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 …
Keep writing
Keep writing. For me, writing is nourishment. When I make the time to write, I’m amazed at what comes out of me! It’s almost like I’m reading it as I write it, I never know quite what’s going to come out. I’m working on my second novel right now, it’s going to take me a …
Where to print your book
Kia ora memoir writer! How’s your story coming along today? Today I want to answer a question I often get asked - ‘where can I print my book?’ The answer is: it depends. If you’re keeping things simple and you’re not fussy about how it looks, pop along to your local print shop and ask …
When should you start writing your story?
I popped into a cafe recently for my favourite salmon and cream cheese tart and the lady at the counter said she’d just been thinking of me. “I’ve been wanting to ask you to help me with my great aunty’s story for ages,” she said as she served me. “But I can’t now, because we’ve …
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Introducing The Great Senior Kiwi Write Up!
Could this be the year you write your life story, memoir or family history? You can do it! And I have something for you, totally free, to help you get started. https://youtu.be/yOicMXgmB6E I’m Charlotte Squire, I live in Golden Bay, Aotearoa, New Zealand, and I’ve been a writer for over 20 years. During that time …
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Are you repeating yourself?
Me pondering repetition 🤔 Kia Ora! How are you and how is your story coming along? I’m writing beside a coughing, sneezing seven year old, ahh the joys of motherhood! Today I want to ask you if you’re repeating yourself in your story? This is very easy to do, and it can be subtle and …
Want to write your memoir but no idea where to start?
Me, just hanging at the beach, telling people how to start writing memoirs. As you do. Kia ora! Charlotte here, tuning in from Tākaka, Aotearoa, New Zealand. Do you want to write your memoir but have absolutely no idea where to start? Firstly, you are so not alone. Many people tell me they have years …
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When you’re not sure you’re skilled enough to write your memoir
Charlotte Squire Some people worry they’re not skilled enough to write their memoirs. It’s hardly surprising, considering how many times we’re told we’re spelling things wrong, or using that apostrophe in the wrong place. But here’s the thing: that stuff doesn’t really matter. Sure it’s good to have the spelling and grammar all sorted when …
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Fun little vid series about whole town asking man if he’s written memoir yet
I had fun making it this little vid (see below) about a person asking this man if he’d started writing his memoir yet. And there are more to come! Kia Ora, Charlotte Squire here. I live in a small rural community of 5000 people, where word of mouth travels fast. So I couldn’t resist making …
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Tip #2 Clarify who your life story is for
Being clear about who you’re writing your life story for before you start writing will make it easier for you. Who are you writing your story for? Yourself? Your family? The public? Who ever it’s for, knowing this from the start will also set the tone and determine what you include. Will you unleash all …
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Tip #1 – Write on the back of your photos
For some, this is a revelation, a ticket to freedom! For others this suggestion is about as wild and on the edge as running naked down a busy city street. Many of us have been told NEVER to write on the back of our precious photos, but I've come across folk who eventually thrown their …
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How to prepare to write your memoir, even if you do it yourself
Where do you start, when you're thinking about writing the story of your life? I was recently asked this question by someone who very much wanted to write his story, but was daunted by the 'how on earth to do it' factor. Whether you're writing about your entire life, a period of time, or an …
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Why your story matters
My father once escaped, naked, from a prison camp with another guy. Actually, he was taken prisoner and escaped twice, with others. He was a soldier in the British army. And that’s all I know. I don’t know where he escaped from or what year it was. I don’t know who he escaped from, or who …
Memoirs and biographies can include your family
I write people's memoirs or biographies and lately I've come to realise our lives are so intertwined with others that it's hard to follow one person's story, without threading into the stories of those around us. Isn't that a beautiful thing? We're inately social beings. I've noticed that once the subject of the memoir has …
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Charlotte Squire 