Write your memoir, life story or history
With Kiwi writer Charlotte Squire
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 …
Continue reading "When should you start writing your story?"
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 …
Continue reading "Introducing The Great Senior Kiwi Write Up!"
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 …
Mōrena (good morning) from Aotearoa, New Zealand 👋🏼 When I was a news reporter I would often have to sum up complex stories in two paragraphs. It was hard. But there was one basic thing that would really help me. I didn’t learn at four years of university, or from being mentored by some experienced …
Continue reading "The vital writing lesson I learned when I was seven that you should know too"
Kia ora, hello! Charlotte here, tuning in from Tākaka, New Zealand, where dark and broody clouds have been hovering in the mountains, threatening to arrive all day. Today I want to tell you about the cool things you can include in your memoir, life story or history. The rule is: if you can scan it, …
Continue reading "Five interesting things you can include in your memoir, life story or history."
Kia ora from Tākaka, Golden Bay. I have two eight years tearing around my front lawn using big words that you wouldn’t think eight year olds would know, and a huge, needy dog lounging beside me. Today I want to talk about introductions. You will probably include people in your story - they may be …
Continue reading "How to introduce people in your memoir and why it matters"
https://youtube.com/shorts/iaA9kkd_oQ0?feature=share I often use this method to break up long chunks of text when I’m writing memoirs for people. Why? To make it more interesting for readers.I call them subheadings. And I write them in bold. You can add these throughout your story to create some variety for the reader and give them an enticing …
Want to keep people engaged in reading your memoir? Behold! The power of the sexy first paragraph!
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 …
Continue reading "Want to write your memoir but no idea where to start?"
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 …
Continue reading "When you’re not sure you’re skilled enough to write your memoir"
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 …
Continue reading "Fun little vid series about whole town asking man if he’s written memoir yet"
Charlotte Squire It’s an easy question to overlook when you’re writing your memoir, life story or history, but it’s an important one. Before you start writing it’s useful to be clear about who this book is for. Is it for your family? If it is, you might include more personal family information such as family …
Kia ora,Over the past week I’ve been watching The Crown on Netflix as the world adjusts to a world without Queen Elizabeth. I was more upset then I expected to be. She was always there, a matriarch. Although I live literally on the other side of the planet, she’s everywhere in our little commonwealth country …
Continue reading "Why Queen has inspired me to tell you to write a messy first draft of your memoir"
Tom the dog and I just cruising together, with a pile of books, as you do. Kia ora! After months of writing, proof-reading (well actually that was Hannah), videoing, editing and learning, my new online course Write Your Memoir is well and truly alive! It's both terrifying and thrilling to finally unleash my knowledge upon …
Continue reading "Write Your Memoir my online course is live!"
Write your memoir, life story or history 