memoir

You really should write a book …

/ Rainee / 13 Comments

creativity ideas

When I tell people about some of the places I have lived and things I have done and seen, many suggest that I should write a book. But would it really be of interest to anyone?

I have made a start and written around 10,000 words – a very brief summary of my life up until now. I am unsure where to go from here. I decided to do some brain-storming to flesh it out a bit. It raised more questions than answers, such as:

  • who is included and who is excluded?
  • should I use real names and my real name?
  • what are the ‘touchstone’ events that really must be included?
  • do I bare all about my struggles and challenges or are some things too private?
  • should I seek  professional guidance at this stage eg a literary agent or wait and see how it goes?
  • what is the secret of keeping it interesting?

I guess the easy road to take would be to keep writing the truth as I see it and perhaps make amendments down the track. 

It has been useful to put my thoughts down here to share with you as it now seems a bit clearer. I think I will start on the ‘touchstone’ events and see where that leads me.

THANKS FOR LISTENING 🙂

Getting Started on my Memoir

/ Rainee / 12 Comments

Wisteria PS

I asked for ideas on memoir writing a little while ago and received some excellent tips.

Even so, getting started was still a  problem. I decided to do a mind map/brain storm and see where that took me. I looked at it from the following angles:

  • why do I want to do it?
  • how am I going to do it?
  • what do I need to do it?
  • when is this going to happen?

I then put a table together with those headings and answered the questions honestly. Once I had the first three thoroughly considered I set a time-frame.

At the conclusion I committed myself to write just two pages for each different period in my life:

  • 60+ (where I am at right now)
  • 50-60 years
  • 40-50 years
  • 30-40 years
  • life in remote communities in my 20s and 30s
  • 20-30 years (when my children were born)
  • teenage years
  • primary school years

My commitment is to do two pages for each of the above before the 30th June 2016. I have a whiteboard where I tick off the days that I write so it is quite visual.

I am really enjoying the process. I don’t have a goal beyond 30 June but I will consider that when the time comes. Whether it ever comes to print doesn’t seem important. I am enjoying reflecting on the BIG PICTURE of my life – the good and not so good!

I am also collecting (in one place) other bits and pieces that I may merge at a later date.

Just thought I would share the process I developed as it may be useful to someone else 🙂