How to Outline a Memoir: Writing your story with the audience in mind

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Күн бұрын

Join our outstanding CRITIQUE community as you write: kristinmctiernan.com/sales
Writing a memoir can seem overwhelming. The key is knowing how to outline your memoir to give it the structure of a best-selling novel and the heart only you can provide.
Hire me or find my memoir course: linktr.ee/kristinmagoo

Пікірлер: 92

@nonsensefreeeditor 10 ай бұрын

For the memoir outline, you can find it here: subscribepage.io/70bsxZ

@sebgillen6256 5 ай бұрын

thank you!

@DawsonTeaches Ай бұрын

Been watching Kristin’s videos for a few years now. They helped me push through the first draft of my memoir! Wish I could afford her editing services-God knows I need help with my revision 😅 keep it up Kristin

@nonsensefreeeditor Ай бұрын

Hi Dawson! I also have a critique group where you can get corrections and commentary on your memoir if you're interested. There are about 15 of us, ranging from beginner to expert. If editing is to pricy right, this might be a good alternative! critiquegroup.nonsensefreewriters.com/c/community-introduction/welcome-to-inkcrafters-critique

@GarethBretton 4 жыл бұрын

this is great! really enjoyed watching, cant wait to see more from you! keep them coming :)

@christinaolds7501 3 жыл бұрын

I've written a very successful biography and now working on a memoir about growing up with the subject of that biography, so this was helpful. Thank you!

@WriteYourAcceptance 4 жыл бұрын

So fun!!! I love your writing wisdom!

@MikeMancini 4 жыл бұрын

This is great Kristin. Thank you.

@thrive-like-a-viking 3 жыл бұрын

I can appreciate your approach... being fully saturated with sarcasm and wit makes you very relatable to me.... I am going to download the memoir outline worksheet now and go from there!!... thank you

@malihausmani5945 Жыл бұрын

How to download the outline sheet, could you tell me?

@cynthiaflynn2941 3 жыл бұрын

I ver much liked your short, clear, and clean presentation style. The infomation is very on target. Thank You

@nonsensefreeeditor 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I’m so glad you liked it!

@YJPStudio 4 жыл бұрын

Nice content! I have to write every week and this tip helps.

@brokencisterns3428 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your videos. I have been wanting to write a memoir for about ten years now. Never realized how many resources are out here. The Lord delivered me from heroin about 7 years ago and has given me a message of hope. Just want to be that willing vessel. Thank you.

@icegelofficial 3 күн бұрын

Wow Thank you

@jennamichaud-bonyadi594 4 жыл бұрын

No nonsense is right! Thanks for getting right to the point. Looking forward to watching your previous videos on fiction.

@nonsensefreeeditor 4 жыл бұрын

So glad you liked it! Next month will be exclusively fiction so hopefully you’ll find some good tips

@KJ-zr2ko 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for the outline. I look forward to your news letter

@KimberlyCatoTransformed 4 жыл бұрын

My theme would be in relation to trauma ... I know pieces of this story but your direction really helped me frame my thoughts. I'll be back for sure. Thank you!!!

@nonsensefreeeditor 4 жыл бұрын

Wonderful! The theme of trauma can be so powerful for readers looking for guidance. So glad I can help with your writing.

@davidstepanczuk 4 жыл бұрын

This was helpful. Thank you.

@danieljaygrossett-author 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thank you

@theswcoaching 4 жыл бұрын

I love this thank you

@JenniferBrick 4 жыл бұрын

Haha I love your transparency on avatar. I'm so excited for this series - I plan on writing a business book. I've subbed to make sure I don't miss it!

@nonsensefreeeditor 4 жыл бұрын

Wonderful! Business and finance video is 2 weeks from today :)

@butterflyxwingsrveri 4 жыл бұрын

Yay, it's nice to see your face back!

@thisboyzopinionz5228 Жыл бұрын

Thank you soooo much !

@LaraNaomi 4 жыл бұрын

A few years away from a memoir! But a super interesting video

@ElizabethSampson 4 жыл бұрын

I’m writing a non fiction but struggling so this helps thank you!

@nonsensefreeeditor 4 жыл бұрын

Writing about yourself can be even harder than creating a fictional story. Structure can help make the process less stressful

@carolmilatz5648 2 жыл бұрын

Where is the link?

@RachelSmets 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Kristin, another good topic! I wrote 2 non-fiction books and wonder if I'd start again....I do like non-fiction. Great tips once again! Thanks Rachel

@nonsensefreeeditor 4 жыл бұрын

I hope you keep writing!

