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Inspirational quotes: 10 positive quotes you should try to boost your writing!

Quick and easy motivation quote tips + writing goals course deal!

Can you believe we are halfway through the year?

And what a crazy year it has been!

I’m assuming, like me, some of your writing goals have been battered by COVID-19 and the dramas of life?

However, let’s all pause to take a deep breath, refocus our writing goals and get set for a good finish to the year.

Therefore, to help you get motivated to sit down and write I’ve gathered a few inspirational quotes.

Certainly, these inspirational quotes will help whether you are writing an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

Plus, keep reading as I have a special half-yearly deal available on the Setting Writing Goals Guide for writers!

Let’s do this!

Writing challenge – part 1: Join in some stay-at-home Easter fun!

Get set to interview a loved one and record family stories

First published March 8, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.

I have a fun three-part writing challenge for readers as we all ‘stay at home’ this Easter.

Most importantly Easter symbolises new beginnings and fresh starts.

Traditionally a time of family get-togethers, it offers us an opportunity to reconnect, bond and help record a loved one’s autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

Therefore over the next few weeks I challenge you to sit down and write a life-story feature article about your mum, dad, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle or someone else dear to you.

You can do this solo or join forces with your children as an extra special lockdown project!

The tips I’ll be sharing are from the Your Family Stories System: Easily capture your loved ones’ memories for future generations.

The first writing challenge step is getting ready for a successful phone interview …

Talking about coronavirus

I hope you and your family are healthy during this virus pandemic.

My family and I are thinking of you especially if you or a loved one is suffering with the virus.

Write together: Writing with a loved one as a co-author or writing partner

Amazing secrets about writing together from a life-story book coach

First published February 8, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.

Writing an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life story can be a very solitary pursuit but it doesn’t have to be.

Your husband or wife may be the perfect support person for your project.

But including them in additional ways from the very beginning can make for a more holistic book.

After years together you and your partner’s life stories have naturally become interwoven.

Therefore it is a given that when you sit down to write your book will include a little or a lot about their life as well.

Following on from St Valentine’s Day, this week’s article explores ways to include your partner in your life-story writing project.

Working with a writing coach: 3 questions to ask when choosing a life-writing teacher

Plus a Valentine’s Day coaching call deal you will love!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all the autobiography, memoir and biography writers out there!

Sitting down to write a life story to be shared among friends and family can be a glorious act of love.

But while you may have started the writing year full of enthusiasm, sometimes the romantic writing glow wanes and you need a hand.

Working with a writing coach can help you recover your writing mojo!

Here are three questions you should ask before you book a date with a writing coach.

Plus keep reading as I share the love with a special coaching call offer for Forever Young Autobiography followers …

Life-story interview: How to set-up an interview + family interview tips

The easy way to get an interview and capture family stories

First published November 30, 2017: This article has been updated and improved.

The recent Christmas holiday season was a terrific time to catch up with family and loved ones.

Getting together for a meal, barbecue or beach trip is an amazing opportunity to share memories: from the newly minted to well-heard favourites and forgotten gems.

If these captured your interest why not keep the momentum going by making it a goal this year to tee up a life-story interview with a loved one such as a parent, grandparent or dear friend.

Keep reading for my top tips and suggestions from the Your Family Stories System to do just that …

Why write: Why is writing important and why do we write

How to find your reasons to write and finish a powerful life story

We are surrounded by other people’s stories our whole lives.

I especially noticed this when I started working as a print journalist, exposed to dozens of life stories every shift: tragic, happy, dramatic or miraculous.

Now, as a mother of two young children, I find myself reflecting on the lives of my parents, grandparents and others.

I look to their lives for inspiration, wisdom and a heart-warming or entertaining story!

These were some of the ‘why write’ reasons that prompted me to help my dad’s mum write her life story.

Identifying your own whys can similarly inspire you to start, write and finish an autobiography.

Here are three top ‘why write’ reasons to help focus your mind and expectations before sitting down to begin a life-story project.

How to start writing: The ultimate guide about planning to write life stories

What a life-story writer knows about making a writing plan

My children received a new kite for Christmas.

They love to watch its colourful tail dance in the wind when we go to the beach.

But when it’s time to go home the kite tail and string is usually one giant tangled, sandy mess!

This looks like a mission impossible but with patience everything is fixed and again flying high.

Taking the first step to plan an autobiography, memoir, biography or life-story project of your own or for a loved one can similarly feel like a task for the too-hard basket!

However, knowing how to start writing isn’t difficult with a bit of planning.

To celebrate the beginning of a new year (and decade!) I’ve compiled an ultimate guide of pre-writing tips.

This guide is part one in the ‘ultimate series’, which includes the ultimate guide of life-story tips for new writers, the ultimate guide to polishing your writing and the ultimate guide to publishing a life story.

So jump in and get set to make 2020 the year you finish a life story and let it soar!

How to write an autobiography in four simple steps

How to write an autobiography in four steps. Green hedge with a heart-shape hole with blue sky in background. Photo by Pixabay

What a writing coach knows about how to write a memoir and how to write a book about someone’s life

I once went into a maze in England.

It was one of those high-hedge varieties that you see in Alice in Wonderland movies.

Although I didn’t encounter The Queen of Hearts or a Mad Hatter, I definitely felt like I was going a little bit crazy looking for an exit.

The fact that I was laughing at myself the whole time didn’t help!

It wasn’t until I remembered the ‘maze secret’ – always turn left – that I had a path to freedom.

What a difference a good tip makes!

The same can be said about how to write an autobiography.

There are so many tasks to think about and do to complete your life story that it can be overwhelming without a ‘roadmap’.

Don’t waste your time jumping down rabbit holes, follow these key steps to create an extraordinary family record.

New course! Introducing the Setting Writing Goals Guide for life-story writers

Everything memoir writers need to know about imagining inspiring dreams and setting smart goals

This week I’m excited to share I have a new writing goals course for sale specifically for life-story writers!

The Setting Writing Goals Course is designed especially for writers of autobiographies, memoirs and biographies.

It is all about imagining inspiring dreams and smart goal setting to start, write and finish a writing project for yourself or a loved one.

As readers of my website you are the first to hear about the writing goals course!