• A multi-generational family standing on a beach facing the ocean; how to write a book about your life

    Writing a Book About Your Life

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    You have been through it all—the ups, the downs, and everything in between. Now, you want to take your experiences and all you’ve learned and write a book about your life. After all, your life holds meaning and purpose, so telling it can help others find theirs. But where do you start? Writing a piece that dwells on pivotal moments in your life, reflecting on their importance, and telling your story can inspire readers and help them understand what it means to walk in your shoes. Keep reading to learn more about how to write a book about your life.…

  • woman's hands typing on a laptop keyboard with reading glasses and a vase of flowers in foreground; how long does it take to write a memoir

    How Long Does it Take to Write a Memoir?

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    Every writer works a little different and has individual time commitments, but here are some general time guidelines to help you estimate how long it may take you to write a memoir. On average, it takes six to 18 months to write the first draft of a memoir. This timeline, however, can vary based on how much time you devote to your project, the length of your story, and your writing skills. In this article we’re also discussing five helpful tips to write your memoir and how to revise your work before sending it to an editor. 5 Steps to…

  • Establishing Rapport and Credibility in Nonfiction

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    I often find myself telling authors that they must establish rapport and credibility with their readers before anyone begins reading their book. This is vital for a number of reasons. The most important reason is that as an author, you want potential, on-the-fence readers to keep reading. You want them to recommend your book to others. You want your words to be out there for everyone to read. And you want readers to finish your book feeling satisfied. So, you’re probably thinking, how this is done? Well, when we take away the actual content of the book and we focus…

  • The Making of a Memoir Part 3: It’s All About Structure

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    This is the third and final post in a series all about writing your memoir. You can find helpful tips in the first post about getting started and the second post about brainstorming. Tangling with structure is about as common a writing problem as you can get. However, when you are writing about your own life it can be even trickier. You are looking at sets of events from the inside, all too close to see them with any different perspective. A single event can be told from lots of angles, but your job is to pluck events that defined…