Forever Young Autobiographies

Book review: Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Becoming by Penguin Books Ltd

A revealing memoir about life before and during the office of US president Obama

The book Becoming by Michelle Obama has been a powerhouse bestseller for years.

This memoir’s been on my reading list since it was published by Penguin Books Ltd in late 2018.

However, a document a ry about the Becoming book tour has also been released this year on Netflix.

I recently got hold of the audiobook version, read by the former First Lady of the United States of America herself.

It was an eye-opening account of a woman who is much more than what is portrayed on stage and in the media.

She has a fighting spirit and much to teach us as fellow writers who are planning, writing, polishing or publishing an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.

Let’s take a look…

Book layout: Don’t start a book layout without these 7 book-design tips!

Amazing book page layout help about fonts, chapters, running heads and MORE!

Ever get the feeling you are opening a can of worms?

I sure do when I check my young bug-loving son’s pant pockets to put on a load of laundry.

What will I find: a ‘fossil’ rock, a dead caterpillar, a fistful of sand?

Likewise, you might feel you have opened a ‘book layout’ can of worms when you get to the polishing stage of your life-story project.

This is because book layout and design terms can seem like another language!

I recently went through the book layout process for my grandmother’s autobiography.

So today I’m breaking down the key terms in plain English for newbie writers.

Keep reading for my top book-layout tips and secret book-design weapon …

Case study: Secrets to writing my 100yo grandmother’s autobiography

Part 3: What every aspiring life-story writer ought to know about telling family stories

“It’s beautiful” my grandmother Bonnie, 99, said through tears as she took the first look at her printed autobiography book.

“We did it together,” she said hugging me.

My family and I were visiting Bonnie earlier this year in a nursing home and were excited to finally give her a reader’s copy of her life story.

She was soon flipping to a photo of her younger self with long plaits to show my daughter, 7, as her doctor and a nurse popped by.

“Isn’t that amazing! I’m so glad you did this,” Bonnie’s long-time doctor said shaking his head incrediously.

It had taken my grandmother and me four years of planning, writing, polishing and publishing to get to this point.

There had been some serious ups and downs along the way but the writing had been worth it.

This is the third and final article about Bonnie’s life-story project (see articles part one and part two here!).

So keep reading to find out how we went from final draft to finished autobiography book in time for her 100th birthday this month during a global pandemic.

Ask Nicola Q&A: How to take the headache out of high-resolution images

The easy way to image resize and save high-resolution photos. NOW!

Hello and welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

As a journalist and writing coach I’m asked lots of questions about planning, writing, polishing and publishing life stories for family and friends.

And in this series I give you a behind-the-scenes look at how I help new writers just like you!

This week’s Ask Nicola answers the following question:

Help! I am getting my book printed and have been told the JPEG pictures are not good enough quality. What does this mean? How to fix?

Case study: Nurse’s memoir like stepping into Call The Midwife episode

How London’s Swinging Sixties inspired nurse Eira Bish’s IngramSpark publication

For retired nurse Eira Battaglia (nee Bish) writing her memoir The Silver Buckle was a natural extension of reminiscing about her student days.

Her 50 years of nursing started at South London’s St Giles’ Hospital during the momentous Swinging Sixties and included working in England, Canada and Australia.

Eira also trained nurses for 30 years and said today’s students were fascinated by her tales of an earlier era of nursing.

“I consider I have had a rich, wonderful career that my three years as a trainee in the 1960s was able to allow me to do so many things,” she said.

In this week’s case study, Eira shares more about her self-published book, the steps she took to have it published plus tips for new writers looking to do the same…

Life-writing example: When coronavirus serves up a new normal

One family’s take on bunkering down for stay-at-home COVID-19 quarantine

This week I’m sharing a life-writing example of my own.

It’s about our new ‘stay at home’ quarantine life thanks to coronavirus.

We are all living in dark and strange days of social distancing and self isolation.

So this is my take on life for my family and I as we bunker down from coronavirus.

Certainly, I know many of you are motivated at the moment to put pen to paper.

For instance, author and journalist Trent Dalton inspired me to draft this life-writing example through his Tales From the Bunker series.

Likewise I’d love to hear from you about your recent ‘bunker’ writing.

Writing challenge – part 3: How to fast track, finish and celebrate your family stories!

Amazing ways to organise and present life-story interview gold

First published April 5, 2018: This article has been updated and improved.

We have made it to the final installment of the super stay-at-home family stories writing challenge part 3!

While we are all in lockdown, I suggested bonding with a loved one by compiling a life-story feature article.

Some of you have done this with your parents, grandparents or other relatives and joined forces with your children for a fun quarantine activity. I love this idea!

In part 1 of the challenge we got set for a phone or video interview.

Meanwhile, in part 2 I shared some interview ideas I’ve learnt as a print journalist.

Finally in this writing challenge part 3, I show you how to quickly organise and present your interview material.

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

Let’s wrap-up this challenge …

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

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 …