What does it take to write a memoir?

"Writing is easy. All you have to do is sit at your desk 

until blood 

spurts out of your forehead."

I have a question for you readers:  Would you benefit from having a writing coach help you with writing your memoir?  If you do, I want to hear from you. My email is tom@tomplummer.com.

I have been coaching several people in writing their memoirs, and from that experience, I can say with some authority that numerous factors go into writing one.

1) Time. Most successful writers, not all, have set aside time, a specified, limited amount of time each day to write. The old complaint, "I plan to write my memoir someday, but I just haven't gotten to it," doesn't wash. A half hour a day, and hour a day writing will kill no one.

2) Even experienced writers are stumped when writing about their lives. Most are confused with what they hope to see as their end product. Most need help in learning to write details, to write in scene, and to balance narrative styles. Some  can do this by taking workshops or classes or by working one-on-one with a trained and seasoned writing coach.  Many find that they are unable to travel or have no idea how to find a writing coach.

3) Courage and training. Many who tackle a memoir have had a rough path in their lives. Teaching memoir for 20 years with Louise at Brigham Young University convinced me that hardships outweigh or certainly balance normal life styles. Writing about family hardships can feel intimidating, embarrassing, shameful, and humiliating. Professional coaching will help. Whether taking a seminar or college class working one-on-one with a writing coach can teach you strategies for writing your stories that are honest and far reaching.

4) Feedback. Most of us need feedback from one person or another about our writing, our style, our grammar, and generally our writing skills. The best feedback will not come from family members, whose memories conflict with yours. A writing coach can help you formulate your memories, not someone else's memories.

I have developed a program for coaching people either locally or long distance. Chat sessions online for an hour each week are proving to help people write with more detail, more confidence, and more purpose for the end result of their efforts.

My question is this. Should I expand my efforts? Do you need help writing your memoir? Would a writing coach help?

If you are interested, you may comment here. Or you may email me at tom@tomplummer.com.  I'll be happy to chat with you about your project and how I might be able to help you get underway.