How to Write a Memoir for Beginners [12-Step Blueprint from a Writing Coach]

Рет қаралды 25,276

Күн бұрын

Today we're covering how to write a memoir for beginners, using my 12-step blueprint. If you have a true story to tell - and you're wondering what to do next - you've come to the right place.
In the 12-step blueprint, I first share how to decide on the slice of life you want to tell. A memoir needs to focus on a particular slice of life - not a chronological retelling of every major event that's happened to you - so I share three different ways you can choose to focus your story.
Next up, we cover how to clarify your purpose in writing your memoir. Are you writing for yourself, for your family, or for a wider audience? Clarifying your purpose can help you make decisions about how much of your story to include, how many rewrites you want to do, how much time and money you want to invest in this project, and more.
From there, I discuss step-by-step how to make a story list; how to structure the book; some tips as you begin writing, and a sequence for rewriting and getting feedback from others.
SUBSCRIBE for more tips on how to write a book.
/ @wearewritingbrave
Take my free quiz to discover your pleasure-packed writing routine: writingbrave.kartra.com/surve...
Visit my website:
wearewritingbrave.com

Пікірлер: 94

@ryanmshaver 2 жыл бұрын

1. Slice of Life (0:45) 2. Purpose (2:08) 3. Story List (3:20) 4. Structure (4:14) 5. Plug Stories into Structure (7:49) 6. Start Writing Stories (9:02) 7. Print & Read the Whole Manuscript (11:31) 8. Full Edit (13:17) 9. Feedback from Beta Readers (13:56) 10. Feedback from Professional Editor (17:17) 11. Rewrite from Feedback (19:00) 12. Books is Ready(19:16)

@UniquelyAshantesCorner Жыл бұрын

Thank you for providing an outline! Very nice of you.

@sylvanabachir2737 Жыл бұрын

Hi, my name is Sylvana can you please message me I'm a memoir beginner

@tellyorekavala4231 Жыл бұрын

I'm writing one and this is very helpful. I look forward to learning more

@anna-rosephipps3132 Жыл бұрын

Hope to complete first draft by end of this year. Thank you for super helpful advice

@batshomazwiduma5381 10 ай бұрын

That was very helpful 😄 thank you

@mclowry1842 Жыл бұрын

I'm a college writing teacher who's considering assigning a memoir to my students this fall, and looking for more "readings" for them to help with the assignment. This is going on the list of things for them to watch! Thank you!!

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

Oh wow, thank you! I'm honored.

@JamesShahan 11 ай бұрын

@mclowry1842 What other “readings” or resources have you found or would you recommend?? 😊

@wearewritingbrave 10 ай бұрын

@@JamesShahan I like The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr. And Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, for more general writing advice!

@jomassaro5588 Жыл бұрын

I watched your video and feel encouraged to begin this process.

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

Yay Jo, I'm cheering you on! The next step is to create a writing routine that actually fits into your life. :) You can find out your routine personality type by taking the quiz at my website: wearewritingbrave.com/.

@jomassaro5588 Жыл бұрын

@@wearewritingbrave Thank you. I will do that.

@lisah.1024 Жыл бұрын

I have been searching for some time now on how to actually start writing this book idea I've had in my head for a few years now. I had envisioned writing it as a self help book but then I felt deeply that as a Christian, the Lord wanted me to write it more like an inspirational book to help others. Thanks again for these steps as I am a logical and analytical learner who needs steps to follow. Thank you so very much for your brilliant step by step outline.

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

You're so welcome! If you're looking for more support, head over to my website and sign up for the Writing Brave newsletter: wearewritingbrave.com. Take care!

@lisah.1024 Жыл бұрын

@@wearewritingbrave Thank you kindly. Will do.

@moneshaimpower 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks... You explain it so well... Make it sound really simple in steps...

@bicyclemission5704 Жыл бұрын

Wow, Brooke, this is the help I need. A lot of thoughts have been running through my mind but this helps me nail it down. I feel like I know how to write, but who I'm writing to, the purpose of the story, and how to draw my reader into the story. That is where I need direction. Thanks for helping...

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

Hi there! You are so welcome. ❤️Cheering you on as you write!! It's a marathon, not a sprint.

