People are born storytellers, and there is in you a narrative that has the potential to leave a profound impression on others. For sure, you have unique experiences worth sharing. The tough part is how to condense so many years of your life into one memoir.

It is quite a feat to sort through all those memories and select the ones that will create the most meaningful and poignant biography. If you don’t consider yourself a creative writer, you might find it challenging even to know where to start. Fortunately, you can leave the writing to the professionals.

Professional life story writers use questions about various stages of life to help guide people to put their stories down on paper. If you’re struggling to find the words for your story, these tips can help you.

Consider your origins and family

Succeeding generations of your family will live in a vastly different world to the one in which you grew up. So, preserve your world by writing about your early years and family history.

Write about your childhood home, its rooms, your favourite spots in it and how your family came to live there. Also, your family’s daily routine, games and hobbies. These might not seem riveting details to you, but it will interest future generations. The way your home functioned during your childhood will fascinate them, especially if you had an ice chest in your kitchen rather than a fridge or a copper and a manual wringer in the laundry for washing the clothes.

Write about your own family

Write about your partner. Recollect your spine tingling days of dating, the magic of falling in love, and your journey together through life. If you have children, write about their birth, childhood and teenage years. Write about their achievements and quirky habits. You may also consider writing about your parents, siblings, grandparents and extended family members who impacted your life.

Elaborate on your working years

You can also write about your career. Did you take part-time positions after school or during college or university? Talk about your first job and how you felt on your first day. Did you feel overwhelmed or confident? Were you excited or terrified? Did you make lifelong friends at work? Tell your readers which jobs you enjoyed the most, and what impact they made on you.

How did you overcome obstacles and deal with the stressful days in your life? Make a list of the toughest challenges you encountered. Then write about them with a positive, distant lens. What trial led to great triumph? What lessons did you learn from it? You never know, you might end up inspiring someone else in the future.

Of course, don’t forget about the fun stuff. Do you dance, paint or play a sport? Have you tried skydiving or bungee-jumping? Have you gone scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef or enjoyed a picnic at Hanging Rock? Did you visit other countries and go sightseeing? What outings with your family and friends did you relish? What brought genuine joy to your life? Share the adventures that put vivid colour in your life.

Look back at your life as a whole

Find a suitable conclusion for your life story and write about what you most love and enjoy about your life. What made your life worth living? Recount things that are sources of gratefulness and pride and tell people what beliefs helped you make it in life. Consider these questions as you look inward and wrap up your life story.

Writing a story worth reading and remembering

Writing a substantial life story needs much preparation, but it is an immensely worthwhile endeavour. It requires a recollection of multiple facets of your life—family, childhood, personal growth, adventures, learnings—and how you can bring these together to form a story worth reading and remembering.

Should you feel inspired to write your life story but uncertain you have the gumption to write it, contact us today. At Share your life story, we unearth memories via in-person interviews, write on your behalf and handle the design and publication of your memoir or biography. Get in touch with us for more information. We’d love to hear from you.

Whether you’re new to writing or you have several pieces under your belt, writer’s block will get to you at some point. You know what it’s like—you’re sitting in front of your laptop staring at a blank document and watching the cursor blink expectantly at you. You wait a while for the gears to turn, but they don’t. Instead, you go on the internet, watch a few cat videos, and pretty soon, an entire day has passed without you getting a single sentence written. Sound familiar?

Take comfort in the fact that many people have figured out ways of overcoming writer’s block. Here are some things that have worked for me and for other writers in the past. Try these out and see how they can help you! I’d love to hear if they help you get over the bump in your writing road.

Keep a Content Bank

Sometimes writer’s block comes from the fact that we have so many other concerns and ideas occupying our minds. For 15 minutes every day, get those other things out of the way by freewriting about them. Ignore rules in spelling, grammar and composition; repeat words or sentences if you must, leave trains of thought unfinished, and write about everything that comes to mind.

Doing so trains you to get the words out right away and make preliminary connections on the page. It also lowers your mental wall and allows you to be more open to the act of writing itself, priming you for the more focused writing you must do later in the day.

