recording your memories. autobiography, memoirs or memoir? autobiography is the story of your whole...
TRANSCRIPT
Writing MemoirRecording 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.To pass on knowledge. To pass on life skills.To entertain. To give your descendants a glimpse into
your life.
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 your story with self-deprecating
humour? It’s often unfair to portray someone
negatively.
Gathering Information
Memory
Research
MemoryJournalsMeditationMeaningful objectsPhotosMake listsCaution: memories can be overwhelming. The positive? That’s what will keep people
enthralled.
Research
Search enginesLocal historical societiesArchivesState libraryLocal library; local librariansBibliographies at the back of a book
More ...
Industry journalsShips’ recordsMuseumsUniversity librariesLocal historiesGenealogical societies
Yet more ...
Electoral rollsProperty title searchesPhone booksRegistry of births, deaths and marriagesUnmarked gravesCheck the names on neighbouring gravesLawyers’ records; local law society
...
Police recordsHospital recordsMigration recordsState uni librariesSchool records; school magazinesBooks on historyAustralian war memorial
Cautions
Be sceptical; check a number of sourcesLook at things from a different point of
viewDon’t spend too much time on research
Getting started
Who is this story for?
Who is this story about?
Publishing method?
MainstreamSelf-publishPrint on demandBlogEbookPrivate
...
VideoAudioPatchworkCD and DVDComputer fileMemory stick or hard drive
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.
...
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.
Other methods
Write as a series of short stories.
Make up a photo album and then write a short piece about each photo.
Tips
Any good story is like laying a trail of crumbs for a bird.
Write passionately.Follow the emotion.
Where to publish?
Ebook: Smashwords, Amazon, pdfPrint on Demand: Lightning Source,
FeedareadBlogs: Blogspot, WordpressPrint: Digitalprintaustralia, Griffin,
Watson and FergusonAlbums: Digitalprintaustralia, Kmart,
BigW
Covers
Must be professionalSmashwords has a list of cover designers
for ebooksUse a search engine to find book cover
designersBuy stock photos onlineMake sure the title and author are in
HUGE font
Content
Get a professional editProofread your work once the layout is
done
Conclusion
Follow the passion LaughCry Enjoy