Though today is officially the first day of summer, it has already been feeling like summer in my neck of the woods. Temperatures have been in the 90s and this is expected to continue for most of this week. How has it been for you?
As I continue on my journey of rewriting my memoir and trying to decide when I think it's finished enough to find an editor, I will be taking a community education class on memoir writing. It is titled "YOUR Story Matters: Memoir Writing--Beginning." I'm not sure whether to classify myself as beginner still, but I can hardly call myself an expert just yet. But everyone I knew who saw this in the schedule of community education classes at the local community college immediately thought of me when they saw this. I need as much advice on writing memoirs as I can get, and I think this will be helpful.
The class starts this Wednesday night and will run for three weeks. It's done in-class at the college library. The college also offers several online writing class for different types of writing. Among the topics are writing for kids, keys to effective editing, mystery writing, and travel writing. I'm trying to decide if I want to take any of these or one of the others offered.
Writing can be exciting, joyful, difficult, miserable, inspiring, lonely, elating, magical and a million other things in between.
Whether you are first setting out on your writing journey, or have been writing for years, there are some things that every writer needs to help them not only write better but enjoy the process more as well.
Writing can be a tough job at times, but by preparing yourself for what’s ahead and arming yourself with a virtual toolkit of all these things, you’ll find it so much easier to make the most of your writing time and truly find pleasure and satisfaction in it too.
So what is it that every writer needs? Let’s take a look!
A support network
Writing can be isolating at times, it doesn’t really require much teamwork, especially in the early stages where it’s just you, your computer and the unnervingly blank page that seems to be boring a hole into your soul. Because of this writers need a good support network. A good support network consists of a variety of people. Great family and friends who are patient and understanding are naturally essential, but also a group of fellow writers who you can share work with, be inspired by and moan to when things aren’t going very well!
A quiet space to work
It’s rare to find a writer who doesn’t need peace and quiet to think and work. Creating your own little writing zone can be one of the best things you can do as a writer. Think about what you need and what you’d like to inspire you. Whether that’s quotes from famous authors around your walls, or a kettle nearby so you don’t have to keep getting up for tea breaks - use your imagination and create the perfect writing space for you.
A biggest fan
Every writer needs a biggest fan. It might start off as your partner, your mum, your best friend, but as you continue to put your work out there it’s so exciting to find new fans and readers that love your work. You biggest fan will read everything you write, will always leave you five-star reviews and will be happy to share and big you up in whichever which way they can!
A good notebook
An essential piece of kit for any writer is a good notebook. It doesn’t have to be fancy but it has to be something you remember to carry around with you, fill with your notes, inspirations and observations - for you never know when an amazing idea might strike!
A bad review
All writers need to get their first bad review under their belt. It’s a milestone, a coming of age moment, where you realise you’re a real writer. Remember not everyone can like your work, but at least they are reading it!
A writing schedule
A writing schedule is a helpful way to make sure you stay on track, keep focused and never stop writing. For some, writing comes naturally, but for most, we need a little self-imposed discipline! A writing schedule you know you’ll stick to will give you just that.
An honest critique
We all need someone we can trust to give us honest feedback on our work. Without them, we run the risk of being like one of those X Factor contestants that’s been brought up to believe they have the voice of an angel, where, in reality, they sound like a bag of screeching cats. Find someone you can trust to give you honest, helpful, and fair feedback, your work will be so much better as a result.
A good editor
Where would we be without our editors eh? A good editor can turn your words into works of art! They are there to help you improve, to make sure your manuscript is flawless and give you the best chance of success with your book - a good editor is priceless!
So there you have it, the essential tools of any writer’s toolkit - what would you add?
I'm still lacking in most of these things! Mostly because I'm still not at the point when I need to get an editor. Even so, thinking about this one is making me apprehensive. And obviously since I have not been published, I have not received any reviews, good or bad. And I have not been able to get anyone to read my latest revision. A year ago, I sent out my preliminary story for everyone I know to see.
