A key foundation for all good life stories is setting.
Indeed settings can create mood for your project.
Plus they help introduce characters into a story.
So let’s find out about different types of settings and how to get started…
Continue reading Story setting: What is a story setting and setting examples
The concept of lessons learnt is a powerful reason to start a life-story project.
Indeed this week in Australia people stopped to mark Anzac Day and remember servicemen and women who died in the line of duty.
Most importantly at services we say “lest we forget“, which reminds us not to forget past sacrifices.
Certainly this phrase is apt for memorial days but it can also be a motivator to create a life story.
Continue reading Lessons learnt: See how easily life lessons can be included in a life story
Tell the truth: this is easy to understand but difficult to execute, especially over decades and across generations.
So as Halloween looms, I’m asking do you have skeletons in the closet?
Are there ‘truths’ that should be outed and included in your life-story creating?
And what is the definition of truth and the different types of truth anyway?
I answer all these questions in today’s article.
So grab your vampire fangs or witch’s outfit and let’s take a walk on the wild side.
Continue reading Tell the truth: The surefire way to out skeletons in the closet
Hi and welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.
As a life-story coach I get lots of questions about all stages of writing.
And in this Q&A series my answers aim to help writers just like you!
So this Ask Nicola article starts with the query:
I want my book to be funny! I need some writing techniques. Can you help?
First, that’s fantastic you are ready to sit down and record your life for family, friends and future generations!
Second, warm-up your cheeky side and let’s jump into how to create a funny story …
Continue reading Funny stories: See how easily you can be humorous and write a funny story
Who doesn’t love a story that hooks your attention from start to finish?
However, you might think you can’t tell a great yarn to save yourself, let alone write an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.
Firstly, there is no one better qualified to sit down and record your life than you!
Second, if you are writing for friends and family they are on your side and naturally interested.
The other week I covered three ways to make writing more captivating.
Indeed that article was very popular so today I’m going over more writing techniques to keep your audience reading from start to finish!
Continue reading How to write a good story: The flashback, parts of a story and reflective writing
I love Mother’s Day and not just because I am one!
It is an important time of the year.
Certainly mums shape our character, especially when we are young.
And in turn they can also shape the way we care for our children and grandchildren.
So as you sit down to create an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project think about how to portray characters like VIP mums.
Next, keep reading as I show you ideas for creating characters that sparkle …
Continue reading Writing characters: If you’ve already tried creating characters, don’t read this. It’ll break your heart
At this time of year my family finishes a mega run of birthdays.
And coupled with Easter recently it has felt like a time of new beginnings.
As a result, this got me thinking about how we sit down to record birth stories in our autobiographies, memoirs, biographies and other life story projects.
Obviously an autobiography by its very definition requires a birth story!
But there are other births we can record such as parents, siblings, children or grandchildren.
So in this article I’m going to go over key information you might like to include when recording birth stories …
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When I’m talking too much my husband gives me a smile and a hurry-along signal.
Indeed sometimes we all tell a story with too much background information or detail and the other person is waiting for us to get to the point.
Of course a conversation like this can be boring and so too can a life story.
So what makes a good story and what writing techniques can we use when we sit down to create to keep our audience’s attention?
Keep reading to find out … I promise to get straight to the point!
Continue reading What makes a good story: Dialogue writing, suspense writing and other writing techniques
Last year I was helping a teacher in one of my children’s classrooms (before coronavirus hit).
And he got the students doing dance moves to a five-minute song before starting a new lesson.
Firstly this struck me because we never did such fun things in my childhood classrooms!
Secondly because the activity was a super way to jump start the kids’ energy and creativity.
But did you know you can use writing prompts in much the same way before sitting down to write an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project?
Certainly writing prompts can be a fun tool to try so let’s take a closer look …
Continue reading Writing prompts: Who else wants story prompts + writing topics in 5 minutes?
“What is a theme? Why do I need one,” you may ask when starting an autobiography, memoir, biography or other life-story project.
Indeed themes can sound like a writing technique for ‘fancy’ authors or blockbuster movies.
But pause and think before you sit down to write …
Certainly we encounter themes almost every day.
For example, at parties, restaurants and in advertising.
And believe it or not we tell stories to ourselves and others based around themes.
So let’s take a look at theme definition, why we need writing themes, theme examples, and much more.
Continue reading What is theme? Get theme definition and theme examples without the work