| I've learned that when a person starts thinking about | | | | you enlist a friend or family member to interview you. |
| telling their life story, they tend to overthink it. They get | | | | That makes it easier than just lecturing into the air, plus |
| caught up in worrying about things such as what | | | | the person you choose can help you to dig out certain |
| others will think and who would publish it. The whole | | | | details that you either have forgotten or just didn't think |
| thought process results in paralysis so they can't even | | | | to bring out. For instance, a curious interviewer might |
| figure out how to get started. But if you do your | | | | ask "Who was with you when you stormed that |
| thinking in a more focused way, and then follow it up | | | | beach in France?" or "What kind of car were you |
| with specific actions, you'll have your completed pages | | | | driving when you first saw Mom walking down the |
| done before you know it! Here's how to get going.Who | | | | street?" or "What were you wearing when you met |
| is the Book For?Before sitting down at your desk, | | | | Martin Luther King Jr.?"Even Mitch Albom did this. Even |
| decide who you are writing for. Are you writing for a | | | | though I had read "Tuesdays with Morrie", it didn't hit |
| wider audience (the general public)? Are you writing | | | | me until I saw the television movie based on the book |
| for your children and grandchildren? Answering this | | | | that he had recorded Morrie during each visit. He didn't |
| question will take many concerns off your plate from | | | | have to work from notes or memory. I'm sure the tone |
| the very beginning. For instance, if you are writing only | | | | of Morrie's voice was a constant inspiration for Mr. |
| for family members, your writing style can be more | | | | Albom to keep going and finish the book. I'm sure your |
| intimate and informal, almost as though you are writing | | | | family would love to have such a recording of you. |
| them a letter. You also wouldn't have to worry about | | | | The recording could be a gift itself, even if you never |
| getting an agent or attracting a publishing house | | | | turned it into a book. But this is about creating a book |
| because you know you'll either print the book yourself | | | | so...Transcribe for an Instant Rough DraftHave a friend |
| or have a self-publishing company produce a handful | | | | or family member or hire someone to to take the |
| of finished books for you.If you are writing for a wider | | | | words from your recording and put them on paper. |
| audience you will have much more to deliver in terms | | | | Most transcription services can do this fairly quickly, |
| of story, action and writing style. But let's keep this on | | | | depending on the length of the work. I use |
| the back burner for now and only think in terms of one | | | | eTranscription Solutions ( to transcribe my seminars |
| thing: you know you have to write well. The rest you | | | | and they are fast and accurate. The beauty of this is |
| can worry about when the book is done.What Story | | | | that once the transcript is done, you'll suddenly have a |
| or Stories Do You Want to Tell?You don't have to do | | | | rough draft of your book in your hands. No more blank |
| the David Copperfield thing and go all the way back to | | | | pages to contend with!Shape Your BookNow this part |
| "I am born." Contrary to popular belief, real life doesn't | | | | should be really fun. Once you have your rough draft, |
| always make for interesting writing. So instead of | | | | you can begin to shape your story like an artist with |
| going the James Frey route and embellishing, as he did | | | | clay. Again, beware the impulse to embellish, but try to |
| with "A Million Little Pieces" (and you see where that | | | | give things a beginning, a middle and an end. Keep your |
| got him!), focus instead on the great stories that have | | | | audience in mind. Remember, your writing doesn't have |
| happened to you. I've heard from many people who | | | | to be fancy. You just want to make sure you're being |
| desire to tell the story of their World War II | | | | compelling, and that you're getting your message |
| experiences. They can do whole books just on that | | | | across. If you have any doubt about the way |
| subject. There's no need to do more unless you have | | | | something is written, read it out loud. That way you'll be |
| more to say.Joan Didion's recent memoir, "The Year | | | | able to hear whether a phrase is awkward, if your |
| of Magical Thinking", is all about her grieving after the | | | | sentences are too long or if you have fragments |
| death of her husband, John Gregory Dunne. It is a | | | | instead of complete sentences.Finish It!The best way |
| beautiful example of what can be done by examining | | | | to ensure that you'll complete your project is to set a |
| just a small portion of your life. Likewise, Maya | | | | deadline for yourself and honor it. Otherwise you may |
| Angelou covered her life experiences in more than | | | | let it linger for months or years, working on it only a little |
| one book. So you don't have to write down everything | | | | at a time. Maybe you could tie your deadline to a |
| in one place. What story are your burning to tell right | | | | family event such as a holiday or a reunion. Wouldn't |
| now? Start there!Skip the Writing Part--For NowThis | | | | that be the perfect place to present your completed |
| may seem counter-intuitive to your intent to write a | | | | memoir? If you seek to get your book published |
| book, but if putting down that first word or sentence is | | | | traditionally instead of doing it yourself, you may not |
| too hard, you may find it easier to talk your book out | | | | have control over when you'll have a finished book in |
| of you first. All you have to do is give yourself a rough | | | | your hands, but don't let that stop you. Go as far as |
| outline of what you want to talk about and then speak | | | | you can and present that work, even if it's a stack of |
| your stories into a recording device. You probably tell | | | | photocopied pages or a box of cassette tapes to |
| these stories anyway more often than you realize, | | | | your loved ones. They will appreciate the gift--and your |
| which is probably why people say, "You should write | | | | effort--for years to come. |
| that down". This will feel natural for you, especially if | | | | |