Trying t set a schedule hasn't been on my mind though recently I have been trying to get some writing done, no matter how much, each day. I do find myself wanting to take a break, but I guess that is normal.I now have to revise my epilogue (in my latest round of revisions) and now I have some stuff I may want to add but am not sure where to insert in into what I have already written. So I may write this down on a separate pice of paper, then decide whether to include it and decide where it should be inserted.
I've bene wanting to try getting out more and take a notebook with me for inspiration. But the hot weather recently has it made it hard just to go the store! It's been too hot for a walk or anything.
My bedroom at my computer is as quiet as I can get. But I sometimes need to out on the TV if I'm bored while writing.
Every writer knows that ending your chapters well is crucial. You want to bring that particular scene or a piece of action to an end, while also leaving everything on a mini cliffhanger so your readers can’t wait to pick up your book again and find out what happens next!
The art of breaking your book up into chapters is something that authors should pay attention to. Understanding appropriate points to have a chapter break will create suspense, and keep your readers reading.
Only you will know when it feels right to end a chapter and begin a new one - it is a personal, creative decision. You may wish to keep your chapters all roughly the same length, for example, or mix them up. You may wish to give each chapter an enticing title, you may wish to make each chapter switch to a different character's point of view.
Whatever you decide to do, there are some simple techniques for chaptering that every writer should employ, regardless of the type of book they are writing.
Write first, do your chaptering later
While many authors find writing chapter outlines very useful, if you are determined to stick to these no matter what, this could end up being detrimental to your story. As you write you'll find that it becomes easy to end and begin chapters where there are natural breaks in the story. Even if these don’t stick to your original plan, it’s better to go with your instincts then fight against them for the sake of it. This way your chapters will end organically rather than seeming forced. When you have finished your book you can go through each chapter individually and shift your beginnings and endings if you feel that they aren’t in the right place.
Think about what each chapter should contain
Every chapter should be a mini story all of its own. It should have a beginning, middle and an end. At the end of each chapter, the reader should feel as though the story has advanced and that they know a little bit more than they did before. Each chapter should have its own dramatic action, should reveal more about your characters, and, of course, end in such a way that the reader doesn’t want to put your book down.
Use chapters to direct your reader
End a chapter when your story requires a change, a shift in pace or a turning point. Chapters can be used to help the readers follow the characters on their journey, but also to draw attention to things. An unexpectedly short chapter that is packed with revelations or dramatic action will capture the reader's attention. Similarly, one that is full of mystery will signify to your readers that they should take note of the details and will stick with them in their minds until the big reveal.
Ending your chapters well will always leave the readers wanting more. We all want our books to be those ones readers describe as ‘unputdownable’, and paying attention to your chaptering will help make your book just that!
I must confess I did not ollow the "do your chaptering later" advice. But then, I was not aware of that until now. I did end up making each chapter seem like a mini story, since I did not attempt to follow a timeline for the entire story as a whole. Some of these chapters could have been even longer. I now think I could have written an entire memoir (or at least one of novella length) of what happened to me in the year 2001 in the months and days leading up to 9/11. The year started with my 30th birthday in January. And in one chapter, I tell about a particular year of what I felt was a personal trauma. Again, this one might have been a memoir book of its own, or at least a novella-length one. One family friend who read my preliminary story written last year and sent as a PDF by email called me on the lack of a timeline. But I felt I had worked so hard and did not wish to change it to follow a timeline. I had been thinking of things in terms of subject and felt it worked better this way. To try to rework the entire story into a chronological timeline would mean even more rewriting that what I have already done. But although writing does involve rewriting over and over, this would have meant major writing reconstruction, and major rethinking. I felt it works well the way it is indwell do my best with it that way.