Freewriting can also inspire your next scenes or even your next projects. Keep whatever comes out of this process. You never know what treasures you’ll find in the clutter.

Take care of your body

Make sure you don’t neglect things like eating well, cleaning your home or workspace, and exercising. These seem like they have nothing to do with writing, but they’re some of the most important things you can do to prevent blocks.

Your brain is part of a larger system, and you need to take care of the entirety for it to function properly. If you are ill, or you have aches or pains somewhere in your body, you might not be able to concentrate on writing.

You can also meditate, practice yoga or Tai Chi, or dance. These activities relax your mind and stimulate blood flow. Meditation also helps you be peaceful and calms your nerves. When you feel stuck on a scene or a paragraph, prevent yourself from panicking by doing breathing exercises.

Protect your writing time

For at least three to four hours every day, create the space for writing. This means no interruptions of any kind, whether in person or through the internet. During your writing hours, you must turn off your phone and disconnect from the internet. Ask friends and family to not disturb you during these hours, since you will need solitude to help you get the words down.

You can also protect your time by being deliberate about your writing time. Choose your most creative hours, like early in the morning. When you have just woken up, your brain will probably still be generating theta waves. They have greater amplitude and slower frequency than the brainwaves when you’re properly awake, and they’re responsible for vivid dreams.

Try out-of-the-box solutions

Some people swear by speaking intentions to their glass of water. Before sleeping, they fill a glass of water and speak into it. The intentions can be anything, from: “I shall tap into my creative source,” to “I shall finish a scene tomorrow.” Then, they drink half the water before sleeping and half immediately after waking up.

For other people, keeping a dream journal will suffice. Have a notebook or a piece of paper and a pen beside you on a surface you can easily access from bed. This way, you can write anything you dream about, and work these into your writing once you’re fully awake.

Don’t let writer’s block discourage you—it happens to the best of us!

If writer’s block is happening to you, don’t let it discourage you from writing. Even established authors experience it, yet they end up penning books despite it. It can happen at any point in the writing process, so jump-start your creativity with tools and techniques like the ones above.

If you have a story in you that wants to come out, try writing a memoir. Start with a free, no-obligation consultation with Gabriella Kelly-Davies, the founder of Share your life story. Let Gabriella and the rest of our team help you share your words with the world today!

Writing a memoir can be a profoundly fulfilling experience for many people. It allows a writer to face their own truth and share it with others in meaningful ways. Sometimes, it can even be a form of catharsis that enables a person to take control of their past and heal from it.

Writing a memoir can challenge even the most accomplished writer. There are many pitfalls writers must be careful to avoid to ensure their book engages and captivates readers.

To help you steer clear of these mistakes, we’ve listed a few below:

1. Writing for only yourself

When writing a memoir, it’s important for you to know who you’re writing for. It isn’t like journalling where you’re writing for yourself. You need to remember a memoir is a collection of your memories for sharing with others—often with people who don’t know you on a personal level.

This means you need to write your memoir so everyone can connect with it. Provide just enough detail so your reader can understand the context of your writing, but not too much that might alienate or confuse them. Remember: one goal of writing a memoir is for you to share a story that your reader finds meaningful and can relate to.

2. Including your entire life story

Writing a memoir and an autobiography involves different narrative techniques. In an autobiography, a writer typically recounts their entire life experience—from birth up to recent events. This isn’t the case with a memoir where the writer focuses on a collection of specific memories such as a trip to Paris or a theme like raising cocker spaniels or cooking organic vegetables.

When writing a memoir choose a specific milestone from your past and concentrate solely on it. The idea is for you to develop a story that has a clear beginning and end. If you keep recounting unrelated events or trying to cover too much territory, you risk diluting the story and overall message.

Besides, focusing your memoir on just one aspect of your life means you’ll have plenty of stories and inspiration left over for the next one…or the series of memoirs you’re itching to write.

3. Not having a villain

Every superb story needs a villain, and your memoir is no different. It’s a crucial element in almost all storytelling—one that provides an opposing force that drives the plot forward and encourages readers to become invested in the characters and outcome. Your villain need not be a person. It can be a problem or an idea you had to overcome. The intention is to make it clear to the reader that certain things are at stake, prompting them to read on and ultimately, feel a sense of accomplishment once they reach the end. You want to keep them reading to the last page.

