I am almost seventy, writing my "book before the book". At about 60k words in my endeavor, this was very helpful. Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge.

I am writing a book about the hope that held me through the loss of six babies in pregnancy and my firstborn at 20 months old. My story truly is tragedy to triumph as I am now a joyful Mama of two miracles. Thank you for these videos. They are so helpful.

Thank you for these key elements to guiding the writing of my memoir. I am in the thick of writing "the book before the book." The content is raw, rich and radical and is calling for shaping as I follow the writer's pathway towards my book.

I am starting to write off my 100 list, so far so good, this video clarifies where I need to go, so much help from your videos, loving it.

I have spent the last 2 hours watching Kelly give me hints on the memoir I'm writing. The enthusiasm and professional tips are so inspiring and I'm taking notes as fast as I can type. From this research I am gleaning that I am somewhere between writing the book b4 the book and knowing my reader. One of these days I'm going to book a chat and go from there to figure out the best direction to take. I am also reading Kelly's book as homework and will continue with my writing class and reading and watching these videos. I'm inspired, THANK YOU.

The biggest key- just get writing. Rules are fun, but just write. If you overthink it, you'll never do it. Just Do It.

Amazing timing getting this today. Wow! Prob need to write the book before the book, but gives me HOPE for focusing on a project I have some control over. Thanks a million !!!

So helpful!!!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Fantastic , I’m on it. Expertly explained .

I know all these things but it’s like getting a B-vitamin infusion to hear your positive, upbeat, clear reminders. Thank you so much for the time you’ve invested in these videos. I’m still doing the writing-around bit, but will definitely keep your service in mind for when I get closer to submission time.

Very helpful- thanks

This is the best KZfaq video I've seen on writing a memoir thus far. Extremely helpful.

Awesome… very helpful.

Wow. That was fantastic.

🙏 Thank you Kelly. As I continue struggle in my writing journey, your videos have been watched like my bible. And of course your book, too. I wish to connect with you sometime. 🙏🙏🙏

more about the reader than the author!!! thank you for that thought!!!

Great insights about memoirs. I have been writing my memoir for the last eight months . I will definitely contact you.

Do I have to write down everything on all the pages on a notebook as not just about myself

Firstly , I have Your book and enjoyed the read and am now referring to it as a manual . My very small book is written and I am now wading thru the self publishing sea of information . My first question is …. I live in Canada, my story is based on a real life, now deceased , woman who did something very unique in her small town, in the state of Virginia. I am planning to market the book in that area, a tourist town , and would be thrilled to actually sell 100 copies . Should I go with a self publishing company in the states or do the process up here , are there any ramifications where your isbn number comes from ? Where your publisher is ? Thanks for all you do .

Hope I didn't make a mistake of sharing my autobio/memoir I have been writing, for well over 15 years or 20 years, with a ghost writing firm cronus writing? About the struggles and triumphs in the recovery from a TBI from an MVA 81101. Along with the different perspectives you may be able to take through recovery, physically & mentally. I have written two different writings of it, one that is titled, The Trials and Tribulations of Traumatic Brain Injury Recover, which the titled is waaaayyyy tooo long, meaning if that was put on the cover it would be a pretty penny to have that printed on the cover! And the other titled The Tris and Tribs of TBI! Dont know what kind of writing the ghost writers have done thus far, the rep told me that they have four chapters completed, and have yet to look at them even! I do not trust them, I have a feeling that they are steeling my ideas to make their own money off it? I did the cheap mans way to copywriting the book, put it in an envelope and mail it to yourself and do not open it,.= evidence! Don't know if that still works, doing that? I guess because I am disabled equals, they can take full advantage of me, he doesn't have the smarts enough to come after us after we make millions off his ideas> This book has the potential to become a NYT Best seller! Oh well, will have to wait and see if I am getting played as a sucker?

Hi Kelly, I have a very practical question: I'm 55 and am planning to write a memoir with a specific theme and it occurred to me to ask an old school friend if she would be my editor. She is retired from the publishing world and is somewhat of a witty wordsmith herself on social media. We live on opposite sides of the planet and haven't seen each other since school (35 years) except on Facebook and Instagram, but we've always had a nice rapport and she pretty much fits the demographic of who my story will be for. I have a very small income, as most of my time is spent volunteering for a small charity which I set up. So my question is regarding paying for her services - I was thinking to offer her a percentage of the royalties, assuming some books will sell. Is this unusual? What kind of percentage might be acceptable? How do you charge your authors? Many thanks.

How is this? My theme is identity, as shown through the search for Mum's birth mother, discovering Mum had a twin and reuniting them.

Should each chapter have its own "sub-theme"?

Can you be anonymous? Until death? I won't care then. 👻 Last friend 😢 but what a journey from 1968 to present. the Polaroid and details for most. Everyone remembers the pivotal moment in time.

Why don't any of these professional writers or editors on YT talk about actually writing. The process, outlining, drafting, chopping and editing. The why is useful but nobody talks about the how.