I used to watch a TV show called Clean Sweep. It always started with a room in complete disarray with so much clutter that you couldn't see anything. It always ended with a beautiful room featuring a few prized possessions that had formerly been hidden in the clutter. In the middle, the expert organizer, Peter Walsh*, had to be ruthless to help ... Read More
April 22, 2021 Leave a Comment
April 7, 2021 2 Comments
Writing Momentum
Have you noticed that when you get into a writing rhythm, the writing becomes easier? Conversely, if you've let some time go by without writing, you might find you have developed some resistance to returning to the project. It's like when you're riding a bike uphill and you have to stop for something. When you start back up, that first 100 ... Read More
June 4, 2020 Leave a Comment
Make Your Memoir Worthwhile
If you are writing a memoir or autobiography for yourself or your family, you may have asked yourself if it will be worth your time. Here are a few tips on how to make your memoir worthwhile. Make sure you identify your objectives and your intended audience before you start. Click here to download our FREE Define Your Life Stories Project ... Read More
November 21, 2019 Leave a Comment
What’s Stopping You From Writing 15 Minutes Today?
This is not a judgment. It is not a question designed to make you feel guilty, so please don't. The reason I'm asking what is stopping you from writing 15 minutes today, is to get you to think about and answer it honestly. Most of you will say you were too busy. That's a legitimate reason. However, when was the last time you weren't busy? I ... Read More
October 19, 2019 Leave a Comment
Thinking About Writing a Memoir or an Autobiography?
Whether you're thinking of writing your own memoir or autobiography, or just looking for ideas on ways to share your stories, your advice, or the history of your family, MemoirHelper.com is a great place to start. Our goal is to provide you with tips, tools, and resources to help you find the best way to accomplish your goals. The resources on ... Read More
October 12, 2018 Leave a Comment
Writing About Family and Friends
In any life stories project, writing about family and friends can be one of the most challenging issues. Of course, you want the stories to be truthful and complete, but there are all sorts of worries and concerns that may arise when you start writing about your own family and friends. Here are some common concerns... Fear of making someone ... Read More
January 24, 2018 Leave a Comment
Life Stories in a Three-Ring Binder
One of the themes you may have noticed around here is that we want to encourage you to not only start your life stories project, but also to FINISH it. If you have made the effort to write it all down, don't let obstacles near the finish line set you back. If nothing else, print or copy your work on 3-hole punch paper and put it in a three-ring ... Read More
February 18, 2017 Leave a Comment
What Qualities Make a Good Memoir?
There is a wide range of topics and styles in memoir writing. So to answer the question "What qualities make a good memoir?", I decided to read customer reviews on a bunch of memoirs on Amazon. I noted adjectives that were commonly used throughout the reviews. It was actually surprising to find the same words and phrases used to describe wildly ... Read More
November 17, 2016 Leave a Comment
Do You Have What it Takes to Write a Memoir?
Have you been thinking about preserving your life stories, but wondering if you have what it takes to write a memoir or autobiography? Most of MemoirHelper.com is geared for people who don't write professionally and are only hoping to share their stories with family, friends, and future generations. This simple exercise was designed to help ... Read More
June 30, 2016 Leave a Comment
Writing About Negative Experiences
Many memoir writers struggle with writing about negative experiences, even though they are vital to explaining the writer's point of view. Some people just don't like to "dwell on the negative" while others are uncomfortable sharing their worst moments or traits, or those of someone they love. There are at least a couple of reasons that you ... Read More