4. Taking too many liberties

Using elements of fiction is a clever way to bring your story to life but remember you must ground your memoir in reality. You can’t take too many liberties with characters and events you write about, or you risk making the reader doubt your credibility.

As you write, remember the goal is to provide a depiction of the truth according to your experience of it. There’s no need to fabricate or exaggerate, so be honest with yourself and your reader.

The path ahead for writing your memoir

When you keep these common memoir writing mistakes in mind, you’ll write a story that inspires your readers. While you are free to tell your story in whatever way you desire, these errors can mean the difference between a compelling memoir that captures the imagination and hearts of your readers and a dull one they put down after the first page. Make sure you stay conscious of potential snags so you create a story you can be truly proud of.

Not too keen on writing? Share Your Life Story can help you share your story with your loved ones and generations to come. We interview you, write your story and publish it as a beautiful book. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation!

Today Writing NSW profiled the memoir I wrote for Jeanne Rockey AM, One Life, Two Worlds.

Jeanne is one of the wonderful people who helped launch the Starlight Foundation and Foodbank. Her first husband, George Rockey, set up the transport company, TNT, with Sir Peter Abeles in the 1960s. But George died of cancer when his daughter Caroline was four, so Jeanne wanted to record his story and the story of their life together. This is their story.

I did an interview about memoir writing with the gorgeous Libbi Gorr this morning on ABC radio. It starts at 44.06. https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/programs/theweekendlife/the-weekend-life/12331422

Everyone has a unique story to tell because we all experience life differently. Memoirs are an ideal way to learn how other people see the world and have navigated through life’s ups and downs. We share a common humanity, and through our stories, we can show others how we celebrated our triumphs, survived challenges and painful events, and came out the other end in one piece. The highs and lows of your life will differ from those experienced by other people, but we all share similar feelings and emotions.

Writing your memoir and sharing your stories will enable your readers to relate to you. This is especially important for family members and future generations as they are often curious to understand what you learned from your trials and tribulations. They also want to share in your joyous moments and the special things that brought you the most pleasure.

If you are keen to write your memoir, here are three reasons you should seize the moment and do it yourself or ask a qualified writer to create it for you:

Everyone loves a magnificent story

Without a doubt, writing is a form of expression that dates back to the earliest times in history. Writing mirrors life, and we can learn so much from reading the stories of people from past centuries.

While there are talented writers in every generation, writing doesn’t have to be the exclusive domain of skilled professionals. Some people are born storytellers who can effortlessly spin a yarn, but for most of us, writing can be a genuine struggle.

Writing your memoir enables you to reflect on your life and express yourself. It can uplift but also be cathartic. Sharing your happy memories allows you to relive joyful experiences, but it can also help you process hard emotions and gain relief from demons that may have plagued you since childhood.

You have wisdom worth sharing

Everyone has wisdom to share based on their personal experiences. But writing your memoir is a skill you need to nurture to ensure your narrative is engaging and keeps your audience reading to the last page. Writing courses and webinars are available on the internet and at writers’ centres, and they are a terrific way to get started. They will help you polish your writing skills and to meet other writers.

Memoir writing groups are springing up online and in local libraries, and they help writers to remain motivated. Writing can be lonely, but by regularly meeting with other writers, you will make new friends, and your colleagues in the group will give you valuable feedback. Memoir writing groups are the perfect place to try out fresh ideas and learn from the experiences of other writers.

Anyone can write a memoir, and while it takes practice, you will soon get the hang of it if you are open to feedback and persevere. You have wisdom and insights worth sharing, so don’t put it off any longer. Try writing it yourself or find a memoir writer who can craft it for you.

 Your story is important

Many people say their life is too dull to share and that other people have much more exciting stories. The life story of a ‘regular’ person can be just as fascinating as that of a celebrity or world leader. Readers can more easily relate to someone like them than to a person who inhabits a vastly different world.

Readers want to connect with other people and understand how they got through all that life throws at them. Social status doesn’t have a part to play in writing a memoir. What matters most is that you believe you can inspire other people by sharing your memories and experiences. That alone makes your story essential and worth reading.