@ashishkumarchandan5139 2 жыл бұрын

great to hear

@murtazaarif6507 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the advice. I found this very useful. My strongest ability is the 'show don't tell' part in step 6 because I am very good at expressing myself through my sensory modalities. Interestingly we actually have eight senses instead of only the traditional five if you include body awareness (proprioception), movement (vestibular) and internal organs (enteroception). I have already produced a 37000 word draft based on my sensory experiences. I will now organize my draft using these 12 steps. Thanks again. Fantastic work in this video.

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

Cheering you on!! Love that we have those additional three senses. If/when you're ready for feedback, I offer a service called First Draft Feedback: www.wearewritingbrave.com/firstdraft.

@murtazaarif6507 Жыл бұрын

@@wearewritingbrave Thank you. I will definitely keep you in mind for feedback.

@shariperlman1457 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for the step 12 process. It's very informative and takes some of the fear out of beginning.

@brookeadams1024 8 ай бұрын

Love this Shari! Literally half the battle of writing is taking the fear out of beginning.

@EveningTV 6 ай бұрын

This is an excellent breakdown that actually got me excited about seeing this progress.

@wearewritingbrave 6 ай бұрын

I'm so glad! Onward!!

@melissabradley3394 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for this information. It will help my process.

@wearewritingbrave 8 ай бұрын

I'm so glad Melissa! You might also like my quiz that'll tell you about your writing routine personality: www.wearewritingbrave.com/

@lauradell3122 Жыл бұрын

Great video. Thank you!

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

You're so welcome! So glad it was helpful

@HARIKUMAR-ij6en Жыл бұрын

Very practical and interesting video. Many Thanks

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

Thanks Hari! So glad you enjoyed it.

@davidvonschlichten8413 6 ай бұрын

Thanks! Super helpful!

@wearewritingbrave 6 ай бұрын

so glad!!

@MattPearcey-ws8zx 10 ай бұрын

Thank you. Great content.

@brookeadams1024 10 ай бұрын

thanks Matt! You're so welcome. Glad it was helpful!

@mariaborden7 Жыл бұрын

I am glad I found your video even if it a year old. I am really wanting to write a memoir. I have always been told that I should write a book and share life experiences but never really knew where to start until now. Thank you, so much for posting this video.

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

So glad it was helpful! I've got a brand-new quiz just released that will help you discover your writing routine personality, if you're ready to get started: writing-brave.involve.me/your-pleasure-packed-writing-routine.

@mariaborden7 Жыл бұрын

@Brooke Adams Law Thank you so much, I will certainly take a look at it.

@abibmangwanda2683 8 күн бұрын

So helpful,thank you.

@wearewritingbrave 7 күн бұрын

You're so welcome! If you're working to start a writing routine that works for you, my quiz might be helpful: www.wearewritingbrave.com/quiz

@lorraineneville2907 4 ай бұрын

Thanks so much. I’m just starting to write my memoir. Your teachings are very helpful. Thank you. ✍️♥️

@wearewritingbrave 3 ай бұрын

I'm so glad! Happy writing!

@finger_me_hard_daddy 4 ай бұрын

Thank you, it helps through my projects at school

@wearewritingbrave 4 ай бұрын

Awesome, I'm so glad it's helpful!

@oneiceb5974 11 ай бұрын

Thank you ❤

@tidelinetoalpine 9 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for this 🙏🏼 I subscribed right away but I’m sorry to see you’ve stopped making videos. I’m going to watch what you’ve published and check out your website.

@wearewritingbrave 9 ай бұрын

Hey there! i'm so glad this video was useful.

@hillbillyhippie23 4 ай бұрын

My older sister was a confidence destroyer.

@wearewritingbrave 3 ай бұрын

Every writer has creative wounds from people who have tried to destroy our confidence. All we can do is practice healing and be gentle with ourselves in the creative process.

@grayrequiem6331 11 ай бұрын

Very helpful!!!

@wearewritingbrave 11 ай бұрын

So glad!

@noelmiles7322 9 ай бұрын

I am glad I found you

@melmothmelmoth 3 ай бұрын

This was useful for my G9 class! Thanks!

@wearewritingbrave 3 ай бұрын

Awesome! So glad!

@angelasconversations5551 5 ай бұрын

This is great. Thank you

@wearewritingbrave 5 ай бұрын

I'm so glad! You're so welcome.

@snarkysifu Жыл бұрын

Thank you!!

