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Writing Memoir

Writing Memoir. Recording your memories. Autobiography , Memoirs Or Memoir?. Autobiography is the story of your whole life. Memoirs are written by famous people. Memoir is selected incidents from a person’s life which illustrate a theme. . Why write my memoir?. It’s fashionable.

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Writing Memoir

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  1. Writing Memoir Recording your memories

  2. Autobiography , Memoirs Or Memoir? • Autobiography is the story of your whole life. • Memoirs are written by famous people. • Memoir is selected incidents from a person’s life which illustrate a theme.

  3. Why write my memoir? • It’s fashionable. • To pass on knowledge. • To pass on life skills. • To entertain? • To give your descendants a glimpse into your life.

  4. What if I hurt people? • Poison doesn’t need to come out. • Don’t use your memoir to settle scores. • Remember to portray other points of view. • Consider whether it’s worth alienating yourself. • Tell it in another way? • It’s often unfair to portray someone negatively.

  5. Gathering Information • Memory • Research

  6. Memory • Journals • Meditation • Meaningful objects • Photos • Make lists • Caution: memories can be overwhelming. • The positive? That’s what will keep people enthralled.

  7. Research • Search engines • Local historical societies • Archives • State library • Local library; local librarians • Bibliographies at the back of a book

  8. Industry journals • Ships’ records • Museums • University libraries • Local histories • Genealogical societies

  9. Electoral rolls • Property title searches • Phone books • Registry of births, deaths and marriages • Unmarked graves • Check the names on neighbouring graves • Lawyers’ records; local law society

  10. Police records • Hospital records • Migration records • State uni libraries • School records; school magazines • Books on history • Australian war memorial

  11. Cautions • Be sceptical; check a number of sources • Look at things from a different point of view • Don’t spend too much time on research

  12. Getting started • Who is this story for? • Who is this story about?

  13. Publishing method? • Mainstream • Self-publish • Print on demand • Blog • Ebook • Private

  14. Video • Audio • Patchwork • CD and DVD • Computer file • Memory stick or hard drive

  15. The nuts and bolts • Allocate a certain colour to each character and have a file for each. • Divide an A3 into 30 boxes. • Each box represents a chapter of 3000 words. • The aim is a 90,000-word publishable memoir. • Write passionately.

  16. Your first 10 chapters must introduce your main characters. • Chapters 11 to 30 contain all action and interaction. • Chapters 1 to 20 introduce all questions and problems faced. • Chapters 21 to 30 – no new questions. • Chapter 29 and 30 contain the resolution.

  17. Other methods • Write as a series of short stories. • Make up a photo album and then write a short piece about each photo.

  18. Tips • Any good story is like laying a trail of crumbs for a bird. • Write passionately. • Follow the emotion.

  19. Where to publish? • Ebook: Smashwords, Amazon, pdf • Print on Demand: Lightning Source, Feedaread • Blogs: Blogspot, Wordpress • Print: Digitalprintaustralia, Griffin, Watson and Ferguson • Albums: Digitalprintaustralia, Kmart, BigW

  20. Covers • Must be professional • Smashwords list for ebooks • Search engine for graphic designers • Buy stock photos online

  21. Content • Get a professional edit • Search engine for professional editors • Proofread • Make sure layout is correct • Ebook layout • Print and POD

  22. Conclusion • Follow the passion • Laugh • Cry • Enjoy

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