Writers Write will present Secrets of a
Memoirist from June 25 to 28 in Durban:
“Everybody
has a story to tell. This is true. What is not true is that every story
deserves to be published.
Many
people think they have a story that is unique, or one that has never been told
before, or one that is so shocking / amazing / sensational that a publisher
will not only buy it, but also offer to write and edit it for them. This is not
going to happen. Even if you are famous. It is a fallacy that celebrity equals
book sales. Most readers of books are not interested in a book ‘written’ by a
Kardashian or a Snooki
Many
wanna-be writers think they just have to get it down and send it to someone,
and magic happens. Or they truly believe it is who you know that gets you
published. This means they don’t work on the writing. They work on trying to
get published. Thankfully, most people don’t have the self-discipline to
scribble down the usual first-draft essay that is submitted to publishers as a
Memoir.
However,
if you are serious about telling your story, and if you believe you have a
story worth telling, how do you make sure your story has a chance in a
competitive marketplace?
Five Essential
Tips for Writing Memoirs:
Have you
done your homework? You should already be writing every day. An athlete or a
musician or a chef needs to practise every day if they want to become good in
their chosen fields. A writer is no different. Do your apprenticeship. Start a blog,
keep a journal, and write for 30 minutes every day. Become comfortable with the
writing process. Journal about everything you would eventually like to include
in your memoir.
Can you
be honest? Readers pick up on writers who are trying to whitewash their
memoirs, or present themselves as a tragic character. Readers want to know your
truth – not the sugar-coated version of your story. Even if you were abused
daily for 15 years, or you’ve been widowed four times, or you were kidnapped,
you have to show yourself as a flawed, real person.
What is
different about your story? How are you going to get the attention of agents,
publishers, and readers? Your memoir should offer readers a new insight. There
are no new stories and many people have been through versions of your story.
You have to find a way to make your journey memorable. This is where the art of
showing comes in. If you can show and not tell, you are more likely to get this
right.
Going
beyond survival. Great memoirs are never about the main character surviving.
Most people survive. They are about what the main character does after
surviving. Readers love to be filled with hope. They love to read about
characters who triumph against the odds, even in small ways. If you get this
right you will appeal to a large audience. Even if your book is about surviving
grief, it should appeal to someone who has never experienced what you have gone
through.
You need
to know how to tell a story. Good writers know what to leave out of their
memoirs. Most people who want to write memoirs include everything and this
doesn’t work. Good writers know that the only scenes that have a place in a
memoir are the ones that tell your story and stick to the theme of the memoir. Go
on a writing course, research what makes a book readable, and read a lot of
books. A great course on writing memoirs like Secrets of a Memoirist will show
you how to do this.”
Writing
a memoir is a beautiful, frustrating, exhilarating, time-consuming,
life-changing, often painful, and always rewarding, experience. Good luck and
happy writing.”
Secrets of a Memoirist will be presented
from June 25 to 28 June in Durban. For more information contact Writers Write
on email: news@writerswrite.co.za or visit www.writerswrite.co.za
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