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 [...]
“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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Hi there! Welcome to my Writing Life Story blog. Putting your experiences and stories down on paper is one of my passions.
If you are interested in writing life story too, join me on the journey of discovery, learning and the how-to's of memoir writing. Check back often and comments are always welcome.
Mandee
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I have written all my life — some poetry, some personal essay, some memoir stories (longer than essay). I enjoy reading non-fiction as well as fiction. Life is about learning
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