Time travel with me to my grandmother’s kitchen. We’ll go back 40 years to their solid, two storied, dun coloured house in Richmond. Their house sits on the top of a low hill, at the back of a quiet cul-de-sac where they do, of course, know everyone. We’ll sit at the ‘island’ that divides the …
3 ways to keep people reading your memoir, life story or family history
Do you ever wonder how on earth you’re going to keep people reading and engaged in your story? You’re not alone if you ponder this question, especially if your memoir is dense with facts and figures. Sometimes our stories can use technical language, we might feel as if we're going into too much detail, or …
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What could you write in 90 days?
Kia ora, Today I have two questions about your life story, memoir or family history, for you. Firstly - what do you think you could realistically achieve in 90 days? This needs to be something you feel confident that you could do in three months. And your goal needs to be very clear and specific. …
Your words are valuable breadcrumbs for future generations
Kia ora, This week I want to remind you that without exception, each person’s story matters. Your story is part of our social fabric and connects us to our past. If you take the time to record it today, one day someone might read it and piece together some important clues about their own past. …
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Where to start with your memoir, life story or family history?
It’s a question I hear often. Are you feeling overwhelmed with ideas and paperwork, yet yearning to write your life story, memoir or family history? Do you have absolutely no idea how to get this party started, so to speak? Ok, as my 15 year old recently said to me “I’ve got you.” Here’s where …
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Why your unique voice is your memoir super power
Kia ora from a chilly Golden Bay, Aotearoa, New Zealand 👋🏼 I’m wearing my winter attire: gumboots and a Swanndri. This week I want to talk about your unique voice as a writer. We all have one and you are most certainly no exception. When you write your story, I invite you to relax and …
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Spelling, sweet spelling! I shall write despite you!
Kia ora, Today I’d like to talk about spelling. Please don’t let fear of getting it wrong hold you back from writing your story. English is such a confusing language, because it’s a combo of around six older languages. For many years, although I loved writing creatively, I didn’t feel confident as a speller. People …
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Time travel with me for a lesson about places
Time travel with me? Let’s go back to 1981. I am five years old. It's a wintery morning on the weaving road of the Tākaka Hill, top of the South Island, New Zealand. I am in the back seat of a Ford Zephyr. My dad is driving. My mother’s there too, wearing an old, cream …
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Free downloadable ‘5 steps to write your life story or family history’ printable guide.
Kia ora, hi there 👋🏼 How is your writing journey going? Mine is all sorts of different feelings, some days I feel deeply inspired and eager to write, others I want to be outside frolicking in the sunshine with my dog. But I love to write, so I keep doing it 🤷🏻♀️ My news is …
It’s ok to take a break from writing your story
Hey there, How is your writing project coming along? Today I want to tell you that sometimes it’s ok to take a break. There are days when we can write and we write until we can’t see the ‘wood for the trees.’ That’s usually a good time to step away from your words for a …
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My Gran’s support of my biker days 😂 + write what you can today
Hey there, How is your story going? Reach out and let me know if you need a quick email to nudge you along ❤️ Today I want to share the story of something my Gran sewed for me during my biker days 🏍️ My poor parents, when I was a teenager I had two boyfriends …
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Writing your memoir in an old Kiwi country hall
There’s something about old community halls that I love. They ooze history and character. They speak of the events of yesteryear, of the sweet new beginnings of weddings, of the many flavours of meetings that took place there, of the funerals - some expected, some not - and the iconic dances that people would travel …
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The painting Gran and I made
This painting means the world to me. It sits in my bedroom, leaning against a wall and I guess, looking at it, no one would have any idea of the story behind it. https://youtu.be/9OGebSsVuEA You can watch and listen to this story on video if you’d prefer. I was very close to my grandmother. Her …
Writing your memoir can be hard.
There will probably be moments when you have no idea why you started writing your story. Keep writing. There will be times when you ask yourself ‘does that make any sense at all?’ Keep writing. You may wonder if anyone will ever read your story. Keep writing. You may tell yourself ‘I am a terrible …
How to deal with information overload when writing your memoir or family history
Kia ora, I write to you bleary eyed after a night of tending to a coughing eight year old. Because I felt tired when I woke up this morning, and I have a long list of tasks I want to cross off my list (I’m such a list person), I could have felt overwhelmed initially. …
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Bring your senses into your memoir
Kia Ora 👋 This week I want to talk about helping readers understand what you experienced, by encouraging you to share what you sensed, in your story. What did you see, hear, feel, smell and taste? When you can bring in even one of your senses, do, because it brings so much more depth of …
Charlotte Squire 