Memoir Authors discussion
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Laurie
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Sep 25, 2014 10:58AM
I have just started writing my memoir and have a publisher but don't know where to post excerpts of it....he has suggested a blog. How and where can I start a blog? I have been a Marriage and Family Therapist for over 20 years and would like my book to reach young girls/women who struggle with self-esteem and romantic relationships and how to reach your goals and dreams. However, it is mainly my life story. Laurie
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try Wordpress. Log on, set up an account and follow the instructions. Takes time and is tricky but they have a lot of templates etc and it's free.Have a look at mine to see if you like the format, though it is one of many,
http://lucindaeclarke.wordpress.com
Laurie wrote: "I have just started writing my memoir and have a publisher but don't know where to post excerpts of it....he has suggested a blog. How and where can I start a blog? I have been a Marriage and Fam..."I think a blog on this topic is a good way to draw attention to your book but I would be careful
about publishing excerpts. Why give your story
away now?
thanks, Lucinda....have tried wordpress and can't figure it out! will try again....like your blog....how is your book selling?
Some days are better than others. I've not shot to maga stardom and there is no chance of me ordering my mega yacht this millennium either! :) I'm not sure how some people do it, I spend hours on this marketing thing which I hate!!!!
Laurie wrote: "thanks, Lucinda....have tried wordpress and can't figure it out! will try again"Laurie, my blog is hosted by iPage, and they use Weebly for the blogging platform. I've been very happy with it. Most head-to-head comparisons of blogging platforms will list Wordpress as number one. They say it's the easiest one to use. You might have to try a couple different platforms before you find the one that's easiest for you. Two things for you to consider: don't go with a free platform because if it's free, then they (the blog company) own the content. That means they will own your book excerpts once you put them on your blog. Another thing to consider is the blog's connectivity to Twitter. If you really want to reach young women, they mostly hang out on Twitter now. If you set up a Twitter account, you'll only be sharing extremely short (180 characters) bits from your book and blog. The Tweets can link back to your blog. Here's a link to a site that reviews blog platforms. http://blog-services-review.toptenrev... Everything seems hard at first. Be patient with yourself. Stick your toe in the water, and keep asking for help. Good luck with the book!
I suggest a blog, and a facebook page. I applaud you and your heart, so sweet. My blog is through blog.spot. It's VERY easy... my blog though is so simple that you might not want to take my word for it. I don't get a lot of comments, although I get about 500 visitors a month. I don't know if that is a lot or not, but it feels like an honor to me. I want to encourage people too. Is your publisher trying to get you to have more of a "voice"?
I'm not too happy with my blog, but it is and running. As soon as I have put this book to bed I will come up for air and get these things sorted out or at least I will ty to :) Thanks Ceecee.
Hi CeeCee and Lucinda, what are your blog sites? I have a blog but it is not really related to my book.
Laurie wrote: "I have just started writing my memoir and have a publisher but don't know where to post excerpts of it....he has suggested a blog. How and where can I start a blog? I have been a Marriage and Fam..."Interesting, I am trying to reach young women also, though my audience is eating disorders and child abuse victims. I am also a licensed counselor and dietitian, and this internet thing is a bit mind-boggling. Laurie, your book sounds like it could be of great value. I wonder if it would help if we all guess posted on each other's blogs? Are any of you interested in that?
mine is here- http://joyfullivingpafterchildabuse.b... Mine is vaguely related to my book, but it's also my heart to try and encourage people. I'm not sure how well I do that, since my posts are more like diary posts. :)
I must admit to rabbiting on about all kinds of stuff, it is not mainly about my books and I am not going to put too many bits from the books on it either. I just write whatever takes my fancy. Like Ceecee, more of a diary.
Holly wrote: "Laurie wrote: "I have just started writing my memoir and have a publisher but don't know where to post excerpts of it....he has suggested a blog. How and where can I start a blog? I have been a M..."Holly said, "I wonder if it would help if we all guess posted on each other's blogs? Are any of you interested in that?" This is a great idea. I would definitely be interested.
Me too, in a couple of weeks. Writing like mad right now, but remind me please say at the end of the month? :)
My website is healthyandwonderfulyou.com. It seems we are all on a similar path of trying to live fully and with joy after a hard past. CeeCee, I read your book and I think it is great. I have it on my to-do list to review it, and I will soon. It was hard to read, though, because I only have one child and have desperately wanted more. My husband did not want more, and got a vasectomy. Long story, but all the children you had left me feeling a bit jealous, which isn't wise, I know! We are all on our own paths!
Holly, I am estranged from both my daughters and I'm not even sure why they think of me the way they do. I can only put it down to them having the NPD as my mother.
Setting up a Facebook Author's page is a way to blog. I do it, but don't know if I reach many people. However, on that Author's page you can INVITE Friends from your main page, and so they will see your blog and pass it on... hopefully to people they feel might benefit... and who knows where it will end up? It's easy to set up. Your cause/subject is needed by so many... give it time and it will ripple out.
