Story detail: Identifying key details in a story to make your autobiography shine

Story detail: Identifying key details in a story to make your autobiography shine. Woman holding up a young child at a beach on sunset or sunrise.

What every memoir writer should know about finding details in a story

First published July 2017: This article has been updated and improved.

If I told you a story about a father helping to deliver his daughter in a hospital car park at night, you might think it an uncommon event.

It I then told you that it was Father’s Day and this dad had to hold the torch for the midwives while the baby was delivered in a matter of minutes, you might think it was pretty interesting.

Now what if I told you that this father was actually himself born on Father’s Day and that his last child was born on Mother’s Day, you might think I was making the whole story up! 

Continue reading Story detail: Identifying key details in a story to make your autobiography shine

Podcast special: Three tips to help you transform your autobiography

Part 2: A discussion with child expert Karen Lock Kolp about Your Family Stories and preserving family legacy

In my last article I wrote about appearing on the podcast We Turned Out Okay: The modern parent’s guide to old-school parenting.

Host Karen Lock Kolp M.Ed. had me on the show to talk about my new book Your Family Stories: Easily capture your loved ones’ memories for future generations and to inspire her listeners to record family life stories and memories this Christmas and holiday season.

During the show Karen talked about her family and I raised a number of tips for compiling an autobiography including; using the senses to tap into memories, the power of establishing emotional connections with your audience, and key reasons why YOUR story matters.

Continue reading Podcast special: Three tips to help you transform your autobiography

Celebrating family on the We Turned Out Okay podcast

A discussion with child expert Karen Lock Kolp about Your Family Stories and preserving family legacy

Last week I had the great honour of appearing on the We Turned Out Okay: The modern parent’s guide to old-school parenting podcast as its episode 200 guest!

The popular American parenting podcast was founded and is hosted by Karen Lock Kolp M.Ed. to help parents understand their young kids and be happier at home.

Karen is an expert in child development and also runs the Ninja Parenting Community, a place where she helps parents “solve their toughest challenges every day”.

She had me on the show to talk about my new book Your Family Stories: Easily capture your loved ones’ memories for future generations and to inspire her listeners to record family life stories and memories this Christmas and holiday season. Continue reading Celebrating family on the We Turned Out Okay podcast