G’day and welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.
Regularly I get questions about creating life stories for family and friends.
Today’s Ask Nicola question is:
Why is theme important when editing?
So let’s jump into a few key points about themes to keep in mind when polishing your work …
Continue reading Why is theme important: Use themes to create and edit life stories
AI or Artificial Intelligence is a trending topic and for many reasons.
But how, if at all, can it be helpful for us as life-story creators?
Recently I took a test drive of different AI platforms and applications.
So keep reading to find out what I discovered (without the tech jargon!) plus easy ways you can use AI to get creative …
Continue reading AI: Artificial Intelligence tips I’m trying for life stories
Welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.
Each week I get queries about creating life stories for family and friends.
Today’s Ask Nicola question is:
How do you know when you are finished a life-story project?
So let’s dive into a few key considerations to finish a life story …
Continue reading Finish a life story: How to know when your project is finished
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 …
Continue reading Revising and editing: How to take the headache out of editing a life story
Often on morning beach walks I see primary students surfing for school sport.
First their coaches begin with a quick lesson on the sand and then everyone hits the water.
Similarly, a writing and editing life-story coach gets ‘in the water’ to help improve your confidence and skills.
And they are usually keeping an eye on three things …
Continue reading Writing and editing: 3 insider coaching call tips
First published July 26, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.
Hands up if you or your spouse are bad at reading maps?
Indeed the experience can be stressful, frustrating … and perhaps a tad funny!
Thankfully bad map readers are a dying breed given new tools like in-car navigation systems and smartphone map apps.
But technology is not just for the car.
Certainly it can help us pull into the fast lane to fix spelling and grammar during the writing process.
Therefore, here are my best online writing tools to keep you on track when you sit down to write an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.
So rev the engine and let’s get started …
Continue reading Best online writing tools: Story writing apps and writing programs to try and love
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’!
Continue reading Editing: Don’t try self editing before reading this!
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.
Continue reading Ask Nicola Q&A: What you should know about Forever Young Autobiographies publishing services
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 …
Continue reading Chapters: 3 questions answered about book chapters
I like gardening, specifically pruning.
Hacking into overgrown trees and shrubs with a pair of loppers is just so satisfying!
However, when these ‘flowery’ limbs are paragraphs in your life-story project it gets a bit more difficult.
Indeed, often we are attached to our writing or are confused about what parts need work or culling.
But just like a wildly overgrown garden, a first draft definitely needs taming.
Therefore, in this ultimate guide I show you how to sit down to edit and come up with a final draft of which you will be proud.
This guide is part three in the ‘ultimate series’, which includes the ultimate guide about planning to write life stories, the ultimate guide of life-story tips for new writers and the ultimate guide to publishing a life story.
Okay, roll up your sleeves and let’s get pruning!
Continue reading Edit: The ultimate guide to polishing your writing