I'm also amazed at how short it was when I sent it out by email more than year ago this month and how much longer it is at present. Some of the chapters started out very short (one was a little less than three printed pages) but I have managed to make each of them even longer, enough to make the whole story seem like it's long enough for a book. One friend said the original seemed to short for a book, but I was sure I could make it longer. And that's what I have been doing.
As writers, we know that constantly striving to learn and improve is key to our writing success and satisfaction. There is always more to learn, new techniques to try and methods to experiment with. That’s one of the joys of writing - and the knowledge that we can keep on getting better and better if we put the work in is strangely pleasing too.
When it comes to novel writing, crafting your story well is crucial. Once you have the story down, it’s a good idea to take the time to stop and reflect, to read your story and to begin to tweak, edit, add and cut to make it the very best it can be.
Here are some great crafting lessons which every writer should use as a guide to improve their book.
Pay attention to your settings
Your settings are where the action takes place, and are hugely important. Your settings shouldn’t just be descriptions of places, they should be so much more than this. Instead of just describing the way things are, try to get across how the character feels towards the place. What emotions does it evoke for them and why? Settings can be used to build tension, to create excitement, and to immerse the reader in the story. They should be vivid, imaginative and burst with exciting descriptions, make the senses stand to attention and be full of arresting and unusual details.
Get deep with your characters
By the end of your novel, your readers should feel as though they know the characters intimately. It is the way the author conveys their thoughts and feelings in any given situation that builds a deep and detailed picture of what that character is like. You can use their outward appearance to cleverly give insight into what’s going on inside too, and any quirks or oddities will only make your characters richer and more memorable.
Make sure the pacing is right
The pace at which your story unfolds is so important. Make sure that there is never a dull moment! Of course, there will be times where the action is fast paced and thrilling, and times where it slows down and rolls along at a more gentle pace - but it’s important never to let your reader get bored. Building suspense is a good way of doing this, your readers should always be kept slightly on edge, always have an appetite for more. They should always be excited to read what’s coming next. If your book is paced well and is full of exciting action, there will never be a good time to put it down!
Use dialogue effectively
Dialogue creates immediacy, it reveals more about your characters and can be used effectively to create humour as well as tension and conflict too. Pay attention to the way your characters speak, make sure they all sound different, give them their own particular phrases or speaking styles to help your readers clearly differentiate between them. Always make dialogue smart and necessary and use it to help drive your story forwards.
Pay attention to your sentence structure
Short, smart, impactful sentences are key. It’s been proven that readers get distracted or confused if sentences are consistently too long. Try to keep your sentences short, but also powerful. Use strong images, descriptive language and clever observations to keep the reader hooked. These crafting lessons can help authors make a real difference when it comes to writing and editing their books. So next time you sit down to write, keep these in mind and see how applying them can improve your book.
Right now, I'm in the process of revising each chapter one at time, typing them out to check for errors and anything I want to change. Though I glanced at what I had printed so far and food some spelling errors and missing words I didn't catch the first time (though I knew I'd probably made some), meaning there will still be more rewriting and revising to be done thereafter. Proofing is always part of the process. I've gotten up to Chapter 14 in my current round of revisions and now have to work on revising Ch. 15 and the epilogue. I'm trying to decide if I need or want to include an introduction and an afterword. and I'm already wondering who to acknowledge, since most of the people I want to mention in this part have been disguised in the text, and should I use their real names in the acknowledgements.
My use of dialogue has been a little sparse, since trying to remember exact quotes is a bit hard. Some may have been exaggerated so that I can have some dialog in the story. I have read some memoirs that have only so much dialogue.
Does pacing mean following a timeline? I've said before on my blog that I did not describe incidents a timeline, but rather by subject. For example, one chapter is devoted to the year 2001, how I was fired from a job in the days leading up to 9/11. Another chronicles things I wanted to do but were never able to. This one has occurred so many times in my life I felt a need to lump them together into a single chapter.
