Forever Young Autobiographies

Writing challenge – part 2: 6 things to remember before you hold a family stories interview

What a professional journalist knows about conducting life-story interviews

First published March 22, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.

Welcome to the fun stay-at-home family stories writing challenge part 2!

As we bunker down in quarantine this Easter period, I’m throwing it out there to connect with someone close to you and compile a life-story feature article.

This could be your parents, grandparents or another loved one and involve the help of your children as a special lockdown activity.

For part 1 of the challenge we got ready for a successful phone or video interview.

In this writing challenge part 2 I share some interview tips I’ve picked up over years working as a daily newspaper journalist.

All ideas come from the Your Family Stories System: Easily capture your loved ones’ memories for future generations.

So get comfy and let’s get started …

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 …

Writing at home: Here’s to writing during coronavirus self-isolation

Your Family Stories System deal + why writing during COVID-19 home quarantine is good!

The past few weeks my family and I have been working and schooling from home.

News about the coronavirus is everywhere and we have been warned to stay inside and self-isolate.

It is hard to know what is going on, to keep a level head and heart.

But in these troubled times sitting down to calmly write seems to help.

Today’s article is all about why life-story w r iting at home is good for you.

Plus read on for a quarantine discount on the Your Family Stories System: the ultimate guide for easily capturing your loved ones’ memories for future generations …

Ask Nicola Q&A: Your most burning book questions about types of editors

What you should know about the 4 different types of edits

Hi and welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

As a print editor, I get many queries about planning, writing, polishing and publishing life stories for family and friends.

And in this series I aim to give you a peek into how I help fellow writers.

Today’s Ask Nicola answers the following question:

I have finished the first draft of my book. What are the different types of editors? And which one is most important?

Book review: Journalist Stephanie Wood’s Fake by Penguin Random House

‘Love in a world of liars, cheats, narcissists, fantasists and phonies’ by an ex-Fairfax Media staff writer

I love the book title of Fake by Stephanie Wood.

Such a simple name for such a complex story of love, lies and loss in the modern world of internet dating.

Fake was released by Vintage Australia (Penguin Random House Australia) last year and has been nominated for the Australian Book Industry Awards 2020.

Wood is an award-winning long-form writer and a former senior staff writer at Fairfax Media’s Good Weekend magazine.

A survivor of a toxic relationship, her book is a firsthand account and stark warning to others.

Fake has many highlights that can help us start and finish our own writing, whether that be an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

Let’s take a closer look…

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.

Dialogue like a pro: See how easily you can use speech marks and quotes in writing

The quick and simple way for writing dialogue and using quotation marks

Writing dialogue can scare some people.

They feel like they are off the beaten track in the punctuation wilderness.

But the truth is great quotes really lift an autobiography, memoir, biography or life-story project.

And learning to use speech marks is nowhere near as strenuous as hiking cross country.

As a newspaper print editor I’ve helped many reporters easily understand how to use quotes in writing.

And I can help you too no matter if you are just starting to write or polishing a manuscript.

So get comfy in your fave writing spot and get set to write dialogue like a pro…

Writing tips: The ultimate guide of life-story tips for new writers

All the writing advice you need to write a life story today

If starting a life-story project has you feeling worried or anxious you need some lifesaving writing tips.

This week I’ve prepared the ultimate guide of writing tips for new writers.

It aims to equip you to confidently put pen to paper today!

This guide is part two in the ‘ultimate series’, which includes the ultimate guide about planning to write life stories, the ultimate guide to polishing your writing and the ultimate guide to publishing a life story.

Foreign words: How to clearly write foreign phrases and foreign expressions in 5mins

The fast way to writing foreign words and meaning in your book

A friend recently came to me with a foreign words question, specifically about translating New Zealand Maori.

She asked what was the best way to introduce and use foreign words and foreign phrases in an autobiography, memoir, biography or life story?

Curiosity sent me on a deep dive of style guides to confirm some suggestions.

Even if you don’t write many foreign words you probably use jargon or vernacular that will need explanation before your book gets to the publishing stage.

I know, as an Aussie, we use loads of slang that leaves non-Aussies puzzled!

So read on for some you beaut (excellent) ways to deal with foreign words and expressions in your writing.

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.