Denis Ledoux's Blog, page 65

Mechanics of Writing a Memoir

Mechanics of Writing a Memoir: It’s not all Inspiration.

In a previous post, I wrote about the inspiration for writing A Sugary Frosting / A Memoir of a Girlhood Spent In A Parsonage. In this post, I will write about some of the mechanics ofwriting a memoir.

I started to write the memoir seriously in May of 2015. Since I continue to be active in the daily running of my business, The Memoir Network, I could commit myself only to writing 30 minutes a day—but, and this is important, to showing...

Why Choose a Ghostwriter?

Realize Your Dream: Choose a Ghostwriter

“Between you and me, I’m never going to do this,” said the woman on the other end of the phone line, a woman who was signed up for my forthcoming workshop here in Maine.

As soon as she said that—actually as soon as she had announced herself, I thought, “Oh, I suppose this is going to be the usual!” She had registered for several of my Turning Memories Into Memoirs workshops and had always, somewhat at the last minute, asked to have the tuition rolled...

I Finish A Sugary Frosting: Notes on the Memoir Writing Process

The memoir writing process can be simple.

I am in the very last days of polishing A Sugary Frosting / A Memoir of a Girlhood Spent in a Parsonage, the early lifestory of my deceased spouse, Martha Blowen. It’s a time to make sure I have written what I want to write and to check grammar and spelling before it goes out to a copy editor.

I had promised Martha that I would write her stories so that our grandchildren would know something about her. In May 2015, I began gathering the stories sh...

Is this really a memoir? You tell me…

I wrote a lengthy reply to Gayle to her question concerning my recent post, “Another Memoir Finished: What Was the Writing Process?”

She asked a legitimate question about whether A Sugary Frosting is really a memoir: “Can you call it a memoir when you embellish the writings of your wife and even added stories that she told never wrote?”

If you haven’t read her question in its entirety (much longer than I provide here) and my response, I hope you will as it addresses an important considerati...

Teaching Memoir Writing – 3 Tips For Making Your Vision Real

Teaching Memoir Writing – Your Vision Can Become Real

Writing a vision statement can be stimulating for you as a teacher. Your memoir writing company’s vision statement is a personal reminder you make to yourself about how the work you are planning will sustain you emotionally and make you into a better person. A vision statement is usually about the person writing it. (The mission statement, on the other hand, is about what you will give to the public.)

Here are some ideas for writing a gr...

Another Memoir Finished: What Was the Writing Process?

Another Memoir Finished: What Was the Memoir Writing Process?

I am in the very last days of polishing A Sugary Frosting / A Memoir of a Girlhood Spent in a Parsonage, the early lifestory of my deceased spouse, Martha Blowen. It’s a time to make sure I have written what I want to write and to check grammar and spelling before it goes out to a copy editor.

I had promised Martha that I would write her stories so that our grandchildren would know something about her. In May 2015, I began gather...

Launching Memoir Teaching – 6 Steps To More Success

Launching Memoir Teaching– 6 Stepsto More Success

Many memoir writers secretly, or not so secretly, want to help other people to write their memoirs. Sometime they do this informally with a friend or two, and at other times, they get a bit more organized and offer a class at a library or other institution.

I have taught workshops for decades and can attest to the deep satisfaction I have derived from working with writers. I have formed friendships that have lasted these many years.

If you w...

Working With a Memoir Professional Gets You A Finished Memoir

Working With a Memoir Professional Gets You A Finished Memoir

We all wear many hats as we go through our days. In my case, I am a writer, a memoirist, a teacher, a coach, an editor, a co-author, a book publisher, and finally, a small business person. I wear those hats with pride and, I hope, some accomplishment.

Beyond these, I wear other hats as all of you do also. One is that of an athlete of sorts: there has been swimming, jogging, and weight lifting.

Pick me up by some feat of magic an...

Truth in Memoir – Three Tips For Including Safe “Guess-timates”

Truth in Memoir – Three Tips For Including Safe “Guess-timates”

When writing a memoir or family history, you will inevitably come across bits of information that you want to include, but which you cannot verify. Once you have ascertained all the facts that can be checked, other truths may become evident. But these truths may not be of the sort that anyone can authenticate. For instance, you believe your parents were not in love with one another. Can this be proved. Not likely. All you can d...

How to Know if You Have the Right Memoir Coach

Evaluate your writing coach prospect to ascertain you are choosing the right memoir coach for you. This article contains evaluation guidelines centered on the availability of the right memoir coach.

1. Can your coach work with you so that you meet your deadline?

As you develop your memoir project, you may become aware of a natural deadline, such as a family reunion or a birthday. The right memoir coach for you will be able to meet your date. This deadline should be discussed before you and...