I have been watching how I have written my sentences, trying to keep them from being too long and containing too many commas. When this is the case, I try to break them into two or more sentences. I've also ben trying to break long paragraphs down into more than one, if possible.
Ever heard of the phrase ‘fake it until you make it?’ Well, sometimes that’s what writers have to do in order to get by.
It’s so common for writers to deny what they are. We live in fear of being criticized, of getting rejected, and feel that if we admit to being a writer we'll be ridiculed or irritatingly asked ‘yes, but what’s your real job?’
So how do you act like a writer to help full you with confidence and certainty?
Make writing a priority
It’s so easy to talk about writing, to complain about writing, to fret about writing, without actually DOING any writing. Real writers don’t sit about all day moaning about writer’s block or sweating over every single word. They knuckle down and get on with it. So if you want to act like a writer then instead of procrastinating or commiserating with your fellow writers, just sit and write. Your writing has to be a priority in your life. It doesn’t have to be your main job, you don’t even have to make any money from it, but you do need to give it the attention it deserves.
Dress like you mean business
You wouldn’t turn up to work in your 2-week old sweatpants and a jumper that is barely holding its threads together. So why do you think this is appropriate attire to write in? If you actually get out of bed, shower, dress smartly and sit down in a space that you’ve designated for writing, you’ll feel so much more professional and businesslike, and will probably write better too.
Be quietly confident
To act like a real writer you don’t have to be arrogant or dominant, but you don’t have to be full of agony and crippled with self-doubt either. Believing in yourself and the work that you do will help motivate you to keep going even when times are tough.
Have purpose
All writers should have a purpose. Early on you should figure out what it is you are hoping to achieve from your work and always keep this firmly in your mind's eye. Be prepared to tell others about it too. Having a purpose and having clear goals to help you achieve that purpose will always make you feel as though you are moving in the right direction.
Be passionate
Be ready to talk about the projects you are working on with pride and passion. If you clam up and stutter when someone asks you about your book they will quickly lose interest. Talking about your work doesn’t make you boastful - good writers need to be salespeople after all. Make sure you can describe your stories or the projects you are working on with confidence and eloquence - it will make you believe in what you are doing even more too.
Acting like a writer isn’t just about putting on a front, it’s about developing good behaviours and ways of communicating that will help fill you with confidence, determination and pride in what you are doing - and that’s surely what every real writer wants!
Do you follow every single one of these terms? I must admit I haven't followed some of these. Right now, I'm still in my robe as am typing this and just last night before bed, I was working on revising one chapter my story. I had intended to do it during the day, but got too sleepy then. I get that way a lot. I was wide wake after 10PM, and was determined to get this one done, though not completely. I typed what I had wanted to add, and will print it today and check for errors and such. I was once told it didn't matter what you wear when writing, since most of us do it in our own homes, where most other people don't see us. And I have heard stories of people staying up late to work on their writing, so I didn't feel to weird about doing so last night, though such behavior has been atypical of me. I guess now that summer is nearing, I have more energy at night, unlike this past winter when I was getting sleepy early, likely because of illness and rain this year. I do believe I have been passionate about what I am doing. I have told many about my work, both on Facebook and in person, even to people I have just met in person such as at the store or anywhere else. I am now determined to share it with others, if only I can find a group or something in which to do so. And I have told this those I already know in person, if they do not use social media. I know one girl from school is who is social-media shy, so I let her know about my memoir one of the last times I'd seen her in person. But then, I guess each of us approaches our writing in our own way and style. Each is different for each person.
