Kia Ora, well hello there 👋

I write to you from stormy Tākaka.

How’s that book of yours coming along this week?

I’ll tell you what’s on my mind as I write and edit this week: loose ends. They’re everywhere in life, and memoirs and histories are no exception. 

When you reach the later stages of writing your memoir, there will be many unexpected details to conclude: 

‘Remember to include Aunty Fran’s quote about her father. Find that photo of the bridge when it flooded. Take out that comma and check for other rogue commas. Get permission to use that family tree. Verify those two dates. Check the book designer made those final changes …’

The list can be long and relentless, but it’s up there with brushing your teeth and occasionally doing the dishes. Taking care of the little details is an unavoidable aspect of writing any book. 

I have one suggestion for you today: start your ‘to do’ list of loose ends today, add to it when you need to, and try to chip away at it, one little thing at a time. 

I keep mine at the top of the book plans I faithfully write (and partially follow). They are a place to dump niggling ideas, so I can get on with writing or editing my books.

Will you resolve all the loose ends in your book? You will try your best to and hopefully by the time you hold your book in your hands, you’ll be so proud of yourself for finishing it, that you won’t mind either way. 

Start your loose ends list today though – and use it as your check list at the end. 

Write on dear one,

Charlotte x

PS speaking of loose ends, the online memoir group are meeting tomorrow to check in on deadlines for the year (eek!) and share half pages of their memoirs that link to the theme ‘loose ends.’ Join my one year memoir programme today in time to join our encouraging memoir group nearing tomorrow. 

Upcoming cool stuff

Guest speaker: Naomi Arnold slogged it up the country from Bluff to Cape Reigna, on Te Awaroa Track. Her book came out soon after. How on earth did she manage to wade through mud, climb mountains, trudge through rain, go without water and food for far too long, and reach the northern point of the track, then very soon after publish a book that became an instant best seller here in New Zealand? Find out at this online event for students on my memoir course. Join for as little as $40 per fortnight (and then learn how to write about your own epic journey).  

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New workshop for those who don’t shine at typing: Speech to Story $47

Got a story in you, but struggling to write it? My new 30 minute workshop walks you through the process of recording your story on your phone, and transcribing into text in seconds so all you need to do is go through it on your computer and tidy it up (edit it). It also includes a lesson about planning your story before you begin.