Jan Marquart's Blog - Posts Tagged "memoir-writing"
Memoir
Most people I've spoken with want to write stories about their experiences. Sometimes though it is difficult to know where to start. How do you structure a life so that others would be interested in reading it and the author doesn't get lost in the storm of writing?
Here is a system to begin getting stories down on paper. Make a list for memorable occasions, another for life themes, possibly another for lessons learned. Then cut up the list and slip all pieces of paper into an envelope.
Choose a time of day that works for you and pull out a slip of paper. Write for as long as you can on each slip of paper making sure to include every detail including the five senses.
When you have completed writing on each piece of paper and you do not wish to add more lay out the written topics and collate them into the order that best makes sense for you.
Weave them into a whole and read it out loud. This process will help you discover, recover, and uncover what is missing.
Continue this process until the whole piece reads until you are satisfied with it. Leave grammatical and structural editing to the end of the project. You will want to get professional help to make sure you are making your memoir ready for another reader.
Contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions about this process.
Until next time,
keep the pen moving.
Jan
Here is a system to begin getting stories down on paper. Make a list for memorable occasions, another for life themes, possibly another for lessons learned. Then cut up the list and slip all pieces of paper into an envelope.
Choose a time of day that works for you and pull out a slip of paper. Write for as long as you can on each slip of paper making sure to include every detail including the five senses.
When you have completed writing on each piece of paper and you do not wish to add more lay out the written topics and collate them into the order that best makes sense for you.
Weave them into a whole and read it out loud. This process will help you discover, recover, and uncover what is missing.
Continue this process until the whole piece reads until you are satisfied with it. Leave grammatical and structural editing to the end of the project. You will want to get professional help to make sure you are making your memoir ready for another reader.
Contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions about this process.
Until next time,
keep the pen moving.
Jan
