September 2020 - Forever Young Autobiographies

Editing: Don’t try self editing before reading this!

A copy editor’s 4 quick and easy tips for revising and editing your own work

First published May 31, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.

I’ve panelbeaten countless stories into shape working as a newspaper subeditor in Australia and England.

Indeed, reading and correcting acres of copy is all part of the job!

But pruning and tightening is also an essential step for those who have written a first draft of an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

A small amount of time spent ‘polishing’ a manuscript is a wonderful investment.

Firstly, it will help you become a better writer and secondly, you will be a reader crowd-pleaser.

So here are my top editing suggestions to make your writing shine so it is ‘all killer and no filler’!

Case study: Life coach pens powerful memoir Point Me to the Skies to help others

Jessica Lynn Jacquez on writing and growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area

New writer Jessica Lynn Jacquez’s mem o ir Point Me to the Skies is full of resilience, courage and faith.

The certified life coach was born in Oakland, California, and grew up trying to survive tumult and violence.

Firstly Jacquez says her relationship with her mother was defined by “deep-rooted brokenness and drug and alcohol abuse” but with hints of unconditional love.

Meanwhile her father was destructive and troublesome.

However, Jacquez was forced to escape after developing a relationship with a man who mirrored her turbulent past.

Indeed she made a powerful comeback “proving that anything is possible”.

Jacquez now lives with her husband David on America’s East Coast.

And this week she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at why and how she wrote the powerful life story plus valuable tips for new writers …

Ask Nicola Q&A: What you should know about Forever Young Autobiographies publishing services

Forever Young Autobiographies publishing services. Open book sits on a beach with pages curved into a heart shape. Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

Everything you need to know about my new life-story publishing services

Hello and welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

As a life-story writing coach I’m asked questions about planning, writing, polishing and publishing life stories for family and friends.

And in this series I reveal how I help new writers just like you!

So this edition of Ask Nicola answers the following question:

What are the new Forever Young Autobiographies publishing services? Can you tell me more?

Thanks for this top question!

I’m super excited to now be able to offer Forever Young Autobiographies publishing services (plus a special readers’ deal below!) in addition to writer coaching calls.

Perhaps you don’t want to sit down to write, are time poor or worried about technical hurdles to publish an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project?

That’s were I can help as a professional life-story coach and experienced daily newspaper print editor.

Chapters: 3 questions answered about book chapters

How to make chapters + master chapter length

During quarantine periods many of my friends and family have been doing puzzles.

This has included small puzzles and huge ‘take-over-the-kitchen-table’ style jigsaws.

Indeed, for some, puzzles have become a source of daily addiction!

When we write an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project we ‘piece together’ a story just like doing a puzzle.

Certainly, as we move through the planning, writing, polishing and publishing phases chapters become the puzzle pieces that connect to reveal our greater life story.

So before you sit down to write again discover the importance of chapters for you and your reader …