Is it time to write your memoir, life story or history?
I'm Kiwi writer, publisher and newspaper owner Charlotte Squire and I'd love to help
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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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. 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 …
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 …
Kia Ora from Aotearoa New Zealand! That’s me hanging out in the hills of the Rāmeka Valley, Golden Bay, which is incidentally the area I’m setting the fictional novel I’m writing. The Rāmeka is filled with history and is set up for adventure, risk and intrigue. These days it’s a popular mountain biking destination and …
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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 …
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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, …
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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 …
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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 …
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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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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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Is it time to write your memoir, life story or history? 