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