Someone willing to inspire others will eventually craft a story that evokes life-changing emotions. By choosing to write your memoir today, you can share a story that can motivate and inspire another person. Through your memoir, you can show someone else that no matter how hard it gets, life is worth living.

Share Your Life Story can turn your memories and life experiences into a book that will withstand the test of time. Contact us today to start writing your memoir and book your free consultation!

A memoir is a magnificent way to forge your favourite stories in stone, and many people yearn to capture their best memories in a physical book for family members and future generations to enjoy.

Time flies by so quickly and you have probably lived a life filled to the brim with fascinating stories and experiences, but if you don’t bring them together in one place, they will eventually disappear.

There are several things to consider when writing your memoir or commissioning a writer to write it for you.

Capture a special moment or theme

Writing a memoir involves sharing a special moment in your life or writing about a theme that is important to you such as falling in love, cooking or travelling. You want your readers to understand who you are at a deeper level based on the experiences you share. Memoir writing differs from writing an autobiography or life story because it is limited to a collection of memories rather than spanning your entire life.

Share your learnings with your readers

Readers of your life story want to know what you learned along the way. This shows them you have grown as a person and have become wiser because of your experiences. An example would be talking about a spiritual trek you took somewhere in Asia and how the peace and serenity surrounding you at that moment gave birth to a new you. These moments are what make life more meaningful and worth living. Readers want to know more about you through your memoir, and vivid details make it so much easier for them to remember who you are and what you believe in.

 Be honest so your readers trust you

A powerful memoir conveys honesty and integrity. This is because readers will sense your true essence when you write your genuine feelings on paper. It goes without saying that it is sometimes tough to be frank and honest because it may hurt other people’s feelings or touch on sensitive topics. It is a tricky process, but honesty in your memoir shows readers your own concept of truth.

 Create vivid scenes to capture your readers’ imaginations

The concept of ‘show, don’t tell’ is important in memoir writing, so your readers can imagine the scenes you paint. Place yourself in the scenes and paint a vivid picture your readers can play out in their heads. Using striking language and imagery can help readers visualise what it was like to be you living your unique life.

 Use fiction techniques to bring your story to life

When writing your memoir employ the types of techniques fiction writers use such as creating compelling characters, painting lively scenes, dialogue, internal monologues and incorporating a narrative arc such as the Hero’s Journey. When describing settings and locations, play the words so you captivate readers and keep them engaged. Help them imagine they are you reliving the moment you are describing.

 Evoke emotions in your readers

One aim of a memoir is to spark an emotional response in your readers. It’s only logical that you should look to convey a feeling—the joy of graduating from high school, the sadness when your first relationship turns sour, and everything in between. When you hook your readers into the emotional side of your memoir, they will continue to keep reading further and invest more time in it. By the time they’re done, you’ll leave them wishing they could read more.

A memoir is an emotional experience that shares your story and what it was like for you living your unique life. If you have something to share, there’s no reason to wait!

At Share Your Life Story, we dedicate ourselves to creating your memoirs and immortalising your memories into physical books. Book a free consultation with us in Australia via Skype, Zoom or telephone to find out more!

Mosman Living published a lovely article about my writing today. Thanks so much ML.

Mosman resident Gabriella Marie Kelly-Davies has been writing stories ever since she mastered the alphabet – now that passion has seen her win two writing prizes and a trip to Oxford University to hone her skills. Plus, she’s dedicated to helping locals bring to life their own stories. https://mosmanliving.com.au/mosman-writer-wins-accolades/

Today I heard I was long-listed for the Hawkeye Publishing Prize for my biography of the pain medicine luminary Professor Michael Cousins AO. Cross fingers I win it. https://hawkeyebooks.com.au/manuscript-long-list-announcement/

Shortly before Christmas I showcased some of the memoirs I’ve written for my clients at Bridgepoint Shopping Centre in Mosman. During the week I met some lovely people and learned so much about the lives of Mosman locals. It was an honour to have such wonderful conversations with people who have led amazing lives. Thank you Mosman.