Is it time to write your memoir, life story or family history? Former journalist Charlotte Squire has produced over 20 books, and has created a one year programme called Write Your Memoir. It’s designed to guide you through the process of going from a jumble of ideas to a completed first draft of your story, in one year.

The programme includes:

40+ video lessons delivered straight to your email inbox.
Monthly in-person (weather dependent – if too much rain we can meet online) Motueka gatherings to share stories, exchange kind feedback and hold each other accountable.
Support and guidance to stay on track.
Techniques to help you create order out of the chaos of many ideas, keep people reading, and find your unique voice.
Tools that will save you hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars – such as a ‘writing style guide’, ‘planning templates’ teaching you to structure and organise your story, ‘speech to story’ (a way to record your story verbally, with very little writing), AI editing advice, book design training, three different ways to publish your story.
Author talks – hear from experienced writers who have finished their own memoirs.

The programme mixes new technology with the power of community, to help you finally finish your story so that your family and friends can enjoy it.

Programme modules – delivered to your email inbox

Writing basics (including the same text style guide that Charlotte uses)
Planning and preparing your story (structuring your story using a proven process and templates)
Proof reading and editing (including how to use AI editing support)
How to organise photos and other extras for your book
Formating and design (including training in Canva, WordPress and preparing to print your book)
How to publish or print your book (learn how to prepare to print your story)
Marketing (learn how to launch your book to the world!)
Author talks (starting with Gerard Hindmarsh)

Gear you need:

💻 Laptop, computer or something you can type or edit your story on

📱 Phone (smart phone) or digital dictaphone*

*if you don’t use a smart phone and want to learn now to record your story from a comfy chair, talk to Charlotte about getting you a digital dictaphone.

What does it cost?

There are three payment options:

52 X $20 weekly payments (email Charlotte to enrol this way – charlottesquirecoms@gmail.com)

Enrol with 10 x monthly payments of NZ$100

Enrol with a one time payment of $997

Programme starts: Saturday 29 November 2025.

When and where:

When*: Starts Saturday 29 November 2025 from 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm (we’ll meet once in November 2025, skip December, then resume meeting once a month in 2026)

Note: *Charlotte lives in Golden Bay. if the Tākaka Hill is closed she’ll invite you to meet online.

Where: Motueka venue to be announced.

How to ask questions about the programme:

Email: charlottesquirecoms@gmail.com