When we write about our lives or our families, our challenges aren’t just literary. Emotions play a significant part in our efforts and they can actually undermine our creative process or shut it down altogether. Emotions that can affect life and family writers: Fear—of getting the facts wrong … [Read more...] about 5 Emotional Challenges to Writing About Your Life or Your Family
Personal Essays
Publish Essays That Pay
I teach essay writing and I've also been pretty successful having my own personal essays published. But I know that I (and my writing students) can always improve our odds of getting our work into paying publications. So today, I'm recommending a book I believe will be useful for us (and you) in … [Read more...] about Publish Essays That Pay
Who Do You Write Life or Family Stories For?
If you are writing about your life or your family, whom do you envision as your audience? Are you writing for family and friends or for a larger audience? Are they old, young, or in between? Men or women? Working or retired? Like to travel? Enjoy romance novels? Prefer mysteries? Addicted to reading … [Read more...] about Who Do You Write Life or Family Stories For?
What is Your Life or Family Writing Mission?
If you write about yourself or your family, what is your mission? What inspires and propels you? Do you feel strongly about what you want to say? Do you want others to understand your experiences or your family’s? My mission is to coax out the (accidentally or deliberately) concealed parts of my … [Read more...] about What is Your Life or Family Writing Mission?
Writing Contests: Are they Worth the Hassle—and the Cost?
Considering the Value of Writing Contests I’ve been absent from this blog while polishing up my essays and memoir opening to submit to contests. Entering these contests has provoked several questions with answers, some good, others not so much. In a blog post several years ago, I asked my site … [Read more...] about Writing Contests: Are they Worth the Hassle—and the Cost?
Why Should I Publish My Work?
Those of you who write manuscripts—that is full-length books—might be eager to find an agent and publisher for them. But not every serious writer feels that way. To see a different point of view, take a look at my essay, Writing As Self-Indulgence: Is Publishing Really Necessary? After you … [Read more...] about Why Should I Publish My Work?
Answer to Another Memoir and Family Story Writing Question
Remember I asked you to send me your questions about writing memoir, stories from you life or about your family? Well, a reader asked the following: Something I struggle with is knowing when to ask for feedback on my writing (or more honestly, being willing to show others something that I … [Read more...] about Answer to Another Memoir and Family Story Writing Question
QUESTIONS ABOUT WRITING ABOUT YOUR LIFE OR YOUR FAMILY?
Have you been mulling over ideas about writing life stories—stories about your life or your family, but just can’t seem to get going? Or, have you started writing, but find yourself stuck by a seemingly intractable obstacle? Need to know what to do next? Send me your questions. Perhaps … [Read more...] about QUESTIONS ABOUT WRITING ABOUT YOUR LIFE OR YOUR FAMILY?
Repaired Link: Welcome to My New Memoir/Family History Website!
First I apologize for the broken link to this site. The renovating a web site unfortunately creates undesirable vulnerabilities. I'm so sorry you were subjected to the 404 or 403 errors, whatever they mean. We think finally we've wrestled the problem to the ground! If you remember my previous … [Read more...] about Repaired Link: Welcome to My New Memoir/Family History Website!