@AllInWellness 4 жыл бұрын

Your channel is incredible Kristin!! I found you through YT4B!! :)

@nonsensefreeeditor 4 жыл бұрын

Welcome! I followed you on Insta as well

@drlizPT 4 жыл бұрын

U r a foxy lady. Own it!!

@jvb654 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for such good info. I haven’t had any success In finding the memoir outline, tho! :(

@nonsensefreeeditor 7 ай бұрын

Hi! You can find the memoir outline here: subscribepage.io/70bsxZ

@TheStarInYou 4 жыл бұрын

thank you

@xolimakamole958 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@uditpandey1824 3 жыл бұрын

I have suffered through OCD and want to write a memoir regarding it

@benjamingranby5269 Жыл бұрын

Thanks much for the starting advice, I wrote one memoir and it was published but I disavow it now: it was about significant news-making events I found myself in, but it had zero real world context or history (time constraints were one excuse) but I was also writing for people already familiar with the event. I want to do a longer and more expansive memoir and research it well. I understand that publishers must verify any historical facts I use and some said finish it all before shopping it around because they dont want to get discredited... I get historical non-fiction isnt in your top 5, but anything about painting a context far deeper in time? (These are things I've studied my whole life but the average person may know nothing). My fear is balancing solid, researched history with my personal (and almost all humorous) stories to keep it thoughtful and entertaining. Is this a common mix of non-fiction? My inspirations are memoirs by journalists of their crazy experiences, but even they dont bore the reader. Any thoughts?

@becomingbrie7232 3 жыл бұрын

So glad I came across your channel! Starting writing my first draft in 2016, and throughout the years I have put it down.....and got discouraged...do you do one time free consultation calls?

@nonsensefreeeditor 3 жыл бұрын

Yes, those first novels often take the longest. Mine took 7 years! Yes, I do offer free initial calls by appointment. If you want to set one up, you can use the contact form on nonsensefreeeditor.com and we can align our schedules.

@AnnmarieEdwardsEducator 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for your words of wisdom.

@uditpandey1824 3 жыл бұрын

As I am just beggining my writing with no degree or courses in writing

@probrickgamer Жыл бұрын

The top selling memoir of all time was written by a guy in prison with zero art school or writing classes

@youthledhayes1297 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome! I have all of this covered but I didn't list names in my book. Except my daughter but I didn't say any thing about her just said her name. everyone else I said this guy I was dating or he, she...never a name. Is that ok?

@tonyzola8550 4 жыл бұрын

My theme would be experiences and dramatis personae encountered in a 50 year career in non-diplomatic foreign service.

@therapybee 2 жыл бұрын

Do you sell a 1 on 1 if so I’d definitely like to purchase. I ask bc I am writing a memoir but I am definitely missing something but have no clue what it is! I have researched memoir for years which has kept me from actually writing and going down a rabbit hole! Please let me know

@nonsensefreeeditor 4 жыл бұрын

Have you ever wanted to write a memoir? If so, what would your theme be?

@tuckersroom4075 4 жыл бұрын

I am currently 40,000 words into my memoir. Teenage artists regarding film, music, and photography nowadays are part of a generation that is broken, sad, and numbed to satisfaction from their work. I shed light on the growing culture of teenage artistry and share my story and perspective of a long journey to satisfaction and how I transformed my artistic wasteland to a more suitable place for myself.

@Nokss87 4 жыл бұрын

Narcissistic parents

@MOIgloo 4 жыл бұрын

I’ve just gotten out of the hospital after having neurosurgery during the covid19 19 crisis. I’m writing a memoir about it.

@lavenderspirits 4 жыл бұрын

Sexual trauma and the aftermath of it

@Adriana_ni 3 жыл бұрын

So glad I found your video! It’s been a long time dream of mine to write.. I’ve been thinking of a theme about self discovery. Would that be good enough?

@tamaraamador9425 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this very informative video. You mentioned a link below to help us construct our outline. Where exactly is it?

@nonsensefreeeditor 4 жыл бұрын

Hi Tamara! It’s the first link in the description box. If you’re on your phone, there’s a small downward arrow next to the video title. If you push it, the description box will show up. On PC, it should already be visible:)

@tamaraamador9425 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

@benjamingranby5269 Жыл бұрын

Oh! One more question about publishing memoirs: Two of my favorite memoirs are from war journalists. The most amazing was a drug addict who, with zero experience, jumped into the Bosnian war and realized he was 100% clean, but when visiting home, he'd fall back again. Its crazy and psychologically intriguing. But his book (and that of another) kept going to back stories about getting to know their fathers better. I literally ended up skipping those parts - the did nothing for the story and distracted me. My hunch was that they took their book to an agent who said basically, "Great stories! Now can you add more background, about your distant farmer?" It really felt like the authors hsd to put in these parts. Does this happen to memoir writers much? Can a writer push back and say no?

