Kia Ora 👋🏼 Before you even start writing your story, it’s good to know who you’re writing it for. This will clarify what you do and don’t share as you write. You may not want to share sensitive and personal family information in a book beyond your family. I’ve just finished a life story and …
Five reasons you’re ready to start your memoir now
Kia ora, It’s great to beam into your world from my rainy one, this Wednesday. Today I’d like to share five reasons with you, that now’s a great time to start recording your memoirs, life story or family history. For all the bad rap it gets, AI is actually making it easier and easier to …
Continue reading "Five reasons you’re ready to start your memoir now"
Why you need to treat memoir writing like your new part time job (if you want to finish it)
Kia Ora, Are you mid-way through writing your story but struggling to finish it? I know some of you are, because it was the top problem you told me about, when I asked you what the hardest thing was about writing your memoir a few weeks ago. So! Here are three habits I’ve learned to …
Tell me about your mother?
The longer I’m a mother, the more I appreciate mine. As you know, they come in all shapes and sizes, and motherly approaches. Some love to do it; some do it because they should; and others just don’t feel cut out for it. Some are not biological mothers, but they willingly take on the mother …
Live well. Write well x
Kia Ora, I write to you from my COVID bed (it’s not tooo bad), the morning sun streaming in. A group of people just cycled past our house singing. I love that! I recently asked you what was hard about writing your memoir, life story or family history, and you had a lot to stay. …
Keep’n it fun for you – memoir writer
Kia ora! If you’re new to this blog, welcome aboard! If you’ve been around for a while, thanks for being part of my mid-week connection with a lovely, growing community community of Kiwi and Aussie memoir writers This week I want to talk about enjoying the process of writing your memoir, life story or family …
Keep writing, even if …
Kia ora lovely one, Every now and then I like to remind you to keep writing. It seems easy enough in theory, yet so many people don’t ever finish their precious stories. Why not? Fear that your book isn’t good enough is a top reason for people to stop. Also, overwhelm and confusion about how …
Imagine them reading your story in 100 years
Kia Ora dear one, How is your story coming along this week? As you write, it’s important to occasionally step back from your story to ask yourself if it would make sense to people who don’t know you. This can be hard to do! So I use the 100 years trick. In 100 years, there’s …
Continue reading "Imagine them reading your story in 100 years"
How I would begin my memoir
Kia Ora! How’s it going, memoir writer? I’m working on book number 24 at the moment, and I was thinking: do you know what I’d do if I was at the very beginning and thinking of writing my own memoir, life story or family history? I’d simply be gathering stuff. I’d be finding my old …
Your before and after
Kia Ora! A memoir writer once told me she was writing her story because she wanted her children to learn who she was, before they arrived. She wanted them to know that she had travelled the world and lived a big life pre-children. She also wanted them to know about the way she was raised, …
In any order
Kia ora! How are you? We had our monthly memoir writers ‘connection session’ last Saturday and one writer said she was making progress, though writing it ‘out of order’, because that worked for her. And she reminded me of the power of doing it that way. She’s going to finish that story of hers, because …
How to keep ’em reading
Kia ora from humid, mid-summer Tākaka, I’ve just come in from watching my 17 year old trying to teach my 10 year old how to front flip on the tramp. Ahh sweet motherhood. Let’s flip to writing your memoir now - do you ever wonder how to keep people engaged with your story? I have …
The value of 30 minutes
Kia ora, Wishing you a fabulous start to 2025! Here we are at the first chapter of the year again 😉 So now’s a good time to ask you: Can you spare 30 minutes a few days a week to write your memoir? Think about it, the average person can write nearly 400 words in …
Your rebellious past? 💃🏽
Kia ora! Sometimes readers send me stories that make me smile, and today I have one from Cathy Monnington. When she finishes writing it, her life story promises to be very entertaining. Before I share her words, I think it’s a great idea to share some insight into what you did for Christmas, in your …
Start thinking about your book cover now 📙
Kia ora from rainy Golden Bay 🌧️ This week I’m focused on book design and I wanted to remind you: it’s never too early to thinking about your book cover. I have four suggestions for you: Start gathering examples of book covers you love now, because at some point your story will need a cover. …
Continue reading "Start thinking about your book cover now 📙"
100 words from you
Kia ora from Golden Bay, How’s that story of yours coming along today? Even if it’s simply bubbling away inside you, having not yet been written. That’s still something. That still matters. And I hope one day you’ll share it with the world. A few weeks ago I asked you for 100 words from your …