While to epidemiologists the disorder is a medical condition, anxiety is starting to seem like a sociological condition, too: a shared cultural experience that feeds on alarmist CNN graphics and metastasizes through social media.CreditDevin Yalkin for The New York Times
This seems weird as I am in the midst of writing a memoir on depression and anxiety and am still on Prozac after nearly two years. I've never had Xanax. I recalled being on Paxil, Serzone and other antidepressants years earlier, then just leaving services and quitting cold turkey, returning to more than a decade later. No one I know has ever admitted to being on Xanax. And I have plenty of anxiety! From the article (click above to read the full article):
This past winter, Sarah Fader, a 37-year-old social media consultant in Brooklyn who has generalized anxiety disorder, texted a friend in Oregon about an impending visit, and when a quick response failed to materialize, she posted on Twitter to her 16,000-plus followers. “I don’t hear from my friend for a day — my thought, they don’t want to be my friend anymore,” she wrote, appending the hashtag #ThisIsWhatAnxietyFeelsLike. Thousands of people were soon offering up their own examples under the hashtag; some were retweeted more than 1,000 times. You might say Ms. Fader struck a nerve. “If you’re a human being living in 2017 and you’re not anxious,” she said on the telephone, “there’s something wrong with you.”
With two new volumes analyzing the condition (“On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety,” by Andrea Petersen, and “Hi, Anxiety,” by Kat Kinsman) following recent best-sellers by Scott Stossel (“My Age of Anxiety”) and Daniel Smith (“Monkey Mind”), the anxiety memoir has become a literary subgenre to rival the depression memoir, firmly established since William Styron’s “Darkness Visible” and Elizabeth Wurtzel’s “Prozac Nation” in the 1990s and continuing today with Daphne Merkin’s “This Close to Happy.”
While to epidemiologists both disorders are medical conditions, anxiety is starting to seem like a sociological condition, too: a shared cultural experience that feeds on alarmist CNN graphics and metastasizes through social media. As depression was to the 1990s — summoned forth by Kurt Cobain, “Listening to Prozac,” Seattle fog and Temple of the Dog dirges on MTV, viewed from under a flannel blanket — so it seems we have entered a new Age of Anxiety. Monitoring our heart rates. Swiping ceaselessly at our iPhones. Filling meditation studios in an effort to calm our racing thoughts. ...
It seemed even weirder seeing this at the same time that Elizabeth Wurtzel's bestseller is being re-released with a new afterword by the author. I'm almost tempted to buy a copy just to read the rest of the afterword, even though I have a used copy from Amazon of the original already. Someone on Twitter admitted she owns three copies already and may have to get the reissue now too. I guess I need not feel to bad about thinking this way. I really loved this book after all and it made me do what I am now doing.
Seeing the beginning of the new afterword (above) on Twitter makes me even more curious to read the rest. The world has changed after all, and as I work my way through my own memoir, I have noted and recalled different things I went through back in the day and have in my mind seen how different they are today. I grew up in the era before cell phones, being live TV could be paused and can remember when VCRs were too expensive for most people. All this appear somewhere in my manuscript. I recently remembered The Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, a yearly bound guide to find magazine and scholarly journal articles we used back in the day when doing research papers. I know I used this a few times in high school and in college, as I was in high school and began college before the Internet, finishing college as the Internet was coming into vogue. I recalled last year how I had to write a 10-page paper for my exit requirement in college and how that was the longest paper I remember typing before beginning work on my memoir. Which now is over 210 pages.
For a while last year, I was hesitant about beginning my memoir. I had been inspired by another person's bestselling, iconic memoir of one of the best-known antidepressants of all time and felt I could not do the same. But my boss reminded me of the fact the things have evolved over the years and that it had been more than 20 years since Prozac Nation had been written. Indeed all this is true and I have been seeing this in my writing and in some of the things we see and hear about today. It's been almost 30 years since Prozac was approved by the FDA for depression treatment and it's till in use today. My psychiatrist says he prescribes Prozac the most because it's been around the longest out of all the commonly prescribed antidepressants.
I've also been looking up information on dysthymia as fewer seem to have this form of depression than others. Bipolar disorder seems more common and has been written about more often (I began to suspect early on that it might be what I have).
Some things are different today and some are still the same even as they evolve over time.
