editing Archives - Forever Young Autobiographies

How to write a book title: Types of headlines and great story titles

7 amazing secrets on how to write a book name (plus examples of eye-catching headlines)

Want to know how to write a book title that is short and powerful?

Indeed I have written thousands of headlines as a print editor and understand what sings and what falls flat.

So keep reading for my favourite tips to entice and intrigue life-story audiences…

Why is theme important: Use themes to create and edit life stories

Ask Nicola Q&A: The quick and easy way to understand theme and find the theme of a story

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

Regularly I get questions about creating life storie s for family and friends.

Today’s Ask Nicola question is:

Why is theme important when editing?

So let’s jump into a few key points about themes to keep in mind when polishing your work …

Finish a life story: How to know when your project is finished

Ask Nicola Q&A: Amazing ways to finish your story today

Welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

Each week I get queries about creating life stories for family and friends.

Today’s Ask Nicola question is:

How do you know when you are finished a life-story project?

So let’s dive into a few key considerations to finish a life story …

Revising and editing: How to take the headache out of editing a life story

Ask Nicola Q&A: The easy way to decide what’s included in an autobiography, memoir, biography or life-story project

Welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

I get lots of questions about creating life stories for family and friends.

Today’s Ask Nicola answers the following query:

What things shouldn’t I include in a story about my life? What needs revising and editing?

Firstly great question! So let’s explore how we can quickly boil an entire life down to its essence …

Writing and editing: 3 insider coaching call tips

Quick and easy life-story fixes from a writing coach

Often on morning beach walks I see primary students surfing for school sport.

First their coaches begin with a quick lesson on the sand and then everyone hits the water.

Similarly, a writing and editing life-story coach gets ‘in the water’ to help improve your confidence and skills.

And they are usually keeping an eye on three things …

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’!

Chapters: 3 questions answered about book chapters

How to make chapters + master chapter length

During quarantine periods many of my friends and family have been doing puzzles.

This has included small puzzles and huge ‘take-over-the-kitchen-table’ style jigsaws.

Indeed, for some, puzzles have become a source of daily addiction!

When we write an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project we ‘piece together’ a story just like doing a puzzle.

Certainly, as we move through the planning, writing, polishing and publishing phases chapters become the puzzle pieces that connect to reveal our greater life story.

So before you sit down to write again discover the importance of chapters for you and your reader …

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?

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…

Ask Nicola Q&A: How to copy edit + CPR for revising and editing

How to copy edit: CPR for revising and editing your own work. Woman in palm-tree print tank with sunglasses comically looks up at a bright yellow lifeguard tower and its red first aid cross symbol. Photo by Leonardo Rossatti from Pexels.

Surefire proofreading tips to make your writing sing

Hi and welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

I get lots of questions about writing life stories for family and friends.

And in this series I aim to pull out some of the queries I receive and give you a peek into how I help writers just like you.

Today’s Ask Nicola answers the following question:

I’ve finished a rough draft of my book. What do I need to focus on when I polish and revise my writing?