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How to Write a Memoir
Memoir writers often have a problem deciding which events of their life to write about. One of the basics of writing is that characters reveal themselves under stress. Think about a time you had difficulty sleeping at night because you were worried or a time when you were nervous about a situation. These things reveal a lot about you. How you react to these stresses reveals even more. Set your timer for ten minutes and write about a time you were in a tight spot. How did you handle it? Try to think of as many details as possible. Your final...
read moreEdit, Edit, Edit
In the last few months, I have been freelance editing for some talented authors. I consider it an honor to be trusted with some one’s work and love to dig into the story. I can’t stress enough the importance of having your work edited before it goes to print, especially if you are self-publishing. It doesn’t matter how good you are at spelling, grammar and punctuation, as writers, we all skim over our own mistakes, seeing what should be there instead of what is actually on the page. I love to work on first pages. Right now,...
read moreShimmering Images
If you have taken a writing class from me, you’ve probably heard me sing the praises of Lisa Dale Norton’s book, Shimmering Images. Lisa’s books is the easiest, most understandable text I have found on the craft of writing memoir. Lisa is having a live Authorchat with her readers on Thursday night. Here’s the link so you can join in: Lisa Dale Norton will answer questions about her book Shimmering Images and writing memoir in her first live Authorchat on Thursday, Nov. 10, 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST: http://t.wbx.me/gb45q....
read moreWrite a six-word memoir
Here is a challenge for you! The Six-Word Memoir Project is accepting submissions now and Oprah will publish winners in her magazine (if you submit through her website). NOTE: a hyphened word is considered one word (i.e. make-up, multi-cracked). Below are some of the winning entries: Best Imagery: “Inherited Mom’s zest and Dad’s lemons.” -wayword_angel Toughest Narrative Arc: “Make-up on arms; something to hide.” -ElectricPirate Best Imagery: “Multi-cracked heart in need of tourniquet.”-LucidDreamer Headiest Journey: “Chosen for...
read moreEeny, meeny, miny, moe
Decoding the language of writing can be difficult. As a beginning writer, I remember playing the eeny, meeny, miny, moe game as I tried to decipher which contest was best suited for my work. Was my piece memoir? Essay? Short story? The lines are blurred, but I have come up with a few definitions which might help you. FICTION is a made-up story and NONFICTION is a true story. MEMOIR is a longer work of nonfiction told from the perspective of the author, using the “I” voice. A memoir covers a certain period of time, such as your...
read moreWrite a Short Memoir Piece and Submit!
Hi All, For those of you who write short memoir pieces (1200 words or less), Thin Threads is accepting submissions. Here’s the link: http://www.thinthreads.com/submit.php They pay $100. You can view a list of story themes at the above link. Good luck!
read moreConcentrate on the Why
Students often ask if I think they have the talent to write their story. I’ve never met anyone with a desire to write who didn’t have a love for words. Lifelong readers have been training themselves to become a writer since they first learned to read. If you have the desire to write, just write. Start getting the words on the page. Don’t worry about the how, think about the why of your story. Why do you want to tell this story? Why do you think others might benefit from hearing it? Concentrate on the why and the how will...
read moreMemoir Class for Minnesota Writers
If you live in Minnesota, I have a few memoir writing classes coming up that you might be interested in. Along with my Writing in the Pines Retreat this weekend, I will also be teaching at the following locations in October: The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis Saturday, October 1, 2011 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Beginning Memoir: Finding Your Story phone 612-379-8999 for information MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids Monday, October 3, 2011 from 1-4 p.m. Beginning Memoir: Finding Your Story phone 218-326-2697 for information Pine...
read moreHow to Describe Characters
We are all guilty of it. The boring, ho-hum character description—brown eyes, brown hair, tall, or thin. I’m preparing class notes for my Writing in the Pines retreat this weekend. When we aren’t eating and writing, we will be talking about characters and scene. I’m digging through my favorite books to find great descriptions I can use as examples. One of my favorite go-to authors is A. Manette Ansay. She’s written some great novels (Vinegar Hill, Sister, Blue Water, River Angel) and even a memoir titled Limbo. I...
read moreAdvice on First Pages
I love this quote from John Irving — When in doubt, or wherever possible, tell the whole story of the novel in the first sentence. Are you stuck on the first page of your story, unsure of how to proceed? I’m going to give you some advice that may seem odd: write your first page after you have finished your story or book. Radical? Perhaps. But writers often don’t know what they are writing about until the book is almost finished. One of the requirements of a good first page is that it must point the reader in the direction the...
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