Forever Young Autobiographies

Gift giving for writers 2020: See how easily you can get gift giving sorted

How to get ideas for Secret Santa and Christmas wish lists in record time

It is the time of year when birthdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas begin to roll into one.

And it is also the time of year when we swap our writers’ hats for elves’ hats.

It has been one crazy year with Coronavirus quarantine and we all deserve a bit of cheer and gift giving in our lives.

Therefore I’ve come up with a few present ideas for yourself or the writers in your life.

These gifts would be perfect for those sitting down to write an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

And are helpful no matter how far along a writing journey: planning, writing, editing or publishing.

So spread a little joy with these gift giving ideas to suit all price points …

Book dedication: How to do book dedications in 5 minutes

Amazing secrets about dedication meaning and book dedication examples

We are giving thanks this week as Thanksgiving Day and Christmas holidays loom.

So today’s life-story article is dedicated to … dedications!

Indeed it’s funny how important things can fly under the radar.

Certainly when sitting down to write there is much to think about and consider.

For example, planning, writing, editing and polishing our autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

However, it is important to remember to write a dedication before printing.

So let’s take a look at what exactly is a book dedication, why it’s needed and how to craft one.

Book review: Pulitzer Prize winner The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewart

Biography of a Rhodes Scholar and the father of the Harlem Renaissance by Oxford University Press

The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke by Jeffrey C. Stewart is a formidable biography on the life and influence of this leading professor, art critic and aesthete.

The book is a solid but illuminating read at 944 pages and was first published by Oxford University Press USA in 2018.

Stewart is a Professor of the Department of Black Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

And is well equipped to lead us on the journey of Locke’s life during the 1800-1900s in segregate America.

Indeed, the biography has won huge acclaim, most notably as winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Biography and winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Nonfiction.

So let’s take a look at what this model life-story on the father of the Harlem Renaissance is about and what we can takeaway to improve our own writing …

Case study: Hang-glider star pens memoir The Phoenix Rising about traumatic brain injury and survival

Life story by nurse Helen Ross Lee shines spotlight on the amazing power of brain neuroplasticity

Helen Ross Lee is living proof that what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.

In 2008 the former high-achieving female hang-gliding competition pilot from Queensland, Australia, suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

The sportswoman, nurse and mother’s life was changed forever.

Over the past 12 years, Lee has slowly re-networked her brain to think, talk and walk plus found love again.

But one of her greatest rewards has been publishing her life-story book The Phoenix Rising.

“In writing my book, I have learned the art of survival. It has not been easy,” Lee said.

“I’ve learned some valuable things and I’ve had to let go of some things that were holding me back.

“I’ve learned that there’s a vast difference between knowledge, understanding and wisdom.”

So keep reading to find out more about Lee’s inspiring and extraordinary life-story journey …

Ask Nicola Q&A: 4 tips to remember when turning a book into an ebook

What life-story writers ought to know about creating a hyperlink, how to make a PDF + more!

G’day and welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

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

And in this Q&A series I explain how I help writers just like you who are sitting down to write an autobiography, biography, memoir or other life-story project!

So this edition answers the question:

How can I make an ebook? Is it as simple as saving my Microsoft Word manuscript as a PDF file format? What other things do I need to think about?

Case study: Daughter helps retired Brisbane dad write his autobiography

Retiree editor uses surefire way to record father’s life story

First published June 14, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.

Beginning a life-story project is often about timing.

Certainly this was the case for former editor Jan and her father when they sat down to compile his autobiography in Brisbane, Queensland.

Indeed both were retired and considered the idea unbeknown to each other!

“I had been thinking about some sort of record of his life story for a while but hadn’t got any further than thinking about it,” Jan said.

“Once dad retired it seemed the time was right.

“While he now has spare time he seems to be really enjoying being retired but he enjoyed his life-story project and put a lot of effort into it.”

Jan started the life story with help from the Your Family Stories System and today gives us the lowdown on how the project unfolded plus what she found most rewarding …

Best online writing tools: Story writing apps and writing programs to try and love

How to write a life story using best writing software (online dictionary, Grammarly, Rev + more!)

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 …

Good writing: Writing tips on how to become a better writer (plus writing prompts free training)

4 amazing ways to overcome ‘bad writer’ fears and build writing confidence

First published July 12, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.

I hear many people say they need to be a ‘good writer’ to start an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

Or folks say they couldn’t possibly put pen to paper because they didn’t do well at school.

Indeed, for years I told myself this too when time and again my school work came back riddled with red-pen corrections.

However, I was lucky others encouraged and supported me to keep sitting down to write.

Now, as a long-time print editor and life-story coach, I’m here to do the same for you!

So keep reading for my top good writing tips (and free writing prompts training!) to help you start and continue recording life stories …

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 …