How to Write a Memoir

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Death to Stock - A woman next to a child by a curtain, suggesting a kind of play in reinventing fantasy tropes

Fantasy Tropes: How to Reinvent Familiar Stories

Fantasy tropes have a reputation problem in some crowds. Say the words “chosen one” or “Dark Lord” to a room...

A picture of towering skyscrapers suggest the metaphor of success offered by good self-publishing companies

A Guide to the Best Self-Publishing Companies

If you’ve started searching for the best self-publishing companies, you’ve probably noticed something interesting. Every platform promises something different. One...

A drawing of different facets of a character's face as a stand in for character sketch in writing

Character Sketch: Going Beyond Appearances

A character sketch is one of the first steps to understanding who it is you’re writing about. It’s important to...

A high quality paper with fine handwriting on it beside a typewriter to suggest formal diction

How to Use Formal Diction in Storytelling

When you read a line spoken in formal diction such as, “I regret to inform you that your services are...

Someone working hard at a desk to suggest how to write suspense

How to Write Suspense

Suspense is all about what might happen.  It’s not the moment of danger itself that evokes suspense, but the growing...

A woman in bed late at night suggests a seeker archetype may have a dark side too

The Seeker Archetype: Writing the Restless Character 

The Seeker archetype is a character beset by a divine discontent, an inner yearning for something just beyond their reach....

People gathered around a pile of pictures to suggest how to end a memoir
Blog
Alan Watt

How to End a Memoir

As a memoirist, it’s almost inevitable that you struggle with your ending.  It’s important to remember that the ending of your memoir

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Prehistoric cave archeological cave carving of six men in a boat used to symbolize the deep meaning of a 6-word memoir
Blog
Alan Watt

6-Word Memoir

Writing a 6-word memoir might feel impossible at first, too restricting, maybe even unfair. You might think, How do you tell a

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Tell Your Truth
Blog
Alan Watt

Tell Your Truth

  “A book must start somewhere. One brave letter must volunteer to go first, laying itself on the line in an act of faith,

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writing memoir
Blog
Alan Watt

Writing Memoir

“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have

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Recent posts

People gathered around a pile of pictures to suggest how to end a memoir

How to End a Memoir

As a memoirist, it’s almost inevitable that you struggle with your ending.  It’s important to remember that the ending of...

Neat ivory notebook with empty pages and a coffee cup beside it, suggestion of royalty and elegance in how to start a memoir

How to Start a Memoir

How do you start your memoir when there are infinite places to begin, and every idea leads to ten new...

A picture of photographs in a wooden crate suggests examples of memoirs to help writers find their own stories

Examples of Memoirs: What Great Memoirs Can Teach You About Storytelling

A memoir is not simply a retelling of your life story. It’s about finding meaning in your experiences and shaping...

Advice on writing memoir from authors depicted by eight people standing at a beach in sunset, looking at the horizon

Advice from Authors on Writing Memoir – 8 Helpful Hints

Even accomplished writers balk at writing a memoir. While you may labor for years developing fictional narratives, screenplays, or essays,...

A woman reading a book wistfully in fall foliage to represent Memoir writing prompts

Memoir Writing Prompts to Help You Find the Real Story

Most writers think a memoir begins with memory. It doesn’t. It begins with tension. A feeling you can’t shake. A...

When excavating photographs and old memories one may find what they need in memoir ideas for their next stories

Memoir Ideas: Finding the Story Only You Can Tell

Some writers believe you need to have lived a dramatic life in order to write a great memoir, but that’s...

Prehistoric cave archeological cave carving of six men in a boat used to symbolize the deep meaning of a 6-word memoir

6-Word Memoir

Writing a 6-word memoir might feel impossible at first, too restricting, maybe even unfair. You might think, How do you...

How to Write a Memoir

How to Write a Memoir: From First Draft to Lasting Impact

A memoir is a narrative written from the author’s perspective, focusing on a specific moment or theme of their life....

memoir

What is a Memoir? From Personal Experience to Universal Truth

The desire to write is, at its core, the desire to evolve. To dig deeper into something you’ve experienced in...

Memoir: Mastering the Impossible

Memoir: Mastering the Impossible

“While they were saying among themselves it cannot be done, it was done.” – Helen Keller The purpose of art...

Tell Your Truth

Tell Your Truth

  “A book must start somewhere. One brave letter must volunteer to go first, laying itself on the line in...

writing memoir

Writing Memoir

“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they...

Permission to Write theTruth

Permission to Write Your Truth

What is the Truth of your story? OK, you’ve outlined your story and you’re getting ready to write your first...

Making the Impossible Possible

Making the Impossible Possible

Turning the impossible into something possible is the magic of story. We often have an idea of the direction our...

Difference between Journaling and Storytelling

The Difference Between Journaling and Storytelling

The difference between journaling and storytelling is context. Journaling is simply documenting what happened. Storytelling involves illustrating the meaning of...

Intimacy Hangover

The 90-Day Memoir – Intimacy Hangover

In the first day of The 90-Day Memoir workshop the writers often have some major insights and revelations. But it...

Memoir: Personal & Universal

Memoir: Personal & Universal

The challenge in writing a memoir is that self-examination is not typically meant to be shared. The goal in writing...