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Memoir Writing for Geniuses
United States
Приєднався 21 кві 2020
Memoir Writing for Geniuses is no place for dummies! Random House author Wendy Dale specializes in memoir structure, turning your real-life stories into plot. She analyzes memoir in a way that no one else can. For more information visit www.geniusmemoirwriting.com.
Where Do You Start Your Book?
Wendy conducts a one-on-one consultation with writer Bruna Batista, helping her to understand why she has started her book in the wrong place and how to fix it. The video includes tips of turning disconnected events from your life into plot and ideas for how all memoirs need to be structured.
For a free seven-part class on how to structure your memoir: www.geniusmemoirwriting.com/free-class.html
For information on coaching: www.memoirwritingforgeniuses.com/courseswithcoaching
For a free seven-part class on how to structure your memoir: www.geniusmemoirwriting.com/free-class.html
For information on coaching: www.memoirwritingforgeniuses.com/courseswithcoaching
Переглядів: 664
Відео
Is Your Narrator Looking Back or Recounting the Present?
Переглядів 7502 місяці тому
Who is actually telling the story in your memoir? Is it the person you are now looking back on your life? Or should you use the point of view of the person who actually lived through these events? In other words, is it the younger version of yourself telling the story? Sound complicated? It's not if you understand what function the narrator serves in your book. Want more info on memoir structur...
Your Scene Is Not Meant to Show Anything
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So many writers create a scene because there is something they want their reader to understand. They want to show what their relationship was like with their mother or how their father was abusive and cruel. The problem with this? It will get your structure off track. For a free, 7-part video class on how to structure your memoir: www.geniusmemoirwriting.com/free-class.html
Why Your Memoir Isn't Working and How to Fix It
Переглядів 9193 місяці тому
Writing down what you remember isn't a memoir. Instead, you need to understand scenes and transitions, the two main components you'll use to turn memories from your life into plot. Get these components wrong and your memoir won't work. If you'd like a free 7-part class on how to structure your memoir, go here: www.geniusmemoirwriting.com/free-class.html To get a manuscript critique, go here: ww...
Don't describe your life in your memoir
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It's fine to include description in your memoir, but too much description can mean sacrificing your plot. I was once guilty of this too! It's easy to fix this common memoir-writing problem. Watch the video to learn how. If you'd like a free class on how to structure your memoir from the ground up go to: www.geniusmemoirwriting.com/free-class.html
Skip This Tiny Step and Your Memoir Won't Work
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Skip This Tiny Step and Your Memoir Won't Work
The problem with including family members' stories in your memoir
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The problem with including family members' stories in your memoir
Five Common Writing Tips that are Complete Bull
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Five Common Writing Tips that are Complete Bull
If Your Book Is Boring, Slow It Down
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If Your Book Is Boring, Slow It Down
Five Things to Leave out of Your Dialogue
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Five Things to Leave out of Your Dialogue
Dialogue Is Not as Important as You Think
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Dialogue Is Not as Important as You Think
Is Your Memory Ruining Your Memoir?
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Is Your Memory Ruining Your Memoir?
Are You Writing from the Drone Point of View?
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Are You Writing from the Drone Point of View?
A Flashback Is Not Something You Remember
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A Flashback Is Not Something You Remember
Don't Structure Your Memoir Like a Diary
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Don't Structure Your Memoir Like a Diary
How Do I Write a Scene if I Don't Remember?
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How Do I Write a Scene if I Don't Remember?
Are you thinking about your scenes in the wrong way?
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Are you thinking about your scenes in the wrong way?
Is the "in-between writing" ruining the structure of your memoir?
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Is the "in-between writing" ruining the structure of your memoir?
Subjective Versus Objective Writing: How Much Does Your Book Need of Each?
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Subjective Versus Objective Writing: How Much Does Your Book Need of Each?
Two ways to make an everyday story interesting!
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Two ways to make an everyday story interesting!
