Why should you consider creating a memoir of your personal experiences for publication?
Who would want to read your life story?
I believe the main reason you may want to think about writing a memoir of your life is fairly simple. Everyone has different experiences in life that we learn from, that shape our lives, that hurt us, help us, give us insight, and allow us to grow.
As writers, I think, we have a gift for words and a unique ability to share our thoughts with others in an interesting, stimulating, intriguing, and effective format.
Why not write about what we know better than anything - our own life experiences?
If you're wondering who would care about what you may have to say, you should think about how your experiences may be similar to others, may help others to solve their own problems, provide people with food for thought or offer a new perspective to an old topic.
There may be several ways to make your memoirs publishable and profitable.
Below is my little list of suggestions to get you started.
1 - Think about the times of your life that were particularly emotional, poignant or influential in your overall development. Focus on a specific time frame and the key events that lead up to your memorable experience. Create a plan for your autobiography with this theme in mind.
2 - Review photos, scrapbooks, and any other images that may trigger your memory to a vivid recollection of a specific experience. Being able to visualize the events as the unfolded will help you to create the scene, develop characters, and add the essential details for readers to really see what you're talking about. You want them to feel like they were there with you. You don't want to tell them about it. You want to show them.
3 - Create emotion with your words. Make sure you share your true story in a way that stimulates thinking, provokes feelings, expresses moments that are somehow similar or related to the experiences of other people. Don't be generic. Be original and invidual, but make it clear why your story is different, why it matters, what you learned, what they can learn, how it effected your life etc...
4 - Remember that your memory of how events transpired may not mirror the memories of your friends or family members. Don't be afraid to tell your story as you remember it, but also don't be surprised if others are offended by what you say. Think about how what you write will effect others before you submit your work to any publisher.
Visit the page below for examples of online memoirs by various writers - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art290.asp
Resource Box - ? Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine - A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more. Read it online at - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art290.asp
efficient cleaning crew Northbrook ..You've finished your story, and you're pretty happy with it.... Read More
Rudolph Flesch, a pioneering advocate of readability, put great stock... Read More
One obvious question that can get overlooked in the process... Read More
Typically when falling asleep in bed at night great thoughts... Read More
Writer's forums are bustling with debate over whether or not... Read More
(Skip directly to ten for the fastest shortcut!)Like any field,... Read More
The big question. Do you submit directly to the publishers,... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?You are plotting the story. You write... Read More
[When I was a nineteen-year-old high school student and budding... Read More
I'm in the process of moving from one computer to... Read More
Peter Abrahams is the author of thirteen novels, including "The... Read More
Want to write a how-to article but can't come up... Read More
The urge to write fiction seems God given for some,... Read More
As writers, we initially tend to be either more cerebral... Read More
First drafts are for getting down the ideas. Anna Jacobs... Read More
When you sit down to write a steamy romance, a... Read More
Arrogance has a bad rap. We think of arrogant people... Read More
~TYPES~You Want Us to Write What? Understanding the Task AssignedWhich... Read More
What a lack of research could do to you.When creating... Read More
If you are like most writers, you're constantly searching for... Read More
It is certainly true that we don't get a second... Read More
The short-short story has been likened by some as being... Read More
Technology vendors often contribute bylined articles to trade journals. The... Read More
One of the most common weaknesses I see in day-to-day... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?The writer, who doesn't have the time... Read More
cleaning lady near Wilmette ..You have a new website, or a new business, or... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?What a plot is and what a... Read More
FIVE MINUTES ... Is All You Need ........to phone a... Read More
A book coaching client recently emailed me that she was... Read More
A few months ago, I wrote a guide entitled: 101... Read More
I???ve spoken to hundreds of editors, employers, and project managers... Read More
The greatest gift you have to give to yourself and... Read More
When I asked new ezine subscribers, "What is your Number... Read More
Q and A.Best choice when subject is very verbal or... Read More
Effective screenwriting relies on the good understanding and use of... Read More
Simply put, it is the art of writing scripts for... Read More
If you're targeting an educated, more affluent audience with your... Read More
All writers should use a plan whether written or reflected.... Read More
Fiction manuscripts receive feedback that addresses and scores:? The theme... Read More
The tiniest things can be so useful when you come... Read More
Becoming an author is probably a lot easier than you... Read More
Have you heard the term 'ghostwriter' and wondered what they... Read More
What a lack of research could do to you.When creating... Read More
As in all endeavors, toil is necessary to succeed and... Read More
Some writers are just too kind.They hate to put their... Read More
Sure you can write, but can you write crisp, compelling... Read More
What am I supposed to give Anthony as a wedding... Read More
Have you ever read someone else's writing and thought one... Read More
The self-indulgent writer listens only to the mumblings of sycophants,... Read More
Typically when falling asleep in bed at night great thoughts... Read More
Writing |