@brookeadams1024 Жыл бұрын

You're so welcome. ❤️

@blackhannahofficial Жыл бұрын

Even though this video is two years old, it's content for me is still quite useful. Thanks 🤗 - Missouri future author

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

I'm so glad! You are so welcome. if it would support you, I've got a brand-new quiz out on how to discover your writing routine personality. You can access it on my website: www.wearewritingbrave.com/. Happy writing!!

@tellyorekavala4231 Жыл бұрын

very helpful

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

I'm so glad!

@ethanhuntindiana 4 күн бұрын

Thank you.

@wearewritingbrave 4 күн бұрын

You're so welcome! It's my pleasure.

@ethanhuntindiana 2 күн бұрын

@@wearewritingbrave how do you sign up for your consulting? Do you have a link? Thank you.

@wearewritingbrave 2 күн бұрын

@@ethanhuntindiana I offer a few different book coaching things! www.wearewritingbrave.com/book-coaching

@catherinemary52 Ай бұрын

A pediatric nephrologist and a liver transplant surgeon have both asked me to write a book. A mom’s perspective of 6 kidney transplants, between my three kids over 35 years and three hospitals, one waiting for a liver kidney, one who is skitzo due to meds, I was married to a sociopath. The surgeon we recently met was jaw dropped of who and what I knew, told me there’s no one! that has my history of transplant and experience as a mom. There are no books I don’t know if I can do this. A lot to relive.

@lakeshagadson357 Жыл бұрын

One of my favorites celebrities did there's skai Jackson did reach for the skai

@iphilip1 3 ай бұрын

This was useful one key missing in the video is showing evidence just like you said show not tell when stating any step or point

@wearewritingbrave 2 ай бұрын

good point!

@LillianGrayArt 11 ай бұрын

Hi Brook do you have a video on how to decide if the book should be a novel or a memoir?

@wearewritingbrave 10 ай бұрын

Hi lovely! I don't. If it's true, I recommend doing it as a memoir. You can always decide later how much to include, and/or how to protect privacy of individuals.

@lakeshagadson357 Жыл бұрын

I would like to write one about the things ive been through and with different people different places ive seen

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

mmm yes!

@travelingshutterbrothers7174 Жыл бұрын

Informative and concise. But, like the use of like, a couple of like a hundred or like two hundred times was a quality killer.

@wearewritingbrave Жыл бұрын

Working on decreasing my use of 'like.' It comes out when I'm nervous!

@KevinRodriguez-yy3bn 9 ай бұрын

Hey my name is Kevin Rodriguez from Detroit Michigan i wanna write an addiction memoir about my story. Im 6 months clean from fentanyl right now any advice on how i can go through with it? Thanks have a good day 😊

@wearewritingbrave 9 ай бұрын

Congratulations on being clean for six months - that's amazing.

@PEGGLORE 4 ай бұрын

But my whole life is more interesting and unbelievable than any other, which all builds up to an event that's never happened in the world to anyone else before, and then the farce and interesting things that happened to my life, after it happened. Is this a Memoir I'm writing, or something else? This book needs to be written though. I have an extraordinary memory and would like to add loads of these things that are important in my life. I remember being a baby for example.

@wearewritingbrave 4 ай бұрын

SOunds like memoir!

@PEGGLORE 4 ай бұрын

@@wearewritingbrave Thx! I'll write it all. It's going to be really long though. Hopefully that's OK. Pretty sure I'm the greatest, most spectacular true story there's gonna be though. It all connects and all interesting. I'm very concise, with no nonsense approach. Very detailed with interesting facts, rather than adding descriptive filler. Hopefully won't be too much for people. Well it's kind of a whole new concept I'm doing. Could be popular.

@dominiquerivero6611 9 ай бұрын

What is a gohst writer ?

@wearewritingbrave 9 ай бұрын

Hi! A ghost writer is a professional writer who writes your book on your behalf.

@fredrikbeckker125 6 ай бұрын

I think everyone shold write a memoir

@wearewritingbrave 5 ай бұрын

It's probably not for *everyone*, but it is such a beautiful practice for those who want to do it!

@user-ri1sh2uv2r 8 ай бұрын

Brooke, I’ve carried my story so long. It’s about a tumultuous childhood and overcoming the trauma. Is it acceptable to tell it chronologically? Each stage of my upbringing presented a plethora of challenges. No matter where I start it’s traumatic. Also, I’m mature if I don’t tell it now, it will die with me.