Two common prose mistakes writers need to avoid
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Two common prose mistakes writers need to avoid
If you don't understand structure, your memoir is going to suck
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If you don't understand structure, your memoir is going to suck
Great!!!
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
who is the company producing the reality show?
I'm working through your amazing book "The memoir Engineering system" (I haven't been able to put it down and I have made so much progress in my writing) and I wonder whether to treat flashbacks as additional scenes? Thank you for your wonderful content 🙏
I'm new to writing short stories and have been wrestling with the whole 'show, don't tell' mantra. Thank you for helping me see that there's no single 'right' way-it's about perspective and focus. It's like Romanticism vs. Modernism: different approaches to expression. This isn’t just a writing thing either; it’s played out in music too. Mozart’s music might be technical perfection, but for some, Tchaikovsky’s carries deeper emotional meaning. The next time someone tells me, 'show, don’t tell,' I’m going to reply, 'tell to show.'"
What a great comment! Love the comparisons too, including Mozart vs. Tchaikovsky. What bothers me is that lots of people repeat the same advice over and over again without really understanding what it means. You might want to also check out 5 Writing Tips that are Bull: ua-cam.com/video/G83p6Y6UVUk/v-deo.html There is lots of terrible advice out there that will make your book worse, not better. Tread carefully. Wishing you tons of luck with your writing.
@@memoirwritingforgeniuses Thanks! I'll check out 5 Writing Tips that are Bull. 😊
Who else is here just because of the AWESOME title of this video?
Hope you stuck around for the awesome content too. 😆
7:33 please do a trigger warning! It took me off guard
The fact that you use examples makes you an invaluable and rare internet resource. Thank you so much! I am sticking around.
Thanks so much! More content to come... 😀
thank you
I wonder what y ou think of memoirs by Nick Flynn which do jump all over the place in time, but the chapters are separated by theme. I look at his structure and think it is an easy way to weed through all that I'm dealing with in my memoir, but how wrong I was! He is a poet, so perhaps that is the issue for me but writing the way he does is not easy at all, but I do really like it. 10,000 Aftershocks is done in a similar way and also books by Maggie Smith or In the Dream House by Carmen Machado.
My answer is far too long for a youtube response. I talk about memoirs that jump around in time in my course, Starting Your Memoir: Your Guide to Global Structure. In fact, I use In the Dreamhouse as an example of a memoir that doesn't jump around in time. In the Dreamhouse has as traditional a structure as they come. Don't confuse structure with prose.
Wow! What a wild, wonderful, amazing project! This will be so fun to follow! (and submit writing for...!) Brava, Wendy!
Good luck with your submission, Sue! 🤞
Are you admitting fiction books or just memoirs?
The book deal is for someone to write a memoir.
This is super cool! I wish I wasn’t so shy.
I hear ya!
Hey Wendy, I've watched most of your online tutorials - thank you for those. I think this new show will be great. I'm really looking forward to it!
Thanks so much! Doing this is so much fun. I cannot wait to see who wins. 😁
What a cool idea! What an amazing opportunity.
So excited about this! Time for memoir writers to get the spotlight they deserve.
What a brilliant idea!!! The World's First Reality Show for Writers!!! Absolutely fantastic!!!!
Woo hoo!
Wow - that is a big announcement Wendy! Amazing 🎉
Wow that is big news. 😮
Cool, clever, congrats 🎉
That seems cool!
Very exciting, great idea!
That would be absolutely fun.
This is AMAZING! What a great idea!
Crikey Wendy woohoo 🎉❤🥳
Fantastic!!!!
What an original and inspiring idea! Go Wendy! Comenzaré mi proyecto de escritura hoy y también estudiaré español.😎
¡Suerte, Paige! 😁
♥
Helpful, yet might be a tight walk. Emotional words may be unexciting, yes, but emotional words in the form of strong verbs can also be effective at times. My thoughts.
This is so helpful for anyone that is trying to write their memoir.
