Crafting a Memoir: Five Hot Tips to Captivate Your Readers

Рет қаралды 7,890

2 жыл бұрын

Reedsy editor Jodi Fodor, MFA, reveals her top tips for writing a compelling, publishable memoir.
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Пікірлер: 50

@estherstark5088 Жыл бұрын

Loved her presentation. I made notes throughout and will revisit this video often as I write. Thank you.

@user-uz7dm6qn3y 2 жыл бұрын

In a moment of inspiration, with hardly any writing experience, I started a memoir four years ago, stopped at the three quarter mark and have spent the past two years watching memoir writing videos. This is the one that was I've been waiting for. Thank you for your sharing.

@user-uz7dm6qn3y Жыл бұрын

@@michellemonet4358 Constantly being inspired by videos like this one, I'm editing the 70,000 words that I have written. I've learned how to use both a tweezer and a hatchet while editing and enjoying my progress.

@KJ-zr2ko 4 ай бұрын

❤ thank you Jody Fodor. This was great. I have been writing little snippets and saving them for a memoir. This information has been really really helpful.

@EllieRose-pe7mu Ай бұрын

This is one of the most helpful videos I've seen on memoir. Thank you for making this so clear and practical. The difference between reflection and take away will open up my story so much more.

@JodiFodor Ай бұрын

Thank you so much for saying so! So happy to help.

@kellyamersonlopez7488 2 жыл бұрын

Fantastic session! Excellent structure, examples, resources. Thank you, Jodi and Martin. Now, off to daydream, outline, and write!

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Jane! "Daydream, outline, and write" - what a marvelous trifecta. I need to do less of the daydreaming; as a dear friend likes to say to me, "Less input - more output!" hahaha

@harlowdayne9601 2 жыл бұрын

Extremely insightful. As a fiction writer, tackling a memoir has been challenging as far as knowing what to include and what to cut. Especially so in the case of a memoir dealing with paranormal events that lead to what those events are trying to convey.

@janieaziz6197 2 жыл бұрын

Jodi, I loved catching up with your video today. You've given me food for thought, especially about narrowing down a lifetime to a more focused segment with a particular theme (what it's about), reflection, and a good takeaway. Now I think I can really craft something out of the 24 chapter saga I've been working on lately! Thank you!

@Eternal32bloom 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for giving out these tips!

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Aiyana. You're welcome! I love, love, love teaching, and because I'm not teaching any classes or workshops these days, being part of a webinar like this is is a joy for me. Thank you for being part of it.

@yasomati-stanya-payidasi9991 2 жыл бұрын

So sorry that I couldn't make it live, but this has been so useful. I have been pressed to write my memoir by both my guru and my family, who are really pleased that I have made a start. I edit others writing all the time, but writing about my own life isn't so easy - I find myself editing very heavily as I write, there is just too much that I don't want them to know the whole truth of. I appreciate the advice on legalities and changing names etc. If it is alright to do that, then I feel better about leaving some things out, and producing these somewhat heavily edited memories in places. Thank you, I will come back to this time and again I am sure.

@robertbrock1608 2 жыл бұрын

Jody Fodor cemented in my mind the things I've done right. I started writing because of a major head injury. Took writing classes and started writing short stories, which were horrible but I've stayed the course. Thanks Jodi, I'm hoping to get my manuscript to you. Robert Brock retired SDFD

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Robert, Thanks for your Instagram message. I'll be in touch. J!

@marcasmajor2927 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your advice. I was getting a little overwhelmed with the scope of the memoir I am writing.

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

Indeed. Are you feeling any better about the scope now? Do you have a theme in mind that might help you narrow the scope? Keep in mind that you can cover MANY years of your life, but your theme will narrow the number of stories you share from those years. For example, a writer might tell us about his life from age 8 to 48, but within that span he might focus only on risks he took (and those he avoided) and the results of those choices, how he feels now, what he learned, etc.

@marcasmajor2927 2 жыл бұрын

@@JodiFodor Thank you for your input. Yes, I am back on track. I am limiting the focus of my memoir to a specific outcome I was able to achieve based on specific personality traits I have. :-)

@claireredman2826 2 жыл бұрын

Jody, thank you so much. You were brimming with ideas.

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Claire! I hope you find some of them useful.

@elizknight8262 2 жыл бұрын

Jody, you've been so helpful. I'm editing (content and grammar) a memoir for a friend and you've helped me put a fine point on my remarks, as well as brought up many things I hadn't thought of.

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

I'm so pleased to read this, Eliz. Thank you for commenting!

@TaoofMiracles111 9 ай бұрын

SUPER Helpful!!!

@JodiFodor 4 ай бұрын

I'm so happy to read this--thank you.

@julietatonello 2 жыл бұрын

Such an interesting session! Thank you for your generosity

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Julieta! Thank YOU. I hope your memoir is moving forward (and that you're enjoying the process).

@abbyjiang 2 жыл бұрын

Is there any way I can get the transcript?

@danieljaygrossett-author 2 жыл бұрын

This was soo helpful. Thank u

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

Thank, you Daniel. I'm so glad. Keep Writing!

@comfycomfy6469 2 жыл бұрын

thank you

@relayrayn4225 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant!

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

"Brilliant" - the English meaning or the American meaning? hahaha. Thank you!

@relayrayn4225 2 жыл бұрын

@@JodiFodor of blinding illumination would cover both 😊

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

@@relayrayn4225 😅

@mcspound 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful session! My question--writing yourself (and friends, etc,) as characters. Perhaps emphasizing a specific personality trait to complement the story...maybe emphasize shy aspect a bit if the growth area is in confidence? & adding little character quirks for 'you' & other characters (friends, family). Tips?

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

Hey There. . . can you clarify the question? I'd like to help. J!

@MikeParsonsOutdoorGearCoach 3 ай бұрын

I am writing my memoir, to my surprise, there were many things I didn’t want to talk about and I was still in grief about losing my family company.

@amyphelan3758 2 ай бұрын

Hi, I’m Amy from Canada. Thought I’d try a memoir, a story I’ve wanted to write for decades but could never find a way into it.

@MikeParsonsOutdoorGearCoach 3 ай бұрын

My memoirs is called Adventure Innovation because that’s what my life has been about.

@dr.floydphillips4717 Ай бұрын

I am writing my memoir depicting my journey out of Harlem into psychoanalysis

@bonniewakeman7507 Жыл бұрын

I got a lot of good advice from Jodie. I’d like her to help me. How do I contact her?

@dalemills2906 3 ай бұрын

Alberta canada

@MizMondayFilms 2 жыл бұрын

What are some good hybrid publishing companies?

@JodiFodor 2 жыл бұрын

Hi "Miz" - I have experience only with Spark Press and She Writes Press, which are terrific.

@claireredman2826 2 жыл бұрын

I am writing about the time I lived in the Amazon region of Venezuela,40 years ago and what stayed with me. I don´t knoww how to answwer how did you get there ?

@JodiFodor Жыл бұрын

Hi Claire. Do you mean that you don't know how to answer the question, "What made you go there"?

@rachelthompson9324 Жыл бұрын

how would you design a book about a gay or trans character's story that would interest the general public? Just curious.

@scloftin8861 2 жыл бұрын

So, basically the changes of the last century to this one over an ancient idiot's lifetime is not a memoir and is a boring biography. Good thing only my kids will ever see it.