The Memoir Workbook: A Step-by Step Guide to Help You Brainstorm, Organize, and Write Your Unique Story (Writer's Toolbox) Paperback – December 19, 2017

A year ago I started writing about the last time I saw my father. I was stationed overseas at the time. His ship was in port for three days. I have already made a crude sequential outline and have organized the documents that I use to refresh my memory.I received "THE MEMOIR WORKBOOK" by C. S.Lakin three days ago. I scimmed it yesterday. Today I started annotating up to page 8.This book has already provided useful guidance for my project. such Double Parallel Timelines on page 119 and recommended reading on page 116.

I have been learning about writing memoir for several months now. I have done a lot of reading, took a couple live online classes, and have exposed myself to various video platforms to learn more. I've had this book for a little bit and finally took a closer look at it. From what I have learned so far, this book is excellent! It is relevant, insightful, thought provoking, and hits all the "how to write a memoir" targets. I am excited to get started as I add this workbook to my list of meaningful resources. Thanks to the author!

Now, I am the daughter of a college professor & writer who would “correct my papers before handing them in through my entire student life- I came to this book with a preexisting knowledge of ‘how’ to write. A background education in writing will be paramount to success before using a resource like this book. That being said…So happy I purchased this! Great advice and helpful with organizing thoughts and getting a layout put together. I’m excited to release my first memoir.

great product fast shipping

I disagree with two things the author discusses in her book. Before I start, I should say that I have been a professional writer for 30 years. I am also a successful non-fiction author. I bought this book because memoir is a different type of writing.I am mentioning these things not to put down the book, but simply give you another perspective. Because I really REALLY disagree.The first piece is the advice she gave about telegraphing to the reader that you’re OK so you don’t scare them. Oh my God. How many movies have you seen? How many TV shows? How many of them hinge on putting the characters in danger and then going to a TV commercial or a summer break?YOUR READER CAN HANDLE IT. YOU DID. You want to get them caught up in the story and you don’t want to telegraph the ending while they’re still in the middle. Are you one of those people who ruins the ending of the movie for people who haven’t seen it?Her second piece of advice goes along with the first: no gory details. Yet the first things that you learned as a writer is that detail is everything. You always want to use the senses: taste, smell, sight, hearing. Maybe I forgot one. Oh well.If your memoir is about a physical accident you recovered from, you bet you want those details about how your body was banged up.Maybe it now takes you 20 minutes to go to the bathroom with all the things you have to do. How can we empathize with you if you don’t tell us what they are?Maybe you’re a man who is having prostate surgery and you are worried about impotence.Let’s say the doctor is going over your options, and she is talking about the procedure in which you have a device implanted; when you squeeze your testicles, you get an erection. Those details are important!(However, gory stuff that is irrelevant can be skipped, just like gratuitous violence and gratuitous sexuality can be skipped. Every word needs to have a purpose.)The thing that confuses me about these two pieces of advice is that they go against general writing guidelines. In fiction, certainly you want to foreshadow, but don’t give away the ending. And always use detail and tickle the senses.I don’t understand how she could get these basics wrong, unless she believes that memoir writing somehow makes these irrelevant.Maybe I am missing her point and she means something else entirely. I would not mind at all if she would clarify herself or make a case for her advice and I would be happy to revise my review if she changes my thinking.

A professional editor recommended this to me and I'm so glad she did! It helped me tremendously in my thought process with how to dig up and tell my stories with good aim and direction. I'm excited to follow the author and get more help on my writing journey.

I had decided years ago to write a book, which I plan to have in bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, by this time next year or early 2023 at the latest. Working with this book brought out my creative side I once had during my dance days and I was able to think outside of the box. I finished tonight, after purchasing this last year. What's my next step? Work on the additional writing prompts in the book and seek free writing classes online. To all of you aspiring authors out there, good luck in all of your future endeavors!

I read this as soon as I received it cover to cover. I like it’s easy read and easy to follow instructions. I recommend this book.