❤
What a great idea to share a consultation Wendy! Thank you so much for sharing Bruna :)
More to come! And many thanks to Bruna, who was so great to talk to!
As usual, I wish I'd seen this video five years ago, when I thought I had to get the first chapters perfect in order that the following chapters would then be easier to write. - Glenn
I hear ya, Glenn!
Hi, Wendy, This was a great session with someone seeking structure in a memoir. I love your concepts and simple explanations of how to write a wonderful book.
Thanks, Carol!
I already love all your helpful videos Wendy. This new one on one format adds even more richness, thank you for sharing. All the best Bruna.
More to come like this. Thanks for the comment, Suzi!
I love the way you simplify the ideas to give greater clarity and create flow ❤
Thanks, Camara! Hope to see you in an episode soon. 🤪
I enjoy all your creative ideas for Memoir Writing for Geniuses, Wendy! This video is a great refresher after taking your course over a year ago. Thank you!
Sending you a huge hug Tamar! And lots of congratulations on the publication of your book.
Hi Wendy, thank you very much for the opportunity to discuss my book with you. It was a pleasure! ❤
Bruna, I had so much fun talking to you. Thank you for being so open!
Thank you both for a hugely informative and useful video. It's always reassuring to know that you're not the only one making the mistakes. The reinforcement of messages delivered in other videos was also super-helpful Wendy. Thank you again both and good luck Bruna with your memoir.
I do see the same mistakes over and over again -- I used to make these very same mistakes! Glad you found the video helpful, Jane. Thanks for the comment.
@@memoirwritingforgeniuses I'm furiously trying to address mine!
Such an informative post Wendy. I think that you're right, many of us make similar mistakes, and this was so helpful. The lady was brave to allow herself to be put on the spot. You were so respectful and made a difficult situation (for her) into an informative and instructional advice for her, and the rest of us. I would like to see more of these posts, they are really interesting. Take care Wendy!😊
Thanks for letting me know! I have a list of other brave volunteers who have signed up so you will see more of these kinds of videos. Appreciate the feedback.
thank you! excellent insight into ‘how’ to do this correctly and in a manner enriching the story 👍
Thanks, Gordon!
Great stuff Wendy, thank you!
Thanks, Kathy! 🤗
It is a subtle but insightful teasing out of two different perspectives. Once you are aware of it, you can't not see it - thanks coach Wendy
Loved the way you made points about what works and what doesn't with narrators and then used examples from published books. Super helpful! Thanks for taking the time to share your insight.
Glad you found it helpful, Penny! 😁
My head canon is that Mandy Jenkins was kicked in the face by Thunder.
I love the way you explain things, so succinct, you keep it simple. Brilliant. ❤
Thanks, Carrie! 😄
Another fantastic video, Wendy👍👍👍! I love it how you always show lots of examples making whatever you say super clear. And yes, I can see how finding examples must take a lot of time but just know that they and you are truly appreciated! It's also reassuring to hear you say you can have both the younger and older narrators in the same book, in the same scene even as I've wondered about that. So - THANK YOU so much!
Thank you for your "older wiser" advice for struggling memoir writers. I'm tempted to write a memoir about how your advice has helped me take my writing from being all over the place to be focused and structured. - Glenn
Glenn, that's the nicest comment ever! Ha. Made me laugh. Glad the writing advice helps!
This was great, and you really nailed those examples. Thanks so much.
Thanks, Sue! Appreciate it 😀
Really helpful - thank-you Wendy!!
Thanks, Cathy! Miss you 💞
@@memoirwritingforgeniuses Miss you too xx
Great video. Love the examples to show clearly what you mean and providing different samples is very helpful. I struggled with the adult narrator and how to throw it in - whether from time to time or as the narrator on its own. I like your showing the options.
Thanks, Shanti. Because the older, wiser narrator has been around literature for forever, it's hard to get it wrong or add it in the wrong place.