| p>Many people set off to write their memoirs | | | | from one section of the story to another. In |
| with considerable enthusiasm. Frequently however | | | | addition, when writers know that they are writing |
| over the months and years it takes to complete | | | | at a given time, it seems that the unconscious-or |
| the manuscript, their enthusiasm wanes and the | | | | call it the muse-then begins to open up more |
| memoir project that had seemed so interesting | | | | regularly at those moments-not always but |
| bores the writer is abandoned. | | | | frequently enough. |
| I don't think there was ever a writer whose | | | | It is also true that, if you jot down ideas that |
| interest in a project has not taken a nosedive. | | | | occur to you, it is easier to take this note keeping |
| What to do? | | | | seriously if you know you will use it soon at your |
| One big aid is to set up a regular writing time and | | | | scheduled writing time. (This is another aid in |
| mark it on your calendar. A schedule is a bit of | | | | keeping your memoir writing interesting to you.) |
| professionalism brought to an experience most | | | | Regular writing almost always leads to greater |
| people want to maintain as something inspired. A | | | | production by virtue that the writer spends longer |
| memoir which is written over months and which | | | | time at the task. Ultimately, many people find it |
| adds up to hundreds of pages cannot be written | | | | easier to rewrite than to face a blank page. More |
| only in inspired moments. It will necessarily include | | | | volume also leads to producing a manuscript more |
| many moments when the muse is lamentably | | | | quickly and therefore possibly averts |
| absent and the only support the writer can fall | | | | discouragement. |
| back on is a writing schedule. Why deny yourself | | | | Once you have set up a writing time, honor it as |
| that support? | | | | you would a medical appointment. Don't allow |
| How long you schedule your writing time is | | | | others to usurp your appointment with yourself! |
| perhaps not as important as how frequently you | | | | Your regular memoir-writing practice will reward |
| do so. Frequency allows for you to maintain some | | | | you hugely. |
| contact with your work so that there is continuity | | | | |