Forever Young Autobiographies

Case study: Scientist’s memoir inspired by next generations

Historian’s research helps supercharge husband’s life story

A desire not to repeat regrets spurred retired agricultural scientist Dr Alan Bell to write his memoir.

The 71-year-old recently published his book for family and friends.

“As I’ve grown older, I’ve regretted that I didn’t take the trouble to learn more about the lives of my parents and grandparents before they died,” Alan said.

“My writings are intended for my immediate family in case they feel the same way some day.”

Alan’s book is interesting for many reasons, especially because he joined forces with his wife Gay, a keen historian.

She researched and compiled a brief family history for Alan that prefaces the book.

Keep reading to find out more about how the project unfolded and tips Alan has for fellow autobiography writers.

Death and dying: How to have hard conversations for your writing

What a doctor knows about discussing life and death

It was a hot and humid afternoon when I got the call from my dad Paul.

I was sitting in the school car park with one child, about to pick up another.

As a general practitioner doctor of 40 plus years he cut straight to the point: one of his major arteries was 95 per cent blocked.

He would have surgery in two weeks.

The risks were high; death before the operation, death during the operation or “worse” waking up from the operation with permanent damage from a stroke.

My brain went fuzzy, emotions pricked my eyes but my journalistic brain kicked in and I asked for the facts.

It was a 10-minute conversation and one of many we would have as my dad underwent multiple high-risk operations that year.

During this time we talked about death and dying, life and survival.

These are hard conversations – sometimes painful, confronting, urgent.

They are also topics we have to face as we write about our own lives or help a loved one write their life story.

In this article I sit down with my dad to discuss what tips he has gleaned over a lifetime of medicine on talking to people about death and dying.

Book review: Working Class Boy by Cold Chisel’s Jimmy Barnes

Photos: Harper Collins and Stephanie Barnes

What a life-story writer has to say about Barnesy’s childhood memoir by Harper Collins

Cold Chisel is part of Aussie-rock folklore.

The band is renowned for furious and high-intensity shows that have become anthems for the working class.

When frontman Jimmy Barnes released his award-winning memoir Working Class Boy I first heard it talked about in revered tones by other artists.

They said it was a book that steamrolled over and above their own formative memories and autobiography-writing efforts.

It was a juggernaut of a memoir that blew everyone else’s out of the water.

Barnes had recently toured through our region in Queensland when Working Class Boy by Harper Collins came out in 2016.

Just like that show, I knew his story would be full of power and ferocity.

Valentine’s Day special: Best of 2018 articles you love

The easy way to find 2018 best autobiography writing tips

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Today I’m going to share and foster your love of writing with a few ‘sweet surprises’.

Looking back at the website’s best of 2018 articles and videos it is clear there were a handful you fell in LOVE with and found particularly helpful.

I’ve picked the most popular from a range of categories; planning to write, tips for new writers, polishing your writing and publishing your autobiography.

This also includes a number of ‘case study’ feature stories.

These best of 2018 articles are full of writing shortcuts and practical ideas to motivate you to get writing from the start to the end of the year.

So pull up a chair and enjoy these curated ‘best of the best’ articles from 2018.

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

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!

Writing motivation: How to finish writing a book about your life

The surefire way to motivate yourself to write your autobiography or memoir

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

I read a viral email several years ago about a ‘love ladder’.

It was a heart-warming story about an elderly husband and wife in central China.

They had lived together simply in a mountainous area for over 50 years.

During this time, the husband carved more than 6000 steps into the hillside so his wife could more easily climb up and down from their home.

It is a remarkable story and made me think about how this man began the epic task.

Starting and finishing a memoir can similarly seem like a huge task!

Here are three writing motivation suggestions to help keep your autobiography on track to completion.

Writing flow: Finding the best places to write your autobiography

How to set up your writing zone and writing environment in three simple steps

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

Ahhh, the actual act of sitting down to write.

This is the serious part!

As a journalist I’ve had to learn to write in all types of situations.

Most commonly it is in a noisy newsroom with the screech of a police scanner two feet away, a news channel blarring on an overhead television, not to mention the often ‘enthusiastic’ sarcasm and cussing of my colleagues as they race to file for deadline.

Once a few years ago, after Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia hit our town and ripped up 1800 power poles in the area, I had my handy neighbour rig up my laptop to a solar panel on the front lawn!

Clearly you REALLY can write anywhere and everywhere – you just need the time and a way to record your thoughts.

But to make writing your autobiography easy it is best to prepare a designated space in which to relax and get creative.

Best books of 2018: Must-read books about life stories to enjoy these holidays

New autobiographies to inspire and learn from in 2019

I love holiday time for a number of reasons.

Free time off work from the newspaper and catching up with family.

But a definite guilty pleasure this time of year is reading.

I love reading and listening to all kind of books, especial non-fiction, autobiographies, biographies, memoir and life stories.

Here are my recommended best books of 2018 in an extended holiday article.

Some I have been suggested, some I have read about and others just look interesting.

They are by a mix of authors, Australian and overseas, and are sure to get you thinking about your own life.

I hope a number of titles catch your fancy too.

Happy reading!

Case study: Surprise find inspires biography of a late mother

Mother’s love: Daughter publishes mother’s journal collection

Elaine Crabtree accidentally fell into her family writing project.

She recently published When We Were Very Rich after finding a collection of notebooks following her mother Isabel Donnollan’s death.

“I was searching through her papers for something and I came across a number of handwritten notebooks,” Elaine said.

“They were all in great detail of her early life growing up around Rockhampton (Central Queensland, Australia) during the Great Depression.

“I had known of the existence of one notebook but was delighted when I saw how much she had written.

“Having found all the notebooks, I found reading them fascinating and I decided that I would try to put them all together.”

Elaine has lived in the United Kingdom for over 50 years and said the biography of a late mother had helped connect her with her family back in Australia.

“My mother was one of 14 and I have 50 first cousins! There is a lot of family to share this story with,” she said.

“As I told my cousins: ‘My mum’s story is the family story for all your parents.’

“When my grandmother had her 100 birthday there were over 200 descendants at her party at Yeppoon (near Rockhampton).

“This was a life story that needed to be shared.”

Elaine said while her mother and maternal grandmother grew up poor they were rich in other ways.

“(Mum) named her story When We Were Very Rich,” she said.

“She felt they were rich in freedom, fresh air, nature and most of all family love and togetherness.”

Keep reading to find out how Elaine saw the book through to completion and what her top tips are for compiling a biography of a late mother or other family member. Continue reading Case study: Surprise find inspires biography of a late mother

How to start a story: Podcast special – memory recall, writing structure plus writing process

Talking tips for writing a book with Rock Your Retirement host Kathe Kline

How to start a story about your life was the key focus of my recent interview on the popular Rock Your Retirement podcast.

I had a blast talking to host Kathe Kline about Writing memoirs for loved ones: Expectations vs. Reality.

Kathe said she wished she had recorded interviews with her father about his life and parents before his dementia and Parkinson’s disease set in.

But she is keen to make a start on her own memoir.

In the episode I explained to her and her listeners ways to start writing and tips to recall memories.

I’ve highlighted the main points for you below.

Let’s jump in… Continue reading How to start a story: Podcast special – memory recall, writing structure plus writing process