Yup, well I opened a page for each book, but now that means I have to check 3 of them. Maybe it was not such a good idea after all :(
Lucinda... I'm running into that trouble too, since my one page is under my book title. Oddly enough, a lot of people search for me under my author name and friend me too. Love it.(((((((((((((Big hug Holly))))))))))))))))) I can imagine you have a lot to work through with your husband having a vasectomy; if I'm understanding correctly you weren't in agreement. I'm sorry you had a tough past too. How old is your child? Is adoption an option? I don't have any answers, but I care. Search for me on FB- CeeCee James, and message me if you want to vent.
I just realized we can message here at Goodreads too!
Laurie wrote: "thanks, Lucinda....have tried wordpress and can't figure it out! will try again....like your blog....how is your book selling?"Hi Laurie, if you are still looking for a place to write you blog, look at Squarespace. I love it! I tried WordPress and iPage. Squarespace gives you all you need in your package. You don't need to buy a bunch of add-ons for a great site.
Patricia wrote: "Laurie wrote: "thanks, Lucinda....have tried wordpress and can't figure it out! will try again....like your blog....how is your book selling?"Hi Laurie, if you are still looking for a place to w..."
You are welcome to visit my blog at www.myslova.org.
I am green with envy when I read so many people are selling hundreds every day. I sell a couple of books most days but it takes time to market. I've not pushed either book for a few days and sales went down but I needed to get book 3 finished. In edit stage now.
Lucinda, I get envious too about people selling hundreds every day. I'm so jealous! Marketing is really had to keep up with, isn't it? Even though I didn't think I'd planned that much stuff. The only way I'm keeping up with writing book number two is that I base my monthly newsletter on advanced chapters from the book. So every month I've got to write a new chapter to send out. So I'm keeping up with the marketing (barely) and the writing (by the seat of my pants), but guess what's not getting done? Dinner. The laundry. The house. The yard. Today I think I forgot to brush my teeth. Congratulations on book 3! You go girl.
Thansk Dawn. I've only got this brief window to go for it as OH is in UK as his uncle died. But bliss, I got to bed at 2.20 as i was marketing and no one complained. I've been driving myself into the ground but it's worth it. Hey I am pleased if I sell one or two books a day, I guess I have to be patient but there is such a lot of competition out there!
Thanks, CeeCee and Lucinda. -------Lucinda, I am saddened to hear about your daughters. That would be so hard. It's sounds like you are making good use of the difficulty through your writing. I think that is what we have to do (write our way through pain). I just have my one book, and I need to get excited about another project. ---------CeeCee, my child is an 8 year-old, and yes, my husband got a vasectomy against my wishes. We have a pretty good life right now, and my desire for more children comes in waves. Some days I am satisfied with one, and some days I want more. I know the best way to live is to be grateful for all that we have. It just makes sense not to allow ourselves to get into self-pity. Still, it's a process. I will look you up on FB and also continue to follow your writing. My dad's family are all Jehova's witnesses, and I gained great insight from your book!
CeeCee wrote: "I suggest a blog, and a facebook page. I applaud you and your heart, so sweet. My blog is through blog.spot. It's VERY easy... my blog though is so simple that you might not want to take my word ..."thanks for the advice....yes, my publisher is suggesting that I get some exposure through a blog....will look at yours. I never thought of myself as a writer until he started encouraging me. I am good at it and enjoy it so much. I want my story to help teenagers navigate through the difficulty of romanitc relationships. I have been a Marriage and Family Therapist for over 20 years and have learned a thing or two about what works in relationships!
LOL I bet you have Laurie! I think most memoir authors (maybe most authors in general?) don't think of themselves as real authors. But the motive of an author is to touch a reader in a way that makes them feel, entertains, and has a message. So that makes us authors for sure!
I have earned my living by writing for over 30 years scripting for radio and television, but that does not make me an author!
You could put it on one of the review sites or chose some people and ask them if they would read it for you.
My new book, "Twinkle: a memoir", is now available.One, lone double agent in the unrelenting cold war that was her family. Analyzing strengths and eccentricities of the enemy while offering herself to evil to save a weak mother and younger siblings. "Twinkle" is the exceptional telling of an all too common story of one girl’s unrelenting pursuit of survival, her self-sacrifice, and the need to feel God’s love.
http://www.amazon.com/Twinkle-memoir-...
Hello. My name is Hudson Owen and I am a member of this group. I am trying to add a book to the group bookshelf, but the search feature cannot find it. The book is Hospital Days - A Memoir, and here is the link on Amazon.http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RCGCNIM
Hi Hudson. Best of luck with your memoir. I just used the 'inside the book' feature on Amazon to read the first few pages and it looks interesting. Did you already use the 'manually add book' feature on goodreads at this link?
https://www.goodreads.com/book/new
Laurie, You asked about a blog for excerpts of your book. A couple of ideas. I write newspaper columns for syndicated weeklies and they publish excerpts of my memoir You Fall Off, You Get Back On about growing up in Colorado, horse racing, rodeo riding, acting in Hollywood movies, becoming a snowmobiling mom and grandma etc. Also, you can put an excerpt of your memoir on your Facebook personal page. You can add some younger women and girls to your friend list so they will get your posts. Nieces and daughters of friends may like to read your posts on Facebook.
