Revising and editing: How to take the headache out of editing a life story

Revising and editing: How to take the headache out of editing a life story. Red life ring hanging on a sandston wall. Photo by pixabay.com

Ask Nicola Q&A: The easy way to decide what’s included in an autobiography, memoir, biography or life-story project

Welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

I get lots of questions about creating life stories for family and friends.

Today’s Ask Nicola answers the following query:

What things shouldn’t I include in a story about my life? What needs revising and editing?

Firstly great question! So let’s explore how we can quickly boil an entire life down to its essence … 

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They Don’t Pay Me To Say No: Dean Goodine’s Hollywood star-studded memoir on a life in props

They Don’t Pay Me To Say No: Dean Goodine’s Hollywood star-studded memoir on a life in props. Dean alone at 3353m (11,000ft) with actor Idris Elba's backpack on The Mountain Between Us, book cover of They Don't Pay Me To Say No: My Life in Film and Television Props, and a portrait photo of Goodine taking a break in the shootout for the western Open Range directed by Kevin Costner. Photos by Dean Goodine and FriesenPress
They Don’t Pay Me To Say No: My Life in Film and Television Props by Dean Goodine (centre), Goodine pictured taking a break in the shootout for the western Open Range directed by Kevin Costner (right), and alone at 3353m (11,000ft) with actor Idris Elba’s backpack on The Mountain Between Us (left). Photos by Dean Goodine and FriesenPress

Case study: Canadian Property Master’s entertaining life story goes behind the scenes of film and TV hits

Canadian Prop Master Dean Goodine’s new life-story book details the highs and lows of 36 years working with stars such as Clint Eastwood, Brad Pitt, Jason Momoa and more.

They Don’t Pay Me To Say No: My Life in Film and Television Props, by FriesenPress, goes behind the scenes to show how props are integral to the success of any movie or TV show. 

Goodine has worked on everything from Oscar-nominated feature films like Unforgiven, network TV shows like Stargate SGI, streaming hits like A Series of Unfortunate Events plus small independent films.

Forever Young Autobiographies caught up with him to find out more about his book, how he wrote it plus suggestions for first-time writers … 

Continue reading They Don’t Pay Me To Say No: Dean Goodine’s Hollywood star-studded memoir on a life in props

Dad’s memories: A Father’s Day story about interviewing my dad

Dad’s memories: A Father’s Day story about interviewing my dad. A dad and two young boys stand looking out to sea at sundown. Photo by Maria Lindsey of Pexels.

Case study: How I started recording my father’s memories in 3 steps

It’s Father’s Day here in Australia this Sunday.

And unlike past years with COVID lockdowns and restrictions it will be possible to meet up with family and friends! 

So I’ll be going on a long overdue camping trip with my father who is visiting from interstate.

But it is also the perfect time to let you in on the life-story project I’ve started to record dad’s memories …

Continue reading Dad’s memories: A Father’s Day story about interviewing my dad