It’s interesting the way each of us experience significant life events differently We put them through our filters, defined by our personalities, upbringings, attitudes and attach different meanings to them. The way I respond to my (fictional) Aunt Joan dying might be totally different to the way my brother responds. To me she was a …
How to lure them to read a chapter of your memoir
Kia ora 👋🏼 Back in my journalism days I often found that the first paragraph of a news article was the hardest to write, because I knew it was the most important. In those first few sentences I needed to clarify the key angle of my story, in a way that inspired people to keep …
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What happened before you were 20 memoir writer?
Kia ora dear writer, I spoke to a younger student of my memoir course this week who reminded me that we can live a lot of life before we even reach 20. This person doesn’t want to write a family history, but wants to share significant experiences and moments, from birth onwards. And of course …
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1st book emerges from my online memoir – Jill’s story
Today I would like to honour a lady named Jill. I met her when I was giving a free online memoir talk at an Auckland library. She shared honestly with the group that she had lost her beloved husband Phil to Alzheimers. She wanted to write a book about it. She felt he had been …
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Celebrate how far you’ve come dear writer! 👏🏼
Kia ora, Do me a favour today and look back over your work on your memoir or story so far, and take a moment to appreciate the work you’ve put into it. If you’ve managed to get more organised - well done 👏🏼 If you’ve managed to do some research - good work 👍🏼 If …
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If there was just one thing you were careful of as you write your memoir
Every single book I’ve worked on, or supported someone to write, has been different. No one writes their life story or family history in the same way, because each of our lives are so different. And I like it this way. Some people start at the end of their life stories and work back. Some …
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Keep at it, memoir writer
Well hello to you dear writer, A warm January welcome to those of you who are new to my weekly email. This is Charlotte, writer/writing teacher/musician/mum/wife, reaching out to you from beautiful Golden Bay, New Zealand. The first thing I want to say to you this year is: keep going. No matter where you’re at …