@samaniawecanlearneasilysir439 7 ай бұрын

🎉 👍

@uditpandey1824 3 жыл бұрын

I want ur guidance

@kieloaurora 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this video! How could a writer "obscure" a parental figure who is still in one's life, but doesn't have the best history? Would it be best to use a pseudonym as the author...? Or..?

@nonsensefreeeditor 3 жыл бұрын

Generally, the only way to obscure close relatives is to obscure yourself, either via pen name or full-on fictionalizing your story.

@alenaswanson7981 4 жыл бұрын

My story is going to be about what it's like to live with a mentally unstable/drug addict mother. I want the theme to be something about how you can always grow from a situation. And I have tried to start it off a couple different ways, I need help! Please!!

@nonsensefreeeditor 4 жыл бұрын

That sounds like it would be best suited for self-help. You can start off introducing your own story then have each subsequent chapter be a lesson for others. I’m sure there are so many who could benefit from your story

@alenaswanson7981 4 жыл бұрын

@@nonsensefreeeditor thank you!! This really helps!!

@JonesLeFae 4 жыл бұрын

I’m new to your channel. Do you talk about writing fiction too?

@nonsensefreeeditor 4 жыл бұрын

Yes definitely! Most of my previous videos focus on fiction and next month will be targeted on sci-fi and fantasy.

@JonesLeFae 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the sub!

@CourtneyMiller-yv9vy 10 ай бұрын

Hello! I have clicked on the links, but they do not connect me to the outline described. Is the outline still available? Thank you!

@nonsensefreeeditor 10 ай бұрын

Hi Courtney! Thank you for letting me know the link was missing. No sure how I deleted the most important part :/ You can find the link to the memoir outline here: subscribepage.io/70bsxZ

@CourtneyMiller-yv9vy 10 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate your speedy reply :) @@nonsensefreeeditor

@exoticjournalista8613 4 жыл бұрын

I just started my memoir and the theme is the struggles of a single mother who is a doctor trying to bring up her kids and attain the impossible work life balance in a world which is hostile to the needs of a mother and a career which deems a personal life nearly impossible......does that sound ok?

@nonsensefreeeditor 4 жыл бұрын

That sounds fantastic! This subject matter provides a mine field of conflict which can help other mothers through similar struggles

@camiller958 4 жыл бұрын

Nissa sounds amazing, tell me when it’s finished I’ll buy and read it. I want to be a doctor so it’s perfect

@uditpandey1824 3 жыл бұрын

I am very serious and I want to write my memoir

@otherworld11 3 жыл бұрын

Kristin - can we talk about an edit job?

@veronicahambidge906 3 жыл бұрын

how on earth would i obscure my main charter given its a very close family member.. the story won't be the same if I null him out...??

@nonsensefreeeditor 3 жыл бұрын

Family members are tough. One option is to make the fictionalized version not a family member. Or perhaps splitting up this one person’s actions among two fictionalized characters in your book

@veronicahambidge906 3 жыл бұрын

@@nonsensefreeeditor so everyone else would be real but he is " a made-up character"?

@nonsensefreeeditor 3 жыл бұрын

Yes. As long as “a reasonable person” can’t identify who you’re really talking about, then you’re good. The person can still bring a suit but they likely won’t win if you’ve fictionalized them

@veronicahambidge906 3 жыл бұрын

@@nonsensefreeeditor my goodness I've gotta start all over agian now, and it's not going to have the same affect because the person is the guts of my story.my story is based around this person and who they were to me ect.. Luckily I'm only 3 chapters and my prelude in.

@mikemorrel8312 3 жыл бұрын

It’s not defamation if it’s true. “Private facts” as true as they are can cause you legal problems.

@annasamek5179 Жыл бұрын

I don't know, I don't enjoy the sad stories about abuse, addiction or poverty. I prefer happy stories written with humor about travels, discoveries ,writing career. Right now I'm enjoying a book by Mark Adams "Turn Right on Machu Picchu".

@sobeidalagrange7129 10 ай бұрын

04:50 Names, legal stuff...

@yetunde2667 2 жыл бұрын

the video is good but the editing is a bit distracting

@OregonChuck 2 жыл бұрын

I really wanted to see this video. It seemed so helpful. BUT it is WAY over edited. So much starting and stopping simply distracted me so much that I couldn’t continue.