what types are being/have been published. This is part of your research and may help in building a platform (which most all agents and publishers require of an “non-famous” memoir author). Your book may fall [...]

What are the Different Types of Memoir
By August 24, 2011 4 Comments Read More →

What are the Different Types of Memoir

This is actually a loaded question since there are a lot of different types of memoir. However, not everyone’s life story or memoir will fall into a certain category.  So, what are the types? Well, according to all the research I have done on the subject, there are quite a few. The list below is [...]

Memoir Prompts
By August 24, 2011 0 Comments Read More →

Memoir Prompts

Need a prompt to jump start your memories? One of the best ways I have found is by using writing prompts. They can be about anything and sometimes a memory will jump to mind just by reading them. Try one of the five listed below. Sit down in an area or room — play music [...]

Posted in: Memoir, Memoir Prompts
Greatest Christmas Gift Ever!
By August 23, 2011 0 Comments Read More →

Greatest Christmas Gift Ever!

It can be intimidating, knowing where to begin. After all, you have a lifetime of information and memories floating around in your head. Recently, my brother came up with a wonderful gift for my parents — a journal to help them get started with their memoirs. The Story of a Lifetime: A Keepsake of Personal [...]

Writing Life Stories
By August 23, 2011 0 Comments Read More →

Writing Life Stories

My favorite quote is from author Lou Willett Stanek. She said “For fiction writers the magic words are ‘what if…’ for memoir writers ‘I remember’ breaks the ice.” I read that in her book Writing Your Life: Putting Your Past on Paper. I read that book cover to cover with hardly a bathroom break. Her [...]

Memoir How To | Stimuli for Stories
By August 20, 2011 0 Comments Read More →

Memoir How To | Stimuli for Stories

As I’ve said a bunch of times, our lives are made up of millions of stories. Each day or week, something out of the normal routine happens and a new story is born. But what about the stories of the past? What kind of stimuli will bring these stories to the forefront of our minds [...]

Front Porches | Life is Good
By August 10, 2011 0 Comments Read More →

Front Porches | Life is Good

Since staying with my parents, we have developed a routine of taking our morning coffee on the front porch and discussing past days and years and supposing what the future holds. Mom sits on the porch swing, me on the old bench from a defunct pizza parlor and dad in a chair. I look at [...]

Posted in: My Life, Parents
“But I don’t have a story!”
By August 1, 2011 0 Comments Read More →

“But I don’t have a story!”

I was talking with my neighbor tonight and we got on the subject of writing memoir — life stories. He said, “I can’t write a memoir. I don’t have an addiction, illness or abuse story to write and I’m not famous.” I just looked at him at first. I asked if he really thought that [...]