| p>To help you to write your memoirs more | | | | 4. Once you have a number of stories or story |
| prolifically-and even bring them to a finish in the | | | | pieces, collate them in a three-ring binder |
| form of a published memoir-I offer these several | | | | according to chronological order. Write the missing |
| suggestions to help you succeed. | | | | links between the texts that you have already |
| 1. Set up a regular writing time. How long you | | | | written. Seeing your stories pile up will also |
| write is perhaps not as important as how | | | | encourage you to continue writing. |
| frequently you do so. Once you have set up a | | | | 5. Read memoirs critically to learn as much as you |
| writing time, honor it as you would a medical | | | | can from other writers. I call this process "reading |
| appointment. Don't allow others to usurp your | | | | as a writer." |
| time! | | | | 6. Commit to reading how-to write books, take a |
| 2. Give yourself permission to write a rough first | | | | class, seek coaching. A professional can create |
| draft. Perfectionism is not a virtue at this stage. | | | | many shortcuts for you. |
| Keep writing for volume. Quality will enter in later | | | | 7. Work with an editor. An editor can help spot |
| 3. Start anywhere in the story you feel like | | | | problems that have become invisible to you. |
| writing about on any given day and keep writing | | | | 8. Create an end date (publication) as a stimulus |
| as long as possible. If the topic changes on the | | | | to keep writing. Tell people about this publication |
| next day, write about the new story line even if | | | | date. |
| you haven't finished the previous one. You are | | | | I wish you many happy hours of writing each and |
| connecting to your muse at this point! | | | | every week. |